Lunch at a Lake AND a Gorgeous Ridge View?
Hiking to Rawson Lake near the Kananaskis Lakes in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park is a great way to spend an afternoon. Park at the Upper Lake Day Use area and start the trail near the south side of the parking lot. Due to the floods in 2013, there is now a log bridge that crosses Sarrail Creek. It’s not as sturdy as it used to be, but it’s stable and does the trick. After that ‘obstacle’, the hike isn’t overly strenuous with a steady incline and takes a little over an hour. On a beautiful day, Rawson Lake is a great place to sit for lunch, relax by the water, or go fishing. For my most recent outing to Rawson Lake, a group of us went to celebrate birthdays and had a large spread of meats, cheeses, breads, pasta and wine. Because when you live so close to the mountains, why not celebrate birthdays with a hike?!
For an amazing view of the Kananaskis Lakes, continue around the lake and start the ascent to Sarrail Ridge. The trail is pretty obvious, though at times there are a couple of options. Either way, all roads lead straight up. In my opinion it’s a pretty brutal hike. It’s steep, the rocks and dirt slide beneath you, and it’s a slog. But after cursing Mother Nature for 45 minutes to an hour or so, the views from the ridge are spectacular and well worth the arduous climb. Go hike it! Hike it now!
HIKES & HAMSTRINGS 