A grueling grind on an aesthetic mountain ridge. Steep and technical, with lots of large loose rock combined with a view of the Rockies to the west and the foothills to the east, make this an athletic test piece with constant rewards.
Style: Cross-country
Distance: 8.5km one-way Elevation Gain: 432m / -627m Total Elevation Gain: 348m Physical Difficulty: 4/5 Technical Difficulty: 4/5 Time: 2 - 3 hours 
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To Get Here: From the 4 way stop on HWY 22 next to Bragg Creek, take HWY 22 south to a T intersection. Turn right (westbound) on HWY 66. Travel 27.6 km west down HWY 66 to the end of the highway and park next to the Powderface Trail entrance.
This section of HWY 66 is closed between Dec 1 to May 14 Trail Description:
Powderface Ridge can be accessed, or combined, with a number of trails but generally should be ridden from north to south. If you only plan on riding Powderface Ridge, park at the pullout next to the Little Elbow turnoff on Highway 66. Drive/ride up Powderface Trail (road) for 5.6km to the Powderface Ridge trailhead located at the road highpoint. Turn right and start a steep technical climb for 1.3km past the Trail Creek Junction, to a saddle on top of Powderface Ridge, at the Powderface Creek intersection. A short scramble for 250m north-west of the intersection provides great views. Turn south and continue climbing through the trees and out into the open alpine meadow. Work your way over the rocky ground enjoying the wide open meadows to the trail summit. 2km from the Powderface creek intersection, the trail takes a sharp left and drops off the east side of the ridge and down a fun descent through the forest. A quick climb up brings you back onto the open ridge top. If you want to stop and soak in an awesome panarama, leave the trail and hike 200m up the ridge to the south summit cairn overlooking the Elbow Valley! The trail drops off the SW edge of the ridge in a steep wide and loose track. Choose your own adventure as the trail splits and winds around trees dropping fall line in a Slalom style descent all the way to Hwy 66. 
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