Powderface Ridge
Choose your length of adventure by making this route a short hike to an aesthetic mountain ridge, or a long ridgewalk through an alpine meadow. A pristine ridge top meadow that provides great views of both the Rockies and the Foothills.
A view of Powderface Ridge's south summit from Jumpingpound Ridge.
Distance: 8.5km one-way
Elevation Gain: 432m / -627m Total Elevation Gain: 348m Physical Difficulty: 3/5 Technical Difficulty: 2/5 Time: 3 - 5 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 (from north to south)
Powderface Ridge is a unique hike allowing you to climb a short 2.3km to the south summit, an even shorter 1.3km to the North Summit, or complete an 8.5km ridge traverse. If you plan on completing the traverse, travel from north to south to avoid extra elevation gain. Parking is limited on the north trail entrance with no official pullout. Travel 5.6km north up Powderface Trail to the road's summit. The trail is located on the road's highpoint. If you're coming from the north, t's 3.8km south of Prairie Creek. Climb a short steep trail for 1.3km to a saddle on Powderface ridge. A short scramble for 250m to the north-west, provides a great lookout over the valley. From the Powderface Creek junction, the trail continues south through a treed section and out onto the scenic open meadow ridge. Enjoy a peaceful walk along the ridge proper. 2km from the trail junction, the trail drops off the east side of the ridge and descends through the forest before emerging on another open meadow. Another great viewpoint presents itself on the south summit. Follow the open ridge line for 600m to an obvious cairn. Continue the descent down a steep wide loose trail that will provide lots of scree skiing down fall line before popping out at the Little Elbow turnoff. | |||||||
Return to Bragg Creek Area Hiking/Running Trails (click here)
Return to Hiking/Running Trails (click here)
Return to Hiking/Running Trails (click here)