Grassi Lakes Alberta Hike

 We decided to do a short hike in Canmore this morning, we headed out to the Grassi Lakes Hike on the west side of town. We hiked up to the Grassi Lakes and up through the canyon to Whitemans Lake before returning. We did a 3.5 mile round trip hike with 900 ft of elevation gain.

 There is an "easy" and a "difficult" trail up to the lakes. We choose the "difficult"trail. The trail starts in the forest, we could see Ha Ling Peak over the trees.

 About 0.8 of a mile and 220 ft elevation we reached a view area where we saw a waterfall below Ha Ling Peak.

After the waterfall viewpoint, there are steep steps heading up towards the lakes. These steps is what makes this trail "difficult".

Besides these steps, there was a large "weeping" wall of rocks.













Grassi Lakes are 1.2 miles from the trailhead with 580 ft of elevation gain.
Lower Grassi Lake as seen from the east side

Lower Grassi Lake as seen from the west side

There is a trail that circles lower Grassi Lake.

Upper Grassi Lake from the east side. There was a beautiful reflection on the rock in the lake, but we were so close, I took an upper and lower pano views:

From Upper Grassi Lake there is a trail that leads up into a small rock canyon and goes to Whitemans Pond.

We headed up this path to the canyon. On the way back down, we saw rock climbers getting ready to climb these walls.

This small canyon has large boulders,

a small cave, 

and Native American rock art:

We saw chipmunks, a pika, deer and elk today.

We continued through the canyon to Whitemans Pond.

Pano of Whitemans Pond: Ha Ling Peak on the left.

Pano: Looking east toward Canmore and the top of our trail today. 1.7 miles from the trailhead at 5,580 ft. (900 ft above the trailhead).

 When returning down through the canyon, we saw a hang glider off in the distance over Canmore.

 View of Grassi Lakes from the canyon trail

 Lovely reflection in Upper Grassi Lake

 Reflection of Ha Ling Peak in Lower Grassi Lake

 View of Rundle Canal, Canmore and Mount Lady MacDonald from below Grassi Lakes.

Some of the wildflowers and plants we saw along the trail this morning: