Grotto Canyon Alberta Hike

This afternoon, we decided to do a short hike close to Canmore. We choose the Grotto Canyon Hike on the east side of town. We did a 4.2 mile hike with about 560 ft of elevation gain.

 We started at the Grotto Pond Day Use Area. The first part of the trail is a gravel path that goes past an Industrial Plant. After awhile, the trail goes into the forest.









At 0.75 miles, there is the option of continuing on the trail above the creek bed, or dropping down into the creek bed. We choose to hike along the dry creek bed.

 A short ways up this creek bed, we entered Grotto Canyon, and enjoyed walking in the shade.

There are areas with tall canyon walls and shorter canyon walls.

Along the way we found Native American Rock Art:

At 1.5 miles the canyon reaches a "T". To the right is a side canyon with a long series of cascades coming down from a tall waterfall near the high end of this side canyon.

Pano of the waterfall:

At the end of the "T" there is a weeping wall.

On the left side of the "T" is another canyon that curves around and continues on. The walls narrow, 

 and then widen again.

 There were lots of interesting curves where the water has polished the rock walls.

Further up the canyon in the sandstone, where hoodoos and a cave up high.

Panorama: looking back down Grotto Canyon

 It was nice to hike back in the shade.

















 We saw several chipmunks, and we saw hawks flying overhead.

 Back at Grotto Pond.

Some of the wildflowers and plants we saw along the trail today:

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