Tent Ridge
Dogs are permitted on leash
No Cell reception
Kananaskis Parking Pass required
Wow, I have been waiting a few summers to do this hike! I kept hearing about how amazing it is and I just kept putting it on the backburner. Tent Ridge resides in Kananaskis Country in Alberta, Canada. If you have been to Mt. Shark then you would have passed the trailhead to the trail.
Expect 10.5km and around 850 meters of climbing for the day. I would recommend lots of water, snacks, rain jacket, hiking boots, poles, bear spray and an inreach.
When you turn right and pass Engadine lodge, you will go about 300 meters and you’ll see your first entrance into Tent Ridge Trail. If you want go climb up the scramble and go clockwise, then take the first trail head. If you want to go counter-clockwise, park up a bit further into the parking lot area and take that one. As per All Trails, it’s been noted that taking the route clockwise is easiest. Some scrambling experience will help as there is a bit of exposure, and you will want to feel comfortable.
I am so grateful to have met Juli, Mandi, Avery and Kayla during the hike up towards the scramble. They were super cool with me joining them as I was a bit nervous and more comfortable in being others company.
You will have a few scramble sections before you start traversing the ridge towards the tower at the top. Take your time as the views here are amazing and all the scrambling is worth the hike! You will want to be comfortable grabbing some rock with some exposure as you make your ready up. You will see that the ridge becomes walkable, and you will see the tower in front of you which means you’ve made it through the scrambling section! As you finish a snack and a drink you’ll make your way down and do the last bit of climbing to the 2nd peak where you can enjoy some good photos and admire the views before you trek towards the other end of the horseshoe.
As the group enjoyed lunch, I met Nick and Justin and made my way down the ridge with them. This was Nick’s first hike in the rockies as he was visiting from Europe! What an epic adventure to share with someone as they were great people to chat with on the way down.
The views from this side of the ridge will offer you a completely new perspective. Spray lake along with the tiny little lakes in valleys that look like soup bowls with shadows. It’s really an amazing view that you really want to take in as you head down.
