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Ron Asp | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> Kananaskis Trail - Highwood Pass And Banff Area October 2011 tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Kananaskis Trail - Highwood Pass And Banff Area October 2011

In my beliefs it is one the nicest drives you can take in Alberta, lots of beauty and wildlife and it is not that busy... I had a close Friend Janet with me on the trip, sure glad she was able to put up with me as sometime I would only go 50 meters, stop the Van and take that extra shot... what was normally a three hour drive took 10 hours.. In the end it was well worth it, she was very understanding....
Long Description:
Located in beautiful Kananaskis country in the Canadian Rockies, the Highwood Pass is the highest navigable pass in Canada. The summit is just about at the tree line, which means the surrounding area is one of the most accessible alpine areas in the Canadian Rockies. Pull into the nearby Highwood Pass day use area and walk the interpretive trails through the Highwood Meadows.


The highest drivable pass in Canada is Highwood Pass (7239 ft.)

This road is Highway 40 in Kananaskis County, Alberta (southwest of Calgary). On the 2000 official Alberta Highway Map it is shown as paved and the altitude of the summit of Highwood Pass is labelled as being 2205m, which almost exactly agrees with 7239ft. The map also shows that the road is closed from 1-Dec to 15-June 15th:

The main reason for the closure extending to June 15 is to facilitate elk, big horn sheep, deer and moose doing their spring grazing during that time. As well, with spring babies being born, predators are attracted to the area. But the road is closed to motorised vehicles only, making this some of the best early season cycling with no traffic. Just look out for animals, they are often on the road.
Not far to Longview and the Highwood Range
Not far to Longview and the Highwood Range
Longview Landscape
Longview Landscape
Cattle Drive near the Highwood Pass
Cattle Drive near the Highwood Pass
Opening of the Highwood Pass
Opening of the Highwood Pass
Three Horses
Three Horses
Along the Highwood Range A
Along the Highwood Range A
Along the Highwood Range B
Along the Highwood Range B
Along Highway 40 Kananaskis area
Along Highway 40 Kananaskis area
Mountain Structure along the Highwood
Mountain Structure along the Highwood
The Beautiful Highwood Range
The Beautiful Highwood Range
Silver Tipped Grizzley
Silver Tipped Grizzley
Big Horn Mountain Sheep
Big Horn Mountain Sheep
The Mighty Big Horn Sheep
The Mighty Big Horn Sheep
Along the Trans Canada near Banff
Along the Trans Canada near Banff
The Banff Springs Hotel
The Banff Springs Hotel
Janet's Jacket
Janet's Jacket
Banff Meadows
Banff Meadows
A Candid Shot of Ron
A Candid Shot of Ron
Reflections
Reflections
In the Mountain Meadows
In the Mountain Meadows
Reflection at Banff
Reflection at Banff
Reflections in the Spruce
Reflections in the Spruce
Traveling Companions
Traveling Companions
Along the Highwood Range
Along the Highwood Range
On the Way to Canmore
On the Way to Canmore
Mt. Rundle
Mt. Rundle
What a Day
"What a Day"
Trout Pond
Trout Pond
Mt.Rundel
Mt.Rundel
Janet and Castle Mountain
Janet and Castle Mountain
Castle Mountain
Castle Mountain
Skiff Of Ice On The Pond
Skiff Of Ice On The Pond
Janet and the Majestic Rocky Mountains
Janet and the Majestic Rocky Mountains
You got to love those fall colors
You got to love those fall colors
Evening Glow
Evening Glow
The Glow of the Clouds
The Glow of the Clouds
Evening Light
Evening Light
Evening Glow One
Evening Glow One
Scenic Banff-Jasper Highway
Scenic Banff-Jasper Highway