Insider tip in Spray Valley Provincial Park in Canada's Rocky Mountains: Here you can enjoy a scenic ridge hike with a bit of luck on the horseshoe-shaped Tentridge mountain.
Hike with a happiness factor in the Rocky Mountains of Canada - the Tentridge is shaped like a horseshoe. The treks in Spray Valley Provincial Park are not as well known as those in Banff, Lake Louise or Jasper. The journey there is also more difficult: a gravel road leads from Canmore past the Spray Lake dam. Anyone who has made it this far will be glad to get out of the car and will be rewarded with a varied hike. The Tentridge loop hike mostly runs above the tree line of the Rocky Mountains and thus offers a view of the surrounding mountains and lakes of Canada. There are also some easier scramble sections to overcome in order to reach the summit of the horseshoe-shaped mountain.
My tip: The hike starts at the Mount Engadine Lodge . Here you can enjoy a great afternoon tea and comfortable accommodation.
Canada Tentridge Rocky Mountains Hike
Key facts about the Tentridge circular hike in the Rocky Mountains
♡ -Factor: ♡♡♡♡♡
Walking time : 4:30 h
Altitude : 794 m high and below
Length : 10 km
Accessible by public transport? No
Directions: From Canmore, take the gravel road Highway 742 south for 37 km. Turn right at the intersection just before the Mount Engadine Lodge, then turn right again at the fork after about 900 m. Park on the side of the road after another 900 m.
GPS data: I have uploaded the GPS data for the hike to the Outdoor Active website
Starting and ending point: Mt. Shark Road, 1870 m.
Safety note: Canada is a bear country. In my blog post " Safe hiking and camping in bear country Canada " you will find tips on how to avoid the bear and how to behave if you do encounter him.
Equipment: I recommend hiking boots for this hike. Hiking poles can also be helpful here. Rain gear, warm clothing and bear spray are a must in Canada.
Further information and links: The Spray Valley Provincial Park website has current information about the hikes.
Click on the first picture to start the photo gallery:
Directions:
The starting point of this hike is not easy to find. There is no designated parking lot for hikers, but you park on Mt. Shark Road. From there, an inconspicuous meadow path leads left up the mountain and meanders through some meadows and small forests. You soon reach the tree line and after 2 km the ascent to the horseshoe-shaped ridge begins. Immediately after the hiking trail leads up to the right, the first scramble section comes, but it is not particularly difficult as long as you are not afraid of heights. Orientation is easy, you follow the ridge south to a weather station, after which you descend a little to the west. But directly on the opposite side it goes up again to the highest point of this hike, the summit of Tent Ridge at 2520 m. From here the path leads north along the other side of the horseshoe. After about 7 km the descent begins over a gravel slope back to the starting point on Mt. Shark Road.
INFO
All information on the Parks Canada website is available in English and French.
GETTING THERE
There are several scheduled flights from eg Germany to Vancouver or Calgary every day. An electronic travel document (eTa) is required to enter Canada.
The easiest way to continue your journey is by rental car, e.g. via www.billiger-mietwagen.de
BEST TIME
The best time to hike in the Rocky Mountains is from early July to September. Depending on the altitude, however, you can expect snow even in summer.
LITERATURE
ACCOMMODATION
The rustic Mount Engadine Lodge , located at the foot of the mountain, offers afternoon tea and overnight stays. See also my blog post: My 5 favorite accommodations in Western Canada
CARDS
If you would like a detailed hiking map in addition to the Parks Canada maps, you can order a waterproof and tear-resistant hiking map for the region from Gem Trek or buy one locally.