Highwood Pass
The Highest Paved Pass In Canada, On The Kananaskis Trail Through Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, With Alpine Meadows, Larch Trees, Short Trails And Wildflowers In July. The Road Closes From December 1 To Mid June, So A Visit Is A Summer And Autumn Trip · Longview, Alberta
Highwood Pass is the highest paved road pass in Canada, at roughly 2,200 m (confirm) on Highway 40 in Kananaskis Country, about 110 km south-west of Calgary and reached by the long climb up from the Highwood River valley. The road crosses a high saddle between the Misty Range and the peaks of Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, with wide alpine meadows, stunted subalpine fir, grey scree slopes and, in September, gold larches that colour the ridges. A roadside summit sign and a picnic area mark the top, and short trails lead to flower meadows and a bowl called Ptarmigan Cirque (confirm names). The pass is a summer and autumn trip because Highway 40 is closed from December 1 to mid June (confirm dates), and snow can fall on it in any month. Vehicles stopping in Kananaskis Country generally need a Kananaskis Conservation Pass (confirm), and services are far away. Plan a half day for the drive, the summit stop and a short walk.
Highwood Pass, the highest paved road pass in Canada at about 2,200 m on Highway 40 in Kananaskis Country, about 110 km south-west of Calgary; coordinates approximate, Longview, Alberta, Canada
The road over the pass is closed from December 1 to about June 15 each year for wildlife and snow reasons, so confirm the dates and current road reports before driving. In the open season the pass can be visited at any hour on the highway, but trails and picnic areas are best used between late June and early October, and snow or ice can return on any month. Services are minimal and the nearest fuel is far off, so plan the day around daylight, weather and a full tank.