Hiking Mount Allan is one of the most popular hikes to do in Kananaskis Country. It’s easily accessible and rated as a moderate with absolutely nothing technical with hardly any scrambling involved. This makes it a very fun and rewarding hike for all to enjoy in the beautiful Canadian Rockies.
After a fun full day out, I am so happy that we were able to complete another epic Kananaskis Hike. Read on for what to expect while hiking Mount Allan in Kananaskis Country. Note – Mount Allan can be done as a one way hike from Kananaskis to Dead Mans Flats – we did not do this hike, but instead did the round trip hike to the summit and back.
Mount Allan Hike Guide
Key Points
Mount Allan Parking
To get to the Centennial Ridge trailhead take Highway 40 south until you reach the turnoff for the Nakiska Ski Area. Follow the road until you reach Centennial Drive. It will be the first left you come to. Turn right onto Ribbon Creek Road continuing to the upper Ribbon Creek parking lot at the end of the road.
Nearby to Troll Falls, drive down Ribbon Creek Road. You’ll hit a large parking area, the upper Ribbon Creek parking lot, with picnic benches and restrooms. From this parking area, there are numerous hiking trails. Make sure to find the one nearest to the bathroom there is a sign for Centennial Ridge Trail and Mount Allan.
If you do the out and back option of Mount Allan you should leave your car here. If you do the point to point one-way hike (more on that later) you’ll need a two-car system.
Mount Allan Route Description (Via Centennial Ridge)
This hike starts out mild with only a slight, but steady incline. It pretty much stays this way for the majority of the hike. For the first 30- 45 minutes or so you’ll be hiking in the treeline. You’ll be able to stop off at different points to enjoy the views.
This is a well-worn trail and it’s in fantastic shape. Once you get above the treeline you’ll head into a large open meadow with a very clear large switchback trail up to Centennial Ridge.
Once you reach the ridge take a breather and enjoy a Cliff bar. The views are phenomenal. Upon reaching the weather station you’ll be able to see Nakiska ski resort down on your right.
From the car park to Centennial Ridge is about 1.5-2 hours. Most people stop when they reach the ridge, but it’s worth it to keep pushing and go for the summit of Mount Allan.
It’s almost 8 km to the summit of Mount Allan. The peak is 2821 meters high, making it the highest maintained trail in the Rockies. Past the ridge, it’s another 1.5 hours to the true summit. Along the way you’ll see huge pinnacles that look unworldly, these features make Mount Allan hike one for the books alone. Keep your eyes our for various peaks around including Mount Sparrowhawk.
The last 1km is a pretty relentless uphill climb in scree, once you reach the top stop to admire the views in all directions. The view over Canmore and the Bow Valley is astonishing.
Once you’ve enjoyed your summit beer and stop you have two choices, though you would have had to plan them out in advance. Head back the way you came, or continue on to Dead Mans Flats. To continue on you would have needed to plant a car in Dead Mans Flats. If you didn’t turn around for the start of the Centennial Ridge trailhead.
When Can You Hike Mount Allan?
Mount Allan can be hiked from June 21 until November. From April 1 – June 21 the trail is actually closed because Bighorn ewes are giving birth to lambs and should not be disrupted by humans.
July, August, and September are amazing times to hike Mount Allan. In early October the larches will change color and for just a few weeks everything will be yellow. In November it’s best to bring microspikes, poles, and warm clothes.
How Long Does Take To Hike Mount Allan?
With a distance of 15.8 km and an elevation gain of 1,485 meters Mount Allan is no short hike. If you go the out and back route the hike will take you between 7-10 hours. Many people we saw reached the end of Centennial Ridge and turn around here without continuing on to summit Mount Allan. If you choose this option you’ll be shaving off at least two hours of your time.
How Hard is it to Hike Mount Allan?
As far as hikes in Kananaskis go I would personally rate this hike as on the easier side. The only difference is that is a long day given the distance, I would put it on par with Mount Bourgeau in Banff National Park. However there is nothing technical about this hike and there is very very light scrambling involved unlike others in Kananaskis.
The route and trail is straightforward and easy to follow once you are on the trail.
Are dogs and kids appropriate to hike Mount Allan?
Both dogs and experienced kids would be able to handle easily handle Mount Allan, we saw plenty of both on our hike. Make sure to keep your dog on a leash as there are bears around.
How Busy is Mount Allan Hike?
Mount Allan is relatively busy, it’s a popular hike in Kananaskis and on a nice summer weekend day you’ll likely find plenty of other people enjoying this hike. Though it’s nowhere as busy as some hikes in Banff National Park and around Lake Louise.
Wildlife Awareness on The Hike
If you’re on any hikes in Kananaskis you should practice proper wildlife awareness. In the region, there are frequent sightings of black bears, grizzly bears, moose, coyotes, and cougars. They all a potential threat to humans and we should reduce our impact on their natural lives.
Before any hike or walk-in the Canadian Rockies, you need to have bear spray. Remember that the bear spray is worthless if it’s in your pack, you’ll need to be able to grab this in two seconds or less in an emergency. We wear our bear sprays on our hip.
The likeliness of seeing wildlife on this trail is high. It is a moderately trafficked trail, but bear sightings have occurred. The meadow and valley is prime grizzly habitat and the trail has been closed in the past due to bear activity. We saw a male grizzly near the saddle of this hike. Thankfully he was fairly far away and we had a large group.
Always check the park websites for wildlife information (Parks Canada) and then check again for notices at the trailhead.
When you’re on the trail make noise by banging hiking poles, talking, whistling, clapping, or singing. This is particularly important around blind bends and corners. You’re through the deep woods during these times, and it’s prime time to sneak up on a bear. Once you’re at the summit, you’re safer as you can see wildlife from afar, but still, don’t let your guard down and keep the bear spray on you just in case.
As always while hiking, you need to stay alert, travel in a group, mind children and pets, and finally carrying bear spray and knowing how to use it. If you’ve come to the park without bear spray Valhalla Pure Outfitters in town sells spray and holders with employees who will demonstrate how to use properly.
Besides bears, it’s common to see hoary marmots and pika. We asked a marmot for directions, but they only gave us a whistle.
Advice on Hikes in the Canadian Rockies
If this is your first time hiking in the Rockies take a conservative approach. Pick an adequate hike for your fitness, plan for plenty of time, pack water and food, and don’t be afraid to turn around. If you want to learn more about what to wear hiking we have a great post.
For long hikes, set a turn around time at the departure. Any time we set out for an objective I determine a time at which we need to turn around in order to arrive at the parking lot or campsite by dark. I would recommend not hiking in the dark as it’s easy to get lost and it’s not fun in bear country.
On that note, always carry bear spray if you plan to hike in the park. We carry ours in the neighborhood and bears have been known to stroll through town and busy parking lots. Always practice wildlife awareness when you’re on a trail, and please give animals space.
In regards to times keep in mind your mountain fitness — different than the gym. The low end of the times in this post is a constant fast pace uphill with little to no breaks and a brisk pace downhill. Most hikers should plan for a middle of the road time with the estimated duration.
It’s also super important to know that there are limitations and to come prepared. These are very serious mountains and it easy to get in well over your head with life-threatening consequences.
Lastly, a GPS tracker could save your life – it’s one of those backpacking essentials I like to have on me just in case I need to hit SOS.
Alltrails is our favorite app to have on a hike. It shows the correct trail way, elevation, and other hiker reviews. We paid the subscription fee so that we could download all the data we need to our phones. Best $2.50 (per month) ever spent!
What to Wear On a Hike?
The most basic principle of what to wear hiking is layering. Anyone that has spent time in wilderness or mountains can speak to the fact your temperature can fluctuate a lot on a hike. You can easily start off cool at the base of the mountain and get hot as soon as you begin moving.
The goal of hiking clothing is to help regulate your body temperature, element protection, and moisture management. Temperature management is best done through a layering system if you want to learn more about what to pack for a day hike or what to wear on a hike, you can see our full post! Here are the best hiking clothes for men and the best hiking clothes for women.
Here is exactly what we take on hikes in the Canadian Rockies
Fjallraven’s Keb Pant
Both Cameron and I have Fjallraven’s well known Keb pants. Fjallraven’s Keb pants are a mountaineering staple, but they are heavyweight and not excellent for quick dry properties yet extremely durable.
They kept me warm throughout this entire hike and are windproof. When I was too hot at the base of the mountain, I was able to unzip the sides for airflow. These are, without a doubt, my favorite pants to hike in the Canadian Rockies. You can also check out the best hiking pants for women and the best hiking pants for men.
If you want to wear shorts check out our best hiking shorts for men and our best hiking shorts for women.
Fjallraven Keb Women’s PantsFjallraven Keb Men’s Pants
Outdoor Research Shirt Echo Series
I have six Outdoor Research Echo shirts and rotate them on all my hikes. They are lightweight and moisture wicking. Seriously, you don’t want to be stuck with a cotton shirt while hiking it traps all your sweat and then when you get cold it becomes a problem.
Outdoor Research shirts provide full coverage with their long sleeve collections, but you won’t get hot under the sun. These shirts are built with UPF sun protection, AirVent™ moisture management, and ActiveFresh™ odor control technology.
Womens Outdoor Research Echo ShirtsMens Outdoor Research Echo Shirts
Down Jacket
We ALWAYS have a down jacket with me on every single hike I go in the Rockies. It’s a just in case jacket that we usually end up wearing when we reach the summit, and it gets cold. Down jackets pack up light and small so there is no reason NOT to have one in your bag. Seriously it could save your life in a bad situation. We wrote a whole post on our favorites (hint – Arc’Teryx Cerium LT Hooded Jacket, Patagonia Down Sweater, REI Coop Down Jacket)
Shell Jacket
I also always have a water-resistant windbreaker/rain jacket in my hiking backpack. This is for if it rains (which it did on this hike) or if it gets windy. I have never regretted having a windbreaker in my back.
Again, it’s another piece of clothing that is super light and could save your life. The one I wore on this hike is by one my new favorite companies – Topo Designs. They make a Global Jacket that is waterproof, with a structured hood, and venting pockets.
Gloves
I have a pair of Outdoor Research gloves in my hiking pack at all times. They are great for when you are scrambling and I always end up using them. I never want to come back with bloody hands and they protect against that.
Wool Socks
We’ve learned to love our feet with a good pair of merino wool hiking socks. You will want to keep your feet nice and dry while you walk around. Most importantly wool socks stay fresh for several days as they have natural antimicrobial properties.
We travel with a couple pairs of the Darn Tough Merino socks and our feet have never felt cold or wet. As a bonus, they’re produced in Vermont!
Hiking Backpack
We personally like to use between a 30-40L pack for most day hikes in the mountains as it allows for us to carry everything we could need. The major plus side is a large bag means we can bring things like a stove to make coffee or a hot meal for a nice rest on long hikes. We also love to use our Camelbak’s for easier objectives.
Sunglasses
Make sure to protect your eyes from the sun since you’ll likely spend a lot of time hiking in the sun at elevation. There are a lot of options for sunglasses and everyone should own at least a pair. It’s best to make sure they do have UV protection for the health of your eyes. Sunglasses are particularly important if you plan to visit any glaciers or high alpine passes as sun reflection from the snow is damaging to your eyes.
We made our first investment in quality polarized sunglasses with a pair of SMITH Optics Lowdown 2. Truthfully, not everyone needs to invest $150 in a pair of sunglasses; however, we love ours and will never buy cheap ones again. Polarized glasses are great at enhancing vision in bright environments and removing glare from windshields and the water.
Hat
I always have a baseball cap in my bag in case the sun gets too intense. I’ve been out too many times without one and my forehead gets too toasty for my liking – even with sunscreen. A baseball cap protects against that and I highly recommend having one in your bag.
Hiking Poles
If you have plans to take part in a long day or multi-day hikes a pair of hiking poles are a great way to save your knees and prevent injuries. If you’re on a full day of hiking in the mountains you’ll gain and descend a lot of elevation. So, it’s easy for your legs to get tired so a pair of hiking poles will pay off. Although I don’t always need hiking poles, they are always in my pack. I ended up using them while hiking the ridge and descending on this hike.
Black Diamond is a company dedicated to mountain sports and has worked hard to craft wonderful products. I personally use the Black Diamond FLZ Hiking Poles, but there are some other great poles out there produced by companies like REI and MSR. “Z” poles are fantastic as they’re lightweight and can be stashed inside a backpack should you not need them.
Black Diamond FLZ Hiking Poles
Peak Design Capture Clip
This is has been one of our favorite additions to our camera equipment and hiking outfit. The Peak Design capture clip allows for a camera to be clipped on to your backpack strap or belt.It has to be one of the best accessories we’ve ever used for carrying our camera.
The clip feels secure and robust with a straight forward design that makes switching straps easy. We’ve brought it on several hikes around the Canadian Rockies now and it has changed the way in which we photograph hikes. The access it provides to your camera is so much better than a camera strap that allows a camera to swing and banging into everything.
It’s super handy and a must for anyone who want to carry their camera on hikes, but not have to fumble around in their bag every time they want to take a photo.
Camera (We have the Fujifilm X-T3)
This beautiful and reasonably priced camera is both weather-resistant and mirrorless. It is easily the best ASP-C camera on the market and gives a serious run at many of the full-frame cameras. After all, is a full-frame camera really a necessity? In my opinion, not at all! We love photography, posting to Instagram, and posting on this website so we always have a camera on us on any hike. See the best cameras here.
Bear Spray*
This is a non-negotiable Banff packing list item if you’re in bear country and in some parks, it’s actually required by law. Bear spray should be on your person and not in your pack. We each have a neoprene sleeve that holds our bear spray on our belt pocket. It’s easy to reach in case of an emergency which the most important detail.
It’s a good idea to make noise while hiking in bear country whether that is singing, ringing a bell, clapping, or banging your hiking poles. Be wary of blind spots on your hikes such as tight bends and forested sections of the trail.
Headlamp
On any trip where we’ll spend time outside, almost every trip, a headlamp is on our packing list. I typically don’t plan on using it on a day hike, but it’s always there just in case.
We have several, but one of our favorites is the Biolite 330. It took several recommendations online before settling on this one because of its affordable price and durability. It delivers 330 lumens, costs $60, and it’s rechargeable.
High-Calorie Snack
Pack some high-calorie snacks for your hike on the trail. Popular options are energy gels, bars, or balls, jerky, nuts, or even a Snickers. Hiking at elevation can burn a lot of calories so it’s important to maintain your glucose levels.
It’s advised to eat as much as 200-300 calories per hour of exercise. If it’s a long day on the mountain you can always bring a packed lunch with a sandwich and high calorie like dried fruits. (I’m pretty much a kid and still love a peanut butter and jelly sandwich). We fell in love with the Nut Butter filled Clif Bars.
How to Choose Energy Foods
Emergency Blanket
This is where preparation for spending a night out in the wilderness comes into effect. If you’re on a short loop around town it’s probably not necessary, but any significant hike in a national park or wilderness area presents the risk of spending the night outside.
When temperatures drop at night it presents the very dangerous threat of hypothermia or frostbite. Every time I pack this thing the photo cracks me up, but I suppose it’s better than a smiling couple.
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The Best Credit Cards For Travel
Plan Your Trip to the Canadian Rockies
Guide Book
Sometimes it’s nice just to have a real book in your hands when traveling. We recommend picking up a Lonely Planet to get you through the wireless nights.
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Last Updated on March 16, 2020