ForgetMeNot Ridge

Posted August 9th, 2007 by Chris

Distance:

11 km

Difficulty:

Moderate

Elev. gain:

610 meters

Time required:

3 - 5 hours

Bikes permitted:

Dogs permitted:

Yes

Download GPX

Directions to trail head

Drive south from Bragg Creek on highway #22 and turn west (right) onto highway #66. Continue on highway #66 for 30 kilometers and turn onto the access road for the Little Elbow Recreation Area. Turn and park at the second left turn. There is a sign "Trailhead Parking" where you should park.

Hazards on trail

River crossing of the Elbow River. Obviously the water is higher in the spring and by late summer most of the water is running underground so the crossing is relatively easy.

Hike Description

Immediately below is a picture of Forgetmenot Ridge that I snapped as we sped back down highway #66. The angle is deceiving. The trail works it way first to the lower peak on the right side of the photo and then continues on to the higher ridge which is actually on the left.

Just to ensure that there is no doubt here is a photo of the upper ridge taken from the lower.

On the GPS track I have included two starting points for this trail. The first starts behind the bathrooms in the parking lot that is pointed to by the "Trailhead Parking" sign. This is where I would recommend that you park. From this point you will follow the Little Elbow Trail upstream for 500 meters and then cross the suspension bridge. The second starting point is a small parking area across the Little Elbow trail and the campground access road. Parking at this spot is limited to about a dozen vehicles. To get to the second starting point you will continue straight past the "Trailhead Parking" sign, turn left at the stop sign and drive about 400 meters down the gravel road.

Wherever you park, you will cross the suspension bridge. After the bridge follow the Big Elbow Trail down a hill to the flats. Stay on the Elbow trail to waypoint #002 which intersects with the Wildhorse Trail. At this intersection if you kept going straight you would continue on the Big Elbow trail. To the right is a horse trail. Turn left onto the Wildhorse Trail at waypoint #002. The Wildhorse trail continues to the Elbow River which you will have to cross. After crossing the river the Wildhorse Trail climbs gently. The turnoff to the right for ForgetMeNot Ridge is approximately 600 meters from the riverbank. There is a cairn that marks the start of the trail up the ridge.

The trail to the lower ridge zigzags on scree for most of the ascent. A tree that rattles in the wind because of the rocks hanging on its branches is passed on the way to the lower ridge. After reaching the lower ridge you can continue approximately 3 kilometers (return to the lower ridge) to the the higher north ridge summit or at waypoint #004 turn right and walk an additional 6 km return (100 meters of elevation) along ForgetMeNot Ridge. The GPS track takes you to the north ridge, neither the track nor the map generated with Google Earth depicts the additional trail. As you climb to the lower and upper ridge, Powderface Ridge is directly across highway 66 and Mount Glascow is to the west.

Follow the link to view the area with Google Earth or to see the full size image created with Google Earth.