Jumpingpound Ridge to Cox Hill

Posted June 4th, 2007 by Chris

Distance:

19 km

Difficulty:

Moderate

Elev. gain:

881 meters

Time required:

6 - 9 hours

Bikes permitted:

Yes

Dogs permitted:

Yes

Horses permitted:

Yes

Download GPX

Directions to trail head

For this trail you can either start at the Dawson Equestrian Area (northend) and climb Cox Hill before following the ridge or start at the Mount McDougall Memorial (south end). The trail is 19 kilometers one way. To get to the trailhead at the north end and to start by climbing Cox Hill, head west on highway #1 from Calgary. Approximately 16 kilometers west of the intersection of highway #22 and highway #1 head south (left) on Sibbald Creek Trail (Highway #68). After traveling 23 kilometres turn left onto the Powder Face Trail Road and then after 3 kilometers left into the Dawson Equestrian Area. The trailhead is near entrance to the parking lot. To get to the Mount McDougall Memorial trailhead you continue down the Powder Face Trail Road for approximately 16 kilometers from the point at which you can turn into the Dawson Equestrian Area.

Hazards on trail

This road can be treacherous, especially during wet conditions so take your time.

Hike Description

If you like Alpine Meadows this is the hike for you. It is the longest hike of continuous Alpine meadows in Kananaskis Country of which I am aware. This is the path of the trail created with Google Earth.

This trail will also allow you to look at the valleys in between Jumpingpound Mountain/Cox Hill and Moose Mountain to the east and Mount Baldy/ Mount Lorrette/ Mount McDougall to the west.

For this trail, if you plan to do all 19 kilometers I would suggest the use of two vehicles. I would also suggest that you start at the south end near the McDougall Memorial. By starting at this end the climb in elevation is spread over a greater distance. If you want to start in the Dawson Equestrian Area you will climb Cox Hill and then continue onto Jumpingpound Ridge. The climb is much more noticeable if you start at with the climb up Cox Hill.

The directions for this hike assume that you take my advice. Starting at the Mount McDougall Memorial, cross the road and head down the grassy trail which follows Canyon Creek. After about 750 meters of following the old road depicted in the photo below, you will turn left at waypoint #02 and head up the switchbacks into the forest.

At the base of Jumpingpound Mountain you will leave the forest and start the walk through the alpine meadows all the way to the summit of Cox Hill. Follow the trail back into the forest. Ultimately you will reach the intersection of the Tom Snow and Cox Hill trails at waypoint #04. Turn Left at make your way to the Dawson Equestrian Area. By this point, if you did not leave a vehicle in this parking lot, you may wish you had. For more photos for this hike have a look at the post for the Cox Hill trail. Click to see the full size view of the topographical for this hike.

The GPS track for this hike can be downloaded via the file attached to this post. Go to the "About" page for directions prior to download or use of this data. Please submit your feedback and let me know your thoughts on the hike. If you have the the GPS data for other hikes in Alberta please send it along with a couple pictures to chris[at]hikealberta[dot]com.