Chester Lake / Three Lakes Valley / Smith-Dorrien Highway

Club Favorite

Description: This jade-coloured lake is a year round popular destination and you are unlikely to be alone. In addition to the hiking crowd, scramblers use the trail to access Mount Chester, Galatea and Gusty Peak and boulders to access Elephant Rocks.

The start up steeply inclined logging roads is less than aesthetic, but after that it's a pleasant and mostly easy walk though alternating forest and flowery meadows.

The picturesue valley to the north of Chester Creek holds three small lakes. From the lakeshore trail, we will take the well-used trail that climbs over the intervening ridge of larches and jumbo-sized boulders to the valley of Chester Creek. The trail continues upstream to the first tarn, whose damp shores are beautified by clouds of silky white cotton grass. The finger valley between Mt. Galatea and Gusty Peak is a goat hot spot and if we're lucky, you can spot them feeding on deelicacies in damp, slanting guillies high up to the right.

Hiking Distance: 4.3 Kilometers One Way + 2.2 Kilometers to Three Lakes Valley

Height Gain: 305 Meters / 1000 Feet + 244 Meters / 800 Feet

High Point: 2210 Meters / 7250 Feet + 2454 / 8080 Feet

Difficulty Level: Easy / Moderate

Carpool Depart: Please arrive 15 minutes before so carpooling can be arranged, as we will be leaving at 8:00 a.m. sharp. The Club suggests a compensation of 6 cents per kilometer both ways for the driver(s).

Travel Distance: 145 Kilometers One Way / 2 Hours Approximately

Event Coordinators: For inquires, please contact the event coordinator Tigger / Lori at [masked] or (403)[masked]. On the day of the event, call or text me at (403)[masked].

Notice of Cancellation: The trip leaders will contact registered participants by telephone or email if the trip is cancelled or postponed. Registrants are asked to contact the trip leader if they are not able to attend.

Guest Policy: Guests are welcome to 'try us out' on a couple of events. Please complete a Guest Waiver (https://calgaryskiclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Calgary-Ski-Club-Informed-Consent-and-Assumption-of-Risk-Agreement-.pdf) and bring it with you and provide to the trip leader.

Please check the Hiking / Outdoor Adventure Checklist regarding recommended equipment at https://calgaryskiclub.org/resources/hiking-outdoor/#reference.

Before returning to Calgary, for those of you that are interested, we will be stopping at Kananaskis Village for light snacks and refreshments.