The Hill of the Flowers (Short River Crossing) (Keep Bear Spray) (Long Walk)

Trail Name: The Hill of the Flowers (Click the link for the AllTrails Route.)
Difficulty: Hard
Trailhead meet-up time: Friday, October 3, 2025 at 9:00 am
Location: Cat Creek Parking Lot/Trailhead (Click the link for the parking lot location.)

NOTE: **Attendance** - A waitlist has been created. I will admit attendees at my own discretion. Your answer to the hike question will be considered. I am aiming for a total of 10 attendees (including myself).

NOTE: Hike Day - All hike dates are subject to change depending on the weather.

NOTE: Difficulty - This is a Hard hike. No technical sections but we are covering a long distance, with a steep section on the ridge ascending the Hill of the Flowers. There is also a short river crossing of the Highwood River early in the hike - you should be comfortable with crossing ankle deep water.

The first major cold front of Fall is coming this weekend, with 10-30cm of snow forecasted for Saturday. Friday forecast is looking lovely with sunny skies and low wind. The Hill of the Flowers is a scenic summit east of Mount McPhail and Horned Mountain with amazing views of the Continental Divide peaks. Let's explore and enjoy this beautiful area!

Trail Details
Distance: Approx. 24 km (Out-and-Back)
Elevation gain: Approx. 990 meters
Time: Approx. 8 hours (including breaks)

Trail Description:
From the Cat Creek Parking Lot, we will have our obligatory 2km walk down to the Highwood River. We will cross the river, and continue along the Carnarvon Lake trail for a short distance. At the trail junction, we will branch climber's right to follow McPhail Creek on a frequently trafficked equestrian/hiking trail.

We will gradually ascend as we follow the equestrian trail for about 7km. At the base of the Hill of the Flowers, we will turn climber's right and ascend about 600 metres along the grassy ridge to the summit. We will enjoy the summit views and retrace our steps to the parking lot.

RECOMMENDED GEAR & SUPPLIES
- appropriate clothing - Mid Fall - Light wool clothing is recommended with a windbreaker/light jacket. Cotton clothes are not good. Jeans are not good.
- hiking poles - trail is very gradual but you might find them useful for the ridge ascent and the river crossing
- small towel - to dry your feet after crossing the river
- sunglasses
- sunscreen
- hat/cap
- gloves/toque - cooler temperatures, especially in the morning
- personal first aid kit
- snacks/lunch
- water (recommend 2 litres of water) - McPhail Creek and Highwood River are the main water sources - water filters can be handy. I can also give refills with my water filter.

Ride Sharing:
I will leave it to attendees' discretion to choose their own ride sharing spots.

Suggested Ride Sharing Fee: $15

Join us for a pleasant hike before the snow arrives!