The Alpenglow Guide to Wildflower Hiking: Healy Pass

Now that the clouds have cleared and the rain has (mostly) stopped. We have made our way into one of the Rockies most beautiful seasons, Wildflower season! While you can certainly see many of these stunning blooms along the highway and around town, the best place to view the most diversity and appreciate it in solitude is in our high alpine meadows. Healy Pass may is a long hike, but for those willing to put in the effort it is absolutely worth it. In this guide I will try to answer all your questions about this amazing trail!

When is wildflower season?

This answer will change year to year based on the weather, but it typically falls sometime between mid July and mid August, and last for 3-4 weeks The best way to know exactly when they are out is to look at reviews and trail reports.

Where does this hike start?

The first bridge of the hike, to the right of the Creekside Lodge

For this hike you will park at Sunshine Village, one of Banff's famous ski resorts with a great summer operation as well! You will find good signage along the trail but I always advise having your own map, Alltrails is generally the most accurate and easy to use mapping app for the area. Make sure to download the route as you will not have cell service for the majority of the trail!

How long is this hike?

Length: 18 km or 11 miles (roundtrip)

Elevation gain: 900 metres or 2950 feet

Hiking time: 6-7 hours

Base elevation: 1650 metres or 5410 feet

Max elevation: 2330 metres or 7644 feet

What is the trail like?

While the distance is long and the elevation may seem daunting, the trail itself is a very gentle grade. Expect some rocks and roots, but overall a very nice and level trail. You will spend the first 6km hiking through a beautiful evergreen forest. When you get higher into the alpine and the trees clear you are rewarded with stunning alpine meadows. During wildflower season these meadows come alive with incredible colours, while in the fall you are rewarded with stunning Golden Larch Trees.

What kinds of flowers can I expect to see?

Glacier Lilies

Red Meadow Paintbrush

Purple Fleabane

Northern Bedstraw

Fireweed

Smooth Aster

What should I bring?

Check out our guide on What to Pack for an Adventure in the Rockies for a full breakdown on our recommended hiking gear!

Final Thoughts...

This hike is one of my personal favourites in the area anytime of year, but it is especially beautiful during Wildflower Season. Larch Season also offers a special treat, when the High Alpine Larch Trees turn a magnificient shade of gold/ neon yellow in mid September- late October.

Due to the distance and the high elevation of this hike a good level of fitness is required, but the gentle, well maintained trail makes it suitable for many people. For all my runners out there this trail is a treat to run, gradual climbs and fast, flowy descents are guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

The most important thing to remember when hiking in this pristine natural environment is to treat it with respect and leave it better than you found it. Pack out whatever you packed in, and consider being a trail angel and picking up other people's litter.

Respect the furry local's by keeping your distance, and making sure to never feed the the wildlife! They may act starving but it is all a con! I assure you they have everything they need! Always carry bear spray when traveling in bear country, but remember that the best way to avoid wildlife conflicts is to avoid them in the first place. They generally have no interest in meeting people so make noise and be aware of your surroundings to avoid running into them on the trail.

I hope you enjoyed this guide and I hope it has helped you gather the info you need to get out and enjoy this trail! Please remember to leave a like or comment if you want more content like this.

Happy Trails!