Grotto Mountain - Canmore
Basic route on the ACC trail
Grotto Mountain - Canmore
- Scramble: Class 1 – Steep Hiking, Nice Ridge Walk
- Altitude: 2,706m (8,876 ft)
- Elevation Gain: 1,425m (4,674 ft)
- Ascent Time: 3 – 4 1/2 Hours
- Best Season to Scramble: Mid-May to October, relatively little snow on the upper slope is best
Highlights
This scramble offers lots of elevation (it's a deceptively high mountain), a great ridge walk and superb views.
Getting There
Head west out of Calgary on the TransCanada highway # 1 to Canmore 106km (66.2 miles). Take the first Canmore exit off ramp, then head back east on the old 1A highway (left hand turn). You will see Grotto up to your left. A few kilometers down this road you will see a sign for "Indian Flats Road" and the Alpine Club of Canada. This is a left hand turn off the 1A, continue up to the Alpine Club lower parking lot. The trailhead starts a little bit back down the hill across from the Alpine Club maintenance area buildings.
Route Description
From the parking lot head back down the road (mere yards) and across from the lower maintenance buildings you will see the trailhead on your left. Follow this trail for 15 minutes +/- and take the fork to the right down a gully and up the other side. On the other side head left up the trail. This will put you on the ACC trail and takes you to the left of the gully system on the face of Grotto. Continue up this steep switch-backing trail to above tree line. At this point there is a nice view of Lady Macdonald to the northwest. Angle right over loose rubble to the ridgeline. From here it is a fairly long but pleasant ridge walk keeping right then left as the terrain demands.