Kananaskis Trail

Trans-Canada Highway to Longview

Canadian Rockies · Alberta · Canada

Key measurements

Distance

91.7 miles

Elevation gain

5,778 ft

Elevation loss

5,923 ft

High point

7,280 ft

Low point

4,059 ft

Net change

-144 ft (4,239 ft to 4,094 ft)

Surface

Paved

Route type

point-to-point

Route Overview

Kananaskis Trail / Highwood Pass runs 91.7 miles from the Trans-Canada Highway to Longview through the Front Ranges of the Alberta Rockies. Following Highway 40 south through Kananaskis Country, the route climbs through the Kananaskis Valley to Highwood Pass—the highest paved highway pass in Canada at approximately 7,238 feet—before descending along the Highwood River and turning east on Highway 541 toward the foothill ranching country around Longview.

The ride gains more than 5,700 cumulative feet of elevation, transitioning from dense conifer forest and broad mountain valleys to alpine terrain near Highwood Pass, then gradually opening into rolling shortgrass prairie and cattle country as the Rockies recede to the west. ## Key Segments & Geographic Transitions

Kananaskis Trail & Highwood Pass — Miles 0.1–64.8

Starting near Seebe off the Trans-Canada Highway corridor, Highway 40 runs south through the glaciated trough of the Kananaskis Valley. Flanked by sharp limestone peaks, the road carries wide, sweeping curves through lodgepole pine and spruce forests. As the route pushes past the main valley lakes, the grade steepens significantly up toward Highwood Pass, reaching the route’s high point of 7,280 feet at mile 41.9. Vegetation thins to subalpine larch and open scree fields near the pass. The descent southward follows the headwaters of the Highwood River through timbered valley bottoms down to the Highway 541 junction.

Highwood River Canyon to Ranch Country — Miles 65.1–91.7

At mile 65.1, the route transitions east onto Highway 541, tracking alongside the winding course of the Highwood River. The terrain narrows briefly through forested canyons and rock cuts before the valley floor expands. Over these final 26 miles, the high rocky ridges recede into aspen parkland and undulating foothill pastures. Curves broaden into long, open stretches as the elevation drops steadily to a low point of 4,059 feet, terminating at Longview on the edge of the Alberta plains.

Seasonal & Environmental Context

Highway 40 over Highwood Pass is closed annually from December 1 through June 14, reopening to motor vehicles June 15. Even during the open season, weather at the pass is highly variable, with strong winds, sudden temperature drops, thunderstorms, hail, and occasional snow possible at high elevation.

Logistics & Services

Services are крайне sparse once you leave the Highway 1 corridor at the northern end. Limited services are available in the Kananaskis Valley, but there are no fuel stops along Highway 541 between the junction at mile 65 and the end of the route in Longview. Plan fuel range carefully for the entire 92-mile run. Cell coverage is unreliable or completely absent through most of the Kananaskis Trail and the Highwood River canyon.

Important Considerations

Wildlife is common throughout Kananaskis Country, including bighorn sheep, elk, deer, bears, and other large mammals. Animals may be present on or near the roadway, particularly around dawn and dusk. Reduce speed in wildlife areas and be prepared for sudden stops or crossings.

Expect significant thermal drops between the valley floors and the summit of the pass. Road surfaces can feature frost-heave ripples and lingering gravel accumulations in corners, particularly early in the open season.