After my recent adventure in scrambling and route-finding on Mount Richards, I was looking for a day in the mountains that would allow me to just follow a trail and admire the views. I decided on a large loop route in Waterton that would depart from Red Rock Canyon, ascend to Goat Lake, tag Newman Peak, traverse Avion Ridge, visit Lost Lake, then pass by the Snowshoe warden’s cabin and campground before returning to Red Rock Canyon. The route would allow for biking the section to and from where the Goat Lake trail departs from the Snowshoe access trail. This loop is often done as a 1 or 2 night backpacking trip but it’s also perfect for a single long summer day.
Access is via the Red Rock Canyon day use area, located at the end of the Red Rock Parkway in Waterton. I departed west along the Snowshoe multi-use trail. Fairly easy biking for 4.6 km brought me to the Goat Lake trail. The trail is marked with a little sign, but it’s actually easy to miss if you’re travelling fast westbound – the vegetation obscures it somewhat. I stashed my bike and set out on foot up to Goat Lake, then beyond it to the col between Newman Peak and Avion Ridge. A couple of my older posts go into more detail on this section here and here.
From where the trail reaches the col, I turned right (northeast) and started to ascend Newman Peak. There’s no official trail in that direction, you just hike straight up to the peak. The view looking up from the col is a little foreshortened – the summit turned out to be further away and higher up than I thought at first, though the climb was nothing arduous. I took a bit of a break on the summit of Newman, enjoying the views into Castle Wildland Provincial Park, British Columbia, Montana, and the surrounding Waterton Peaks.
I returned to the col and started my ridge walk following the horseshoe shape of Avion. From the col, the official trail bears right, around the rocky outcrop where the ridge meets the col. However, there’s a visible path that bears left, ascends the outcrop and goes to the top of the ridge. I went this way, and the going was very easy. If the path is snow-free and the wind isn’t howling I think it’s the better way to go because of the great views back down into Goat Lake’s hanging valley. I easily reached the high point on northeast section of the ridge. Looking at the terrain, as well as my altitude readings and topographic maps, this point seems to be the actual highest point on the ridge by a few meters. However, it isn’t the official summit – that is the high point on the next section of the ridge. No cairn was present, just a toppled sign marking the national park boundary.
I rejoined the trail by quickly descending soft, almost sandy terrain and carried on to the sparsely treed col between the northeast and southern parts of the ridge. After an easy ascent on the trail I soon reached the official summit of Avion Ridge that was marked with a short but sturdy cairn. I took my lunch break here. Directly south across the valley I admired Mount Bauerman, Lost Mountain, and Anderson Peak. Impressive peaks to the southwest and west in Montana and BC were also attention grabbing. I was pleased to discover that from the summit there was an appropriate height and angle to see Twin Lakes and Lost Lake sitting far away in their little valleys.
Departing from the summit of Avion Ridge, I followed the trail as it began to descend. As it got lower it became sparsely then more densely treed. I was sticking to the edge of the ridge for a while then made sure I got back onto the trail (running a short distance off the ridge) so I didn’t get lost in the woods. Once in the trees, I realized that I was in a part of Waterton that was untouched by the 2017 fires. I really enjoyed this walk through dense, healthy forest which was once the norm in the park. The trail continued its descent, sometimes at a fairly steep grade, until it reached a signed T-intersection. To the left (southeast) the trail headed towards Snowshoe campground and the side-trail to Lone Lake. The signage didn’t actually have this information, though, it only told you how far behind you Avion Ridge and Goat Lake are – no info for those travelling in the other direction. Going right from the T-intersection was an unmaintained trail heading out of the park. On a map it’s apparent that the intersection is on a subtle col, and to the right the terrain descends down into the Castle River valley.
I continued down the trail until I reached the 1.1 km side-trail to Lone Lake. I went out and back to the lake fairly quickly. The lake is picturesque and a decent place to take a break, but anyone in a hurry need not worry they’re missing something special if they skip it. Once back on the main trail I made it to Snowshoe warden cabin and campground. Then I walked the Snowshoe trail east about 3.9 km to get back to my bike. An easy ride back to the sweltering and busy parking lot finished the day.
I really enjoyed this trip. It was perfect for a long summer day. If I were to backpack it, I think camping at both Goat Lake and Snowshoe would be a fun way to stretch it to 3 days. If I wanted only one night of camping I think I’d make it Goat Lake – it’s just a more picturesque setting.
Route overviewSetting out on bike along the Snowshoe trail.Looking south at one of my favourite views in the Waterton – the almost cartoonishly pointed profile of Anderson Peak’s eastern outlier.At 4.6km I found the Goat Lake trail. After stashing my bike in the woods I started to ascend.Looking back at Anderson Peak from part way up the Goat Lake trail.On the traverse leading to Goat Lake’s hanging valley. Looking at the waterfall coming down from the lake.A look back from the top of the traverse.Goat LakeThe view from a little further along the shore.Past the lake, heading to the first headwall.Now approaching the 2nd headwall.The view from the top of the 2nd headwall.The col between Avion Ridge and Newman Peak is up ahead. The trail leading up there cuts to the right around the rock bands then traverses left to the col.At the col.Looking southeast, back to Goat Lake.Looking at the valley on the opposite side of the col in Castle Wildland Provincial Park.Looking northeast, up to the summit of Newman Peak. It’s not that far, but I found it was a little higher and a little farther than it looked from here. I walked straight up the ridge.The summit cairn on Newman Peak. The green ammo box (usually holding a register and sometimes smudging materials) was outside the cairn with its lid off when I arrived. All the contents were gone.The view to the northeast, looking at Yarrow Basin, adjacent to Spionkop Ridge (left). Yarrow Creek runs eastward in this valley.Looking east at the unnamed higher summit adjacent to Newman Peak.Looking southeast, back down to Goat Lake. Avion ridge at the right. Anderson Peak and Lost Mountain are clearly visible left of centre. Beyond are peaks in Waterton, Glacier National Park Montana, and BC.A bit of a closer look at Goat Lake.Looking at Kinnerly Peak and Long Knife Peak in the distance.Looking west. Avion Ridge’s horseshoe shape apparent on the left. Sage Mountain is right of centre. Descending back to the col.The official trail breaks to the right around the rocks ahead and traverses below the ridge line. I wanted to stay on the ridge so I could see the view on both sides. A visible trail bears left and ascends through the rocks, reaching the ridge without any difficult maneuvers. I think that’s definitely the preferred way to go provided it’s not snow-covered or ridiculously windy.Ascending towards the ridge top.The view to the left on ascent.Following the faint trail, above one rock band and below another.Looking towards Goat Lake again.On the top of the ridge now, heading towards the high point.The high point on the eastern portion of Avion Ridge. Visually, and based on my GPS readings that day, this spot is a little higher than the official summit, off to the southwest. No cairn here, just a toppled park boundary sign.Looking northeast, back at Newman Peak (centre). The summit of Spionkop Ridge is to its left and the unnamed high point is to its right. Down in the valley you can appreciate the two headwalls and see the trail here and there.Looking southeast. Goat Lake is visible. In the distance on the left are Mount Glendowan, Cloudy Peak, Mount Dungarvan, and Mount Galwey. Looking southwest at the rest of Avion Ridge. Descending to the col was very easy on soft, almost sandy terrain. I really wouldn’t want to climb up from this direction.Down on the col, looking at the next section of Avion Ridge.One of may favourite things – a hidden valley visible only from the ridge top. There was no tarn, but there was a persistent snow patch with a bit of a creek running from it.Ascending to the top of the southern section of the ridge.Looking north as I neared the ridge top. Distant Castle Peak and Windsor Mountain are framed by the remains of a tree.Avion Ridge’s summit coming into view.Nearing the last climb.The official summit of Avion Ridge.The view to the east, looking back the way I came.View to the south. Anderson Peak, Lost Mountain, and Mount Bauerman directly across the valley.View to the west, looking at the continental divide. Twin Lakes and Lost Lake are visible in adjacent valleys.A closer look at the lakes.Looking north into the Castle.Another look back along Avion Ridge.Starting to descend.Checking out Lost Lake again.As elevation is lost trees start to appear along the ridge. The trail will eventually turn to descend through them. If you stick to the edge of the ridge and don’t pay attention you may miss the descent.A last look back at Avion Ridge.Following the trail down through an area of the park untouched by the 2017 fires. This brought back a lot of memories.Looking at the sign at the T-intersection at the bottom of the descent. All the signage was oriented towards destinations back the way I came, not the direction I was going. I turned left at the T-intersection to head towards Snowshoe camp. This spot is referred to as Castle River Divide on signs further down the trail and on the Gem Trek map of Waterton.Making my way through patches of bear grass.2.3 km from the Castle River Divide I took the side-trail heading to Lost Lake.Lost Lake. I took a short break here and wondered about the origin of the name – there’s a Lost Mountain, but it’s some distance east of here. Are the names related or not? What exactly was lost?Back on the main trail.Soon, the trail brought me rather abruptly to the Snowshoe campsite.Snowshoe cabin. I’m not sure when the wardens use it, or what they use it for.A little hut and corral behind the warden’s cabin.After exploring around the campsite I headed east, back towards my bike, 3.9 km away.Enjoying the greenery of the old growth forest.Back in the burned forest again, soon to be reunited with my bike.
Hiking With Par 