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View looking north
Storelk Knob
Kananaskis, Alberta
September 29, 2026
Distance: 5.2 km (3.2 mi)
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 473 m (1552 ft)
With larch season in full swing, and like many others, Brian and I headed to the Highwood Pass area. But unlike them, our car sat alone at the trailhead, and no one else was on the trail. We were hiking Storelk Mountain trail, not to climb the mountain but to ascend the knob from the col.
After stepping out of the car, we found miserable weather: overcast, drizzle and 4°. As I considered driving twenty minutes back to the foothills where it was 13° and sunny, Brian pulled out his pack. The hike was on.
After walking up the trail for 300 m, we left the trail and started bushwhacking southeast. Here’s the thing. If you stay on the trail, you’ll face a steep, mud bank that’s difficult to climb. The trail was swept away in a mudslide years ago on the other side of Storm Creek. After bushwhacking 100 m, we crossed the creek where there’s a trail on the other side, an extension of Storelk Mountain trail.
We followed the trail, bushy at times, through the forest. Eventually, the trail levels off and passes meadows before reaching the basin below the col. A steep trail climbs to the col. We turned left and proceeded to Storelk Knob. After a short hike, we reached the bare summit where we had a fine view although low clouds covered the higher peaks. After lunch, we started down the north ridge.
It began pleasantly, a gradual descent on the open ridge, until it hit the trees. Then we encountered steep inclines and short cliff bands. The grade eased on the lower slope, but we faced dense vegetation that pushed us off course at times. At one point, we lost our bearings and contoured right to regain the indistinct ridge line. As we neared the bottom of the ridge, we turned left towards the trail. After a prolonged bushwhacking, we found it and followed it back to our car. In just four hours, we experienced yellow larches, mountain scenery and a rewarding summit on Storelk Knob.
The weather changed dramatically as we drove from the sunny foothills to overcast Highwood Pass
A small cairn marks the trailhead
We bushwhacked 100 m downstream to cross Storm Creek where Storelk Mountain trail begins
Vegetation crowded much of the trail
We started seeing larches
We passed through a large meadow
Larches were everywhere
Looking up at Storelk Knob
We continued up the meadow
We followed a dry creek to the basin below the col
We crossed the basin before climbing the col
At the bottom of the slope we looked for a trail
We followed the trail to the col
Looking down from the col
The next section was steep
The grade soon eases
We passed a bright larch on the ridge
Continuing to the summit
Looking across the valley at Storelk East Ridge. Behind it are Grizzly Ridge and Highwood Ridge
One of two rock fins we passed
Brian stands on another rock fin. Cloud covers the top of Storelk Mountain.
Looking back from just below the summit
Standing on top of Storelk Knob
Starting down the north ridge
We reached a gentle section that becomes narrow at the end. On the right, Mist Mountain sits above the two summits of Mount Lipsett.
Looking back up the ridge and across to the col
Strange to find a large cairn here
The ridge narrows and drops steeply on either side. In the foreground is Highwood South Peak.
Walking on a carpet of larch needles
Brian comes down a short cliff band
Continuing down alongside the cliff band
We descended another cliff band
We continued down the ridge toward the trail
82 J/10 Mount Rae