Grassi Lakes (June 12, 2013)

Where: South of Canmore on the Smith-Dorien-Spray Lakes Road
Distance: 4 km
Recommended Time: 1.5-2 hours
My time: 90 min
Recommended Rating: Easy
My rating: Easy with slightly more strenuous stretches (more difficult trail only)

Yes, the lakes are actually that colour. And, because this picturesque little spot is so easy to get to, they draw in many, many, MANY visitors. Did I mention the many? My friend and I had to share the trail with a good number of junior high students (who were mostly well behaved. Gold star, guys!). However, if you go other times of the year, you might not even encounter anyone else on the trails.
Get here early is what I'm saying.

There are two paths to take up to the lakes, and I suggest taking the more difficult route up and the easy route back down. The easy route is constant uphill on a wide road and not very scenic. The more difficult trail is skinnier, rootier, and has warning signs about cliffs, but you get some awesome views of a waterfall, the reservoir and Canmore itself. Both routes are clearly marked early on.

If you go in the winter, be aware that the more difficult route is treacherous and will often have a sign suggesting you take the easy route if you don't want to slip off the cliffs.

Depending on the time of year, you will see wildflowers! This trip I saw some yellow lady-slippers, and last year in July the trails were full of wood lilies.

The hardest part of the hike is a set of switchbacks and stone stairs just before you reach the lakes. I don't have any pictures of that because it was the hardest part. Having said that, I got up it in relatively short order, with a few quick breaks to catch my breath and let the burn in my quads die down.

It took me 45 minutes to reach the top. And then you get to see things like this:

How awesome is that? There are some petroglyphs on the rocky walls, and you can sit and watch climbers as they work their way up the mountainside. It's also a lovely spot to have some lunch, but pack out whatever you pack in.

The trip back down the easy route took about 15-20 minutes. If there aren't a lot of people around, you might just see some wildlife.

*These are pictures I took on various trips to Grassi Lakes. The hike yesterday didn't give me a lot of good shots, so I had to pull them together from my other outings.