Fun and Challenging Black Rock Mountain Hike Near Calgary

Where Lake Minnewanka ends and Ghost River begins you will find the 2500m high Black Rock Mountain right on the edge of the Canadian Rockies.

This exhausting day hike is located just west of Cochrane but is quite a remote day hike in Alberta and a very manageable day hike from Calgary. 

Just to get to the trailhead you will have to drive down a 16km dirt road covered in potholes and right when you think it’s done you’ll have to go through two river crossings either by vehicle or by 4×4 preferably.

These two factors together and you can see why Black Rock Mountain is quite a remote day hike in Alberta.

Trust us, the struggle is absolutely worth it once you’re there and it’s a wonderful place to spend a few days if you enjoy camping!

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Everything you need to know about the Black Rock Mountain trail

Sitting right on the edge of the Rockies you actually end up getting views of Lake Minnewanka and the beginning of the Rockies on the west side. And if you’re looking east you will see the grassy Alberta prairies.

If you’re lucky enough you might even be able to see Calgary far on the horizon!

Practical information about Black Rock Mountain

Distance: 10.9 km return / 6.8 miles return
Elevation: 983 m / 3225 ft. elevation gain
Type: In and out hike
Length: 4-6 hours return (from the trailhead)
Difficulty: Hard
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Click here to see a map of the beginning of the Black Rock Mountain hike.

Hiking Tip: Look up the trail on AllTrails before starting your hike 🗺️. You can find important trail information such as recent wildlife sights and trail closures. Check out the free version here or get a 7-day free trial of AllTrails+ here.

Everything you need to know about Black Rock Moutain

If you’re looking into doing a hike where you’ll basically have the trail to yourself then Black Rock Mountain will not disappoint!

As we mentioned, it isn’t easy to get to and it can actually be quite difficult to find the trailhead if you don’t have a 4-wheel drive and if you’re not sure where to go.

Starting at the campsite near Black Rock Mountain

Most people start the hike from the campsite.

Luckily, my friend Riley, has a Toyota Highlander that could cruise through the river and we started at the actual trailhead but if you don’t have a car that’s made for that it’ll only be an extra 45 minutes each way to the the trailhead.

This section is also quite refreshing because it’s the only flat section of the whole hike. If you’re feeling up for it you can also take a dip in the river after the long hike.

The trailhead starts just up past the river you’ll most likely see at least a few cars parked up by the trailhead. There will also be a few signs and markings leading the way.

Finding the trailhead and starting the hike up to Black Rock Mountain

The hike itself starts in the trees with a very moderate incline and quite a pleasant switchback trail. It’s one thing I like about Black Rock Mountain, it warms you up for the crazy incline that’s about to come.

You know the incline is coming you you just don’t know when. There are quite a few switchbacks to start the hike and it’s also shaded which is nice because later on in the hike it’s very exposed.

Enjoy this first bit in the trees. Unfortunately, you can’t see the summit at all while you’re in the trees. It is quite dense and hard to see much so this easy section is a little boring compared to the rest of the hike.

It’s still beautiful being out in nature and out in the Rocky Mountains. Soon enough the views will open up.

Scrambling up Black Rock Mountain

After all the switchbacks and once you finally get past the trees and into the clearing the real fun begins. It really does turn into a bit of a scramble right away.

I wouldn’t say it’s dangerous by any means but you do want to give some space between you and your fellow hikers so rocks don’t come rolling down.

As long as you take your time you’ll be fine. It helps that you can stop whenever you want and start to enjoy the views.

One thing that’s really cool about Black Rock Mountain is that you’re right on the edge where the prairies and Rocky Mountains meet.

So on one side, you have this flat and plain landscape and then on the other, you have these extreme and rough mountains!

Actually, the views of the prairies and mountains are quite similar to Wasootch Ridge. Another beautiful hike in Kananaskis, not too far away from Black Rock Mountain.

Enjoy the scramble because it doesn’t get much easier up to the top of Black Rock Moutain.

The last stretch to Black Rock hut

The last part of Black Rock Mountain is by far the trickiest… You’ll have a steep uphill scramble for about 15 minutes straight up.

Right when you can see the hut at the top (oh yeah we forgot to mention there’s a freaking hut at the top of this awesome hike!) you’ll have to walk up these rocks that look like a staircase leading to heaven with steep drops on both sides.

The staircase is probably 2 meters wide but it will definitely get your heart racing if you’re not a fan of heights.

Once you’re past the staircase the hut will be right there and you will finally be able to relax and take in the views you worked hard for over the past few hours.

Make sure to carve your name in the hut to show you actually did it! And in case you’re crazy enough to come back one day you can show people you’ve done it before by carving two lines next to it (This way: II) 🙂

Other recommendations: If you want a longer challenging hike in the Kananaskis area, check out Wasootch Ridge and Grizzly Peak (Both awesome hiking trails in Kananaskis)! And if you’re looking for hikes in the Nordegg area you might want to try out Vision Quest!

It’s not an easy hike to get to, but the trail truly isn’t that difficult. Especially since half of it is switchbacks through the forest with a steady incline.

The only reason we’d rate it hard is that you may have to walk from the campsite which will add about 12-14km of walking in total, two river crossings, and then the end because of the steep drops on either side of the staircase.

Other than that, Black Rock Mountain is an amazing remote hike near Calgary you have to summit!

👩🏼‍⚕️ Is your trip insured?
SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance covers hiking and mountaineering up to 4500 meters 🏔️

Back down from the top of Black Rock Mountain

Since it’s an in-and-out trail you’ll go back down the same way you came up.

I mean there are really no other options unless you decide to make your own trail down the mountain which we don’t recommend.

Going back down actually isn’t that easy because it’s quite steep and has lots of loose rocks. If you do have hiking poles going down is a good time to use them.

It’s going to be a lot faster going down for sure since you won’t need to take as many breaks. The only thing to be careful of is the rocks!

Eventually, you’ll get back to the beginning of the trail where you’ll either have your car or have to hike back to the campsite.

It’s a challenging hike for sure but well worth it. It’s a hike that not many people do just because of how hard it is to access.

If you’re lucky enough to get the chance to hike Black Rock Mountain then enjoy it! The hut, views, and just the feeling of being up on the top of the mountain is something special.

How to get to Black Rock Mountain

From anywhere in Calgary

• It’s 1:45 hour to get to the campsite from Calgary.
• The directions can be found here.
• From the campsite, you can walk to the trailhead or take your 4×4 to the beginning of the hike.

From anywhere in Edmonton

• It’s just under 4 hours to get to the campsite from Edmonton.
• The directions can be found here.
• From the campsite, you can walk to the trailhead or take your 4×4 to the beginning of the hike.

🏨 Looking for a place to stay after the hike?
There are some great hotels in Canmore, just 35-40 minutes away 🚘

Before you hike Black Rock Mountain

The first thing you should do before you go is to check if the trail is open and if there are any warnings on it. Especially since it’s not the easiest hiking trail to get to.

So just to be safe, check out All Trails here to make sure the river crossings aren’t too high and that the gravel road is still drivable.

The cell phone coverage is also very spotty over there so definitely tell someone where you’re going, in case something happens. However, there is cell phone service at the summit!

It’s also not a bad idea to let some friends or family know where you are since it’s quite remote.

Hiking Tip: Look up the trail on AllTrails before starting your hike 🗺️. You can find important trail information such as recent wildlife sights and trail closures. Check out the free version here or get a 7-day free trial of AllTrails+ here.

Leave no trace

When you go hiking (and do other outdoor adventure activities), always remember to follow the 7 principles of leaving no trace.

This means:

1. Plan ahead and prepare.
2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces.
3. Dispose of waste properly.
4. Leave what you find.
5. Minimize campfire impacts.
6. Respect wildlife.
7. Be considerate of others.

What to bring on the Black Rock Mountain hike

Since this hike is so remote you might want to bring a few extra things than you usually do. Some of it you can, of course, leave in the car.

There are no restaurants, food places, or anywhere to really get anything. You’ll have to go all the way back to Cochrane which is quite the drive.

The packing list is just for the day hike so if you do plan to stay and camp the night at the campsite make sure to bring all your camping equipment and gear!

Packing list for Black Rock Mountain:

• Water and food are musts! A camelbak is a great option too if you’re looking for something to hold a lot of water.
• Sunscreen if it’s sunny out! Or even if it’s just warm and cloudy bring some.
• Bear spray!! ALWAYS!
• Extra clothes. The weather changes quickly when you’re hiking. You don’t want to be stranded on a remote hike with no warm clothes when a storm roles in. In case you have to cross the river you also want something dry to put on when you come back.
• If you have weak knees, you might want to bring hiking poles! The ascents and descents from the river all the way up to the top of Black Rock are tough. So hiking poles will go a long way on this hike.
• ​​Another way to bring some water is with a reusable bottle like our LifeStraw bottles. You can even fill them up by the river on your way towards the trailhead.
• A power bank is always nice to have on any hike you do! You don’t want a dead phone halfway through a hike or for when you have to navigate back to your accommodation.

Also this is a great list of hiking gear that you may need on a hike!

You may also like…

• 3 Hikes Near Bragg Creek That Make an Epic Day Trip
• Hiking to The Beautiful Chester Lake near Canmore
• Jumpingpound Summit Trail – Moderate Day Hike Near Brag Creek
• Vision Quest – Adventurous Day Hike Near Nordegg
• Hiking Checklist

Recap of hiking Black Rock Mountain near Calgary

• There is a large camping area right next to the river! This is a great place to stay for a night or two. The location is BEAUTIFUL which is lucky since the drive is so long. It’s definitely worth spending a few days exploring the area! 
• Try and go with someone who has a 4 wheel drive. The drive will be much more pleasant for everyone.

We hope you enjoy this hike as much as we did. It is a fun but also challenging hike.

If you’re afraid of heights there is once section that might be a little challenging but otherwise the hike is very chill.

If you have any questions about Black Rock Mountain near Calgary or some other hikes in Kananaskis or close to Calgary feel free to reach out to us on Instagram @redwhiteadventures or leave a comment below and we’ll get back to you ASAP!

Enjoy this epic hike and have fun summiting Black Rock and making your way to the hut at the top of the mountain.

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