Tombstone Campground Hike – Stunning Alpine Lake in Kananaskis

They say two’s better than one don’t they? Well what about three? Today we have three hikes because Elbow Pass via Tombstone Campground can either be lengthened or shortened depending on how long you want to hike for the day.

Both hikes reach stunning alpine lakes and even a hidden waterfall. So you don’t have to worry about missing out on a beautiful mountain lake nestled up in the mountains. 

Elbow Pass Loop Trail is a moderate hike that can be done in under 2 hours and Tombstone Campground is a much more grueling hike and can take around 6 hours roundtrip to complete. If you decide to go all the way to Tombstone Lakes, well, that’s a full day!

There is quite a big difference between the three but you can always hike up to Elbow Lake and see how you’re feeling and decide if you want to continue or not. Even if you just walk in the valley towards Tombstone Campground you will get some amazing views along the way and even get some epic photos of Mt Rae and its glacier. So don’t worry if you want to find a happy medium and hike to somewhere between Elbow Lake and Tombstone Campground. 

Here are the three different options: 

Tombstone Campground and stunning alpine lakes

1. Elbow Lake Loop Trail – Moderate Trail 
2. Elbow Pass vis Tombstone Campground  – Moderate to Hard Trail
3. Hike all the way to Tombstone Lakes

Whichever option you choose to hike up, they will all start from the Elbow Lake parking lot.

Just make sure you don’t put Elbow Lake Falls because that’s a hike near Bragg Creek which is nowhere near where you’ll be wanting to go. (If you mistakenly do end up at Elbow Falls then you can read this post: 3 Hikes near Bragg Creek That Make an Epic Day Trip.)

Hopefully you make it to the right place and end up being able to explore the beautiful alpine lakes up in Elbow Pass and right under Tombstone mountain. If you’re up for a full day trip then we recommend you check out both.

We took Dom’s parents on this hike to Tombstone Campground and we were all exhausted by the time we got back! We made it all the way to the Tombstone Lakes and had a super fun day.

Below you can find the whole journey which will hopefully help you decide which hike is best for you.

Insider tip: If you want something shorter, then you may want to adventure off to a hidden waterfall that we didn’t even know about until we got home. (We’ll make sure to add this once we’ve been there.)

#1 Elbow Lake Loop Trail

Practical information about Elbow Lake Loop Trail

Distance: 4.2 km return / 2.6 miles return
Elevation: 195 m / 640 ft. elevation gain
Type: Loops trail
Length: ~2 hours (including photo time)
Difficulty: Moderate (Due to the incline)
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Bonus: ** Can hike an extra hour to a waterfall **

Here’s a map of the beginning of the trail:

The trail starts at the Elbow Lake parking lot in Peter Lougheed National Park very close to another amazing hike: Grizzly Peak.

The parking lot will likely be super busy since it’s a very popular place to hike in Kananaskis. With tons of hiking, mountain biking, and even camping in the area it makes it a popular place for many Albertans and travellers to visit.

Don’t let the practical information about the hike deceive you though. It seems like a short and jolly hike up the Elbow Lake but it is a rather steep ascent until you get to the lake.

It’s a nice shot and challenging warm-up to get your legs going straight from the beginning. Even though it might seem steep it truly isn’t that long to Elbow Lake. You should be able to make it there in about 45 minutes.

Insider tip: There is a hidden waterfall near Elbow Lake! If you continue on a trail on the east side of Elbow Lake you’ll end up at it. Most people end up doing the loop around the lake and go back down to the parking lot. Don’t miss the waterfall though! It will make this short hike even more worth it. We haven’t been there (we only learned about this after we went) but we’ll explain exactly how to get there.

** Visit the waterfall only if you have an extra 1.5 hours ** otherwise just do the loop trail around the lake.

How to find the hidden waterfall at Elbow Lake:

• Turn right as soon as you arrive at Elbow Lake.
• Walk past the campground and continue along the east side of the lake.
• Halfway along the path turn right again towards another campground.
• In about 40 – 45 minutes you’ll see painted rocks on the left-hand side.
• Turn left there and walk a few minutes.
• You will arrive at the waterfall! =)

So you’ll have an alpine lake and a waterfall to check out on this hike! If you don’t have all day to go to Tombstone Lake then we’d definitely recommend this loop trail with the addition of the waterfall. It will make for a beautiful day in Kananaskis.

#2 Elbow Pass Trail to Tombstone Campground

Practical information about Elbow Pass Trail via Tombstone Campground

Distance: 15.8 km return / 9.8 miles return
Elevation: 125 meters / 410 ft. elevation gain
Type: In and out
Length: 5.5 – 6.5 hours including lunch and picture breaks
Difficulty: Moderate
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Here’s a map of the beginning of the trail:

As this is a longer hike, we have divided it into sections: From the trailhead to Elbow Lake, Elbow Pass Lake to the valley, from the Valley to Tombstone Campground, and lastly, from Tombstone Campground and back to the trailhead. You can find them all in this order below.

Trailhead to Elbow Lake

The beginning of this trail is the toughest section. This is the same start as the one to the Elbow Lake Loop Trail. Like we mentioned before, the path up to Elbow Lake is short and steep. This is also the busiest part of the whole trail since this trail leads into the entrance of Elbow Pass where there are multiple campgrounds and some of the best backpacking and hiking in Kananaskis.

We definitely recommend stopping at Elbow Lake and enjoying a quick bite to eat on one of the picnic tables at the campground. You’ll probably see families with dogs and children here since it’s not too far from the parking lot and a popular spot for many people to visit.

Elbow Pass Lake to the valley

Once you’re ready to continue, you will walk on the left side of Elbow Lake and follow the trail through the meadow. Even though this was hands down the windiest part of the hike, it was our favourite. The views of the flowers, mountains, and Mt Rae’s Glacier made this meadow one of the most scenic walks we’ve ever been on.

The path is quite easy to follow from there. You will cross the Elbow River and follow the path down into the valley. This section is relatively flat and easy to walk on. Besides the wind this is the best section to just take in the pretty views of the mountains and even snap a few pictures of Mt Rae and its picturesque glacier.

You’ll quickly notice just how many people use this trail as you walk through the meadow. We encountered horseback riders exploring the area, saw a few mountain bikers cruising through the valley for the day, and also met a few families heading to Tombstone campground for the weekend.

The valley to Tombstone Campground

Once you’re in the valley, also named “Desolation Flat”, you will eventually come across Elbow River again. This time a much bigger section of the river. You will see quite a large bridge that you’ll have to cross. Depending on when you go, the water level may seem quite low and the bridge may seem unnecessary. However, back in 2013 in this exact spot, the old bridge got washed away because of a huge flood!

Once you pass the bridge you will follow the trail still surrounded by mountains on all sides. We’ve never felt so small before! These enormous mountains on both sides were just towering over us like we were just two little specks of dirt.

This section is still relatively flat and quite easy up until the Campground. Beware though that you need a permit to camp at Tombstone! There are only a total of 11 campsites and you can get a permit here. We’ll talk about the camping a little further down the post!

Tombstone Campground back to the trailhead

The campground is the turning point for this option. This is another great place to just sit back and enjoy the food you brought on a picnic table and give your legs a rest before the journey back to the car. We stopped here and had a breather because we were relatively exhausted from all the walking, the wind, and the sun that was beaming on us.

Since the majority of this hike is in a meadow and a valley there is little to no shade you’re exposed to the sun for most of the hike so be prepared for that! We’ll talk more about what to bring at the bottom of the post so keep reading 😉

Once you’re ready to leave the campground you’ll backtrack and follow the same trail that got you there. You’ll have the giant Mt Rae to look at your whole hike home which is some nice eye candy for any mountain lovers. The way back to the parking lot shouldn’t be too hard since it’s basically flat with a bit of descent once you pass Elbow Lake down to the trailhead.

#3 Tombstone Lakes

Practical information about Tombstone Lakes

Distance: 20.8 km return / 12.92 miles return
Elevation: 479 meters / 1571 ft. elevation gain
Type: In and out
Length: 7 – 8 hours including time for lunch and pictures
Difficulty: Moderate to hard
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Here’s a map of the beginning of the trail

If you have all day and feel good to do a 20 km hike then we’d recommend hiking all the way past Tombstone Campground to Tombstone Lakes. There’s two of them, one smaller and one bigger. The bigger one is right under Tombstone Mountain and is absolutely stunning!

To get to Tombstone Lakes you just have to add an extra 5 km round trip from Tombstone Campground. It’s an extra 2.5 kms each way but absolutely worth it. So here’s how to do it!

How to get from Tombstone Campground to Tombstone Lakes:

• Hike up from the trailhead to Elbow Lake
• Walk along the left side of the Elbow Lake
• Walk in the meadow and cross a small stream and continue into the valley
• Once you’re in the valley, you will cross a bigger bridge over Elbow River
• You’ll continue until you reach Tombstone campground

Once you’ve made it to Tombstone Campground you can sit down and enjoy a snack break so you’ll be ready for the “climb” up to the lakes. This part was definitely a little challenging for us, especially since we didn’t know how far it was from the campgrounds to the lakes at the time. The elevation gain here is pretty steep and will be quite challenging on top of the sore legs you’ll likely already have at this point…

Camping in Elbow Pass

There are a few amazing places to camp in the area. Kananaskis is filled with awesome campsites and this specific area has a few great ones. Some of them need to be booked in advance and you need a permit to be able to camp the night. Read below for more details.

Option 1: Big Elbow Backcountry Campground

This is the first campground you’ll find on the hike. It’s right at Elbow Lake and has 7 campsites. There are toilets, picnic tables, firepits, and it costs only $12 a night. You need a permit to stay at this campground. Find more information on the campsite here through Alberta Parks.

Option 2: Little Elbow Backcountry Campground

This campground is just a little further along the trail and has 94 campsites. So between these few campgrounds, you should be able to find a place to stay if you’re looking to backpack and camp a night or two in Elbow Valley. Sites go for $29 and you can see any extra info here including getting a permit.

Option 3: Tombstone Backcountry Campground

This is the furthest one from the trailhead so if you’re bringing a lot of stuff backcountry then this one might be a little exhausting to get to but absolutely worth it. Tombstone only has 11 permits so you will want to book ways in advance to try and snag a spot. All the information about getting a permit for Tombstone Campground can be found here.

How to get to Tombstone Campground

Directions from Calgary

• It’s a 1.5-hour drive from Calgary to the Elbow Lake parking lot and trailhead.
• The directions can be found here.
• Stop at Barrier Lake beforehand and admire the beauty of it if you have the time!

Directions from Canmore

• It’s a 1-hour drive from Canmore to the Elbow Lake parking lot and trailhead.
• The directions can be found here.

Directions from Edmonton

• It’s a 4.5-hour drive from Edmonton to the Elbow Lake parking lot and trailhead.
• The directions can be found here.

Before you go

The very first thing you should do is check if the trails are open. It’s good to see if there are any warnings on the trail. If you’re familiar with the area you’ll know that hikes in Kananaskis tend to have bear warnings on them all the time. It’s definitely not uncommon to see a grizzly or a black bear while hiking in Alberta.

Specific to this hike, it’s quite common to see bears in the pass and down in the valley. The good thing is it’s very open so you’ll be able to see them “hopefully” from a ways away. Regardless though, it’s good to be prepared and ideally go with a few other hikers.

If the Elbow Pass is closed, Wasootch Ridge and Grizzly Peak are both fantastic alternative hikes close by.

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.

Another thing that’s good to know before you go is that there is a good chance you won’t have cell reception on this hike. Most people tend to lose reception at some point on the Kananaskis highway.

Since the Elbow Pass is quite south on the highway you may be out of service so plan ahead for that. We suggest you load any maps you need and let someone know where you’re going.

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

If you’re going just for a day trip like we did then all the standard day hiking gear will suffice. But if you’re going to go backcountry camping for a few nights then that’s a whole other list and post!

For a day trip, bring:

• Definitely bring a lot of water. You’re very exposed to the sun on this hike. You’ll be in the meadow for the majority of the hike and even though it may be windy the sun may still be shining.
• A Lifestraw water bottle is perfect for this hike. Lots of places to fill up.
• A camelbak is a great option too if you’re looking for something to hold a lot of water.
• Some snacks are always nice to have. A few good picnic spots on this hike so pack a nice lunch you can enjoy.
• Sunscreen if it’s sunny out! Or even if it’s just warm and cloudy, bring some. We recommend this eco-friendly sunscreen from Sun Bum.
• Bear spray! You’re in bear country! 😉 Definitely recommend it for this hike in particular.
• Warm clothes if it’s cold! Remember that the weather can change quickly. When we got to the meadow past Elbow Lake the wind really came blowing and became very cold.
• A music player (to keep bears and other wildlife away). Just be aware of other hikers since some people don’t like music blaring on the trail.
• Your phone in case you get lost. Have the right apps on your phone such as Trailforks to help navigate through the mountains.
• Also, this is a great list of hiking gear that you may need on a hike!
• And please, please, please, don’t leave any trash on the trail! We’re sure most people don’t but we want to keep the mountains nice and beautiful so we can enjoy them forever. As long as we all do our part then we should be fine!

You may also like…

• 3 Hikes near Bragg Creek That Make an Epic Day Trip
• Grizzly Peak – Quick and Challenging Day Hike in Kananaskis
• Vision Quest – Adventurous Day Hike Near Nordegg
• Wasootch Ridge – Breathtaking Day Hike in Kananaskis
• Hiking Checklist

Other useful info about Tombstone Campground

• It’s best to go on this epic day trip between June and October.
• If you’re looking for something a little bit easier in the area then definitely check out Chester Lake Trail near Kananaskis.
• If you’re going for more than one day and want to do another awesome hike, Wasootch Ridge is one of our favourite Kananaskis hikes and it’s not too far from Calgary either!
• Here is the weather for Elbow Lake. Worth checking out before you embark on your day trip or backcountry adventure.

We hope you enjoy exploring Elbow Lake and its valley as much as we did. Let us know if you made it to the hidden waterfall or if you decided to go all the way to Tombstone Lakes.

Enjoy, stay safe, and have fun!

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