Scramble in the Rockies: Ha Ling Peak (video post)

Quick Stats: Ha Ling Peak

Location: Around an hour’s drive from Calgary, Alberta, in the Canmore area just outside Banff National Park.

Elevation: 2481 metres

Round-trip time: 3-4 hours

Difficulty: Easy (a great scramble for those who are nervous about heights!)

Height gain: 816 metres

Round-trip distance: 7.6 km

How to Get There

Directions: Head west on the Trans Canada Highway from Calgary. You’ll see the exits for Canmore after about an hour. Head through Canmore on Spray Lakes Road past the Canmore Nordic Centre. Eventually, the paved road will end and you’ll have to drive for a few kilometres on a dirt road. Eventually, you’ll see a road branching off and heading up on the left and a parking lot on the right. Park here, cross the road, and head up to the trailhead.

The Scramble

Cross the bridge over the canal to begin your hike. The trail here is pretty compacted and easy to follow for the majority of the scramble. Once you pass the treeline, it does get a little steeper. The final push to the summit is the most uneven terrain you will come to. The rock up here is loose, so be mindful of climbers above and below you. Also, don’t push any rocks over the edge of the cliff once you reach the peak, as there may be rock climbers below.

This is a very busy route, as it is short and easy, with no true exposure, and is accessible pretty early in the season (the video below was taken in April). Remember to keep your hiking etiquette in mind.

Background

Up until 1997, Ha Ling Peak was called “Chinaman’s Peak,” after the Chinese cook who originally climbed the peak in 1896 as part of a bet. It was changed to the man’s real name in order to avoid potential offence.