Day hike to Cinquefoil Mountain
Organizer: Tharun Bangera
Activity Type: Hiking
Difficulty Rating: Difficult (Grade 2-3 Scramble)
Itinerary:
We will meet at the Cinquefoil Mountain trailhead parking lot at 3:30 a.m. and aim to start the hike by 4:00 a.m. Sunrise is at 5:49 a.m. I like to start the hike early to have some buffer time throughout the hike.
Recommend everyone to download the offline version on Alltrails, just for your own safety.
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/alberta/cinquefoil-mountain
For directions to the base parking lot:https://maps.app.goo.gl/tgNEFpBCtz3mWh1k7
It gets cold at the peak, so bring your warm gear!
Prerequisites / Courses Required: High level of fitness and experience with challenging hikes
Required Items to Bring:
Headlamp with extra batteries
Layers and a large puffy jacket for the summit
Windproof layer
Hiking poles
Microspikes (The peak will have snow, and the last 300 meters could be snowy and icy)
Hand and toe warmers
Mitts, toque, scarf
Snacks
Additional Information:
The final 300 meters of the hike involve a grade 2-3 scramble and will be evaluated based on participants' experience, engagement, and risk analysis due to snow conditions.
The weather forecast indicates rain, and if the trail becomes too muddy, we may have to cancel the hike for safety reasons. Please be prepared for a possible cancellation and stay updated with the weather conditions.
Fun Facts and Additional Hiking Information:
Cinquefoil Mountain, named after the alpine flowering plant, is known for its rich alpine meadows frequented by bighorn sheep and mountain goats. The approach slopes are unique and offer an almost treeless ascent, reminiscent of landscapes more typically found in Ireland rather than Canada.
The peak elevation is 2,257 meters (7,405 feet), with an elevation gain of approximately 1,261 meters (4,137 feet) over a 10 km (6.2 miles) round trip. The total hiking time is typically around 7.5 hours.
The trail features a variety of terrains, including grassy slopes, scree, and a short scree ascent beyond a vegetated false summit.
The trailhead is located 24 km east of Jasper along the Yellowhead Highway (Hwy 16), near Edna Lake. The trailhead may be hard to spot and may require a short bushwhack through marshy forest areas.
The area is also known for its wind exposure, so be prepared for potential windburn and ensure to use sunscreen on exposed skin (SummitPost) (Giants Gate).
Recent comments on Alltrails from hikers who climbed Cinquefoil Mountain.
"Attempted to complete this trail May 18, 2024. I’m going to start by saying this has scramble sections. If you’re looking to summit but not interested in scrambles, fear heights, or don’t have experience scrambling, this might not be the hike for you. The trail starts in the woods for about 1 km, then it’s completely uphill from there. Lots of little spots for breaks along the way. However, there is not one defined trail, so keep your eye on the map as it was so easy for us to wander off. Trail was completely dry. At approximately the 700-800 m mark, you start getting patches of snow and mud, but nothing major. We were able to do this without spikes. We made it halfway up the first major scramble to the lookout just before the first false summit (about 900 m). I have done other scrambles before, but I personally found this to be scarier. We decided to stay at this point as it still had beautiful views of Jasper. Getting up was easy, but going down this scramble I was terrified. I know I could make it to the first false summit, but I knew getting down would be too scary for me. Someone also made Carens along the trail to help you stay on track. This hike definitely requires poles and proper footwear. Especially for going down. Pack lots of water, I got through my 3 L bag. Sunscreen is also a good idea, as there are lots of areas open to the sun. Didn’t have issues with bugs on the trail. If you are planning to summit, this would not be a good trail for dogs or children. Otherwise , this was still an amazing trail and gave beautiful views. Even if you don’t plan to summit, I would recommend this trail just for the sights. I will be back in the future with hopefully more confidence and experience, and will eventually make it to the summit!
Conditions: Rocky, Scramble, Great!"- Courtney-May 18 2024
"Summited May 18 2024, trail is in good condition with lots of cairns for direction. A lot of false summit. 2 parts that are scrambling. Easy to get lost goin down. All trail maps are fairly accurate. Finished the hike within 7.5 hrs. Some small snow patches. Spikes are good but not necessary. Enjoy and goodluck
Conditions:Great!"-Joseph-May 18 2024
