Indian Oils Trail and hills to east | Trip Reports | Kananaskis Outdoors Forum

Post edited 6:34 pm – August 16, 2011 by bob stebbins

Today (14 August 2011), we trudged south to north up Indian Oils Trial from the trailhead on Hwy. 546. There was a special reason for this sortie, namely, to complete our understanding of the accessibility of two hills to the east of this trail. They are number 1 at GR622109 and number 2 at GR617118. For a map of sorts see the Road Not Taken website, 8 November 2003, which shows the two on the east and north side of a loop and two more (number 3 and 4) on its the west side.

The climb to the high point of Indian Oils is 300m and features a bench and hitching bar. If you want to climb hill number 4 and onward north to 3, this is the jumping off point. But we were headed for the first two via Indian Oils. Farther north on that trail, as it starts to descend into the valley of South Gorge Creek, look for a steep grassy slope on the right at GR614117. Follow it up to the summit of number 2, about an 80m elevation gain. There are bits of trail along the way. That accomplished we returned south along Indian Oils to GR614111 and a small, dry creek bed draining eastward. At first the trail to the east is dim, but soon improves significantly. In less than five minutes we reached the lake (now bone dry) at GR617111. From here we aimed for the southeast upward edge of the surrounding meadow, turning right at this point to pick up a clear and easy trail heading initially south. Soon it bends east, leading eventually to the summit of number 1, amounting to a very easy ascent through open forest. At the summit, look north to number 2. Also note the depth of the valley separating the two to understand why our route between them is preferable to a direct one.

The descent (282m) at first southeast and then due south from number 1 is straightforward, though mostly without a trail: stay on open and at times steep meadow, always keeping well left of the drainage on your right. Lower down the meadow turns into open forest, with snippets of cow trails running in various directions. Soon, on a decent trail, cross the small creek that has developed in the drainage. Then carry on over a small meadow to the highway at GR629104. You are now just across from the Indian Oils day use area, where you may park.