It can be tough finding a suitable winter hike, in recent years I’d seen a lot of people talking about the Green Monster hike in Kananaskis and one windy day, I decided it was time I hit the trail to find out what all the hype was about! I was not disappointed, a fairly easy hike for the most part, with one harder steeper section which had ropes and chains to aid you, made for a perfect winter adventure.
The Green Monster hike takes you past a number of ice falls, so you’ll likely find others enjoying the trail for either climbing or hiking purposes. However when we did the Green Monster hike it was in the afternoon in the middle of the week and we saw very few other people.
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Quick Stats For The Green Monster Hike
Distance: 12km return
Elevation: approximately 500m
Time To Complete: 3 – 4 hours
Kananaskis Conservation Pass: You will need a conservation pass to park and use the trail, this can be purchased online, ahead of time or it is possible to pop into the visitor center near Barrier Lake on the way to pay for your pass.
The Green Monster Hike
The Green Monster hike starts by following the Old Baldy trail. This starts through the gate next to the trail sign. It slowly gains elevation on a wide trail which runs through the forest. I believe from the trail map that this is usually trackset for cross country skiing, however when we completed the hike, this was not the case, I suspect due to a lack of snow.
You walk through the forest, as it gets close to the Evan Thomas creek, there are glimpses of the creek and the surrounding mountains, including incredible views of Mount Kidd.
When you reach a sign which says the trail is no longer maintained, take the right hand trail, which winds down, across a small frozen stream and down the to the creek bed. As the trail opens up onto the creek, there is a bench up on the bank ahead, however to complete the Green Monster hike, keep left, following the creek. Shortly after there is some flagging tape in the trees, head up the bank and follow the trail through the trees and it runs along next to the creek. A safer option than trying to navigate the frozen creek.
The trail opens up round the corner and it winds across the creek, past towering cliff walls and frozen waterfalls, other areas are more open and in summer the river might be braided but in winter all you can see is discarded fallen trees brought down the creek in storms. There are no bridges so the trail does cross the frozen creek at a number of points, on a warm day we navigated these without ice spikes but in the dead of winter, you’ll certainly need them to make the crossings easier.
As the Green monster hike nears the crux, it heads up the creek bank into the forest once again. On the left is an iced creek, follow it up to a small frozen fall in a canyon. Continuing on the main trail, it rounds the corner and you are faced with another small frozen fall. This is an excellent spot to turn around if you have small children or are scared of heights.
To continue on the Green Monster hike, there is a steep and skinny trail on the left side, it climbs the bank towards the rock cliff above. As you near the top, there are chains to help you over a steep, slippery rock section and traverse the rocky trail above. Descending back down to the creek on the other side isn’t as bad, but it is steep, there is a rope to help you get down and back up later. If this was snow covered, you’d definitely need ice spikes to make this easier as I’d imagine it would get very slippery with use over time.
This is where the Green Monster hike really comes into its own. Continuing up the creek there are a series of ice falls, there were small open pools in the otherwise frozen creek and the water bubbled through these, making the most incredible noises. The creek walls get high and steep as you reach the Green Monster, the biggest ice fall on the trail.
Keep your distance from ice climbers when marveling at this spectacle. They can send down ice chunks and you don’t want to be in the way of them. With that, be mindful of what is above you at all times and avoid getting too close to the canyon walls. There were signs that some ice had fallen and smashed onto the canyon floor at a different date.
It seemed like others had continued on past the Green Monster icefall, however it was late in the day and there was a large amount of open water, we decided to turn around and head back having achieved our mission of completing the Green Monster hike.
Trailhead For The Green Monster Hike
It is easy to find the trailhead for the Green Monster hike, it is right off Highway 40 at the Evan Thomas Day Use Area. It is just over 100 kilometers from Calgary via Highway 1 and Highway 40, and approximately 80 kilometers from Banff via Highway 1 and 40.
Either way, once you turn off Highway 1 it is around a 20 minute drive south on Highway 40 and the turn off for the Evan Thomas day use parking is clearly signed from the highway. Note there is limited cell reception in this area so make sure you know where you are going before you head out.
Gear You Might Need
Hiking Boots: Winter hikes require good boots. I prefer to use my regular hiking boots year round, since they are waterproof. However there are also some excellent winter hiking boot options if you find your feet get cold.
Ice Spikes: There are some frozen creek crossings which can be very slippery. We packed ice spikes, although we didn’t end up needing them since it was a mild day and the ice was more slushy on top than slippery.
Day Pack: We took a small day pack, this allowed up to take extra layers, snacks and water for the Green Monster hike.
Bear Spray: This hike is in bear country, take bear spray year round, just in case! Plus make sure you know how to use it.
Places To Stay Nearby
Kananaskis Mountain Lodge: For a touch of luxury, head to the Kananaskis Lodge in Kananaskis Village. Check out the nordic spa if you need a relaxing day after your hiking adventures.
Mount Kidd RV Park: Looking for something a little bit different, Mount Kidd RV Park is located almost right opposite the trailhead and it is open year round. In winter, services are reduced and so are their check in open hours, so plan ahead!
