Headwaters

Elbow Lake in Kananaskis Country is a very popular destination. This could be because of the excellent fishing. There also is a backcountry campground at the S.E. corner of the lake. Elbow Lake is also the headwaters for the Elbow River that makes its way to the City of Calgary, where it joins the Bow River. It is a source of water for the city.
Years ago before Highway 40 existed, the access to the Kananskis Valley was via Bragg Creek to Little Elbow then to Tombstone Lakes and on to Elbow Lake and the Kananskis Valley.



Rolly is standing on the remains of this trail. Only hikers and horseback riders are allowed on it today. If you expand the photo, you can see Highway 40 in the distance from where Rolly is standing. If you get the idea we are fairly high in elevation, that is because we are. Highway 40 just below us climbs over the Highwood Pass at 7800 feet above sea level, just a few miles from us. If you are ever in the Calgary area, take this circular drive from Calgary via the Trans Canada to Highway 40, south over the Highwood Pass to Highwood House, left to Longview and back to Calgary via Okotoks. You will be delighted with the drive. In this photo we are making our way up this steep hill, with the lake at the top. I am not sure what Rolly was looking back for, possibly to see if the Grizzly Bear someone at the trailhead had reported seeing was following us.