Lower Galatea Lake
October 28th 2015
Galatea Lakes hike is a hike of many bridges and for that reason the trail has been closed since 2013. All but the suspension bridge was washed away and the trail opened in the fall with all bridges replaced and most of the trail sorted out. The trail starts from Hwy 40 about 33 km south of Hwy 1. Turn right at the Galatea Day Use sign just pass the bend in the road. The trail goes down hill to the suspension bridge. Across the bridge follow the trail and the many bridges. I think I took 10 photos of bridges. Mt Kidd rises to your right and the Spoon Needle ridge, Fortress ridge and one of the other ridges from Fortress lake on your left. One km from Lillian lake is the Guin’s Pass trail. At Lillian lake 6.5 km from the trail head is a backcountry campsite. Pass the campsite on the way up to Lower Galatea lake. The trail winds up through the trees and then comes out onto a rocky avalanche type slope. Follow the trodden down rocks and cairns up to Galatea lake. Walk past the lake to a headwall ridge keeping left to reach Upper Galatea lake which is dominated by The Tower behind. A wonderful hike even in late October. The ice had just formed on the lakes and was making strange sounds, that echoed around the mountain walls.
The first suspension bridge across the Kananaskis river
One of the ten bridges
Water fall Galatea Creek
Lillian Lake
Looking down at Lillian Lake
Route up to the Galatea Lakes
Lower Galatea Lake
Upper Galatea Lake
Distance return 16.5 km Time return7:30 hrs ( inc 30 min lunch ) Elevation Accumulated gain 1020 m Elevation to Summit 700 m Summit height 2235 m
[recaptcha_form]
[…] Galatea Lakes […]