This 9-km Hike In Alberta Has You Walking Between Limestone Walls To Get To A Waterfall
Adventure and history lovers, listen up. We have the perfect hike for you. There's a seven-kilometre hike in Alberta that will have you walking in between limestone walls in order to get to a stunning waterfall. Grotto Canyon Trail is filled with history and along the way, you will actually see 1,000-year-old pictographs.
Alberta is filled with gorgeous things to do and if you think you've seen it all, you’re wrong.
From scenic road trips to hidden gems with once in a lifetime views, our province never stops amazing us.
If you’re looking for a new outdoor activity but don’t know where to start, we suggest hitting up Grotto Canyon Trail.
The 8.9-kilometre trail is located near Canmore.
The hike is of moderate difficulty and it will have you weaving in between massive limestone rock walls that are just dripping with history.
Day use to the park is permitted so just be prepared to head home once you're done.
About 10 minutes from the town of Canmore.
Your adventure will begin in the Grotto Mountain parking lot where you will see signage for the trailhead.
As you twist and turn along your walk, you will be in between smooth limestone walls that get taller as you progress. The walls will make you feel incredibly tiny.
Eventually, you will come to a fork in the road. If you want to see the waterfall, Travel Alberta says to head right.
On your walk there you will see Hopi pictographs on the limestone walls that were painted about 1,000 years ago.
Just be sure to keep your eyes peeled. They can be missed easily if you are focused on getting to the waterfall.
The most popular theory as to who created these paintings is centred around the Hopituh Shi-nu-mu people.
Legend has it the Hopi people sent off members of their tribe in the four directions with the hope of meeting in a commonplace again which ended up being present-day Arizona.
The artwork on the limestone includes human and animal figures.
Of course, wear and tear from Mother Nature has resulted in some of the paintings being worn away. If you come across them just look, the oils from your skin can destroy the art.
The trail is super easy to get to and you can type the name right into your Google maps.
The easy hike won't take you all day so it’s a great excuse to get out and active.
Grotto Canyon Trail
Address: Bighorn No. 8, AB
Why You Need To Go: You can live out a part of ancient history and get in our daily workout all in one.