Spanning over 100km, this is one of the most beautiful and scenic drives that you can find. From the Trans Canada Highway in the north, Highway 40 passes through the heart of Kananaskis Country, with views of towering faces, ridges, and meadows. As you get further south, some small glaciers are visible in the Kananaskis Lakes area, before the road takes a turn and climbs up to Highwood Pass, the highest paved pass in Canada at 2206m (closed from December 1st to June 14th every year). The highway then winds through more scenic terrain until it turns into Highway 541, which leads back out to the prairies.

Trips completed in this area will mostly be scrambles and hikes, but much more difficult terrain is usually encountered compared to the furthest east of the front ranges. The summits of most peaks in this area offer views of seas of peaks, where one is often able to gaze west to Mount Assiniboine or to other magnificent, glaciated peaks on a clear day.

Much of this of this area is still considered the front range, although the higher up and further west, such as Highwood Pass, the more snow will be found. A tiny glacier even exists in Highwood pass, on the north side of Mount Rae, called the Rae glacier. Another name for Highway 40 is the Bighorn Highway, since often there will be herds of Bighorn Sheep grazing or licking salt off the road.

Discover our trip reports for this area below.