Looking down into Paradise Valley
Looking across the Kananaskis Valley to Mount Rae
This cache is located on a bench (landform) just off of Grizzly
Ridge and has great views of Paradise Valley, Mount Tyrwitt,
Ptarmigan Cirque and Mount Rae. The trail is well established and
traverses dirt, easy talus, and small diameter scree. This hike is
family friendly assuming the kids are reasonably seasoned
hikers.
The bench is sheltered from both north and west winds and makes
a good spot for a picnic or to rest. Paradise Valley is bracketed
by Grizzly Ridge and Highwood Ridge and you can often see wildlife
from the cache site. Grizzly Ridge is an easy ridge to walk with an
ample width, modest exposure, and little elevation change. If you
have time, you may wish to enjoy the scenic 4 km walk along the
ridge which gradually descends as you head south.
The cache is a camo’d matchbox hanging on a tiny conifer tree on
the bench. Be sure to bring your own pen / pencil and check the
spoiler photo before you head out.
The first few km of the trail appears on Gem Trek’s “Kananaskis
Lakes” Trail Map and Guide; is covered in Gillean Daffern’s
“Kananaskis Country Trail Guide" Vol. 1 and “Where Locals Hike in
the Canadian Rockies” by Kathy & Craig Copeland and is included
in the Calgary
Area Trail Mapping Project trail set.