Grotto Canyon is a great place to go hiking with your family. It is quite scenic walking through the canyon surrounded by the steep walls on either side. The terrain isn't too tough and the elevation gain is only about 50 metres. It is about about a 1 km hike from the posted coords by the parking lot to the start of the creek bed. Follow the creek bed for just under 1 km until you come to an imposing cliff face. To your right there is a waterfall very close by and it is a great place to take pictures. If you take the path to the left, the trail eventually widens into a valley and you will pass hoodoos and a cave along the way. Remember to keep an eye out for the pictographs which are on the walls to your left as you walk towards the waterfall. They are between 500 - 1,000 years old and are very delicate so do not touch them.
Canyon Formation
Canyons are formed due to weathering and erosion. Usually the erosion is due to a river but it can also be caused by wind, ice or glaciers. As a river flows, it carves away the earth and rock and carries it downstream. The more the river drops the more force it will have. This force can cut a channel as the water flows to its final outlet, usually an ocean. The tendency of a river is to become level as it flows towards its mouth so if the river’s source is much higher, then a canyon is likely to form along the way. If the rock is soft, such as sandstone, then the canyon will probably be very narrow and deep. Usually harder and more resistant rock will form the canyon walls. Canyons in mountains can also be formed when glaciers melt. Tremendous amounts of glacial meltwaters can be released which carve out deep channels forming steep canyon walls.
Weathering can also be a factor in canyon formation. When water freezes in cracks between rocks the ice will expand and cause the cracks to become larger. As rocks break off the canyon becomes wider. Heavy rains can also erode the rock and wash away small stones and pebbles and cause the gaps to increase. Strong winds can also gradually erode and shape the rock. Canyons are more common in drier climates as the water from a river or rainfall has a more direct effect on the landscape.
Canyons can reveal much about the Earth’s history because the layers of rock that are exposed can date back thousands or millions of years. Fossils can also be exposed by the weathering and erosion.
To log this Earthcache, e-mail answers to the following questions to the cache owner.
Question 1: The main coordinates for this earthcache take you to a sign near the parking lot.
- How was Grotto Canyon formed?
- How long ago?
Question 2: What types of plant life are protected by the canyon which are not commonly found in these mountains?
Question 3. Optional - feel free to post a picture of you or your GPSr at one of the various waypoints along the trail. Please do not include a picture of the interpretive sign though.
Logs will be deleted if an e-mail containing the correct answers isn't received within 1 week. Also, please be respectful of the area when you are visiting. Thanks!! I hope you will enjoy your visit to Grotto Canyon and also learn something in the process!
Acknowledgements:
Thanks goes out to the GIS Coordinator for Alberta Parks, Kananaskis Region for approving this earth cache!
References:
Ward, Cameron. "Understanding Canyon Formation." The Canadian Encyclopedia. 02 July 2006. Web. 28 July 2016.
"Canyon." National Geographic Society. 20 May 2011. Web. 18 October 2016.
