Grotto Canyon Trail Head - Bighorn No. 8

Grotto Canyon is an amazing easy hike situated close to Canmore. It is super easy to get to off of Highway A1 and starts off at a beautiful pond. The hike is moderate in its inclines and leads you first along some paths past the mineral plant before you ascend into the canyon. The Hopi pictographs are super neat and the waterfall is quite nice as well. I recommend continuing past the maintained trail on the unmaintained portion so you can see the Inukshuk rock garden. All in all a great hike that offers some great views and is suitable for people of all ages!

This is a great intro into mountain trails that gives you a taste of hiking uneven terrain and gives epic views. This hike is only a few km long round trip but has a little elevation gain and uneven footing whole walking on rock shale and River bed rocks. There are a couple options to take when you get to the river bed, one that takes you through the trees at a higher elevation but has better footing. I highly recommend the river bed route as it has excellent views you wouldn't get to see otherwise. Eventually you will have to walk the riverbed to take you through the Canyon, and by a excellent set of pictographs 500-1000yrs old on the Canyon wall. The pictographs are not noted for your viewing, so you'll have to keep an eye out for them or they are easy to miss. Almost at the end of the trail you'll come to a small waterfall. This fall can be scaled to the top, be wary of slippery rock and steep slopes. It might not feel high or scary on the way up, but I assure you it feels that way on the way down. There is no hand holds to help anchor your ascent or descent so be careful. Almost at the top of the falls there is a wishing pond, and at the very top a small cavern. All in all, we did this trip about 45min in and 45 min back out. We stopped to take photos and toured at a leisurely pace. I've included photos of my husband next to a very steep Canyon face on the rock bed. The Canyon wall to the left of him has the pictographs. And the 2nd photo of him with his camera is taken about 6/8ths of the way up the waterfall. Close to the wishing pond.

Beautiful hike with many cairns rocks placed by other hikers! In the summer month I would recommend hiking boots as the trail is very rocky and a potential injury to the ankles waiting to happen. Respect the trails, pack in pack out.

The trail was amazing! Wear ice cleats during the winter, the trail is slippery. Breathtaking views.

Beautiful trail! If icy season, need wear shoe cleats or ice claws! Waterproof shoes are must when the frozen creek watery

Amazing experience. Bought our ice cleats and our 7 month old baby and had a wonderful time. Would highly recommend. The only downfall is walking along the power lines and plant at the beginning.

2020: my family and I did this hike. I will say it was not our favorite reason being , most the trail is rocks, and the waterfall is hidden up high you need to climb to see it and it's very slippery. Unfortunately we didn't get to see the waterfall. But there is a big area of stacked rocks witch is really cool!!

Beautiful easy hike in the winter with barely any elevation. River is frozen over so definitely bring good grip hikers or cleats spikes. Came end of April and if sun is out, can get warm at the Canyon.