Ha Ling Peak - Ha Ling Peak

Great place to hike, free parking. Takes around two (2) hours to hike up depending on pace, steep in some areas. Not recommended for children or people with mobility issues due to the difficulty of the climb. Definitely worth the effort to get to the top, great views of the surrounding mountains and the towns, rivers, and Forrest below. (Photos were taken from the peak) Would hike again.

Hiked to the end of the maintained trail October 04 and it was great! Definitely coming back to hike to the peak & will be bringing my dog.

Ha Ling peak is arguably the most popular peak in the Bow Valley. The trail is straight forward, elevation gain is moderate and the views are rewarding. All of these combined make for a great "first" peak experience for people (especially children). Here is little Q&A for the benefit of the many tourists from around the world that visit Canmore and Ha Ling every year. Q: How long is the trail? A: From the parking lot my watch measured a round-trip distance of 8.25 km and 774 m of elevation gain. (This does not include nearby Miner's Peak.) Q: How long does it take to reach the summit? A: Quick answer: plan on 3 hours to summit and 6 hours for a round-trip. Long answer: this is a highly variable question! Local trail runners can reach the summit in under 40 minutes, strong/fit hikers will reach the summit in 60 minutes, families with children will take 3+ hours to summit and some people don't even make it above the tree-line before giving up. It is important that you be honest and realistic about your fitness level and your acclimation to altitude. Calgary is 1,042 m (3,420 ft) above sea level and Canmore is 1,375 m (4,511 ft) above sea level. If you're a tourist who normally lives at sea level you will have harder time on the trail. Q: How can I be more successful on the hike? A: Slow and steady is the way to reach the summit. You want to hike at a pace that you can maintain for at least 30 minutes (ideally 60 minutes) without stopping. Your breaks need to be short (only 10 minutes long). If you're not familiar with the "rest" step in hiking, take the time to look up some videos on the subject. Using this approach most people should easily reach the summit in 2-3 hours. Q: What should I bring on the hike? A: Another highly variable question. Assuming that you're hiking on a sunny summer day, I would recommend 2 litres of water, some food, sunscreen, sunglasses, hat and a light jacket. Always check the weather before leaving and adjust your gear accordingly. Q: What is the weather like in the summer? A: The weather in the Rocky Mountains is highly variable and can change very quickly. Temperatures in the summer can range from below 0°C to over 30°C. It is common for people to experience, sun, rain, hail, snow back to sun all in the space of an hour. Always check the weather forecast before you head out and keep an eye on the sky for signs of inclement weather forming.

Wow the views are amazing! Short hike about 5km to peak. Pretty much a constant climb up. Trail up was closed for 1 year to renovate it.

Love this trail. It gets steeper at the top but the view worth it.

Nice trail, good incline right from the start. The top is a bit steep and the views are great.

Great Trail! Hardest Part Was At The End Part Where It Was Difficult To Climb Up, From Treeline And Below Is One Of My Favorite Peaks I've Done!

It's a grind, your knees and your lungs will curse you and keep telling you to turn back, but don't listen! Keep pushing up! You will be glad you did. If you're here during winter, do not attempt this without cleats and quite possibly walking sticks.