I had Mist Mountain on my bucket list for a while.
Not only there are small hot springs on Mist Mountain but it also has one of the highest peaks in the area.
The first time when I tried to hike Mist Mountain I failed.
I didn’t do much research and didn’t have a map.
Instead of taking a trail that starts from the side of the road, I took an alternative trail that starts from the Mount Lipsett parking area.
I didn’t realize that I had to cross the creek and instead of going to Mist Mountain ended up going to Mount Lipsett.
Don’t take this alternative trail!
I did some research and apparently, a lot of hikers end up hiking Mount Lipsett instead of Mist mountain.
Fortunately, Mount Lipsett hike wasn’t bad so I didn’t waste my day completely.
This is time however I was more prepared and had no issues following the trail.
How Hard is Mist Mountain Hike?
Most people that visit Mist Mountain are only hiking to the hot springs.
I would rate the hike to hot spring as moderate.
The only challenging section is just before you reach the hot springs.
The hike to the actual summit is very challenging and not ideal for the beginners.
Some serious scrambling is required for the last 1-2 hours to get to the summit.
This is a HARD hike with an elevation gain of 1300 m and I would not recommend it to anyone afraid of heights.
Part 1: Hiking to Mist Mountain Hot Springs
It will take you around 1.5 hrs to get to the hot springs on Mist Mountain.
The hot springs are not a secret anymore so be prepared to wait in line if you want to go for a dip.
It might be worth coming early during the weekday if your main goal is to go to the hot springs.
Mist Mountain trailhead starts right from the road just before the Mount Lipsett parking area.
You will see a line of cars parked on the right side if you are driving from Longview.
Keep in mind that this portion of Highway 40 is closed from December to the middle of June.
There is a pink tape at the start of the trailhead.
You will hike through the forest for about 30 minutes until you get to the open grassy area.
Go for another 30-45 minutes following the trail until you reach a small waterfall.
You will likely see some ice there.
If you want to get to the hot spring, pass the falls on your left and the springs will be 7 minutes from there.
The hot springs are visible on the side of the mountain (red-orange colors).
As you approach the hot springs it will become steeper so be careful not to slip.
Part 2: Hiking to Mist Mountain Summit
To hike to the true summit follow the trail parallel to the small creek with a waterfall (the one before the hot spring).
I highly recommend having GPS and downloading the map.
I use the AllTrails offline map to stay on the right trail.
It is very easy to go off the trail but basically to get to the summit you just need to continue going up.
There are two ways to go up.
I used the alternative trail (on the right).
It has bigger rocks and it is easier to climb versus the “official” trail where the rocks are small and the scrambling is very challenging even with the hiking poles.
On the way down from the summit I took this official trail and was sliding down on the rocks.
This is actually quite fun but be careful not to fall because some rocks are pretty sharp.
As you get closer to the summit, it will start getting windier so it might be worth bringing some extra clothes.
The views from the summit are amazing but it is definitely not for the faint of hearts.
All the peaks of the surrounding mountains will be below and you will be able to see foothills and Calgary downtown from the summit.
Another cool thing that you will notice on your way to the summit is a large number of fossils in the area.
I personally didn’t see this much fossils on any other hikes that I did in Kananaskis.
Conclusion
Mist Mountain hot springs are becoming busier with hikers because the photos are all over social media.
It also doesn’t help that these are the only hot springs in the area that I am aware of.
However, if you can avoid the crowds it is a pretty unique experience especially if you can be in hot springs for sunset or sunrise.
Hiking to the true summit is a grind but if you want to test your skills and push your limits, views will be worth all your hard work.
It worth noting that I didn’t meet a single hiker from the hot springs to the summit and back so it is not a busy trail.
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