AMAZING 360 VIEWS, and WILDFLOWERS everywhere, Raspberry Ridge

The Raspberry Ridge Trail in Alberta is a popular hiking destination known for its stunning views and challenging terrain. The trail offers beautiful forested sections, wildflowers, and wildlife. The final stretch includes steep switchbacks leading to a ridge with panoramic views, but be prepared for a tough climb, especially towards the top.
July 13/2024 Summer Hike, Alberta Canada
Today we are in the Cataract Creek Public Land Use Zone in Southern Alberta. We will be doing a loop hike up the Raspberry Ridge Fire Lookout. The trail is 12.4 kilometers (7.7 miles) with an elevation gain of 728 meters (2390 feet). We started our hike at 10AM and finished at 6:30PM. Our total time was 8 hours and 30 minutes.
The parking lot is just off the Forestry Trunk Road, Highway 940 which leads south from Highwood Junction to the Crowsnest Pass area. Once you pass through the gate start heading up the road. Almost immediately you will see a grass trail on your right, take this one. We missed it and had to backtrack a little bit. For this first portion you will be hiking up a road which is a gradual incline. Just under .9k the trail will change direction. Soon you will see a trail on your right to take you off the road. Now you will be in the trees for a while. The incline is still gradual. You will start to come across numerous patches of beautiful wildflowers. You will arrive at a clearing where you can see the ridge in front of you. Just under 2.3k you will come across a little creek. After the creek there is a steep section to go up, but at the top it levels out. After this the incline is gradual again. The trail will open up a few times and you will start and get some views. The incline will get a little bit greater now. You will come across patch after patch of wildflowers. At 4k you will arrive at a split in the trail. Here you can take the right or the left trail. We took the right trail and eventually came out on the left making the loop. Now the trail will get a lot steeper. As you climb don’t forget to look back as the views just get better and better. The trail keeps getting steeper. Take advantage of the shady spots while you can. You will come across a few rocky sections, but they weren’t that hard. As you get closer to the ridge the trail will switch back a few times, and the views just get better and better. As you crest the ridge you will be blown away by the view you have in front of you. Now you will take a right and start to work your way up to the lookout tower. You still will have a little way to go. Just below the lookout tower you will arrive at a picnic table. We had a quick break here and then did our final push up to the lookout tower. At 5.8k we arrived at the lookout tower. It was closed. I walked around the tower, and I couldn’t believe the stunning 360 views. We had our lunch, and I enjoyed my beer. Walking through the meadow at the top of the ridge on our way down was just beautiful. Eventually you will hit a split in the trail marked by a cairn. We took the trail on the right. As you descend the ridge will be on your left just above you. You will be back in the trees for a little while. The trail will work its way back to the top of the ridge and you will be treated to some more glorious views. On your way down you will come across a couple steep sections, but nothing like the way we went up. The trail then eases up and you can just enjoy the awesome views as you descent. Soon you will arrive at the cairn, and you have now completed the loop. From there we made good time back to the car.
This is one of my favorite ridge hikes. We went up the harder way and came down the easy way. If I had to do it again, I would go up and down the easy way.
This is my 146th video. Thank you very much for watching. If you enjoyed this video, please give it a thumbs up. If you would like to see my other hiking videos, subscribe to my channel, LIVE ON ALBERTA. I feature over 140 hiking videos. CHEERS
Thank you,
Cary Mason
#hikingalberta #canaidanrockies #travelalberta #summerhike #hiking
Email - [e-mail]
Instagram - / carywmason

[@EmmaLead11]

Lovely! Glad you got to bust out the drone!

[@LIVEONALBERTA]

Thanks Emma, still have a lot to learn on it though🤣🤣🤣

[@jagdeepvirk9614]

Amazing. Do you have to drive on dirt road to get to trail head?

[@LIVEONALBERTA]

Ya once you turn onto highway 940 it's a dirt road.

[@davebloggs]

what kind of drone do you use? great views. Im surprised there was no one on station at the lookout..

[@LIVEONALBERTA]

I have a DJI mini 2. I have had it for a few years now, still learning how to use it🤣 I thought for sure that the lookout would have had a person in it🤔

[@davebloggs]

@@LIVEONALBERTA Drones are very cool that is for sure would also make it easier for me on my exploring trips. just fly straight up do 360 job done way easier bushwhacking with a good compass heading. I was surprised to see no one there., the helipad looks like a new one. i did all smoke mountain yesterday the wild flowers were stunning.

[@LIVEONALBERTA]

@davebloggs A drone could definately help you😁 how were the views on Allsmoke Mountain🤔

[@davebloggs]

@@LIVEONALBERTA I have just posted my video and i have to say the views were stunning, I could see all the way from the elbow valley up to elbow falls area and way south to the sheep river valley. amazing views and a fairly easy hike. not sure if you have done that one but it is a great day out thats for sure and billions of wild flowers this time of the year,

[@LIVEONALBERTA]

@davebloggs Awesome Dave I will check out your video😁