Canyon Creek Ice Cave

BOU AVENUE
Canyon Creek Ice Cave

On 11 October 2025, Teresa Kosmala, Zosia Zgolak and I visited Canyon Creek Ice Cave located below the southeast outlier of Moose Mountain in Alberta's Kananaskis Country Public Land Use Zone. Both Zosia and I have been to the celebrated cave multiple times in the past--most recently in 2021--but this would be Teresa's first visit. For logistical reasons, we were unable to bring bicycles and had to walk the 5.5-kilometre approach along Canyon Creek Road starting from Ing's Mine parking lot (50.87403, -114.75583). Though the road is somewhat mundane at the beginning, there is much to see once it bends westward and runs under some impressive cliffs. It took us about 1.5 hours of easy walking to reach the fairly obvious turnoff (trailhead) where we left the road and proceeded up the trail leading to the cave. The trail undulates a bit for the first 400 metres or so before gaining elevation in earnest. At one point, the trail splits, but either way works (we ascended the right-hand trail and descended the left-hand one). Closer to the cave entrance, the trail deteriorates and becomes steep enough in places to necessitate the use of hands. Although Teresa was unaccustomed to scrambling in loose terrain, she did admirably well here and made her way into the cave without complaint. With the help of headlamps, we ventured as far as the end of the initial chamber before turning around and exiting the cave.

After carefully descending the sketchy section below the cave entrance, Teresa, Zosia and I easily hiked the remainder of the trail down into the valley. To avoid climbing back over an annoying hill near the turnoff, we took a slightly different route back to Canyon Creek Road by skirting the perimeter of a gas well installation. Before heading for home, we detoured into the flats of Canyon Creek to visit the sulphur spring pools which were brought to my attention by Bob Spirko's 2020 trip report. The pools were frozen and mostly snow-covered when Zosia and I were here in 2021, but this time, we were able to more fully appreciate their colourful splendour as well as their stinky odour. From the pools, we headed southward through an interesting canyon before bushwhacking a short distance to regain Canyon Creek Road. The subsequent long walk back to was uneventful, but I was certainly envious of the numerous mountain bikers zooming past us especially those on e-bikes.

Wish I was on a bicycle! Zosia and Teresa walk along Canyon Creek Road.

Less than an hour's walk from the gate! Despite a mundane start to the hike, the scenery along the road improves at around the 3.4-kilometre mark.

The sun feels nice! Hard to believe that snow is on the way! Though difficult to discern in this photograph, the entrance to Canyon Creek Ice Cave is visible at distant left (slightly left of Zosia above the top of the valley trees).

Teresa is taking off her jacket since she has been properly warmed up and is ready for the real hiking to begin! Teresa and Zosia leave the road here to take the trail leading to the cave.

I didn't even use this trail the first couple of times I viisted the cave! The cave entrance is more obvious here along the approach trail.

Pushing the limits of Teresa's comfort zone! The trail becomes rougher as the trees thin out higher up.

Abandon all hope, ye who enter here! Zosia and Teresa reach the cave entrance.

It's actually darker here than it looks! Zosia and Teresa venture further into the cave.

It's like a subterranean glacier! Zosia reaches an ice wall at the end of the initial cave chamber.

The fishing is pretty bad here! Sonny and Teresa stop beside several pools of water inside the cave.
Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak

Brrrr...time to get back out to the warm sunshine! Teresa and Zosia exit the cave.

Teresa did amazingly for someone not used to steep and loose terrain! Zosia carefully guides Teresa down the sketchy trail below the cave entrance.

It's a little bushy here but not horrible. Teresa takes an alternate route back to the road along the edge of a gas well installation.

More off-trail adventures for Teresa! Teresa and Zosia temporarily abandon the road to walk the flats of Canyon Creek.

Looks like a map of the world!

This is one of several colourful pools fed by a nearby sulphur spring along Canyon Creek.

	Here is another pool, but the aquamarine hue is somewhat lost in the water's reflection.
	Teresa walks through an interesting canyon just south of the pools. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	A couple of bicyclists pass Sonny and Teresa along Canyon Creek Road during the return journey. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	Total Distance: 8.6 kilometres Round-Trip Time: 4 hours 10 minutes Cumulative Elevation Gain: 319 metres GPX Data

	Zosia and Teresa walk along Canyon Creek Road.
	Despite a mundane start to the hike, the scenery along the road improves at around the 3.4-kilometre mark.
	Though difficult to discern in this photograph, the entrance to Canyon Creek Ice Cave is visible at distant left (slightly left of Zosia above the top of the valley trees).
	Teresa and Zosia leave the road here to take the trail leading to the cave.
	The cave entrance is more obvious here along the approach trail.
	The trail becomes rougher as the trees thin out higher up.
	Zosia and Teresa reach the cave entrance.
	Zosia and Teresa venture further into the cave.
	Zosia reaches an ice wall at the end of the initial cave chamber.
	Sonny and Teresa stop beside several pools of water inside the cave. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	Teresa and Zosia exit the cave.
	Zosia carefully guides Teresa down the sketchy trail below the cave entrance.
	Teresa takes an alternate route back to the road along the edge of a gas well installation.
	Teresa and Zosia temporarily abandon the road to walk the flats of Canyon Creek.