Missinglink Cliffs

BOU AVENUE
Missinglink Cliffs

Looking for a short outing on 31 May 2025, Zosia Zgolak and I headed to Alberta's Sheep River Provincial Park to explore the south side of Missinglink Mountain. Although we had already ascended the mountain in 2016, I was interested in taking a closer look at some south-facing cliffs that are visible from the highway. Unable to find any references, I have taken the liberty to call these the "Missinglink Cliffs". To make the outing a little more worthwhile for the drive, we would extend the hike to the scenic southeast ridge of Missinglink Mountain which is described in Gillean Daffern's Kananaskis Country Trail Guide.

Starting at an interpretive pullout (50.64793, -114.63879) on the north side of Highway 546, Zosia and I immediately grinded our way up steep grassy slopes to gain a ridge just east of the obvious cliffs. We picked up a game trail here which led us over the tops of the cliffs to a minor hump. From there, we entered forest and hiked mostly off-trail over another tree-covered hump and past a hillside clearing before intersecting a trail along Missinglink Mountain's southeast ridge. Turning left, we hiked to one last forested hump--our high point of the day--where we stopped for a quick break despite a lack of views.

When we resumed hiking, Zosia and I retraced our steps back to where we first intersected the trail, and from there, we stuck to the trail and followed it down the southeast ridge. Near the end of the ridge, the forest gives way to open grassy slopes, and we easily dropped down to the highway taking one of any number of feasible lines of descent. Upon reaching the highway, we turned right and easily walked back to the interpretive pullout.

	Zosia starts the hike from an interpretive pullout (Nash Meadow) beside the highway. The "Missinglink Cliffs" are visible above the aspen trees.
	The initial climb up to the cliffs is brutally steep.
	Zosia spots something above the cliffs.
	Four bighorn sheep appear surprised at the presence of intruders into their territory. On the left horizon is Junction Mountain.
	Zosia marvels at a canyon through which Sheep River flows.
	Zosia peers over the edge of the cliffs one last time before heading into the forest.

This clearing is probably seldom visited by people.

A clearing further north along the ridge grants far-reaching views similar to those from the cliffs.

	Zosia stops for a break not far from the highest point (1831 metres) reached for the day.
	Another herd of sheep can be seen near the trees at bottom left in this view from the southeast ridge of Missinglink Mountain. The forested hump across the valley is Green Mountain.
	Behind Zosia is the ridge that she ascended earlier in the day.

This is already a more scenic hike than Blue Ridge!

Zosia descends an open slope near the end of the southeast ridge. The most prominent bump on the centre horizon is Blue Ridge.

	Zosia steps over some fallen trees on her way down this forested slope.
	The cliffs are visible again (right of centre) as Zosia drops down a very steep grassy rib.
	Here is a last look at Missinglink Cliffs from the bottom.
	Total Distance: 7.5 kilometres Round-Trip Time: 4 hours 4 minutes Cumulative Elevation Gain: 373 metres GPX Data