Bennett Pass

5 kms
3hours
moderate
Hiking
Summer, Fall
Waterton Park Gate, AB

bfcoffey

The Bennett Pass trail is a connector between Wall Lake and Akamina Ridge. Most hikers would use it as the outlet for Akamina Ridge, having ascended to the ridge via Forum Lake, making a loop over the ridge. However, Bennett Pass can be a nice hike on its own.

The trail starts about halfway along the west shore of Wall Lake and is well signed. Although Wall Lake, Akamina ridge and Bennett Pass are all in B.C.'s Akamina-Kishinena Provincial Park, typically all of the hikers (or bikers) in this area come from the Wateron trailhead at Akamina Pass.

The trail starts in dense forest for about 15 minutes, then breaks out into open meadow and open forest for the rest of the grind. And a grind it is, climbing about 2,000' in 2km (mixed units but you get the picture). There is only one switchback near the bottom of the grade, then I think they fired the trailbuilder and said "Just go from here to there". It's a good grade but not hard if you take your time. All along the views into Waterton are spectacular, but pale in comparison with the view at the ridge, into Montana, further west into B.C. and further into Waterton.

You can stop here or explore the ridge. The first "bump" is a short walk up the ridge which, of course, produces even better and different views. At this point the ridge is comfortably wide, for those with height problems.

Directions:

Start from the Akamina Pass trailhead on the Cameron Lake Road in Waterton Lakes National Park. The Bennett Pass trail starts about halfway along the west shore of Wall Lake and is well signed.