Black Prince Hike Kananaskis And Blackshale Suspension Bridge

When the breathtaking 4.8 km Black Prince Hike Kananaskis leaves you wanting more and the 1.0 km Black shale Suspension Bridge trail just isn’t enough what do you do?

Combine them together.

The combination of these two hikes makes for a nice easy to moderate day of hiking. Perfect for the beginner hiker and families alike, which will leave you with a feeling of accomplishment as well as making the scenic drive worth your while.

Note: Hwy 742 is gravel and has an extreme washboard as you go up to these points. Be cautious.

Blackshale Suspension Bridge

The Black shale Suspension Bridge in Kananaskis is a nice little 1.0 km loop that meanders up a shaled pathway where the sun glistens through the trees and the birds chirp their soothing melodies. Keep an eye out for all the colorful varieties of wildflowers blooming along the trail.

Accessing the trail

The trail can be accessed via the Black Prince Trail parking lot (day area)by crossing HWY 742. The trail from here is 2.2 km to the bridge. Many use the Black Prince trail as a starting point hiking the 4.8 km and then continuing on to the bridge for a 7 km hike in total. You may also access the Suspension Bridge from Black shale Creek where we did. This is only a 1.0 km loop to the bridge and back. Take the path to the right hiking to the bridge, once you cross the bridge take a sharp left and follow the path back down to where you started.

Black Prince Hike

The Black Prince Cirque trail is a 4.8 km hike that I must say is one of my favorite hikes to date. Rated easy-moderate as the first 400 meters or so have a bit of an incline that was a bit strenuous on my aging lungs. Not sure how I managed Ha Ling Peak, Wind Ridge, and others the yrs prior.

Non the less it was worth every exhausting breath as I crept onward to point 4 of 8 where a bench rewarded me that the worst was behind me. Beyond this point, we reached a fork in the road. We followed the walking sign to the right thankfully as the left would have elevation I wasn’t ready for.

Trekking forward we were delighted by nature’s beauty on the trail of bridges, flowers, and streams that flow down from the lake.

Black Prince Cirque, Warspite Lake

Once at its peak a lake appeared through the trees ahead. We made it, although it didn’t seem long at all. The scenic mountain lake was a mirror reflection of its surroundings.

Once at Warspite lake it is a great spot for photos and a lunch on the rocks once fallen from previous rock slides many yrs ago.

Wraspite lake actually dries up in late July, how much depends on the weather. It will turn into a boulder field.

The trail winds endlessly through jagged black shale rocks. A few more water features and the hike comes to an end. That 400 meters are now downhill so it’s time for you to say, you can do it, you are almost at the point where it is smooth sailing. In the end, you can decide to fulfill your journey elsewhere or continue on to Black shale Suspension Bridge.

It’s all about taking great photos!

Although I have not done this hike, you can continue on 5.6 km up to Black Prince Lake. It is rated hard, it is steep but not too technical, mostly rocky meadow and forest with stunning valley views at the top. Also, some nice creeks and waterfall make this hike one that has it all.