Grassi Knob (not to be confused with Grassi Lakes) is a small mountain in the front ranges of the peaks that surround the town of Canmore. Looking at Grassi Knob from the highway, the mountain seems to resemble a hill more than a mountain, but don’t be fooled – this hike will still get your heart pounding!
Grassi Knob is a great hike for moderate hikers, as it involves a lot of uphill, but nothing really technical (meaning no hands required for scrambling and no scary drop-offs known as “exposure”).
If you’re looking for a harder hike but you’re not sure about a mountain summit, Grassi Knob might be the hike for you. The cons are that most of the hike is steep and in the trees, but the pros are that you’re in the shade and the summit has a lovely view of the Three Sisters.
Grassi Knob Quick Stats
- Distance – 8.0 km / 4.97 mi
- Elevation Gain – 813 m / 2,667 ft
- Approximate Time – 4-6 hours
- All Season Hike? Yes, it is not included in the wildlife corridor closure
- Dog Friendly? Yes, on leash
- Kid Friendly? Yes
- Beginner Friendly? Yes
- Cell Service? Likely throughout
- Wildlife Encounters? Possible bighorn sheep, bears
- Access to Water? Early stream crossing, but none higher up
- Bathrooms? None
- Chance of getting lost? Moderate risk of missing a turn and being on a different trail
Driving Directions & Where to Park for Grassi Knob
Drive along Highway 1 and take the exit for the Three Sisters Mountain Village in Canmore heading south. Continue straight along the road, past the stop sign, until you see a park gate in front of you and the road turns left – a 1-minute drive after the exit. Park anywhere along the street by this gate.
How to Get to the Grassi Knob Trailhead
Walk past the park gate on a well-beaten dirt path. The path quickly widens and is an obvious trail through the woods.
This is the start of the Grassi Knob hike, though there is no official signage. Be sure to follow a GPS trail as you continue along, as the start of this hike also serves several other hikes in the area. It will be easy to miss a tun-off and not continue on the correct trail if you’re not following a map.
Follow the signs for the “Highline Trail” up into the forest. After 2 kilometers, you will reach the Highline Trail, and the path will level out at a sign. Here, you need to turn left, followed by a righthand turn 300 meters later. This is where the trail solely becomes the Grassi Knob trail and diverges from the Highline Trail.
How To Hike Grassi Knob Successfully
This trail is completely in the trees, except for the summit, which luckily pops out enough to provide beautiful views of the Three Sisters towering behind you and the Bow Valley lying below. Thankfully, the trees provide shade for a hot summer’s hike, however, they also prevent any worthwhile views before the summit.
Here is the trail broken down into three segments to help you gauge your progress:
1. The Highline
The Highline Trail is a maintained, developed trail that spans from the Three Sisters Village in Canmore, all the way to the base of Ha Ling. The Highline Trail from the Three Sisters Village is the start of the trail for Grassi Knob.
Follow the obvious trail behind the starting gate. The trail is initially pretty flat, and wanders around to the Three Sisters Creek. Once you reach the creek, the incline starts, and you will cross the creek in a series of two foot bridges.
Continue following the signs for the Highline Trail, as you zig-zag (known as “switchback”) up the hill beside the creek. At the first intersection, take a left and head uphill. There should be a sign indicating The Highline Trail.
Follow the Highline Trail up the incline until you reach a flat intersection 2 kilometers in from the start of the hike. This intersection is marked with another sign and is the height of the Highline Trail. Turn left.
Walk another 300 meters along this flat part of the Highline Trail and keep an eye out for a turn on your right, heading uphill. This is where you need to exit the Highline Trail.
2. The Steep Up
After leaving the Highline Trail, the incline increases, as you essentially walk straight up the knob. The trail starts out slightly narrow, but is defined the entire way.
Unfortunately, this part of the trail is a bit of a grind and isn’t overly eventful. There isn’t much to see or stress about. Simply follow the defined trail up through the trees.
3. The Summit
Just as you break the tree line, you will see a small rocky outcropping. The summit lies just on top. Follow the dirt trail as long as you can to the base of the rocks, then take the path of least resistance to the top.
If you have poles, you will be able to stay upright and hike up to the top of the rock. If you don’t have poles, you might prefer to use a hand for balance. It will take approximately 1 minute to get on top of the rocks.
The summit itself is a small bald spot just above the trees. Thankfully the views open up and you get a stunning look at the Three Sisters mountains. Enjoy a nice break before heading back down the way you came, or continuing down the backside of the summit to complete the hike as a loop.
What to Bring When Hiking Grassi Knob
Grassi Knob is a fairly straightforward hike, and as such, you shouldn’t need any special equipment. Bring what you’d normally wear and carry on a hike – sturdy shoes, layers, food, water. A few recommendations I’d include are:
- Poles – Hiking poles or trekking poles really help with steep environments. They take pressure off your muscles on the way up, and take stress off your joints on the way down. I’d highly recommend hiking Grassi Knob with poles, due to the steep terrain.
- Bear Spray – You should always carry bear spray when hiking in Kananaskis, as there is always the chance of an unfriendly encounter. Remember to have it easily accessible (not in the bottom of your pack) and know how to use it.
Gap Peak Tips To Get The Best Experience
- Hike in Any Season. You might encounter some chatter as to whether or not this trail is part of a wildlife corridor closure in the winter months. And while the Highline Trail does pass through the area, it is not included in the closure. Winter can be a great time to hike Grassi Knob. Just don’t forget microspikes!
- Complete the Loop. From the summit of Grassi Knob, you can either come back down the route you came, or proceed down the backside of the mountain. However, the trail is not as defined along the backside. A GPS is recommended, or consider hiking in reverse if you’re keen on the circuit.
- Summit for “Golden Hour”. Parking might be an issue on busy summer weekends as there is no parking lot for the start of this hike. Hiking early in the morning or during sunset when the sun lights up the Three Sisters mountains can make for a magical experience. Be sure to bring a headlamp though!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Grassi Knob trail closed?
No, Grassi Knob trail is not closed! It is open year-round, despite a nearby wildlife corridor closure in winter months. As long as you stay on the designated trail, you are able to hike Grassi Knob any time. (Confirmed with Alberta Parks’ website).
What is the elevation of Grassi Knob?
Grassi Knob mountain stands at 2174 meters (7133 feet) high. You will need to gain 813 meters (2667 feet) to hike to the summit.
Do I need a Kananaskis pass for the Grassi Knob hike?
No, you do not need a Kananaskis pass to hike Grassi Knob because you are parking within the townsite! Grassi Knob is one of few hikes that do not require the pass.
Recommendations From My Experience
- If someone else wasn’t navigating, I would’ve missed the turnoff from the Highline Trail to the Grassi Knob trail. I’d strongly recommend a map.
- I found the first part of the Highline Trail to be a bit overgrown. Wear bug spray and keep clothing tucked in to protect against ticks in summer months.
- Consider hiking this on a bad weather day or in the off-season. There are so many great hikes in the area, and I found this one to be just ok. However, when the weather is too yucky to do a harder objective, Grassi Knob should be safe in less ideal weather (unless there’s lightning!)
- I found the “up” part of this hike to be unrelenting because of the lack of views. It’s best to just grind through it in whatever way you can!
Other Questions?
Were your questions left unanswered? Drop a comment below and I’ll get back to you! Also, if you’ve hiked Grassi Knob, leave a review below for others to see!
Happy trails!