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Hoodoo Creek Trip Report
Guest Post By: Philip Lund, All Out Kids Gear
We hiked up to the cave with our 4 and 6 year old who both did amazing, as Hoodoo Creek is a moderately difficult hike. I would recommend a minimum age of 6 years old, unless your children are used to big hikes.
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| Heading up the creek bed Image Credit: Philip Lund |
I would also recommend hiking boots as it is a really rocky hike up the creek bed with a short scramble at the top to the cave.
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| Snack time at Hoodoo Creek Image Credit: Philip Lund |
You have two options to do this trail: the creek bed or trail along the right bank. We hiked up the trail and came back straight down the creek bed. The trail bypasses more difficult parts of the creek, but in other parts, the creek is easier, so you can choose your own adventure.
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| Lots of rocks to climb over Image Credit: Philip Lund |
The trail brings you back to the creekbed right before the hoodoos.
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| Hoodoos, Hoodoo Creek Trail Image Credit: Philip Lund |
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After the hoodoos, the canyon narrows dramatically. Continue through the creekbed until you get to a fork in the stream at the top of the valley. The cave is on the right side. It’s a steep 50 m scramble (4-5 minutes) to get up there, but it’s worth it!
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| Hoodoo Creek Cave Image Credit: Philip Lund |
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| We made it! Image Credit: Philip Lund |
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| View from the cave Image Credit: Philip Lund |
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| Looking back at Abraham Lake and Mount Michener Image Credit: Philip Lund |
We returned via the creek bed and were able to keep our feet dry by hopping in and out of the creek bed.
All in all, it was a fun hike through some really cool rock formations with the added bonus of a cave and beautiful view!
Know Before You Go
- JP Fortin at Pursuit Adventures recommends avoiding this trail on rainy days as there is a risk of flash flooding in narrow parts of the canyon (upper reaches).
- We found a few ticks so make sure to do a tick check as usual. For tick safety tips, see this post: 5 Myths About Ticks & Tick Safety Tips.
Hoodoo Creek At a Glance
Distance: 5.2 km
Elevation Gain: 400 m
Target age: 6+
Time: Allow 4-5 hours with kids (including lunch and snack breaks)
Washrooms: No.
Stroller friendly? No.
Trailhead: There is no sign, but there is a big cairn to the left of the stream, near the road.
Directions from Nordegg turnoff (Stuart Street and Highway 11): Go west on Hwy 11 for 38.2 km. The trailhead is on the north (right) side of the highway – there is no official parking; park on the side of the road. You will see a large gravel wash/creek bed which is Hoodoo Creek.
- Landmark: Drive 2.7 km west of Windy Point (see photo below) and pull over on the right side of the highway. The trailhead is at approximately 52.2457924,-116.4309815.
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| Check your odometer here! Hoodoo Creek is 2.7 km west of here on the right side of the road. Windy Point is a sharp left BEFORE this (if driving from Nordegg). |
About the Author
- Siffleur Falls, David Thompson Corridor
- Crimson Lake Provincial Park
- Explore Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site
- Camping in the David Thompson Corridor
