Hiking to Allstones Lake

by | Published on August 2, 2013 | Last updated on October 27, 2018 | Journal, Stories

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One of the benefits of working on our new site, explorecentralalberta.ca, has been visiting many local attractions this summer. Most of those adventures have been with the kids but earlier in the week I decided to head out to Allstones Lake for the day.

I’d been told before that this was a steep one, or a relentless climb as the guide book calls it but I needed to check it out for myself. The book was right. 

The weather looked promising before heading out on the trail. Mostly clear skies and the quietest I’d ever seen Abraham Lake. Sadly, this was not to last. It started to rain on the way up and did not stop until I made it back to the trailhead. The view was still fantastic along the way and now I can’t wait to go back on a clear day.

This trail is outside of the parks and as such is not maintained by the government. While it is in great shape and looked after by the users this means no switchbacks. The trail tends to go straight up for the first 3 km or so. That makes for a very slippery hike on the way down on a rainy day.

Every once in a while there is a slight leveling or change of scenery. Don’t be fooled, the next uphill section isn’t far.

As you exit the forest all this climbing pays off with stunning views of the mountains, the valley and Abraham Lake below. From there the trail narrows and levels off as you get closer to Allstones Lake. You can see very little of the lake until you are on the shore.

The map from Sustainable Resources Development (this trail is on public land) shows a second trail that leaves the opposite end of the lake and meeting the main trail on the ridge. I went looking for it, as you can see on the map below, but could not find it. I ended up walking back along the lake and retracing my steps back to the trailhead. Looking at the map afterward it looks like most of the trails I followed would provide access to Mudslide Creek.

We’ll be adding this hike to our hiking guide on explorecentralalberta.ca shortly.