Calgary 
Blackshale Creek Suspension Bridge in Kananaskis Country makes for an easy day trip from Calgary to the Canadian Rockies.
Credit: Kananaskis Outfitters
You’ll find the Blackshale Suspension Bridge in the southern part of Kananaskis Country in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park.
The suspension bridge is located on the Smith-Dorrien Trail, and the hike to the bridge and back can take 1.5-2 hours or as little as 30 minutes, depending on which route you take and how often you stop for photos or breaks.
The High Rockies Trail (from the parking lot/day use area with picnic area) follows a tall pine forest alongside the Smith-Dorrien Trial. The hike to the bridge is simple and easy enough for small kids, and you gain around 330m in elevation. Crossing the bridge can be a thrill for any age, as the forest opens to a large canyon with Blackshale Creek below and trees all around.
As you’re on the High Rockies Trail, you can follow the path as far as you like. Many families like to use the bridge as a turning-back-point (~6.8 km round trip).
In a rush? There is a shorter trail to the Suspension Bridge which also starts on the Smith-Dorrien Trail. Follow the trails beside the Blackshale Creek up to the main trail and bridge. If you choose this path, expect a sharper incline, and it is around 1 km round trip.
For even more views and a picnic site, you can also stop at the Peninsula Day Use area. The area has sweeping views over Lower Kananaskis Lake, picnic tables, and a short trail.
Planning your trip – Blackshale Creek Suspension Bridge
What:
The Blackshale Creek/Blackshale Suspension Bridge is in Kananaskis Country’s Peter Lougheed Provincial Park and can be accessed via an easy 6.8 km (from Black Prince Day Use) or a shorter 1 km out-and-back hike from the Smith-Dorrien Trail. The Blackshale Creek runs down Kent South Peak and into Lower Kananaskis Lake.
The suspension bridge takes you across a steep valley with the creek flowing underneath as you cross from one side of Mount Kent to the other. The longer hike is part of a larger 60+ km High Rockies Trail, a section of the much larger Trans-Canada Trail.
How Much: Unlike all other Alberta Parks, all parks in Kananaskis Country require admission in the form of a Kananaskis Country Pass, which costs $15 per vehicle per day or $90 per year for up to 2 vehicles. Admission is free on the first Wednesday of every month, New Year’s Day, Family Day (third Monday in February), Earth Day, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Parks Day (~third Saturday in July)
Kananaskis Country’s Birthday (September 22), Remembrance Day, First day of winter (December 21), and Christmas Day.
Best time to go:
Best from Late Spring to Fall.
Arrive as early in the day as you can to avoid crowds. The area can get busy in the summer, and the bridge has a limit of 20 people at a time. Leave early to avoid waiting to cross.
How to get there:
Credit: Alberta Parks
Blackshale Suspension Bridge is located approximately 2 hours from Calgary.
Park at the Black Prince Cirque Interpretive trailhead lot/Black Prince Day Use Area on the Smith Dorrien Trail for a great hike. From here, follow High Rockies Trail north across the gravel road, and head east through the trees. The trail and path are well-established. The Black Prince Trail does NOT lead to the bridge.
Directions to Shorter Trailhead on Smith Dorrien Trail
Directions to Black Prince Day: Use the trailhead lot
For more information:
High Rockies Trail Alberta Parks
Peter Lougheed Provincial Park (Check advisories before you go)
Black Prince Day Use Area – Alberta Parks
