Usually when one plans a trip to Alberta’s Rocky Mountains it is to either Banff, Lake Louise, or Jasper. Many of us don’t realize there are some other incredible locations in our own backyard, some even more scenic and less filled with tourists. Such is the case with the magnificent town of Grande Cache.
21 mountain peaks surround Grande Cache, located 140 kilometres north of Hinton. Adjoining the town on three sides is Willmore Wilderness Park, a wilderness reserve that protects more than 4000 square kilometres of the Northern Rockies. Moose, deer, elk, mountain caribou, bighorn sheep, wolves, coyotes, wolverine, cougar, lynx, black bears and grizzly bears are all found within the area, making for some great opportunities to view wildlife.
I recently had a chance to spend a couple of days in Grande Cache during the Canada Day holiday. A good place to stop in on the way into town is the Tourism Centre. Featuring stuffed wildlife of the area on the walls, the centre has a lot of history of the town as well as souvenirs to take home. The staff are friendly and able to provide information on anything you need.
After settling into our comfortable and incredibly affordable room at the Grande Cache Hotel we took the opportunity to explore the town itself. It really is breathtaking to be encircled by such pristine mountain peaks. I remember waking up and sitting, looking out the window of the hotel room, sipping coffee and feeling very peaceful and lucky to be there.
The town amenities include several restaurants and a Subway. For convenience we had dinner our first night at the High Country Steak and Ale bar situated in the hotel, which was both delicious and reasonably priced. We had breakfast the next morning in the Mountainview Family Restaurant which continued the trend of affordable and tasty - the pancakes were awesome. Sharing a parking lot with the hotel is Cozy’s Ice Cream Parlor. Cozy’s offers over 40 flavors of soft serve ice cream as well as baked goods and snacks. Unfortunately we only discovered this gem the morning we left town, as it would have been worth several visits just to try the ice cream. There are other hotels as well as several campsites in the area.
The 4000 or so townspeople are very friendly and welcoming to visitors. We were lucky enough to have some locals takes us around for some mild hikes. Our first destination was Sulphur Gate. An easy walk along a railed path, this is a top destination for visitors to the town for its incredible views. Sulphur Gate is where the Sulphur river enters the smoky river. Although we didn’t get a chance to, white water rafting down the river with Wild Blue Yonder rafting came highly recommended. After exploring the area more and paying a visit to the river, we stopped by an old wooden bridge to watch the spectacular sunset over the mountains.
Every August long weekend thousands of people come to Grande Cache for the Canadian Death Race. This endurance test consists of 125 km of hiking and running within a 24 hour time period. The course begins and ends on a 4,200-foot (1,300 m) plateau, passes over three mountain summits, includes 17,000 feet (5,200 m) of elevation change and a major river crossing at the Hell’s Gate canyon at the confluence of the Smoky and Sulphur Rivers. The race winds through the breathtaking background of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Racers can compete by themselves or in relay teams of up to five people. It is a huge event in the town that also includes Deathfest concert events with big name acts. This year Thornley, Default, Shane Yellowbird, Aaron Lines and The Trews will all be performing. For those looking for a unique challenge, or just a fun filled weekend, this is an event to mark on your calendar. Part of our hike around Sulphur Gate included the path used in the race, and involves running through a rock, which is pretty cool.
Our hosts again took us hiking on July 2nd to Muskeg Falls. There are so many trails in the area it would have been impossible to try and do them all, but we did get to see some highlights. The “Passport to the Peaks” program is a great way to explore. The program celebrates the beauty of the area by identifying the ring of mountains that surround the town. Each mountain is rated as either Bronze, Silver or Gold depending upon the level of difficulty. The Bronze Mountains are typically daytrips with simple wayfinding. The Silver Mountains involve either multiday adventures, more advanced route finding or require a significant river crossing. The Gold Mountains are much more remote, undeveloped and challenging. On each summit is a Cairn Box with an embossing Summit Stamp mounted inside, particular to that mountain. This stamp will serve testimony to your having achieved the summit. It will also serve as a souvenir to remind you of your triumph and the vista at which you marveled. With regular visits it could still take several years to fill the passport but it would be quite the experience.
All too soon our Grande Cache visit came to an end. We spent time in Jasper National Park afterward, and while it is also beautiful, a part of me longed to be back in the quieter yet equally spectacular Grande Cache area. Even with the 7-hour drive from Calgary (4 hours from Edmonton) it is well worth the journey. Do yourself a favor and make your way there at some point. Affordable, spectacular, and fun - it is a jewel nestled into the mountains that is worth discovering.
http://www.GrandeCache.com
