|
Access and
parking: From the highway interchange north-east of
Banff follow the Lake Minnewanka and Two Jack Lake road
for approximately 6 km to the first trailhead. The main
trailhead is I km farther on at the west end of Johnson
Lake.
Length and
classification: Trail I (loop) - 8.2 km, Easy and
Moderate; Trail 2 (by-pass) - 0.4 km, Easy; Trail 3
(by-pass) - 80 m, Easy; Trail 4 (one-way) - 2.1 km, Easy;
Trail 5 (one-way) - 0.6 km, Easy.
Description: Johnson Lake trails
offer skiers plenty of diversity - exciting downhill
runs, flat stretches, straight or winding sections and
long climbs, on loops as short or long as you want to
make them. Loop 1-2-1-5 provides the gentlest skiing,
while the hills at the south end of loop 1-4-1 present
the greatest challenge.
Trail I makes a large loop around
Johnson Lake. On the north side, it crosses
gently-rolling terrain with evidence of beaver activity
in the aspen poplar stands along the way. The hills are
steeper and the skiing more demanding on Trail I between
its junction with Trails 3 and 4. To by-pass this part of
the trail, follow Trail 2 or 3. Watch closely for the
junction of these trails; they are located in heavy
spruce forest and are easy to miss.
On the south side of the lake, Trail I
is more or less flat until it drops down a rather steep
hill just before it ends at the main parking lot. Trail 5
follows a power line and offers an alternate finish to
Trail I on a less steep hill. Where Trail 4 leaves Trail
I (at the point farthest from the parking lot) it drops
down a long hill with some fast stretches: at the bottom
of this run the trail turns and climbs gradually through
lodgepole pine forest to break out on the brow of a hill
overlooking the TransCanada Highway (Highway 1). The
large evergreen trees here are sun-loving Douglas fir.
Wire mesh fences in this area enclose
pits formed by the collapse of the old Anthracite mine
shafts. These shafts date from the late 19th century when
coal seams in this hillside were mined for use in CPR
locomotives. At the junction of Trails 4 and 1, turn left
and. follow Trail I to the main parking lot, or turn
right and double back a short way to reach the parking
lot by the easier Trail 5.
Hazards: Stay well back from
fenced or unfenced pits. Please report the location of
any unfenced pits to the park wardens.
|
IN ESPAÑOL!
IN DEUTSCH!
IN ENGLISH!
