How to Get to The Kananaskis Suspension Bridge in Alberta Canada!
Did you know there is a secret (ish), free and epic suspension bridge you can cross in Kananaskis Country for epic views of Alberta?! Whether you did know or you just stumbled upon this Kananaskis blog post, you’ve come to the perfect place.
This article is my detailed guide of how to get to the Kananaskis Suspension Bridge and how to hike the loop which is exactly what I did when I recently visited. Don’t miss this!
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Where is Kananaskis?
Kananaskis Country is a beautiful area in the Canadian province of Alberta neighbouring places like Canmore and Calgary. The population is around 200 and covers an area of 4000 square kilometres. It is one of the best places to see bears, has incredible mountains and lakes and was the home of the 1988 Winter Olympics!
Calgary to Kananaskis takes about 1 hour via Highway 1.
Banff to Kananaskis takes 30 minutes via the highway or 2/2.5 hours via Canmore and Smith Dorrian Highway. The latter is way more scenic and the best chance to see wildlife.
You will need a pass if you’re stopping anywhere within Kananaskis which you can get at any of the visitor/information centres.
Hiking Kananaskis Country is some of the most beautiful hikes you’ll find in all of Alberta and lots of them are simple with great results like finding waterfalls, wildlife, mountains, lakes, hot springs or secret suspension bridges like this one.
Read all my Alberta Posts Here!
What is The Suspension Bridge?
Known as the Black Shale Suspension Bridge over Blackshale Creek with canyons below, wildflowers along the route and beautiful views of the mountains and scenery of one of Canada’s best national parks.
Suspension bridges make for excellent hikes and even better photographs!
Quick Info
does the Suspension Bridge in Kananaskis have an alltrails?: Yep, see here.
is this Alberta bridge safe? Always treat trails and bridges with caution but there are no hazard warnings. Only 20 people can be on the bridge at one time and it is not open in winter.
hike length: The Kananaskis Suspension Bridge Loop is 7km including crossing the bridge.
hike difficulty: Easy.
elevation gain: Gain of just over 300m. Whether you do the loop clockwise or anti-clockwise, there will be an area that will incline to get to the bridge.
hike time: On average it takes about 30 minutes to complete the loop including crossing the bridge and taking pictures. It took me 10 minutes to reach the bridge and cross and 10 minutes to get back to the car plus 10 minutes in between to stop for views, take pictures and have a drink.
best time to visit: The best time to visit the bridge is during summer between June and August when the bridge is safe to cross and you get clear, beautiful views. Even if visiting in summer, always check the Kananaskis Suspension Bridge weather by searching Kananaskis Country because mountain weather is no joke!
is the trail open in Winter? No. It is prohibited to cross this bridge in the winter due to safety.
are there bears here? Yes! Kananaskis Country is known for its frequent bear sightings. Never hike anywhere in this region without bear spray.
are dogs are allowed on the trail? Yes but must be kept on a lead at all times.
is there facilities here? no, there are no toilets, stores or places to camp here but there are lots nearby!
Canada Hiking Essentials
- Always check Kananaskis trail guide conditions here when doing the loop here.
- Sort accommodation in advance – I use booking.com and I highly recommend staying in Sundance Lodges which is where I camped!
- Make Sure You Get Travel Insurance – I always use Coverwise when travelling unless on a working holiday visa where specific insurance is required. Coverwise is reliable, cheap, has straightforward policies that are emailed and kept on file and the website is easy to navigate. Find quotes for your travel insurance with Coverwise here.
- Pack – Ensure you’ve packed the essential clothes including layers, waterproofs and hiking gear, first aid kits, and make room for souvenirs.
- Do I need bear spray in Kananaskis?– YES! This is an important addition when hiking in Alberta to protect yourself. You can buy it in town, on Amazon here, or rent it from your accommodation or convenience stores in Banff Town. Note: you cannot take this on an airplane with you as it is classed as a weapon.
- Grab a Lonely Planet Guide, a map and maybe a hiking book for the area!
- Read all my Alberta Posts here
- Find your tours via Viator
- Safety comes first! Tell someone your route and how long you’ll be, consider a bear bell for your bag, pack bear spray, prepare for changes in weather and leave no trace.
How to Get to The Kananaskis Suspension Bridge in Alberta!
Firstly, you’re going to need a car in Kananaskis. Find your Canada car rental here.
Secondly, follow these directions to find the Black suspension bridge and trail because there are no signs along the way as the bridge is somewhat of a hidden gem and you only know, if you know.
- If you’re coming from Highway 1, drive past the Kananaskis Village, South, on Highway 40 (also known as The Kananaskis Trail) and if you’re coming from the Smith Dorrian Way (also known as 742), turn right onto Highway 40.
- You’re going to enter Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, drive past Goat Creek Lookout
- You will approach Black Prince Day Use Area but do not park here, keep going until you see unofficial parking for the Kananaskis Suspension Bridge.
- If you see Peninsula Day Use Area, you’ve gone too far.
- The start of the trail you may see cars parked already on the side of the road (it’s on the East side) and you’ll see a small, wooden path like this:
Head here: Black Prince Cirque Trail – Black Prince parking, Kananaskis, AB
Join a Suspension Bridge Tour:
Suspension Bridge Trail Parking
The parking to reach the bridge is free parking along the side of the road wherever there is availability along the Smith Dorrien Way / Highway 40. Don’t forget that in Alberta you must park on the way in which the car is driving so you may have to go a bit further and turn around to get a spot. There is no official parking.
Blackshale Suspension Bridge Hike Guide
I started the walk from the right-hand path so I hiked the loop in an anti-clockwise direction (I faced the route and had my back to the highway) and this is the start of the path:
Next follows a series of short and easy switchbacks in the forest surrounded by trees with glimpses of the sky above.
Eventually you’ll see snippets of the bridge handle bars/suspension leads and probably hear others if there are people here.
Keep going and you’ll see the suspension bridge bridge to cross with epic views across, below and all around!
After crossing the bridge, take a left where you might see other hikers coming toward the bridge and follow another series of easy switchbacks this time going downwards until you reach the road where you’ll find your car.
Note: the bridge is narrow, sways a lot, is completely covered on both sides and can only hold a maximum of 20 people at a time. If you do not feel comfortable crossing the bridge then just turn around and go back the way you came.
Why not visit the Suspension Bridge Kananaskis on a guided tour which includes lunch, visiting lakes and learning about the area from a guide!
Where to Stay Near Kananaskis Bridge
I stayed in Sundance Lodges which is a camping/glamping area in Kananaskis. This is one of the best places to stay for an authentic Canadian experience in Kananaskis Country!
You can choose to stay in either a glamping tent, a teepee or a spot to set up your own tent. The camp has everything you need from a firepit, bbq and areas for camping activities to a river flowing through, minimal light pollution to see the Northern Lights and facilities like showers, toilets and sports playgrounds.
Check prices and availability here!
More Tours in Kananaskis
Hopefully this post will help you find and complete the Kananaskis bridge hike with ease 🙂
Pin This Blackshale Suspension Bridge Kananaskis Guide!
