Mt Shark

Difficulty
This reflects the 10Adventures difficulty rating for each route. We aim to keep ratings consistent across regions.
Moderate
Duration
This reflects the estimated time the majority of users will take on this trail. If you are slower, add time to the top-end figure. If you are fast, then you may complete this route faster than this time range.
2.5-4h
Distance
This reflects the return distance of this route as measured by the GPS file.
14.1 km
Elevation
This reflects the total elevation gained throughout this route as measured by the GPS file. This includes all ascents and descents, and is higher than what is quoted in most route guides, which simply measure the distance between the starting-point and high-point of the route.
177 m
User Ratings
These ratings are completed by users who have completed this trail and not subject to reviews by 10Adventures.
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Directions to Trailhead
Panoramic view of Mt Shark XC ski trail near Kananaskis and Canmore in the Canadian Rockies

Mount Shark is a great area for cross-country skiing, with trails ranging from beginner to expert. This is some of the best snow in the Canadian Rockies, and the variety of trails mean this is a great place to come and explore and work on your cross-country skiing.

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View Mt Shark on Map

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Route Description for Mt Shark

Mt Shark is a great cross-country ski location, with a variety of trails to suit beginners to experts. Alberta Parks have made finding a suitable trail easier by creating three coloured routes: Green (15.0 km), Blue (2.0 km) and Yellow (10.0 km). You can also ski out to Watridge Lake on the Watridge Lake Trail.

Our favourite route is the Green 15.0 km route, which is shown on this map. The Green route goes back and forth at the start for roughly 4.5 km. This section is narrow with what seems like constant up and down, and some tight turns at the bottoms of some hills, making this a challenging ski for intermediates.

Once you’re done with the back and forth section, our favourite section of the cross-country ski starts, as the route heads out across the valley, crossing over Watridge Creek along the way. The views from this part of the ski are wonderful.

From the far point, ski back towards the Watridge Lake Trail, eventually meeting up with this wide trail. You can go right and ascend a hill, which eventually descends down to Watridge Lake, a pretty lake that is also along the ski route into Mount Assiniboine.

If you don’t go and check out Watridge Lake, then go left and head back along the wide, double track-set XC Ski Trail to your car. Along the way you can try out some of the trails that branch off of the Watridge Lake Trail.

Insider Hints for Mt Shark

  • This is usually one of the first cross-country ski trails to open in November.
  • Pick a clear, sunny day to maximize your experience on this trip.
  • Consider staying at Mount Engadine Lodge, which has cabins, lodge rooms, yurt’s and new glamping tents.

Getting to the Mt Shark Trailhead

From Canmore, drive out past the Nordic Centre and follow the road for 34.7 km as it turns into the Smith-Dorrien (Hwy 742). The turnoff for Mt Shark is the same as Mt Engadine Lodge. Once you’ve taken the turnoff go past Engadine Lodge and follow the road for 5.0 km, as it crosses over the bridge, and at the next intersection goes right.

Route Information

  • When to do

    Mid-November to April

  • Backcountry Campsites

    No

  • Toilets

    Trailhead

  • Pets allowed

    Yes

  • Avalanche Risk

    None

  • Family friendly

    Older Children only

  • Route Signage

    Average

  • Crowd Levels

    Moderate

  • Route Type

    Circuit

  • Type of XC Route

    Double Track-set

Mt Shark Elevation Graph

Weather Forecast

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Mt Shark Reviews

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