South Lawson is a rocky subpeak that offers tremendous views of the convergence of two valleys and the Kananaskis region. Best of all, the peak is relatively easy to reach with simple navigation, no scrambling, and moderate elevation gain to the summit. It’s a good early-season hike as the ridge tends to dry out fairly quickly, and it’s a hot spot for wildflowers near the summit.

Most notable is its relatively undiscovered status, which sees a fraction of the hikers compared to more popular options in Kananaskis. On the day of our hike, a dozen people were on the trail in total, and as we were the last to start our day, we had the summit to ourselves.

The trail starts just north of Lower Kananaskis Lake, and the summit offers tremendous views of both Kananaskis Lakes. It begins along a flume system that feeds into the lakes, then climbs through the forest to the rocky subpeak. As the hike follows the ridge to the summit, you get the occasional view out through the forest, so it’s not overly tedious or boring.

Route Description

A small parking area/access road is at the trailhead for the route up to South Lawson Peak, with enough room for a dozen or so vehicles. The unofficial area is along a road that runs along an old water-diversion flume for Kent Creek. From the small parking area, the trail follows the old flume, which makes for a pretty interesting start, as clear mountain spring water still flows through it.

It follows the diversion for about 1.2 km before reaching the headgate of the flume, where the trail to South Lawson Peak begins to ascend up the ridge. We found the headgate/dam itself pretty interesting and worth a small detour. Off to the right is the small trail to the peak, which is easy enough to find. Here, the trail begins a consistent climb up the ridge.

For the first 1.5 km of the ridge, it’s pretty steep and the most challenging section of the hike, offering little in terms of views. However, it goes by pretty quickly, and the shade is much appreciated mid-summer.

At around 3 km, the trees begin to thin, providing the occasional view from the ridge down into the valley below. We found a nice breeze in this section and could make out the first rocky summit of the ridge in the distance.

After 3 km along the trail, it becomes rockier, with more views as the trees continue to thin out. The grade here is easier, but the trail gets rockier. The trail exits the treeline and makes its way towards the rocky alpine. It gets pretty steep again, but it’s short-lived, so easy to deal with.

At about 3.8 km, the trail finally exits the treeline entirely and gains the top of the ridge. This short section involves about 200 meters of easy scrambling along the ridge. It’s not overly exposed or overly difficult, but many will feel the need to use their hands.

After the short scramble section is a wonderfully grassy peak that’s perfect for relaxing and taking in the views. The views from the summit are phenomenal, with something to enjoy in every direction. Most notably, the views down onto Kananaskis Lakes are always wonderful. The trail returns the same way as the ascent route.

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Best Time To Hike South Lawson Peak

It’s best to hike South Lawson Peak from early June to October. However, it’s possible to tackle the hike even in May, but it depends on the season. July is the best chance for wildflowers in bloom, but the alpine at the top is pretty limited and rocky.

Things To Note

Parking is limited at the trailhead with only enough room for a couple of vehicles. It’s likely not enough on busy weekends, but there is parking just across Highway 742 at the Peninsula Picnic Site.

The route up to South Lawson Peak is steep enough to appreciate hiking poles, but they aren’t a necessity. One of us used poles on the ascent, and the other did not.

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Our Thoughts on South Lawson Peak

South Lawson Peak is indicative of many hikes in Kananaskis: it’s short, steep, and offers beautiful views from an attainable summit. It makes for a great introductory hike for those hoping to tackle more difficult hikes, scrambles, or summits in K-Country.

Even seasoned hikers will appreciate the breathtaking views for the amount of effort required. It’s a hike you can check out in half a day, as it will likely take most of 4 hours, with time spent taking in the views from the summit. The hike reminds us a lot of Mount Lipsett, which is another moderate classic. Altogether, it’s a hike we can confidently recommend!