Loomis Lake Bike and Hike. Kananaskis Highwood Country.

The trailhead is located across the road from the Lineham Creek Recreation Area parking lot 134km west of the city of Calgary on the #40 Highwood Trail highway. Note that the #40 Highwood Trail Highway is closed from Dec 1st to June 14th. This is considered a moderate to difficult bike and hike but would consider it a difficult hike only due to the return trip distance of approximately 22km with a total elevation gain 700m. Allow 4-5 hours with a bike. It's an easy bike the first 8.5km then it's a moderate hike the remaining 2.5km up to Loomis lake. However there are several stream crossings including the Highwood River so expect to get your feet wet. It's a good idea to pack a second pair of shoes then stash them after crossing the Highwood River. Park at the Lineham Creek Recreation Area then cross the Highwood Trail Highway. The trail starts next to the highway to your right along an old logging road leading down towards the Highwood River. Follow the old logging road approximately 2km to the Highwood River. Cross the river, shake the cold sting off and take the logging road to your left as it slowly starts to climb up the Loomis Creek Valley. Make allot of noise and keep your eye's out for bears here. All the valleys in this area are prime Grizzly Bear habitat. In another 2km the trail intersects at Loomis Creek and Bishop Creek, cross the Creek and stay to your right for another 4.5km. When you arrive at the first meadow continue on another 1/2km or so to the next clearing. This clearing is an old logging mill site. Leave your bike here and start hiking the single track trail up to Loomis Lake. The trail gets steep as it climbs up along Loomis Creek to a beautiful meadow located at the bottom of the headwall to Loomis Lake. Once you reach the bottom of the headwall you'll find a nice campsite mainly used by equestrian groups. Work your way up the right side of the Headwall then past a small waterfall on your left. Keep climbing to the top of the headwall then through a small Limber Pine forest to Loomis Lake. Limber Pines are very unusual as you can bend and twist the limbs like a piece of rope. A definite sign that this place is windy. Once you reach the lake you will be amazed at it's beautiful colour and the way it's cradled by the surrounding mountains. The lake is a Caribbean blue color and crystal clear. The ridge in front of you is the Alberta - British Columbia boundary. Loomis Lake is stocked with Cutthroat Trout however their growth rate is very slow due to the lack of food at higher elevations. You'll need a fishing license to try out your luck. Nearby hikes include Carnarvon Lake Hike, Lake of the Horns Hike, Picklejar Lakes Hike, Ptarmigan Cirque Hike, Running Rain Lake Hike, Mist Ridge Hike and Lineham Ridge Hike. You are in bear country.