Grotto Canyon

Elevation: 1420 m
Elevation Gain: 120 m
Grotto Creek is a small, seasonal watercourse which resides between Grotto Mountain and Gap Peak. In places, the Creek has carved an impressive slot canyon. Both the Creek and Canyon take their unofficial names from nearby Grotto Mountain. Grotto Mountain was so-named in 1858 for the large cave that James Hector and Eugene Bourgeau discovered within it.
My Ascents:
July 4 2021
Trailhead: Grotto Creek Trailhead
GPS Track: Grotto Canyon

After a pleasant bike-and-hike to Sundance Canyon the day prior, we decided to continue with the family-friendly canyoneering theme of our Bow River highway-side camping trip. Joined once again by friends Lise, Alex and their little ones (Andrew and Victoria), we loaded our 8-person party into our veritable “Canyoneros” and ventured into Canmore and then back along Highway 1A to explore nearby Grotto Canyon.

Departing from the popular trailhead, it quickly became apparent that today’s hike would not rival yesterday’s in terms of scenery. While Sundance Canyon’s approach involved a beautiful bike ride along the Bow, Grotto Canyon’s approach followed a set of power lines towards a loud industrial complex! 🤨

Passing by the eyesore plant, a sign had the gall to call this a “viewpoint” and outlined the plant’s reason for being (processing magnesite into magnesium oxide). Interestingly, this plant processes minerals mined from a remote Kootenay site that I’ve seen from above on a couple of occasions.

While the power lines and plant did little to contribute to the “big picture” scenery, the local flora did its best to pretty things up. Sometimes you have to stop and smell the flowers (whilst not breathing too deeply for fear of what that nearby plant is emitting).

A personal Rockies favorite: the Western Wood Lily (Lilium philadelphicum).

Another colorful addition to the cutline: a Brown-Eyed Susan (Gaillardia aristate).

Camping BFFs Victoria and Mera led the way as the trail left the industrial complex behind and veered into the woods.

About 1 km from the trailhead, we intersected Grotto Creek’s impressive floodplain. It’s hard to fathom but all of this rubble originated from the small canyon on the right of this photo!

LEFT: Following the dry creek bed upstream, we soon found ourselves queued up at the canyon’s entrance.
RIGHT: 3-year-old Penny overcomes the day’s first obstacle (some extremely smooth waterworn rock) with a little help from her Mom.

Canyon CHAOS (but then again what isn’t chaos with 4 small children?).

LEFT and RIGHT: Despite the fact that 98% of the creek bed was bone-dry, Penny and Mera both insisted on walking directly up the small stream that trickled amongst the rocks here and there. So much for dry shoes!

Looks like I found a “Bear” 🐻 in a “cave”! Photo courtesy Lise.

LEFT and RIGHT: Continuing upstream, the canyon’s walls increased in scale and a preponderance of climbing routes appeared on both sides.

LEFT: Venturing just around the river canyon-bend.
RIGHT: As the canyon’s walls continued to grow, we rounded the bend and were greeted by a wall of rock rising imposingly ahead.

LEFT and RIGHT: At the rock wall’s foot, we found a small waterfall (left) and a sign (right) indicating that this was the official trail’s terminus. While many continue to explore the canyon upstream of this point, we elected to stop here (rather than pushing our luck with 4 little ones).

LEFT: Feeding time at the zoo.
RIGHT: The Hobbs’ pose for a family photo alongside the waterfalltrickle.

LEFT: After a pleasant repast, we started back down the canyon, tackling obstacles as they arose. 🙄 🤣
RIGHT: Mom and Penny stop for a photo op in one of the canyon’s more impressive sections.

As we neared the canyon’s endpoint, a series of tantrums and raindrops reinforced our decision to turn around where we had!

LEFT and RIGHT: At the entrance to the canyon, the kids effectively turned the waterworn rock into a slide. With thunder rumbling overhead, however, we had to pry them (and an adult or two) away from the surprisingly slide-like feature.

Hurrying back below the power lines, we endeavored to “Beat the Storm” (“Beat, Beat the Storm!”). Mercifully, the downpour did not begin in earnest until we’d loaded everyone into our “Canyoneros!” A successful conclusion to a wonderful canyoneering/camping weekend with friends! 😀