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Coal Mine Trail

Distance: 5.41 KM
Elevation Gain: 297 M
Moving Time: 1:40:40
Average Pace: 18:36/KM
Difficulty: Easier
Popularity: Low
My Recording (AllTrails): July 12, 2020
Directions (from Calgary): Click here
Overall: ***1/2

The start to Coal Mine Trail is not marked exceptionally well, but using GPS on a trail app on your phone, you should be able to figure it out relatively easily. The trailhead parking lot is the same one as some other hikes, such as Ribbon Falls.

Coal Mine Trail is a straight forward trail, and you will spend the time mostly going up until the end. The footing is quite nice on the feet and the trail itself is quite wide, allowing for larger groups to go up without issue. The tree growth provides a nice setting and protection from the sun over you as you work on the long switchbacks. The elevation is not significant, but given it is mostly up and over a shorter distance, for people who have poorer fitness levels like me, some challenge is present and it will seem like going up will never end.

You will notice older and distressed wooden pieces of equipment on the side of the trail occasionally, and that is very neat to see. Additionally, you will come to an older living quarters of some sort that has been deserted for some time. This comes at a nice time on the trail and gives your legs a break from the constant incline. Be sure to spend some time taking in the old building, it is hard to know how long it will still be standing!

Suddenly, you do come to an opening, and that signifies the end of the trail. The opening lets you on to the side of the mountain and changes from a wide trail to a narrow one on the side of a mountain filled with grass. It can feel a little like vertigo at first as you've been on wider footing enclosed with trees and the change to a narrower path that does not feel exactly level is a little much. Still, the view from the top is incredible, and the pictures simply do not do it justice.

This is a shorter trail overall, but the view at the top makes it worth it. Because of how short it is, it's a nice to do another trail for a longer day in the mountains. Our group did Troll Falls before this one because Troll Falls is very easy with little elevation and the trailheads for both are very close to each other.

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All material provided and created by Dave Boyle unless otherwise noted.
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