Alberta, Canada is home to an incredible suspension bridge located in the heart of Kananaskis Country, just outside of Banff National Park! The Blackshale Suspension Bridge is a stunning spot in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, and my favourite part is that is super accessible too. The Blackshale Suspension Bridge is easy to visit, as it is a short hike to get there, not too difficult and free to visit. In this guide, I’ll tell you everything you need to know to visit the Blackshale Suspension Bridge, including the best times to go, how to get there, and tips for making the most of your trip. Keep reading to find out how to plan your perfect visit to this hidden gem in Kananaskis!
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![girl on the blackshale suspension bridge in Kananaskis, Alberta in the evening](https://i0.wp.com/endlesswonder.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/blackshale-suspension-bridge-alberta-hike.jpg?resize=580%2C870&ssl=1)
General Information About the Kananaskis Suspension Bridge:
Location: Peter Lougheed Provincial Park in Kananaskis Country, just outside of Banff National Park
Accessible by Public Transportation? Unfortunately, you cannot get to the Kananaskis Suspension Bridge via public transportation. There are no busses that run in Kananaskis, and so you will need a car to get here, or join a tour. Currently, I can only find one tour offered to the Suspension Bridge by Kananaskis Outfitters.
Cost: Free! Although there is a $15 fee to park in Kananaskis. You can purchase this online before arriving, or at the Kananaskis Visitor Information Centre when there.
When to visit: The best time to visit the suspension bridge in Kananaskis is during the late Spring, Summer, or early Fall.
After heavy snowfall or just as snow accumulates throughout the winter, the suspension bridge becomes unsafe due to the amount of snow on the bridge.
There were signs when we had first tried to hike to the bridge in February warning of high snow levels and stating that the bridge is closed, so we decided to revisit once the snow had melted and it was safe to visit again in June.
Try to visit in the early morning or evening to avoid crowds during the peak of the day.
Heading into Banff? Check out the ultimate Banff Bucket List here.
Where is the Suspension Bridge Located?
The Blackshale Suspension Bridge is located off the Smith – Dorrien Highway in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, Kananaskis, Alberta. It is just over an hour drive from Canmore and around a 1 hour 40 minute drive from Calgary.
![Girl in a purple sweater standing on the Kananaskis Suspension Bridge with trees all below the bridge, a forest on the far side of the bridge, and the Canadian Rocky mountains in the background](https://i0.wp.com/endlesswonder.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/blackshale-suspension-bridge-alberta.jpg?resize=580%2C870&ssl=1)
How do I Get to the Blackshale Suspension Bridge?
The trailhead to the Blackshale Suspension Bridge hike is only accessible by car. There is no public transport that drives this road, therefore, driving yourself is really your only option.
There are 2 trailheads you can take to actually get to the suspension bridge – one is longer (and the official trail!) and one is a lot shorter (and the unofficial trail).
Option #1: Park in the Black Prince Parking Lot (longer)
- Take the Smith Dorrien Highway and turn into the Black Prince Parking Lot to find a parking spot
- Walk back out to the Smith Dorrien Highway and cross the road (watch for cars)
- You will see a sign that kind of blends in with the trees – this is the trailhead for the High Rockies Trail
- This trail is the longer route and will take you to the suspension bridge!
- From here, you will hike roughly 45 minutes to get to the bridge through the forest, and then turn around and hike the same trail back to your car after exploring the bridge! (roughly 1.5 hours of total hiking)
Option #2: The Shorter, Unofficial Route
To hike the shorter route, you’ll Google map “Blackshale Creek Suspension Bridge Trailhead” and park on the side of the road (although this is technically not recommended or allowed).
- This is the shorter route and this is the route I did to visit the bridge
- Follow the Smith Dorrien Highway and watch google maps closely – this trailhead is unmarked on the trail, so the only real way you will know you are there is by watching your map until you pass the marker for the trailhead online
- You may see other cars pulled over, but don’t rely on this as sometimes there is no one else there, or the cars may be parked near other unmarked trailheads
- Once you arrive, pull over on the side of the road and you should see a small valley with two dirt paths on either side of the valley
- This trail is a hiking circuit (circle), so you can take whichever way up you want, and it will lead you to the bridge!
- This option takes around 10-15 minutes to hike to the bridge (maybe a little less). It is slightly uphill at times, but the hiking difficulty is minimal.
![Straight on shot of the suspension bridge with trees below and leading into a forest.](https://i0.wp.com/endlesswonder.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/kanakaskis-suspension-bridge-alberta.jpg?resize=580%2C870&ssl=1)
What are the Road Conditions Like?
The Smith-Dorrien Highway alternates between paved sections of the road and gravel sections. It’s not a bad road, it can just be bumpy at times! Make sure to drive with caution. If you are driving behind a car on the gravel section, you may want to leave extra room between you as the car ahead will most likely be kicking up a lot of dirt which can make it hard to see!
Where Should I Stay?
As long as you’re in the area, you can stay wherever you like! Canmore is the closest town, but the drive will take just over an hour to get there. You could also stay in Banff as it’s not too far of a drive from there either.
Another great option is to stay in the Kananaskis area. There are a few hotels in and around Kananaskis:
Another option is to reserve a campsite on Alberta Parks. I did this because it is a cheaper option (if you have access to the camping gear). I would highly recommend booking Elkwood Campground – it is around an 11 minute drive to the suspension bridge from there and the campsites are large and nice!
![girl on the blackshale suspension bridge in kananaskis above the trees and looking at the mountains](https://i0.wp.com/endlesswonder.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/blackshale-suspension-bridge-kananaskis.jpg?resize=870%2C580&ssl=1)
Blackshale Creek Suspension Bridge in Kananaskis
The suspension bridge itself is a super fun area to explore, especially if you are able to get there when there is no one else there!
It is extremely picturesque, with the Canadian Rockies in the background and the bridge itself over a large valley in the forest.
There are no guard rails or any safety measures around the edges of the valley, so make sure you are being safe while taking photos.
The best way to try to avoid the crowds is going early in the morning or later in the evening! Usually the crowds pick-up by mid-day, especially during peak season (summer, July and August).
Things to Know Before You Go:
- Cell phone reception and data is very limited in Kananaskis. Make sure to download offline maps before heading into the Kananaskis area, and screenshot any important information you might need
- Wifi can be found at the visitor centers in Kananaskis
- You now need to purchase a permit if you are stopping in Kananaskis at all. The permit costs $15 per day, or you can pay $90 for a year pass (the year pass can have 3 vehicles registered to one pass). These permits can be purchased online, or at the Kananaskis Visitor Center when you first arrive
- There are limited gas stations in Kananaskis, so plan accordingly to ensure you don’t get stranded!
- Parking on the side of the Smith Dorrien Highway is not recommended or technically allowed, so use your discretion if you are planning to do this & do so at your own risk
- Kananaskis is home to bears, cougars and other wild animals! Stay bear safe, don’t hike alone, and carry bear spray with you as a precaution
- The closest washrooms are at the Black Prince Parking Lot
- Make sure to check AllTrails beforehand for any animal warnings before heading out. One year, a cougar was hanging around the Blackshale Suspension Bridge for a majority of the summer and it wasn’t super safe to visit!
Blackshale Suspension Bridge in Kananaskis FAQ
If you are looking for a place to have a picnic before or after visiting the bridge, I would recommend the Black Prince Parking Lot picnic tables. Another option would be to drive 5 minutes to the Peninsula Day Use Area for a nice lake view while you eat.
The time it takes to hike depends on where you start hiking! If you are doing the shorter, unofficial loop, you could hike the trail to the bridge in about 10-15 minutes (~20-30 minutes total hike). If you are doing the longer, official route, it will take around 45 minutes to get to the bridge (~1.5 hour total hike). It also depends on your skill level!
The official spot to park would be in the Black Prince Day Use Area. This is the safest spot, and from here you would hike the longer route (Option #1 mentioned above). For the shorter route, you would park on the side of the road, although that is not technically allowed.
![Female young adult in a purple sweater on the Bridge in Kananaskis, Alberta.](https://i0.wp.com/endlesswonder.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/alberta-suspension-bridge-hike-kananaskis.jpg?resize=580%2C870&ssl=1)
Other Resources to Visit the Blackshale Suspension Bridge:
Other Hikes in Kananaskis:
If you’re hiking to the Suspension Bridge in Kananaskis, it’s quite short and you could probably fit in another hike in the Kananaskis area!
Two longer hikes that are about 20 minutes further down the road are Burstall Pass and Chester Lake. Both are stunning, but will take up a majority of the rest of your day. If you are doing these hikes, make sure you leave yourself enough time and energy! Burstall Pass is longer and rated “Hard” on AllTrails, and will take around 5+ hours to complete. Chester Lake is a bit easier (rated moderate on AllTrails) and will take around 3-4 hours.
Just over 20 minutes in the other direction, are two shorter, and a bit easier hiking options: Ptarmigan Cirque and Arethusa Cirque. I loved both of these hikes! Ptarmigan Cirque starts with an incline but will then bring you to a pretty meadow to loop around. Arethusa Cirque has a decent incline but you will walk along the top part of the trail with beautiful views into the valley. Both are amazing in the larch season, but also amazing in the summer too!
Blackshale Suspension Bridge Summary
The Blackshale Suspension Bridge is such a unique spot in the Rockies, and I love that it is an easy hike and free to do!
Because of the limited cell service, make sure to get your map route programmed in to Google Maps before leaving, and make sure to have your Kananaskis Pass paid for too!
Visit early in the day or late in the evening, and stay somewhere nearby for easy access and your best chance to beat the crowds.
Hopefully, this guide on how to visit the Black shale Suspension Bridge helped you plan your trip or gave you some inspiration!
Have you visited the Blackshale Suspension Bridge before? Let me know about your adventure!
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More Alberta Travel Inspiration:
- Biking to Moraine Lake, Alberta to Beat the Crowds
- Where to Stop Along the Icefields Parkway
- Your Banff Bucket List
- How to See the Frozen Methane Bubbles of Abraham, Lake
- What to See & Do in Jasper, Alberta
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Hey! I’m Kat. Based in Alberta, Canada I love to travel to the Rockies and explore new places around the world. Follow along on my adventures and find inspiration and tips for your own travels.
sammi swinton says
Wow Kat, the suspension bridge looks pretty amazing!
Josy A says
Oooh I always love this kind of bridge! It’s so cool to peek down at the waters below…and the Blackshale suspension bridge is even better as you even have mountain views! The longer route sounds good, so you get longer walking in that pretty scenery!
Lasma says
Wow! this bridge looks so scenic and impressive! it would be great to take some pictures and walking on it! Thanks for sharing this!
Travel A-Broads says
Great post, and lovely photos! I would love to do this! I’m a huge fan of heights and a general thrill seeker. Unfortunately, I’ve only been to Kananaskis “in the heart of winter”, which didn’t lend itself to a visit here as you mentioned! I’d love to go back one day; this area is beautiful in general and there’s so much to do. Xx Sara
Rhonda says
That bridge looks incredibly long. I used to get nervous when they swing but know that they are very safe. The forest scenery is spectacular.
Linda (LD Holland) says
I am now very sorry that we missed the Blackshale Suspension Bridge on our last drive through Alberta. Especially since we were visiting with our car and could get to the trail head. Good to know there are two spots to park. And that we should be watching for bears!