SIFFLEUR WILDERNESS AREA

This remote region on the Alberta side of the Canadian Rockies lies south of Highway 11, which crosses west-central Alberta between Rocky Mountain House and Saskatchewan River Crossing, in Banff National Park. It is completely protected from any activities that could have an impact on the area’s fragile ecosystems. That includes road and trail development; no bridges have been built over the area’s many fast-flowing streams, and the few old trails that do exist are not maintained. Elk, deer, moose, cougars, wolverines, wolves, coyotes, black bears, and grizzly bears roam the area’s four main valleys, while higher, alpine elevations harbor mountain goats and bighorn sheep.

The main trail into the 41,200-hectare (101,800-acre) wilderness begins from a parking area two km (1.2 miles) south of the Two O’Clock Creek Campground at Kootenay Plains. The area’s northeastern boundary is a seven-km (4.3 miles) hike from here. Even if you’re not heading right into Siffleur, the first section of this trail, to Siffleur Falls, is worth walking. Along the first section, the trail crosses the North Saskatchewan River via a swinging bridge, then at the two-km (1.2-mile) mark crosses the Siffleur River, reaching the falls after four km (2.5 miles); allow 70 minutes one-way. These are the official Siffleur Falls, but others lie farther upstream at the 6.2-km (3.9-mile) and 6.9-km (4.3-mile) marks.

Once inside the wilderness area, the trail climbs steadily alongside the Siffleur River and into the heart of the wilderness. Ambitious hikers can continue through to the Dolomite Creek Area of Banff National Park, finishing at the Icefields Parkway, seven km (4.3 miles) south of Bow Summit. Total length of this trail is 68 km (42 miles), a strenuous five-day backcountry expedition. Another access point for the area is opposite Waterfowl Lake Campground in Banff National Park. From here it is six km (3.7 miles) up Noyes Creek to the wilderness area boundary; the trail peters out after 4.5 km (2.8 miles) and requires some serious scrambling before descending into Siffleur. This trail—as with all others in the wilderness area—is for experienced hikers only.