Kinglet Lake Hike David Thompson Country

Kinglet Lake trail head is located near Two O'clock Creek Campground on the David Thompson Highway (#11) 211km West of Rocky Mountain House. A 4.5 hour drive from Edmonton, 3.6 hours from Calgary. If you're traveling from Calgary the route through the National Parks is shorter then heading through Rocky Mountain House. This hike is considered moderate to difficult 10.6km return with an approximate elevation gain of 792m allow 5-6 hours round trip. Park next to the highway at the Kinglet Lake - Tuff Puff Trailhead 1km West of Two O'clock Creek Campground. The trail head is marked with a wooden post sign located next to a creek bed. Park in the ditch then follow an old road for a few hundred meters. The road then turns into a trail that starts to gain the ridge in front of you. Keep hiking up and avoid the trails to your right which lead to the Icefalls Loop. Work your way up towards the left side of the ridge until you join the well worn Tuff Puff Trail. A short distance from here you'll arrive at a grassy clearing and the start of what looks like a never ending trail to the top of the mountain ridges you see in the distance. Continue up the grassy ridge until you pass a large rocky outcrop on your left. Keep your eyes on the ground here for trail markings to Kinglet Lake. At your feet you'll see the words KING -> and TUFF -> spelled out in flat shale rocks. The trail to your left leads to Kinglet Lake and the trail straight ahead leads up Tuff Puff. Take the left Kinglet Lake trail that seemingly drops down towards the creek bed. Once you reach the creek get ready for a grind. The trail starts a steep climb again for another 1.5 hours. As you gain elevation you'll pass by a curious looking group of hoodoos located below an exposed cliff. This is a nice spot to admire the views of the North Saskatchewan valley below. The trail is steep and relentless at this point then it enters the forest again for a short distance before arriving at the lake. Kinglet Lake is crystal clear and surrounded by an interesting forest of Subalpine Fir and Engelmann Spruce. There are several flat spots for tents that are nicely sheltered by trees. If you plan on spending the night save the tress by not starting a fire, bring a small camp stove instead. At one time Kinglet Lake was stocked with Cutthroat and Brook Trout however it is regulated for catch and release only. Check local fishing regulations. The lakes small size could not sustain a fish population, you could throw a rock across it. There are several hiking trails located in this area. To mention a few, Alexander Henry's Trail, Siffleur Falls Hike, Crescent Falls Hike, Hoodoo Creek Hike, Vision Quest Hike, Loudon Creek Hike, Two O'clock Ridge Hike, Allstones Lake Hike, Windy Point Ridge, Allstones Creek Hike, Ice Falls Loop, Coral Creek Hike, Coral Ridge Hike, Big Whirlpool & Whirlpool Ridge, Cline and Coral Canyons are all located near here. You are in Bear country.