Spionkop Ridge (Spionkop Basin Route) - Castle Wildland Provincial Park - Alberta, Canada

2024-06-22 - what better way to celebrate the longest day of the year than a long bike, hike and scramble in the Castle Wildland?? The answer to that question was what brought us to this area again. Melissa and I have been to the Spionkop Creek Valley twice before but ended up on Loaf Mt. both times. I had also scrambled unofficially named "Spread Eagle Mt" a few years ago. "Spread Eagle" is the most prominent point of Spionkop Ridge and gets more attention than the remote high point that's on the opposite end.
The start of the route is very easy and with a bike it is quite enjoyable. We biked along for several kms and counted several flare stacks and gas wells which operate in the area. Once at the last well the trail continues on.
There are cattle that graze in the area and these livestock as well as bikers and hikers have made a good trail that leads all the way back to the basin and headwaters of Spionkop Creek. From the basin it is a steep hike onto the flat saddle that separates Spionkop Ridge from Loaf Mt. Melissa stayed behind at this point as we -- by that I mean me -- had accidentally left her boots behind at our home in Lethbridge.
Many people walk along this flat area and some even clamber all the way from Victoria Ridge to Waterton Park through a small col between Newman Peak and Avion Ridge. But my journey would take me just to the high point of Spionkop.
There is some scrambling to be done here. There is a lot of loose rock in this area and I found, as is the case with a lot of these mountains on the east slope, that the firmest rock was near the cliff edge. I had to be careful over some cliff bands but I was able to find a route with not too much trouble. From the top of the cliff bands it was an easy scramble back to the summit.
The views from the top are outstanding. To the east is the Spionkop Creek Valley that we had just come up. Directly adjacent and slightly south is the equally scenic Yarrow Creek Valley. To the south are the peaks of Waterton Park and Glacier National Park. To the west and north are the familar peaks of Akamina-Kishinena Provincial Park (BC) and Castle Wildland Provincial Park (AB).
A highly recommended route -- but bring a bike!
References:
Andrew Nugara. (2017). More scrambles in the Canadian Rockies. (3rd Edition). Rocky Mountain Books: Calgary, AB.
I didn't find any online references that discuss this route. Most people add Loaf Mt. to the journey and start along from the Bovin Lake Trail which is north of the trailhead.
Music:
"Morning Light" by The Light The Heat
• The Light The Heat "Mo...
"Only One" by The Neighborly
• Only One

[@ernestbrazzoni599]

Awesome video thanks

[@allstoneadventures8765]

Thanks Ernest!

[@spencerharrison3040]

Excellent as always

[@allstoneadventures8765]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@jamesgriesbach9153]

Wicked beautiful

[@allstoneadventures8765]

Thanks James!

[@cmarkle4074]

Well done. I always enjoy your adventures as I hike some of the same country. Nit picking, but this ridge and creek are spelled “Spionkop”. I think it’s Afrikaans.

[@allstoneadventures8765]

Oh no! I can't believe I made that typo. Grrr - I hate typos. Yes, I had heard it was named after a peak in South Africa. And there is a Table Mt there too.

[@doogy44]

Awesome..

[@allstoneadventures8765]

Thanks 🤗