Many Springs

Elevation: 1320 m
Elevation Gain: 25 m
Many Springs is a popular interpretive trail in Bow Valley Provincial Park. As the name implies, the short hike features many springs! The springs collect in a wetland basin, where they form a large interconnected pool. These springs are the result of moisture seeping into the McConnell Thrust Fault at higher elevations. After being heated as the result of geologic pressure, the fault then focuses the water towards lower-elevation discharge points. As a result of its underground journey, the water at Many Springs remains warm (up to 11°C) throughout the year. Consequently, this wetland basin is a microenvironment that is suitable for unique flora and fauna not found elsewhere nearby.
My Ascents:
October 4 2020
Trailhead: Many Springs Trailhead
GPS Track: Many Springs

By early October, we’re often tobogganing and building snowmen with our girls. As October’s first weekend arrived in 2020, however, we found ourselves hiking and eating ice cream with daytime highs that neared 25°C! To make the most of this unseasonably warm weather, we hooked up our camping trailer one last time and headed west to Bow Valley Provincial Park for our family’s final camping trip of the year. The 32 days of camping and hiking that we’d enjoyed with our kids this summer proved to be a most-wonderful distraction from life’s many stresses (including the continuing global pandemic). Hell-bent on squeezing every last drop out of the 2020 season, we therefore packed the marshmallows and prepped our hiking gear!

LEFT: Upon checking into the Bow Valley Provincial Park campground, we were treated to a spectacular sunset above the nearby Rocky Mountains. As the sun colored wispy overhead clouds pink, purple, orange and yellow, we took in Mother Nature’s amazing show from our front row seats. As we watched in awe, we couldn’t help but feel that this scene was an appropriate way to end our wonderful 2020 camping season.
RIGHT: Our quaint and cozy home-away-from-home enjoying one last Rocky Mountain sunset (for this year anyways!).

After a restful last night in or trailer, we decided to explore our surroundings instead of simply heading home. While the frosty morning air reminded us of winter’s imminent arrival, we weren’t going to allow cold toes to keep us from enjoying a final hike! Inspired by Marko Stavric’s. fine family photos from the nearby Many Springs trail, we therefore set off to explore it! Despite the fact that the trail was in the same Provincial Park as our campsite, the meandering drive to get to it proved longer than we’d expected. That drive became longer still when we overshot our intended trailhead by one parking lot and ended up at the Bow River trailhead instead. Since this parking lot featured a fine view of Yamnuska and was less than half a kilometer from Many Springs, we decided to start here anyways.

LEFT: Our colorful little Penny makes her way from the Bow River towards Many Springs amidst equally colorful fall foliage.
RIGHT: After a 10 minute walk, we found evidence to suggest that we were finally in the right place!

LEFT: Mom, Mera and Penny meet “the Traveller”: a gentleman explorer from the 19th century whose inquisitive nature would guide us through the many wonders of Many Springs!
RIGHT: While the interpretive signs amused my girls, the mountain views (like this one towards Mount McGillivray) kept me entertained. Who am I kidding? I liked the signs too (probably more than my girls to boot)!

Exshaw Mountain, Door Jamb Mountain, Loder Peak, Goat Mountain and Yamnuska reflect in the mirror-like Many Springs. For a 1.3 km loop, it’s safe to say that this hike packed a pretty scenic punch! Click to see larger.

Dramatic skies swirl above nearby “Razor’s Edge Peak” while autumn’s many shades of amber surround the springs.

LEFT: Boardwalks (more like boardruns in this instance) = Fun for kids (provided that they don’t fall off)!
RIGHT: My beautiful little hikers enjoying the fall scene.

It’s a pity that fall’s vibrant colors don’t last long. All good things, I suppose…

Near the end of the Many Springs loop, a dock provides unobstructed views over the wetland basin. The McConnell Thrust, which is responsible for the springs, is readily apparent as the line which separates Yamnuska’s Cambrian cliffs from the younger Cretaceous rocks that comprise its forested base.

While I enjoyed learning about the area’s geology, the girls were more interested in the creatures that call the springs home…

The obligatory family hiking selfie. Why say “cheese” when you can say “thrust fault”?!

LEFT: With the end of the hike (and the end of our camping/hiking season) in sight, we relinquished the scenic dock to another family and continued along.
RIGHT: Hand-in-hand, Brianne, Mera and Penny walk into the offseason…
(Actually, they were walking towards the nearby playground (!) but that statement doesn’t bear the same dramatic gravitas).

2020 may go down in the history books as a dud but Many Springs made for a perfect final chapter to our year’s family hiking and camping pursuits. With the leaves, now, off the trees, bring on the tobogganing and snowmen!