Have you wondered what it might be like to hike up Ha Ling, but you are not sure if this hike is for you?

Are you looking for a short hike that gets you to some spectacular views?

Do you want to summit a mountain in the near future but need to work up to it?

Are you looking to do an outstanding hike close to Canmore?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this hike coud be the perfect hike for you! Active by Nature's newest guided adventure is the Ha Ling Half. Who says if you start this trail, you must go all the way to the top? The Ha Ling Half goes to a spectacular lookout that is about 3/4's of the way to the saddle, which is where the hiking trail ends and the final short scramble to the summit of Ha Ling begins. From this lookout, you are treated to stunning views of the Spray Valley, the Goat Creek Valley, the Bow Valley and the East End of Rundle, which locals affectionately call "EEOR".  Turn around and the summit of Ha Ling looks tantilizingly close (see photo in the gallery below). Although we have covered 3/4's of the distance to the saddle, we will have covered roughly half the elevation gain and half the time it takes to go to the saddle and back. That lets you know that the remaining short section is quite a bit steeper.

What is the trail like?

The trail has been professionally engineered. It presents hikers with a steady climb, which depending on your fitness level will be not a problem, or quite the challenge. The key is the pace I set. I go at YOUR pace, in a small cohort group of 2 to a max of 6 people, putting this experience within the reach of people who have been hiking regularly but who have not done too much hiking with a significant elevation gain. There are viewpoints and rest stops along the way. In the steepest bits, rock steps have been put in place. There is nothing resembling a scramble on this outing. We are on a purpose-built hiking trail.

How long will it take?

The duration of this hike will depend on the fitness level of the group. It will take on average between 3 and 3.5 hours, allowing for lots of rest and photo stops, with ample time spent at the lookout to soak in the scenery and have a snack break.

When is the best time to do this hike?

As this is a very popular trail, I offer it in the mornings only, with the latest start time being 9:30 am, to avoid the crowds that tend to come later in the day. How early you want to start is up to you! This is a fantastic hike to do to experience a Rocky Mountain sunrise, but that can mean a super early start, depending on the time of year. This is usually a very winter-friendly hike, with the appropriate gear...... Nordic walking poles and ice cleats, which are included in the price of this experience.

Here is a panoramic view from the lookout. What are you waiting for? Book this guided hike today!