Distance –

4.4 KM (one-way)

Elevation Gain / Loss –

410 meters (1345 feet)

Trail Difficulty –

Moderate

Trail Description –

Haig Lake South Trail makes use of a combination of narrow, winding ski trails, historical, exploration cut-lines, and single track to ultimately arrive at Haig Lake. The South trail starts in the base area and gains most of its elevation on the lower third of the trail, within the Huckleberry terrain pod. If you can endure the lower third of this trail then you will make it to the lake!

We recommend the South trail as your route to the lake as a result of the trail making many switchbacks to assist in taking the edge off the elevation gain. This trail links up with “Haig Lake North”, at Haig Lake, which is the recommended route back to the village. This loop is our most popular hike due to breathtaking scenery, lake serenity, and relative ease.

Signage is very present and difficult to miss on this trail. Follow green directional signage + orange hiking trail markers to stay on trail.

Distance –

3.8 KM (one-way)

Elevation Gain / Loss –

420 meters (1380 feet)

Trail Difficulty –

Moderate

Trail Description –

The Haig Lake North Trail is the slightly shorter, more direct cousin of the Haig Lake South Trail and forms part of the Haig Lake Loop. Most commonly, the North Trail is used as the descent trail from Haig Lake back to the village, and makes use of alpine single track and what many might recognize as the “Cinch Traverse” winter ski run before meandering through the forest on the lower third of the hike.

We recommend that the North trail is used as your descent trail back to the village. The North trail is shorter than the South trail and, since they gain / lose the same elevation, this means it’s more difficult to climb the North trail. Aside from this, the upper portion of the North trail meanders through mostly treeless, alpine meadow resulting in amazing views of Southfork Mountain / Barnaby Ridge (you’ll thank us later on this one).

Signage is very present and difficult to miss on this trail. Follow green directional signage + orange hiking trail markers to stay on trail.

Distance –

4.4 KM (one-way)

Elevation Gain / Loss –

435 meters (1430 feet)

Trail Difficulty –

Moderate

Trail Description –

The aptly named Paradise Lake trail takes you on a journey to the lesser known of two alpine tarns on Castle Mountain Resort’s tenure; Paradise Lake. Situated at the base of Mount Haig and on the opposite (south) side of Haig Ridge from Haig Lake, Paradise Lake is adjacent to Castle Mountain’s cat skiing area. This hike is a moderately difficult out-and-back journey.

This trail starts from the village in between the day lodge and the T-Bar Pub and shares it’s start with the Haig Lake South trail before veering off to the left past the resort’s snowmaking reservoir. Winter visitors will know this access road as “Skidaddle Traverse”; the catchment run for Castle’s Powder Stagecoach Cat Skiing operation. Great views of the Westcastle Valley can be had before the trail turns sharply and steeply to the west (right), approximately 3.5 km in. Shortly thereafter, signage dictates a left turn is required and the trail begins to meander up to the lake, adjacent to a stream on your left, on single-track. As you begin to emerge out of the tree cover and into alpine meadow, you’ll note that this can be a very active avalanche area. Bent over and snapped in half trees are a constant reminder of winter dangers here.

Travel to Paradise Lake is often best in the late spring / early summer. Unlike Haig Lake, Paradise tends to lose a great deal of it’s water during the heat of summer. We recommend enjoying your lunch / snacks from the hill overlooking the lake.

Distance –

4.6 KM (one-way)

Elevation Gain / Loss –

770 meters (2525 feet)

Trail Difficulty –

Difficult

Trail Description –

Haig Ridge runs predominantly east – west from the summit of Mount Haig to the top of the Huckleberry Chairlift. The ridge line creates two distinct basins; one in which Haig Lake lies and the other the location of Paradise Lake.

The Haig Ridge trail winds its way up Castle’s summer maintenance road from the base area where it shares the same trail head as Haig Lake North / South and Paradise Lake. Once at the top of the Huckleberry Chairlift the trail continues on the ridge just as Castle’s Powder Stagecoach snow cat would travel in winter. This is where the intensity of the hike really turns up with it being a straight shot up the ridge for several hundred meters, before the trail starts to mellow out.

The views from this out-and-back trail are absolutely spectacular, taking in views of Gravenstafel Peak (the Chutes area of our main mountain), the West Castle Valley, Barnaby Ridge / Southfork Mountain, and all the way through to the prairies. If you’re feeling ambitious, you could tackle this trail and the Haig Lake Loop, all in a day!

Distance –

6.8 KM (one-way)

Elevation Gain / Loss –

940 meters (3085 feet)

Trail Difficulty –

Difficult

Trail Description –

Perhaps the least traveled trail at the resort is the challenging hike / scramble to the top of Gravenstafel Peak; the main mountain for skiing / snowboarding in the winter months at the resort.

This trail begins in the base area and shares a common trail head with most other trails, starting from the area outside the main lodge / T-Bar Pub. The trail climbs an impressive 940 m (3085 feet) by following Castle’s summer maintenance road to the top of the Tamarack (Red) Chairlift. Veering off the trail, particularly when it reaches treeline, can be tempting. Our suggestion is to stick to the road on the way up, avoiding unpleasant scree climbs and saving your legs for the short scramble above the Tamarack (Red) Chairlift.

Once at the top of the Tamarack (Red) Chairlift, a brief scramble to the top of Gravenstafel Peak is required and no marked trail is available. 360 degree views into the province of British Columbia, the Castle Parks, and the prairies will be enjoyed by those who summit. From the summit, hikers are encouraged to scramble south, towards the top of Castle’s famed “Chutes” terrain, where they will meet up with an excavated snow cat road. From here, Haig Lake / Mount Haig dominate the landscape which is where the epic cover pic for Castle’s trail map is shot.