Highwood Pass is the highest paved road of Canada
Canada, north-america
140 km
2,217 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, adventure seekers, listen up! Highwood Pass in Kananaskis Country, Alberta, is calling your name! This epic pass clocks in at a whopping 2,217m (7,273ft), claiming the title of Canada's highest paved road.
Just a short 140 km jaunt southwest from Calgary, nestled in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park near Lower Kananaskis Lake, this beauty is easy to get to.
Highway 40 will lead you on a 148 km (92-mile) paved journey from Kananaskis to Longview. But heads up—the road can get steep (we're talking up to 7% gradients!) and icy conditions are definitely possible. Oh, and keep your eyes peeled for bears!
Perched high in the Rockies, this route offers some seriously amazing scenery. Just be aware that it's usually closed from December to mid-June due to heavy snow and wildlife migration. You’ll be right at the tree line, so the views are totally alpine. Pro tip: the summit can get super windy, and the weather changes on a dime.
While the drive itself is only about 1.5-2 hours non-stop, you'll want to plan a full day to truly soak it all in. Trust me, with views this good, you’ll want to stop often!
Where is it?
Highwood Pass is the highest paved road of Canada is located in Canada (north-america). Coordinates: 56.1017, -104.3244
Road Details
- Country
- Canada
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 140 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,217 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 56.1017, -104.3244
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