Beaver Lodge

Lat: 50.865383 Long: -114.790233 Click to see map The parking for Beaver Lodge is about 1/2-kilometre past Elbow Falls on the left. It’s a small pullout style parking. The Beaver Flat Interpretive trail is at the end of the parking lot. It is 1.5 km one-way. There is a short gradual downhill from the parking area. At the bottom of the hill a short trail leads to a picnic table on a pad with no firepit. Most of the trail is flat and runs alongside a series of beaver ponds. The signs along the trail describe beaver life. Towards the end of the trail there is a table by the pond. Near there is a faint path off to the right leading to a nice grass patch next to a pond where you could set out a tarp. There is an old style outdoor toilet at the end of the trail which also serves the Beaver Flat campsite. This is as close to nature as you can get in the Elbow Valley. The trail and the facilities are old and worn, but the water brings life to the land. There is a lot of lush foliage with moss covered stumps and rocks. The beaver lodge looks like there may be critters living there and there are waterfowl and squirrels running about.

Trail washed out
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There are two washed out trails here. One has access blocked, the other has a bypass around the washout. The trail is in pretty bad shape, but they have made it passable and further work may be planned.
Beaver Lodge interpretive sign
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This lodge may be used although I didn’t see beaver or any sign of them cutting trees on the shoreline. Several of the signs were in the process of falling over, but they add a lot of value to the nature walk.
Table by the beaver pond
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This is the second and last table. It’s a very pretty spot to have lunch. You can see a couple of ducks paddling around near the shore. You can also see a white camper trailer on the opposite shore where the campground is located.
Off the beaten track
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This is the grass patch located down a short footpath off the main trail. There is no table here, but it would make a nice secluded spot to have lunch by the water.
Old style outhouse near the campground
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This is the end of the interpretive trail. The photo is taken from a dirt road that winds through the Beaver Flat campground. There are people and campsites all around.
Ducks on the beaver pond
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I didn’t have my Ben Gadd with me so I don’t know what kind of ducks these are. They seemed quite unconcerned to have people nearby.
Park just past Elbow Falls on the left
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The parking and trailhead is just past Elbow Falls. There is a bit of hill at the begining so it may not be suitable for people who have mobility issues, but it is one of the most pleasant short walks anywhere in Kananaskis. It would typically take about a half hour to walk the 1.5 km and the same back.
Table overlooking the river
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This table is at the bottom of the hill near the parking lot. There is a path leading down to the water, but there is a lot of debris that makes it very difficult to get to the river.