Glenmore Reservoir Loop June 15, 2026

Our twenty kilometre loop around the Glenmore Reservoir today offered up many marvellous sights of all kinds.  We started just before 7:00am from the Weaselhead parking lot and walked the route counter-clockwise. By aiming for the Weaselhead Park first, we got to enjoy the quietness along the dirt trails plus get the hills out of the way before the heat hit. The red line shows our route with the start and finish where the name and date are. 

view in front as we left the parking lot behind

By veering off the main trail onto the dirt trails through the Weaselhead, 

we added distance to the main loop route. 

After only a hop, skip and a jump once we veered off, my friend spied a racoon up in the tree going about its business.  By the size of this racoon, it leads me to believe the one I saw yesterday at Carburn Park must have been a baby.  Today's racoon crawled up the tree and disappeared into a hole.  With in a matter of a minute.....

....we could see its face peeking out from a different hole a couple of feet lower on the tree. 

A very short distance after spying the racoon, we heard a familiar song which we determined was a Yellow Warbler.  When we spotted where the song was coming from and then saw the singer, we knew it was something other than our original suspicion.  My friend checked his Sibley site confirming this bird was a Chestnut-sided Warbler.  How exciting, a "lifer" for both of us!

The trails were lined with Alberta's flower, the Wild Rose!

Blue-winged Teal

Ring-necked Duck

view from the boardwalk just before leaving the Weaselhead behind

With the Weaselhead section now complete, then working our way up the hill, 

we arrived to the wide open spaces where we could see forever.  

Avocet

view from along side the Glenmore Reservoir

There were kayakers and rowers enjoying their sport!

A portion of our route cut through a residential area, that's where I found a Little Library with the perfect book to turn into a watercolour journal.  Stayed tuned, one day I will share the outcome of this transformation. 

view of the Glenmore Reservoir with the snow capped peaks in the background

As we crossed the dam, a disoriented young buck came towards us. We stood to the side as it tried to find its way.  It displayed signs of being stressed.  At one point it went towards the edge and looked over the barrier.  I said to my friend "don't let it jump!" I don't know what I expected my friend to do! The deer eventually figured things out.  It turned around then ran in the direction it came from then descended down a hill into the grassy field.  

The S.S. Moyie Paddlewheeler making its first trip of the morning from Heritage Park.

The Reservoir is very low. Water was let out a few weeks back in preparation for that torrential rain event.    Soon the full on snow melt in the mountains will begin and the Reservoir will fill.  Of note, there was record snowfall in the mountains this winter and spring. Sunshine Ski Hill near Banff in Banff National Park closed after the long weekend in May to prepare for summer hiking season, which it does each year. Due to this years record snow depth, the Ski Hill is opening again on June 20th to July 5th for a summer ski season.   

20.02 Kilometres were covered by the time we arrived back at the parking lot.  It had been years since I completed this loop, for me it felt like a brand new hike.  After I arrived home, cleaned up, ate lunch, my reward was a mug of Big Rock Honey Brown Beer!