Deer Ridge Trail offers great bang for buck. This lightly trafficked trail that is accessible from the Sibbald Lake day use area and campground. It is a good half day hike, and takes less than an hour to get to the trailhead from Calgary.

This trail can be made into a nice loop using part of the Eagle Hill trail. On AllTrails, this is called “Lower Eagle Hill and Deer Ridge Loop.”

We completed the loop counterclockwise, which I recommend, as the navigation is more straightforward. Going clockwise, the trail up the ridge is a little trickier to find. The signage is also in rough shape on this trail. We met a couple of groups that needed help with directions, so it is a good idea to bring a GPS device or map and compass.

Distance: 7.7 km
Elevation gain: 299 m / 980 ft
Access: Coming west on Highway 68, follow signs to Sibbald Lake day use area. Keep to the left as you drive into the Sibbald Lake turnoff. There is a small parking lot with trail signage.

To the Eagle Hill Junction

The first stretch of this trail goes south and west around a small hill and then along a small pond, which will be to your south as you pass it. This section is fairly exposed to the south. Take a look across the pond, as the ridge that rises behind it is Deer Ridge.

The trail takes a wide berth around the fen that is adjacent to the pond. If you took mental note of where Deer Ridge was when you passed the pond, you can keep an eye on it, and it will be fairly obvious which way you should go.

Climbing Up to Deer Ridge

When you are close to the low spot on the ridge, there will be a trail to the left going towards Deer Ridge. About 300 meters after you make that left turn towards Deer Ridge, you will begin a short but steep climb through the trees to take the ridge.

Once you are on the ridgeline, it is a pleasant undulating forested hike up to the top. Be prepared to go around some big blown down trees. It is fairly easy to stay on the trail through these sections, just keep towards the ridge.

The lookout point is worth veering off to, and makes a great spot for a snack and some photos. This spot has good views of Sibbald Creek, Cox Hill, and Moose Mountain. You also get glimpses to the northwest of the bigger mountains surrounding the Bow Valley, including iconic Yamnuska.

Completing the Loop

After enjoying a break at the top, get back on the main trail and continue through more forest down the other side of the ridge. As you get close to your starting elevation, there is a junction where the sign has been knocked over. You’ll want to stay left at this junction (the trail to the right brings you to the highway).

Once you reach the pond, the trail gets a little hard to see. Skirt around the right side of the pond and return to the trail where you started, which will take you back to the parking lot.

Enjoying Sibbald Lake

If you want to stick around, Sibbald Lake is a nice place to spend the afternoon or the weekend. On a warm day, you will see visitors canoeing, kayaking, and paddleboarding. There is a great campground with shady and relatively private sites.

If you are staying at Sibbald Lake or another nearby campground, you can also check out the Eagle Hill or Jumpingpound Trail day hikes. If you are looking for spring hikes near Calgary, this post outlines a ton of options.

P.S. Go back and re-read the first sentence of this post if you didn’t catch my killer ungulate pun the first time around.