Highwood Pass to Lineham Creek — Kananaskis High Country Loop

Highwood Pass sits at 2,206 metres — the highest paved point in Canada — and when Highway 40 closes to vehicles below the pass from December 1 to June 15, the route becomes a different animal entirely. Starting from the Highwood Junction and pushing south, you thread through Kananaskis Country’s spine, dropping onto the Lineham Creek Forest Road network west of Highwood House. The creek crossings on the Lineham drainage are real — spring runoff can push water above axle height, and loose shale sidehills demand your full attention. Elk, bighorn sheep, and grizzlies are routine company through this stretch.

This is high-clearance territory minimum, and a locker front or rear will save your skin on the shale descents. The pass section is accessible in a stock rig, but the Lineham Creek spurs earn their keep quickly. Best window is mid-July through September when water levels drop and snow is off the high ground. No permits required but respect the seasonal road closure dates — wardens enforce them. Longview or Kananaskis Village for fuel, carry your own water, and plan for at least one night dispersed camping in the upper drainage.