Smith Dorrien Trail is a dusty scenic drive of Canada
Canada, north-america
70.2 km
1,909 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, picture this: you're cruising through the heart of Kananaskis in Alberta, Canada, on the legendary Smith Dorrien Trail! Highway 742, as it's also known, stretches for about 70 km (43 miles) from just south of Canmore all the way to the Kananaskis Trail (Highway 40).
This isn't your average highway drive, though. It's a gravel road, so expect a bit of dust and washboards – part of the adventure, right? You don't need a fancy SUV or anything, it's generally pretty easy driving.
Perched high in the Canadian Rockies, you'll climb to the Smith-Dorrien Pass, soaring to about 1,909 meters (6,263 feet) above sea level. Even in summer, be ready for some serious snow!
Set aside about 1.5 to 2 hours to soak it all in. The route carves through the stunning Smith-Dorrien Valley. Seriously, the views are worth every second. Keep your eyes peeled for moose – they love hanging out here!
The biggest thing to keep in mind? Dust! Since it's a gravel road, give other vehicles plenty of space so you don't end up with a cracked windshield. Watch for wildlife too. Some sections can be rough, and there's a narrow, steep, winding grade near Canmore. That 80 kph section can get pretty dicey in summer because of the dust. Also, heads up: there’s no cell service out there, so be prepared!
Where is it?
Smith Dorrien Trail is a dusty scenic drive of Canada is located in Canada (north-america). Coordinates: 53.0159, -107.0564
Road Details
- Country
- Canada
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 70.2 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,909 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 53.0159, -107.0564
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