Horseshoe Basin Trail
A long open-country hike through flower-rich meadows and over a col toward Horseshoe and Oil basins.
Route overview
Follow the gated trail through meadows and over the col; use a conservative turnaround before indistinct park-line sections if navigation or time becomes uncertain.
Horseshoe Basin combines moderate elevation with a substantial day-hike distance. The trail crosses mostly open terrain between Lakeview Ridge and Mount Galway before continuing toward Oil Basin and the park boundary, where the tread becomes increasingly indistinct.
Trail facts
- Country
- Canada
- Region
- Canadian Rockies / Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park
- Distance
- 21.3 km round trip
- Typical duration
- 7 hours
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation gain
- 350 m
- Best season
- Late spring through autumn; valued as an early-season meadow route when conditions permit
- Trail type
- Out and back
Access and logistics
- Permits and access
- No day-hiking permit; park pass required
Safety context
Check current official conditions, closures, weather and access rules before departure. Check current official conditions, closures, weather and access rules before departure.
Long distance, routefinding, heat, storms, ticks, wildlife, limited shade and unreliable communications
Highlights
Open meadows, wildflowers, Horseshoe Basin, Oil Basin and Lakeview Ridge–Mount Galway col
Why find a buddy
The route’s distance, indistinct upper sections and limited communications make a compatible partner especially valuable for navigation and emergency resilience.
Primary source
Explore and prepare
Discover hikes by intent, read the hiking guides, review hiking safety, prepare a BuddyPack, or browse hiking plans.
Route conditions, access, services and transport can change. Verify time-sensitive information before departure.