Tuff Puff Hike Nordegg Sep 13 2015

Tuff Puff trailhead is located approximately 3.5km west of Two O'clock Creek Campground, next to the David Thompson Highway #11 211km west of Rocky Mountain House. A 4.5 hour drive from Edmonton, 3.6 hours from Calgary. If you're traveling from Calgary the route through the National Parks is shorter then heading through Rocky Mountain House. This hike is considered difficult, return distance of 17.5km or 19.5km Tuff Puff Kinglet Lake Loop, with an approximate elevation gain of 1436m. Allow 6-9 hours round trip. Park next to the highway at the Kinglet Lake - Tuff Puff trailhead 3.5km west of Two O'clock Creek Campground. The trailhead is on the west side of the highway marked with a wooden sign post located next to an unnamed creek. Park in the ditch then follow an old road for a hundred meters. The road then turns into a well defined trail that starts to gain the ridge in front of you. Keep hiking up, avoid the trails to your right which lead to the Icefalls Loop. Stay on the main well defined trail as it works it way up, towards the left side of the ridge. You'll soon arrive at a grassy clearing, the start of what looks like a never ending trail to the top of the mountain ridges straight ahead of you. Continue up the grassy ridge until you pass a large rocky outcrop on your left. Keep your eyes on the ground here looking for trail markings to Tuff Puff and Kinglet Lake. At your feet, you'll see the words KING and TUFF spelled out with flat shale rocks. The trail to your left leads to Kinglet Lake and the trail straight ahead leads up Tuff Puff. Take the right hand Tuff Puff trail that heads straight up the ridge in front of you. From this point, it's a steady 2-3 hour grind to the top of Tuff Puff ridge. Once you reach the bottom of the ridge, avoid the temptation to detour straight up the false ridge on your left. Stay on the trail as it works it's way around the right side of the ridge, then climbs again. In a short distance you will arrive at the bottom end of Tuff Puff ridge offering outstanding views in all directions. The ridge view straight ahead will renew your energy for the final push. The the end is now in sight. Keep going up the ridge past a few cairns until you reach the bottom cliff of the unnamed peak straight ahead. Views from here are absolutely stunning. You can see Two O'clock Ridge across the meadow valley to the north. Siffleur River, the Saskatchewan River Valley and Loudon Creek can be seen to the east. To the west on your right, Kinglet Lake is located across the meadow below you. If you've made it this far you mind as well drop down to Kinglet Lake then back to the trailhead. I'm guessing it adds another 2km or so, but it's all down hill from here. From the top of Tuff Puff ridge there is no defined trail down to Kinglet Lake, however the going is easy as you descend the ridge and cross the meadow to the lake. Once you arrive at Kinglet Lake, locate the well defined trail on the north east side of the Lake that leads back down to the parking area. More on Kinglet lake here. There are several hiking trails located in this area. To mention a few, Alexander Henry's Trail, Siffleur Falls Hike, Crescent Falls Hike, Hoodoo Creek Hike, Vision Quest Hike, Loudon Creek Hike, Two O'clock Ridge Hike, Allstones Lake Hike, Windy Point Ridge, Allstones Creek Hike, Ice Falls Loop, Coral Ridge Hike, Big Whirlpool & Whirlpool Ridge, Owen Creek, Cline and Coral Canyons are all located near here. You are in bear country.