Moose Mountain is a
mountain
A mountain is an elevated portion of the Earth's crust, generally with steep sides that show significant exposed bedrock. Although definitions vary, a mountain may differ from a plateau in having a limited Summit (topography), summit area, and ...
located west of
Bragg Creek, Alberta
Bragg Creek is a hamlet in southern Alberta under the jurisdiction of Rocky View County in Division No. 6.
Bragg Creek is located west of Calgary (via Highway 8 and Highway 22) at the confluence of the Elbow River and Bragg Creek north of t ...
in
Kananaskis Country
Kananaskis Country is a multi-use area west of Calgary, Alberta, Canada in the foothills and front ranges of the Canadian Rockies. The area is named for the Kananaskis River, which was named by John Palliser in 1858 after a Cree acquaintance. Cove ...
.
The peak is a popular
hiking
Hiking is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century.AMATO, JOSEPH A. "Mind over Foot: Romantic Walking and Rambling." In ''On Foot: A Histor ...
an
Mountain bikingestination for many (especially
Calgary
Calgary ( ) is the largest city in the western Canadian province of Alberta and the largest metro area of the three Prairie Provinces. As of 2021, the city proper had a population of 1,306,784 and a metropolitan population of 1,481,806, makin ...
locals) since there is a well maintained trail that makes its way to the summit, and 27 of the most popular bike trails in Alberta. During summer month weekends, it is common for a dozen or more people to reach the summit.
Resembling a resting moose on the horizon, the peak was named Moose Mountain in 1949. A Forestry Service fire lookout exists upon the summit, the third building to have occupied the site for this purpose since the first was built in 1929.
Some scenes in the films Land and ''
Brokeback Mountain
''Brokeback Mountain'' is a 2005 American neo-Western romantic drama film directed by Ang Lee and produced by Diana Ossana and James Schamus. Adapted from the 1997 short story of the same name by Annie Proulx, the screenplay was written by O ...
'' were shot on and around Moose Mountain. Scenes in the first season of the television series ''
Tin Star'' were also shot on Moose Mountain.
Members of the public who summit are requested to respect the privacy of the fire lookout staff. As many as 8000 visitors, local and international, are recorded each season. The lookout staff are responsible for over 5000 square kilometres of forest. The lookout staff detects, maps and reports forest fires to a central location, initiating fire suppression. In consideration of the quantity of visitors and the importance of attentiveness of the staff, it is critical that they not be distracted from their duties.
Members of the public are requested to be conscious of inclement weather, and act accordingly. It is NOT recommended to be above the tree line during pending or active lightning storms. Precaution must be taken in view of the active helicopter landing pad, located on the west side of the summit. (Submitted by a former Moose Mountain Lookout Employee)
There are two annual trail running events that go up Moose Mountain
Moose Mountain Trail Races(16 km, 29 km, and 42 km distances), an
Iron Legs Mountain Races(60 km, 50 miles, and 100 km distances).
References
External links
*
* Moose Mountain Bike Trail Societ
MMBTS* Government of Alberta Wildfir
Two-thousanders of Alberta
Alberta's Rockies
{{AlbertaRockies-geo-stub