The North Ghost In Alberta

North Ghost Valley

The North Ghost is kind of misleading as the actual area of North Ghost Wilderness Preserve is 60 square miles of raw wilderness established in 1967 along the front range of the Rockies 70 km. from Calgary bordering Banff National Park. The area includes Mount Aylmer,  Mount Allen,  Mount Apparition,  Mount Oliver and  Mount Costigan.  Most of the rest of the area is called Ghost River Valley and encompasses 262 square miles.  It takes in a much bigger area that includes the Ghost Valley, Waiporous, Burnt Timber, Fallen Timber, Hunter Valley and several other areas where off road use is lawful,  unlike the Ghost River Wilderness Preserve where only foot traffic is allowed and the area is heavily monitored and many restrictions are in place to protect the pristine wilderness. There are many ice climbers in the area in winter as there is some renowned climbing available. 

Getting here is half the fun and while a lot of it is accessible to cars and motor-homes, it's much more suited to trucks and 4x4's.  the road in is usually pretty hard going,  from bumpy hard packed gravel with millions of pot holes to soft mud and water on the road in some places along with a few small creek crossings.  On my last trip there I was really disappointed to walk down a trail and see a TV set that obviously quit working and was thrown on the fire then smashed and left in the bushes by some careless and thoughtless asses that think being able to camp here free is their right and not a privilege to be coveted.  For God sake's,  if you're that irresponsible then stay home.  It's people like these that end up spoiling it for all the rest as usual.

There are beaver ponds in this area that are stocked with trout and caught early in the spring or summer before their flesh becomes too mushy, make an excellent pan fried breakfast.  While there are loads of off road vehicles in the area, it's still easy to find a peaceful place to camp.  I don't usually camp on a ridge but the last time I went, it was in a car and places near the creeks were too hard to get to or were already taken. It was a stunning view though, nice and breezy and no rain after we arrived after it poured all the way there.  There is an abundance of wildlife including, Bears,  Wolves,  Big Horn Sheep Deer,  Moose and Cougars.  Ghost River starts in the high ranges on the boundary of Banff National Park and has 2 tributaries being Waiporous Creek and The South Ghost River.  The river and creek levels usually remain high all summer due to runoff of melting snow from the mountains.  The area is generally always breezy.    

The Ghost River name comes from a Stoney tribe legend that was told to Dr. Hector, a member of the Palliser expedition. Indian Ghosts were witnessed along the river collecting the skulls of warriors killed in a battle with the Cree tribe.  Legend has it that the ghosts had taken the skulls and hid them in nearby Devils Head. Legends abound in the area regarding The Cree, The Blackfoot and The Lokoda tribes. The Blackfoot or Blackfeet were a feared tribe and were always at war with most other tribes like the Sioux and the Cree.

Devil's Head Mountain

The area is also used heavily by the equestrian set.  Margaret Lake is not to far from here and is an alpine lake stocked with Trout that often suffer winter kill. Margaret Lake is situated with a lovely backdrop of mountains.

Margaret Lake

I already can't wait to get back there this summer and enjoy a few days of peaceful 
camping and relaxing.  I've had so many great trips to the area with and without a Dirt Bike. Common sense, bear safety and being well prepared apply as always to using the back country.








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Do Have A Good Day And Explore The World At Every Opportunity.

Jeffrey Robert Hilton