Folding Mountain is just outside of Jasper National Park, near Hinton. Thanks to the chinook winds in the area, this peak is sometimes snow-free and doable in winter. However, the final slope is complex avalanche terrain when snow is present and has turned me back in the past. Take a look at the peak from the highway rest stop before starting to ensure it is snow-free. Also note that cougars frequent this area and it is not uncommon to see fresh tracks.
Folding Mountain Brewing generously rewards successful summits with a free beer at their brewery! Be sure to take a photo at the peak to show them after your hike.
I have done this hike a few times and always parked at the nearby highway rest stop – it’s easy and out of the way of neighbouring businesses. Wherever one parks, the trailhead is easy to spot from the highway, just look for the yellow sign with a hiker.A good trail exists throughout this hike. The first hour is a bit steeper, with short rooty sections as shown, but the trail levels out for about an hour and a half after that. The final push to the peak is the real test of the day, but it only takes an additional half an hour.The majority of the hike looks roughly like this. Exciting, no?The final push to the summit is close once the terrain starts opening up to the left of the trail. This section collects a good amount of snow in winter and can be nearly hip-deep, even when the rest of the trail is relatively shalow.At last, the peak comes into view! From here, the summit is only about half an hour away. Two paths are visible on the face ahead: the easiest line follows the higher path and continues traversing beyond the black streak toward the back of the mountain. Resist the urge to turn upslope at the rock rib. A more direct line is possible, but bumps the difficulty into scrambling and ends up taking longer. The black streak crossed along the path is steep and slick, particularly with snow or rain present.Looking down the black streak from the higher path. The lower path can be seen crossing below, where it reaches the rock rib at a spot requiring one move of scrambling. On the higher path, I will simply walk over the rock rib and continue traversing on the trail. As tempting as it is to turn upslope and follow the rock rib to the peak, that line gets quite steep near the top and doesn’t end up saving time.I reached the summit in three hours! Looking to the south east, an ATV trail follows the meandering ridge for quite a distance.Gazing west toward Fiddle Peak.I returned the way I came. From below the summit, the hike out still looks impossibly long, but it goes by quickly enough.The few gaps in the trees offer splendid views of neighbouring Roche à Perdrix (left) and Jasper National Park beyond.I made it back to the rest stop in five and half hours. Looking back, far in the distance is what looks like twin peaks (right of center). Folding Mountain is the one on the left. This rest stop is one good vantage point to observe the peak before starting the day. For another angle, the nearby turn-off for zip-lining is also a good spot to stop for a look.The real reward for a successful summit of Folding Mountain is a free beer at Folding Mountain Brewery! The brewery, conveniently located about half a kilometer from the trail head, provides a wonderful atmosphere to relax and socialize at the end of the day. Folding Mountain’s forte is definitely IPAs, and on this occasion I chose their delicious Mount Solomon Hazy Session IPA. Be sure to admire their paintings by one of my favourite Alberta artists, Dallas La Rose, before heading home!
Appendix
Here are a couple of photos from an ascent on October 12, 2019. Folding Mountain is quite a bit more difficult as a winter hike, and includes avalanche terrain.
The dramatic rock folds for which Folding Mountain earns its name stand out nicely in the snow.The face starts out as steep as it looks (pictured), but gets worse near the top. Staying on the trail, if conditions allow, avoids the final steeper section.
Peak Bliss 