Description

Distance: 41.67km
Elevation Gain: 1404m
Surface: Maintained trail (Mainly gravel road)
Trail Type: Loop
Parking: Little Elbow Campground

The Elbow Loop Trail makes for a great day of running for a few reasons. It’s very close to the distance of a marathon, making it a fun running objective. You travel through a nice backcountry area, over a scenic pass, and have consistent views of large craggy peaks for the majority of the journey.

Navigating the loop is straightforward, primarily because the path is mostly a road, with a brief stretch of single track at the southern portion of the loop, adjacent to the Elbow River. Because the route is mainly road, if you’re looking for a technical trail, there are better choices. On the flip side, the route is extremely runnable with little to slow you down, such as rocks, roots, or steep climbs.

The loop can be done in both directions. The north side of the loop is a bit shadier and cooler, and the south side of the loop is sunnier and exposed. One may want to factor this in when deciding which way to go.

An option to bypass a section of the Little Elbow trail and run past the Tombstone Lakes exists. This option starts at approximately 20kms going clockwise and 18kms going counter clockwise. The Tombstone Lakes are very scenic, and the distance added is marginal.