Devil's Head, Ghost River, Can Rockies

Overview

Devil's Head from Scott Lake Hill on TransCanada Highway 1(Aylmer to left and Blackrock to far right)

Devil’s Head in the Ghost River area is one of the most recognizable mountains from Calgary on the Western skyline even though it is not the highest mountain.
It's distinctive blocky black shape is very apparent from any high building and particularly from higher elevation areas in the West or the Northwest part of the city. It is prominent in the view if you drive West from Calgary to the mountains on either the TransCanada Highway 1 or Highway 1A through Cochrane. Devil’s Head is topped with a dark vertical 350 m East face, vertical North and South sides and a square top which is unique in this area. The black cliffs stand out in the winter in contrast to the white snow covered peaks around it. 

History

The first nations people in the area named the mountain and feared it enough to make offerings on its ledges. Prominent flat topped mountains that resembled large heads from a distance were thought to be inhabited by spirits or sacred by the Plains Indians. Chief Mountain in Montana and Devils Tower in Wyoming are similar examples.

Devil’s Head was the first and only mountain in the Southern Canadian Rockies to be referred to by name and shape by the first European explorer in the area, Peter Fidler and it was referred to by subsequent explorers. The mountain was a major landmark on the historic map of the prairies and front range mountains drawn on a deer skin hide by native guide "Old Swan" in the late 1700's. See history book "From Rupert's Land to Canada" By Gerhard John Ens, John Elgin Foster, R. C. Macleod, Theodore. There is a copy of the hand drawn map on page 217 of the book which can be viewed online with a search. Mountains that were highly visible and had unique features like Devil's Head, Chief Mountain and Devils Tower were revered by the Blackfoot and used as signposts. The mountain was also used by explorers and travelers as a navigational aid and it led to Orient Point and Devil’s Gap. The South Ghost River flows out of the mountains at Devil’s Gap and the valley was used by early travelers as a conduit into the mountains to access the Lake Minewanka and Banff area.

The Bow River valley to the South later became the preferred access to the Rockies. In 1885 the Canadian Pacific Railroad and later the Trans Canada Highway were built in the Southern Bow River valley. The Ghost area was left undeveloped and was hard to access by vehicle. An attempt was made on Devil’s Head in 1891 when the area was surveyed but it was finally climbed in 1925 by the West Ridge by famous guide Edward Feuz jr. and J.W.A. Hickson. Both of these men made many first ascents of major peaks in the Canadian Rockies. (The Rocky Mountains of Canada – South; Boles, Kuszyna and Putnam. – Out of Print)

Main Summit from West Summit

Access

Devil’s Head may be in plain view of over a million people but is still remote by modern standards. The base of the mountain is guarded by a set of cliffs which limit access from several directions and the only road into the area is a poorly maintained commercial gravel road. The last part of the road is best accessed with a 4x4. The original route to the base of the mountain involved following the North Ghost river west past the south side of the mountain to Malamute valley and approaching the mountain from the west. The North Ghost valley has steep walls and five river crossing are required to access Malemute valley. The shortest current access involves three river crossings on foot and then scrambling up a steep side valley to reach the mountain from the SE.

The Devil’s Head area is part of the overall Ghost -Forest Land Use Zone (FLUZ) and the mountain is now in part of the Don Getty Wildland Park which is beside the Ghost River Wilderness Area and Banff National Park.

The limestone cliffs which guard the lower part of Devil's Head extend throughout the Ghost area and have some very good summer rock climbing: see Dow’s Ghost rock page
Ghost Rock and Andy Gereux's Ghost Rock Guidebook.

In the winter the Ghost area is known as a world class ice climbing area. See Dow’s ice pages.
Ghost Ice
North Ghost Ice

To access the Ghost area, travel west from Calgary to Cochrane. Take highway 1A west for about 13.5 km and then turn North onto to the Forestry Trunk Road which also called Highway 40 and Secondary Road 940. Follow it for about 22.7 km to a gated gravel road on the West side. The road is about 100 – 200 m past a major curve to the North and the turn off for Richards Road. The road has a large gate made from metal pipe and it is on the South side of the Bar Cee Ranch. Close the gate and watch your speed as there are free ranging cows in the summer.

The gravel road is used and maintained by several commercial companies but it is open to the public. It is rough and narrow in spots and crosses one poor bridge in various state of repair or drive through the stream on the North side. Stay on the main road for about 16.5 km to the Big Hill. There are views of Devil’s Head and the North and South Ghost valleys from a gassy parking area to the right of the road. The road down the hill is steep and can be heavily rutted and covered with large rounded river bed rock. In the winter if can be snow drifted or icy. If you are not driving a 4 x 4 it may be worth a walk and look to be sure you can get back up.

There are no services or phone reception out here. At the bottom of the hill there is an area to the left (South) where people camp. The trail to the left leads to Devil’s Gap and the South Ghost. The trail to the right leads haphazardly across the gravel flats and river bed to the North Ghost area. Ignore the turnoff to Black Rock mountain (interesting hike to an old abandoned fire lookout) and travel along a canal and over a bridge. Park near Sentinel Crag before the river crossing at the entrance to the mountains (Marker 39). There is an official government ban on crossing this river here or upstream of Marker 39 with vehicles to protect Brown Trout which spawn in the gravel beds of the river.

Red Tape

The Devil’s Head access is through a Forest Land Use Zone (FLUZ) which is a protected or managed area but not a park so less restrictions on climbing, hiking, motorized vehicles, parking or camping activities.
Ghost FLUZ
See for details.

Devil’s Head mountain is in a provincial park which is part of Kananaskis Country. See
Don Getty Wildland Provincial Park

Also see Kananaskis Country

for more details. There are no permit requirements to enter, climb and/or park in Alberta’s Provincial Parks

The Ghost area is a remote and undeveloped place. There are no services or telephone/cell communication unless you are on top of a peak. You are responsible for your own safety and probably short term rescue. It will be difficult and slow access for rescue personnel. Satellite Phones are a good idea and be prepared to deal with emergencies or to spend the night.

Cougars and Grizzlies can be more common in the Ghost than in the parks due to its remoteness and location on the front range. Take bear spray during non-hibernation months. There is some avalanche terrain although the frequent warm Chinook winds keep snow levels lower in the front ranges.

Camping

There are no official campsites in the Ghost FLUZ . Random backcountry camping including open fires are allowed in the FLUZ but open fires are prohibited in the Ghost River Wilderness Area and the park area.

See
Ghost FLUZ
See for details.

For camping rules in the park
Kananaskis camping

External Links

>Alpine Club

Mountain/Route Conditions

Association of Canadian Mountain Guides site

Alberta Parks Public Safety
No matter the season, before you head out, you can always find up to date public safety information including fire bans, flooding, park construction, wildlife issues and avalanche reports

When to climb

Devil's Head from SE which gives a great view of the spectacular South and East faces. See trees in lower right for scale. This is best viewed in full resolution.

The main season is late spring to early fall although it has been climbed in the winter. Devil's Head is on the front range of the Rockies and is lower elevation compared to many alpine objectives and can be climbed from June until October.

Several river crossings by foot are required which can be quite hazardous or impossible in the spring or in rainy weather. Thunder storms can seriously drop the temperature and rain can turn to sleet or snow at any time of the season.

The best site for local conditions is the guide conditions site which has regular updates Association of Canadian Mountain Guides

Routes

Overview of Routes from Southside of Mountain.

West ridge route.YDS 5.3/5.4
West Ridge 5.4
Access mountain from West from Malamute valley over a ridge to scree slopes which lead to base of upper mountain. Attain west ridge on SW side and route find your way to top of West summit. Downclimb or rap to saddle on west ridge(pinnacles) and then climb west side of main summit by chimneys/gulleys and ledges.
Probably original ascent route.

South gully approach route - Class 4/easy class 5
South Gullies Route
Access mountain from entrance to North Ghost Valley by crossing river on foot(three times) and entering the first side valley on the North ("Valley of the Birds"). Find a trail on the left(West) side which leads up scree slopes/ridges which lead to the base of the South side of the upper mountain. Use gullies on the south side of the West ridge to attain the saddle on the West ridge(pinnacles) and join the west ridge route. There is also an approach route on the lefthand (west)side of the second valley although it is harder scrambling and less well used.

Winter approach route - IV WI 4 Climb Beowolfand Devil's Punchbowl and then climb the South gulley route.

Route on Main Summit.

Additions and CorrectionsPost an Addition or Correction

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GMJ - Jan 2, 2020 7:10 pm - Hasn't voted

Not actually in Kananaskis Country

You mention that this peak is located within Don Getty WPP in Kananaskis Country. While it is in Don Getty WPP, contrary to popular belief the Ghost River area (including this peak) is not within Kananaskis Country. The northern boundary of Kananaskis Country roughly corresponds to the Trans-Canada and the south boundary of the Stoney reserve.

Bill Kerr - Jan 2, 2020 8:03 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: Not actually in Kananaskis Country

I am not sure but the Kananaskis Country web page has Parks within Kananaskis Country and they list Don Getty WPP and Ghost WA, and Ghost Airstrip, etc as in Kananaskis Country. It was this way in the past so unless they have changed it? https://www.albertaparks.ca/parks/kananaskis/kananaskis-country/ Go to parks and scroll down to don getty or Ghost.

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