The trailhead for Mount Louie starts from a decently sized gravel parking lot on the south side of Highway 40, almost immediately after passing Grande Cache Lake on the way into Grande Cache. A wide trail starts out from the far end of the parking lot and leads down to the narrow canal connecting Grande Cache and Victor Lakes. As I turned right, and continued jogging along the north side of the canal, the unfrozen state of the water had me slightly concerned about what crossing would look like (read Sonny's report from a few years back). My worries were soon put to rest, however, as a brand new bridge has since been installed, and I was soon across on the south side, continuing on my merry way towards the base of Mount Louie.

About 300 m after the bridge, the trail splits (signed), and I took the left-hand fork, starting up Louie's northwest ridge. My (still!) sore legs from the previous week resisted as the incline started to increase, but I pushed through, hoping they might loosen up, and actually surprised myself by how much of the ascent I was able to run! (But let's be honest here, this was largely thanks to a more gradual elevation gain compared to the steep cut-lines on Grande, and had very little, if anything, to do with any gains in my physical performance...as much as I'd like to convince myself otherwise 😂.)

Views were limited for the majority of this ascent, but the trees did eventually start to thin as I arrived at the open, grassy slopes just below the summit, and I was finally able to enjoy some views back across the valley, and down to Grande Cache Lake, where I started out only about an hour before.

Views from the summit were as one would expect for a front range bump - nice, but nothing to write home about - and after signing the register in the mailbox, I was promptly running back down the mountain.

I was surprised by how bare the trail was compared to my run up Grande just one week before, and may have become just a little bit too confident in my footing, ending up flat on my back after slipping on a patch of ice...(My elbow still hurts as I write this 😂) Having learnt my lesson, the remainder of the run was uneventful and I was back at the parking lot just two hours after leaving it.

Photo Gallery

The shared trailhead for Mount Louie and Cowlick Creek (one of the many access routes to the expansive Willmore Wilderness) is well signed.

The bridge over the canal is in much better shape than it was a few years ago! Mount Louie is the most distance treed bump on the left.

Starting up through the forest on the opposite side of the canal.

It's hard to go the wrong way with two separate signs to help you out! 😂

Starting up Mount Louie's densely treed NW ridge.

Enjoying a rare clearing along Louie's ascent ridge.

A brief glimpse of the objective, still a ways off.

The trail up Mount Louie is easy to follow, and even has multiple orange markers and ribbons to guide you along the way.

I started encountering more snow as I gained elevation and the trees began to thin.

The terrain finally opens up for the last short climb to the summit.

Interesting grassy terrain below the summit.

Views back down Louie's ascent ridge include the Willmore Wilderness at left, Lightning Ridge rising over the hamlet of Grande Cache, and Grande Mountain over Victor and Grande Cache Lakes at right.

Looking south, into the Willmore Wilderness.

No one here to take a picture with, so I guess I'll take one with this mailbox 😂

Mount Louie's unique "summit mailbox" as part of Grande Cache's Passport to the Peaks program.

My register entry.

Starting back down the ridge.

Careful with those icy patches...I speak from experience 😂

Running down the (mostly) dry trail back to the canal.

Mount Louie's lower flanks have got some BIG trees!