Midnight Peak. The final challenge of Queen and King of the Hill 2026, supported by Norda.
This one is our love letter to Kananaskis with its loose scree, limestone ridgelines, and a view that splits the world in two. The Front Ranges stack up in dramatic greys and browns on one side, the Foothills roll out in greens and yellows on the other. If you've never been up here, you're about to understand why some keep coming back.
Midnight Peak doesn't waste your time. It starts with a true fight against gravity through the trees then the terrain opens up and the views start doing things to your brain. The Front Ranges, the ridgelines, the sky, you'll want to stop. Keep moving. The switchbacks find the ridge and the ridge finds the summit and the summit gives you everything, all 360 degrees of it. How have you never been up here before? Or maybe you have, but not this way...
No scrambling, no technical moves, nothing to figure out. MIdnight peak just points straight up and expects you to follow.
Bring your grippiest shoes and don't forget your poles on that one.
Getting there
Park at the Baldy Pass Trailhead.
From the Baldy Pass parking lot, cross Hwy 40 and follow the Baldy Pass trail for 1.7 km until the trail weaves through a dry creekbed. At this point you will want to cross the creekbed and look for a cairn and a trail on the opposite side.
In purple, the 1.7 km approach from the parking lot. The red star marks the start of the challenge.
The Challenge
Start your watch as soon as you leave the creekbed and pass the cairn that marks the start of the ascent.
Midnight Peak climbs 860m over 2.9km and contrary to what you could think, there is absolutely no scrambling between the start and the summit. The first section is steep and direct through the forest as you follow a treed gully. Expect the first half of the climb to be extremely steep.
As
At 425m of elevation gain you'll hit a short hands-on section; nothing technical, just a short chimney to hike/scramble up. It's marked with orange polka dot tape so you won't miss it.
Stop your watch when you reach the small summit cairn. It is located right at treeline where the views open up 360 degrees.
- Distance: 2.9 km
- Difficulty: Challenging
- Elevation Gain: 860 meters +-
- Where to Park: Baldy Pass Trailhead
- Surface: Steep forest, dirt trail, alpine terrain.
