Evan Thomas Creek: Hiking Green Monster & Other Hidden Falls

“The Green Monster”, AKA Evan Thomas Creek, is a popular and avalanche-safe winter hiking destination where people make their way down a creek bed to a large frozen waterfall, nicknamed The Green Monster. 

The frozen falls get their name from the greenish hue that the ice has, but not many people realize there are a couple of other waterfalls to see along the way.

Hiking to the end might take some determination, but if you know where to look, there are hidden gems throughout this winter wonderland.

Let’s Play a Game! 

Throughout this article, we’ll put pictures of waterfalls you can see along the hike. 

See if you can name any of the ones along the way!  Answers will be at the end. 

Fast Facts

🏃 Distance: 11.1km (6.9mi) there and back

⛰️ Elevation Gain: 250m (820ft)

⌚ Approximate Time: 4-5 Hours

❄️ All Season Hike? Best in Winter!

🐾 Dog Friendly?  Yes, but caution is advised (read the scramble section below)

👪 Kid Friendly? Yes, for a strong hiker (It’s a long walk)

🥾 Beginner Friendly? Yes, but caution is advised (again, read the scramble section)

📲 Cell Service? Spotty and unreliable

🐻 Wildlife Encounters? Rare

💧 Access to Water? Yes, flowing creek for most of the hike 

🚻 Bathrooms? Outhouses at the trailhead

⁉️ Chance of Getting Lost? Minimal

Driving Directions for The Green Monster

From Highway 1, turn south onto Highway 40 (where the gas stations and casino are). 

Continue driving down Highway 40 for 27km. Once you pass the Golf Course, a sign for “Evan Thomas Day Use”  will appear on your right. 

Turn left into this day-use area. This is the parking lot for the hike.

• Pro Tip: Google Maps has the day use area on their app; Apple Maps does not! Consider using Google Maps to scout out the location beforehand. Simply type “Evan-Thomas Day Use Area” into the search bar for directions. 

Let’s Break the Hike Down

1. The Forest

From the parking lot, walk past the obvious closed gate. (This gate is meant to keep cars out, not hikers!) 

The path should be broad and obvious and likely packed down from several other parties. 

This part of the trail offers no views, and is just ever so slightly uphill. It will likely take around 30 minutes to get through this section. 

2. The Downhill Turn

After walking through the trees, you will come to something that resembles an intersection. It looks like the path can go left or right.

It feels counter-intuitive, but you actually need to turn right and head slightly downhill. This will bring you down into the creek bed.

The path will also be the most worn-in heading downhill. 

Follow the trail downhill, across a small wooden bridge, and down into the creek bed.

3. The Creek

Immediately once you have entered the creek, there will be a picnic table across from you. This is a great stop to have a bite to eat or a sip of water, either on the way there or on the way back. (I love a good snack!)

Every year, the route along the creek can vary, depending on the flow of the creek. You will likely start on the left side of the creek and cross over to the right side. Sometimes, there are multiple creek crossings.

Be aware that snow can be very deep if you’re stepping off the trail. Be mindful of snow bridges across water, and use caution if you’re using rocks or logs to cross a stream. A wet foot can really wreck the vibe.

Wandering down the creek is insanely pretty! 

This is where you should start to keep your eyes out for some hidden waterfalls along the way. It will likely take you about an hour to meander down the creek, so enjoy the scenery.

4. The Scramble

Eventually, as you wander down the creek, it will almost appear as if you can’t go any further.

However, if you look up and to your left, you will see the trail take off up into the trees.

As the trail heads up, the path becomes narrow and slippery. Thankfully, there are metal brackets in the ground to act as steps and ropes and chains for you to hang onto as you move along the narrow path.

The entire “scramble” section is only about 50 meters long and takes about 3 minutes to cross. However, on a busy day, groups coming and going must take turns as the path is too narrow to share.

• Pro Tip: Consider hiking mid-week when fewer people are hiking to give yourself more space and time to move through this section. 

This is the only “scary” or “hard” part of the hike. It is where children, dogs, and new hikers might have some difficulty. I would strongly consider how everyone in the group might feel before tackling this section.

I also recommend putting hiking poles away at this time, as you likely will want your hands free to hold onto the ropes and chains. 

Microspikes can also be helpful here, as the terrain can become quite icy, and having that little bit of traction might make you feel more secure. Just be careful with spikes on rock, as that can also become surprisingly slippery!

5. The Final Section

Once you are past the small scramble section, you are almost there! Thankfully, the trail eases off again, and you can slowly make your way around to the Green Monster.

Once you reach the Green Monster, take a moment to enjoy the views. The green hue is best viewed from the backside of the falls. However, be careful! Falling ice is a real hazard, and any time you approach a frozen waterfall, there is a risk of some ice falling.

If you find a window in the ice to peer through, consider yourself lucky!

Often, there are ice climbers making their way up the Green Monster for fun. You can always take pictures, but be extra mindful that you don’t stand in the way of their rope (putting them in danger) and keep well away from their climbing line (which puts you in danger of ice fall).

A reminder that this trail is considered an “out-and-back,” meaning you have to retrace your steps to head out. Save some energy (and daylight) for the walk back.

What to Bring To Hike The Green Monster

I always bring the same essentials when I hike: layers, snacks, water, bandaids, cell phone, and SOS device.

In addition to those items, I would consider bringing:

• Microspikes  - these are small spikes that stretch around your shoes to give you traction in icy sections. It is not always necessary, but it is good to have on hand. 

• Poles - There can be a few stream crossings on this hike, and poles can help you balance through unstable and slippery terrain. 

• Waterproof shoes - While you can get away with a casual shoe on this hike, there can be several wet/slushy/muddy sections. Having dry feet is a game changer. If you don’t have good footwear, bring a change of socks to prevent blisters. 

• Pro Tip: You definitely do not need to bring snowshoes. This trail is so busy and popular the snow is always packed down. You can safely leave those heavy things at home! 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you bring a dog to hike the Green Monster?

Dogs are absolutely welcome on this trail (on a leash). Be aware that this trail is very popular, and you will likely run into several other groups and possibly other dogs. 

There is also the scramble section to consider. If your dog isn’t used to slippery and exposed terrain, consider turning around before this section or have a way to carry them that is hand-free (such as in a backpack).

Do I need a permit or a pass to hike the Green Monster?

You do need to purchase a Kananaskis Pass to park in the Evan Thomas Day Use area, and conservation officers frequently check license plates to ensure compliance.

Passes are electronic only and can be purchased at the Kananaskis Visitor Center building using wifi, or online any time here. Prices are $15 per vehicle per day, or $90 per vehicle for a year.

• Pro tip: The first Wednesday of every month is a free day, and you do not need to pay for a pass on those days. Free days also apply to certain holidays. Consider hiking on those days to save money! Check the list of free days here.

Is there avalanche terrain on the Green Monster hike?

Thankfully, there is no serious avalanche terrain on the Green Monster hike, permitting you stay on the trail. This is an excellent hiking option on a day with high avalanche risk. For more detailed avalanche information, check out avalanche.ca

Can you go behind the Green Monster?

Yes, you can often go behind the Green Monster! With how the ice forms, there tends to be space between the rock and the ice on the far side of the waterfall. This is actually where the ice looks the most green. Some years, it even has a hole or window that you can peer out of. 

However, if ice climbers are on any ice, use extra caution and stay far back from the ice. (You’d be surprised how far ice chunks can fly, and even a tiny piece of falling ice can hurt you).

When is the best time to hike the Green Monster?

It is not possible to get to the area of the Green Monster until the ground has frozen and snow makes crossing over the creek possible. There are summer trails in the area, but they are not nearly as pretty! I’d recommend mid-to-late winter for this hike. 

I’d also recommend avoiding this hike on weekends unless you love crowds. If you only have weekends free, consider an early start! The scramble section can get quite busy, and it’s not fun feeling rushed or having a party trying to push past you in the opposite direction. 

As the first section through the forest is an official trail maintained by Alberta Parks, you can also check for the latest advisories here. It will keep you up-to-date on closures and any warnings for the area.

Waterfall Answer Key

Let’s find out how you did on our waterfall quiz!

• Waterfall 1 - Green Monster, of course! Dwarfed by the photo, this waterfall is actually quite grand when you see it in person!

• Waterfall 2 - Chantilly Falls! This ice is the place where many parties first learn to lead on ice, as it is a bit less vertical than some other flows in the area.

• Waterfall 3 - Moonlight! Bonus points if you said “Snowline” - the skiff of ice that forms beside Moonlight. If you hike on a weekend, you’re bound to see climbers somewhere on Moonlight. (I also personally love it!)  

• Waterfall 4 - Physiotherapy and the Rehab Wall! These waterfalls attract “mixed climbers” - people who use their ice tools on both rock and ice. If you’re lucky enough to catch some parties climbing these tough routes, it’s a sight to behold!

• Waterfall 5 - WD40! This waterfall doesn’t always form, but looks insanely cool when viewed from afar! It looks pretty thin and vertical, but has some ebbs and flows as you approach closer. (A personal favorite of mine!)

• Waterfall 6 - Slurpee! Named because it’s constantly wet and dripping, though I also love its iconic beverage namesake. This climb can be hard to spot, tucked away on your right as you near Green Monster, it looks quite grand up in the canyon!

• Waterfall 7 - B2! Oof, this is a hard one to know, even though it’s a very accessible chunk of ice. Kudos to you if you got it right! 

That’s All, Folks!

How’d you do on the waterfall quiz? Are you a savvy local and can name them all; or are you a visitor to the area and just looking for some fun knowledge to impress your friends with? We hope you learned something either way! The climbs can be tricky to identify, even for experienced climbers!

If you loved this article, check out more hikes from Bow Valley Insider! Feel free to submit feedback or questions.

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