Peak Finder

Looking southwest to The Fortress from Highway #40 near Wedge Pond

The Fortress

  • 3000 m (9,843ft)
  • Naming History
50.8278N -115.243W
Located in the Kananaskis River Valley south of Galatea Creek

Range: Kananaskis
Province: Alberta
Park: Kananaskis
Headwater: Bow
Major Valley: Kananaskis
Visible from Highway: 40S
Year Named: 1957
Named for: The mountain, when viewed from the north, has the appearance of a fortress.

The Fortress is perhaps the most spectacular peak seen while driving up the Kananaskis River Valley. The names of the vast majority of the mountains in the Canadian Rockies begin with "Mount" or end with "Mountain." It is in keeping with the distinct character of this peak that its name is somewhat unique in that it begins with "The." In the early summer, when the slopes of the high ridge in the foreground are emerald green and with The Fortress's vertical cliffs rising symmetrically to the flat-topped summit, this is one of the most picturesque and aptly named peaks in the Kananaskis Valley. Once known as The Tower, it was renamed because of possible confusion with a peak known as The Towers whose name dated back to 1885. This mountain is located in the Mount Assiniboine area to the west of Wonder Pass. Despite the name of the ski resort nearby, Fortress Mountain is a high peak on the Continental Divide north of the east end of Fortress Lake (sixty kilometres south of Jasper). *A hiking route to the summit is described in Gillean Daffern's Kananaskis Country Trail Guide.

Looking west-southwest to The Fortress (courtesy Calvin Damen)

Looking west-southwest to The Fortress (courtesy Calvin Damen)

Photo: Looking south to The Fortress from below Guinns Pass

Looking southwest to The Fortress from Wedge Lake

Looking southwest to The Fortress with Mount Chester beyond at left (courtesy Calvin Damen)

Photo: Looking southwest to The Fortress from Wedge Pond on Highway #40

Looking north-northwest to The Fortress from Highway #40

Looking northeast to The Fortress from Mount Chester (courtesy Rob Taerum)

Looking northwest to The Fortress from Opal Ridge

Looking east to The Fortress from Gusty Peak (courtesy Sonny Bou)

Lookings northwest to The Fortress from Opal Ridge (courtesy Vern De Wit)

Looking northeast to The Fortress (courtesy Bennett Wong)

Looking southwest to The Fortress (Gusty Peak at right) (courtesy Andy Dragt)