Grotto Canyon

Another hike we did this summer was Grotto Canyon, which is only about 45 minutes west of Calgary.  This hike starts off in an unusual way.  The air is filled with the noise of a dozen jet engines as you start the trail from the parking lot.  Soon the source of all that noise becomes apparent as you walk by a huge magnesium plant. It is a white surrealistic building that belongs in a science fiction movie.  
You might be thinking as you read this that this is a hike you don't want to take, but the noise soon subsides as you move along, and you enter a very impressive canyon.  This makes for a great outing, and you can go for as far as you want.  After a few kilometres you leave the canyon, and come to the "Grotto" which is a cave up on a gravel hill.  The opening of the cave is quite striking, and worth the walk.  I will show you a picture of part of the canyon and the cave below.