Just because it’s cold outside and the ground is covered in snow doesn’t mean you can’t go hiking! In fact, one of the best things to do in Canmore in the winter is hiking. This cute mountain town is surrounded by trails that are just as accessible in the winter as the summer. And the best part? Some of the best winter hikes in Canmore are actually even more beautiful in the snow! Expect a…
For a fabulous multi-day backpacking trip that includes an amazing alpine traverse, hike the Brazeau Loop trail in the southern part of Jasper National Park. The trail crosses three passes as it loops through a landscape of wildflower filled meadows, passing numerous mountain peaks and the stunning, turquoise-coloured Brazeau Lake - a large backcountry lake along the route. The Brazeau Loop trail is in an area that is reportedly wildlife rich - though the only…
Banff National Park may be quieter in the winter, but its not lacking for winter activities. In fact, locals love to visit as there's so much to do including a great assortment of winter hikes in Banff and nearby. There's something for everyone especially in the easy and moderate category. When it comes to the more difficult winter hikes in Banff, you're usually getting into a bigger elevation day, so there's likely more snow. Cue…
Boom Lake is a turquoise beauty, sitting beneath 600-metre cliffs in Banff National Park. It's accessible from as early as June until late October, though you may have to tromp through some snow at that time. And it's a fabulous cross-country skiing destination come the winter, through beware of avalanche chutes if you venture onto some sections of the lake. The Boom Lake hike is easy but not as interesting as many in the park.…
What a delight the Pigeon Mountain hike near Canmore turned out to be. Once you get away from the powerline and break through the trees, views are superb. The same goes for wildflowers. They're excellent in the meadows in summer and even in early fall when there are plenty of reds and yellows to enliven the landscape. Although the climb to the summit is a stiff one, it modulates often enough that you can catch…
From Canmore, it's easy to access the Smith Dorrien Trail - Highway 40 loop, a spectacular road trip in Alberta's Rocky Mountains that can be done on your own or in luxury with Canadian Rockies Experience. The road trip can be done in either direction, but if you're driving in summer consider returning via the Smith Dorrien Trail so you catch the sunset. There are numerous scenic spots along the route along with access to…
If you want a stellar hike or backpacking trip, without the crowds, in the heart of the Moraine Lake - Lake Louise area, I'd highly recommend the Lake Annette - Paradise Valley - Giant Steps trail. Many people stop at Annette Lake - 5.7 km in, but then you miss some of the dramatic scenery, along with the option to hike up to Sentinel Pass. However, it's a 20.3 km return hike to Paradise Valley…
Drive about an hour northeast of Calgary or two and a half hours south of Edmonton and you'll reach Kneehill County in central Alberta. The region is home to a landscape of open prairie and gorgeous badlands scenery bounded on the east by the scenic Red Deer River. Within Kneehill County you'll find two towns - Three Hills and Trochu, several villages including Carbon, Acme and Linden in addition to unique lookouts and experiences. Cue…
The Eiffel Lake hike in Banff National Park is one fantastic outing with only one downside - it's hard to score a parking space at the Moraine Lake trailhead though fortunately there are ways to mitigate that described below. There is nothing difficult about the Eiffel Lake hike. There are no route-finding issues and the 11.2 km return distance and 400 m elevation gain are well within reach of any regular hiker. Despite the fact…
The Piper Pass hike in Kananaskis Country's Elbow-Sheep Wildland Provincial Park is fantastic. It exceeded all expectations in that it was easier and more beautiful than I thought it would be - and it was devoid of people. It's one of a number of hikes you can do from the Elbow Pass Day-Use area and I think it's the prettiest of the lot. You can do it as a long day hike from Highway 40…