I have enjoyed exploring areas in Alberta this spring that are new to me - and as it turns out less well known and therefore less busy for hiking. As much as I love the workout and the views up Ha Ling Peak for instance, I prefer trails with far fewer people. Near the Highwood Junction area, there are a good handful of hikes that are all ideal in spring and fall when the mountains…
The Mount Lorette Ponds in Alberta's Bow Valley Provincial Park haven't always been in existence. At one point they were an oxbow (a u-shaped bend) on the Kananaskis River but were cut off when Highway 40 was upgraded. Instead of letting the ponds die, someone recognized their potential and tapped into a groundwater source that replenishes the ponds several times a year. Now they are a scenic spot for nature viewing, fishing, picnicking and even…
I think many of us get into a routine when it comes to going to the mountains. For me that means heading to either Banff National Park, Kananaskis Country south of Highway 40 or the Bragg Creek area. However, I have been on the lookout for a new early season mountain hike and discovered Mount Burke - thanks once again to @mcc617 (Don McCready) on Instagram. He posted a photo on March 19th along the…
The Foran Grade and Windy Point hike is a great choice for anyone who lives in the Calgary area and is eager for a hike that delivers great mountain views starting early in the season. I wouldn't do this hike in the summer when there are more interesting choices, but I'd come back again in the fall to catch the vibrant colours. The effort to reward ratio on this hike is high. The Foran Grade…
The Horton Hill hike, just an hour's drive from Calgary in Kananaskis Country isn't going to be the kind of hike most people are looking for. There is no trailhead, signage, or even a formal trail, though there is the odd piece of fluorescent flagging tape around. But it is surprisingly easy to find your way to the top, if you have any sense of direction and you just head up. Horton Hill is the…
One of the great pleasures in my life is camping and backpacking in the Canadian Rockies. With years of experience under my belt, I don't give much thought to the difficulty of a trip unless it's a real out there wilderness experience. But I know that there are lots of wannabe backpackers that are nervous about taking their first steps and spending a night in a tent, many kilometres from a trailhead, especially when it's…
The town of Nordegg Alberta is an undiscovered gem in the Canadian Rockies. Situated almost exactly halfway between Rocky Mountain House and Saskatchewan River Crossing, it is in an area well-suited for year-round adventures. When John and I stopped in for a snack in Nordegg years ago while on the way to do a loop drive back to Calgary via Highway 11 and the Icefields Parkway, we didn't really give the town a second glance.…
The Mesa Butte hike is a short, easy hike that is ideal after a lazy morning of eating pancakes and drinking coffee or a pick me up after a long day at work. The hike is located near Millarville, Alberta in Mesa Butte Provincial Recreation Area. The trail starts directly across from the Mesa Butte Equestrian Campground. Even though the Mesa Butte hike is a short one that you can knock off in 1 -…
If you love snowshoeing, then Jasper National Park is a terrific place to visit in winter. Enjoy kilometres of untracked trails, sublime mountain views, snowy meadows, quiet lakes, and a pretty good chance of seeing an elk. Winter is long in Jasper - and so is the season for snowshoeing, especially at higher elevation locations. On the days when the snowpack is thin, hike the trails instead, with a pair of icers tucked in your…
Winter in Jasper is divine. Once the snow arrives, the town is transformed into a true Canadian winter wonderland. Not only is it a quiet place to visit in winter compared to the summer, it's an exceptional base for cold weather-adventures. Anyone who is prepared to bundle up and enjoy the fresh air and outdoors, will love to explore the area. There's so much to do from skiing and boarding to skating, ice walks, winter…