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…
The Chilkoot Trail, which begins on tidewater in Alaska and climbs up over mountains in British Columbia, presents a unique backpacking opportunity, as this is a trail rich with history. It was the main trail used in the famous Klondike Gold Rush of the late 1800’s, one of the biggest rushes the world has ever seen. An international crowd of literally tens of thousands, fueled by dreams of riches, used the Chilkoot Trail to chase…
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 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're a new visitor to Banff National Park, you may find the selection of Banff hikes overwhelming until you get your bearings. Rest assured that any of the hikes described should satisfy your cravings for sublime Canadian Rocky Mountain scenery. Not all have gorgeous turquoise lakes on route, but all are worthwhile and some more so that others depending on the season. It has taken me nine years to find the time to do…
The popular Baldy Pass trail is one of the closest trails to Calgary in the mountains, so it's popular from that standpoint alone. It's a short and easy hike, though it will be moderate for those who don't hike often. Most people will be able to knock off the 7.4 km return hike in two - three hours. With only 422 m of elevation gain, it's also a great choice for families. I have done…
The Jura Creek hike near Canmore is a family-friendly outing with an option to add a level of difficulty by doing a loop hike that includes a scramble of Doorjamb and Loder Peak. Another alternative once out of the canyon and past the false fault, is to walk up Jura Creek for many kilometres. Near the end of Jura Creek, you can climb Morrowmount (in the summer or fall), a peak named for Patrick Morrow,…
There are three ice walks in Alberta - and they all provide unforgettable experiences. Enjoy a high fun factor as you slip slide along frozen rivers, stopping to admire icy waterfalls or beautiful ice formations. On one of the ice walks in Alberta you can slither into a cave and stand behind a curtain of frozen water. On another, you can enjoy the view down into a multi-hued canyon while standing on a cantilevered catwalk…
The Rawson Lake hike in Alberta's Peter Lougheed Provincial Park is one of a few that you can do year-round, no matter what the weather throws at you. You can knock it off in half a day - whether you hike it in summer or snowshoe it in winter. It's family-friendly if your kids are regular hikers and are 8 years of age or older. If you want to do a full day of hiking,…