The Fundy Footpath is a rigorous multi-day hike along the Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick. Highlights include pretty, mixed forests, stunning headland views from atop 100-metre sea cliffs and some exceptional beachfront campsites over the 64 kilometres you travel from the Fundy National Park Visitor Centre to the Big Salmon River Visitor Centre on the Fundy Trail. Most people don't usually hike the full 64 km, preferring to bite off the distance as a…
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…
The Glacier Crest trail in Glacier National Park, British Columbia rewards with panoramic views of Mount Sir Donald and the Illecillewaet Glacier to the east and the Asulkan Glacier to the west along with views of Abbott Ridge, Perley Rock, the Rogers Pass summit, and Eagle Peak to name but a few mountain peaks. It is well worth the 958-metre climb to experience the beauty of this hike. Count on a full day (6 -…
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…
The Abbott Ridge Trail in British Columbia's Glacier National Park (often confused with Montana's national park that goes by the same name) is the must do hike in the park despite its length and significant elevation gain. After hiking the Hermit Trail in the park a few years ago, I had an inkling I'd be in for a treat. Abbott Ridge is named for Henry Abbott, a mountain and railway man who helped build the…
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…
Alberta's Kananaskis Country offers an incredible diversity of hiking experiences that are almost on par with what you'll find in the Rocky Mountain national parks - specifically Banff, Jasper, Yoho, and Kootenay. Many of the trails are busier than they used to be - probably because so many people have discovered the joys of hiking thanks to COVID. But you can still lose the masses if you choose a hike that's a little longer. The…
If you're looking for an excellent mountain hike close to Canmore that doesn't take all day, consider the easy but steep hike to West Wind Pass. Considering the return distance is just 4.2 km and you gain only 378 m, most people will be able to knock the full hike off in 1.5 - 2.5 hours. It's a great alternative to the nearby, busier Ha Ling Peak. The other bonus with the West Wind Pass…
If you love a good waterfall hike, then put the Ribbon Falls hike in Kananaskis Country on your must do list. John and I chose to do it in late May - as many of Alberta's mountain hikes are still snowbound. It was a great choice from a couple of perspectives. First, it's a good warm-up to get in shape for harder hikes with more elevation gain. All told its about a 20.8 km return…