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,…
Looking for some new Alberta hikes that not everyone knows about? Over the years, I have explored some of the less well-known areas of the province and discovered numerous hikes that aren't very popular - yet. On some, I've barely seen a soul and on others there's been moderate traffic. While a couple of these Alberta hikes aren't as drop-dead gorgeous as the popular ones you'll find in the Lake Louise area or even Kananaskis…
The Goat Lake hike in Waterton Lakes National Park reopened in the summer 2020. It had been closed for several years due to the 2017 Kenow fire that devastated some of the infrastructure in the park, including part of the Red Rock Parkway - the pretty access road to the trailhead. The trail to Goat Lake was closed many times again in 2020, but that was on account of bear activity. Two days before my…
Yoho National Park in British Columbia isn't very big compared to its next-door neighbour - Banff National Park. But the park is one I'd highly recommend visiting if you're doing any kind of cross-Canada road trip or even the popular Vancouver to Calgary drive because what it lacks in size, it makes up for in mountain splendour! It's also accessible as a day trip from Calgary, Banff, Lake Louise and Golden. Yoho National Park is…
For a take-your-breath-away beautiful multi-day hiking trip in the Canadian Rockies, you must put the Tonquin Valley trail in Jasper National Park on your hiking wish list. You've probably seen postcards with the famous Ramparts in touristy shops in Banff or Jasper. They're a mountain range with 10 named summits like Drawbridge, Bastion, Dungeon and Turret Peak - towering over beautiful Amethyst Lakes and the main reason you want to do this hike. But there…
For a magnificent but long day hike or an outstanding 3 - 4-day backpacking trip that offers waterfalls, gorgeous mountain lakes, wildflowers, glaciers, and the enchanting Petain Basin, visit Elk Lakes Provincial Park in British Columbia. Specifically do the hike to Lower and Upper Elk Lake and the Petain Waterfall. If you've got the time and the stamina continue up the very steep trail to explore the spectacular Petain Basin after the snow has melted…
British Columbia is a dream destination for hikers and backpackers. The geography of the province is diverse with landscapes that include rocky coastlines, ancient forests, lakes, sandy beaches, mountains and even an inland desert. Deciding what part of the province you want to focus on is important - not just from the perspective of what landscape you like to hike in but because distances are huge. Did you know that British Columbia is the size…
This post from writer Sylvia Dekker takes you on a couple of hikes near Merritt British Columbia - a community you might have stopped in for gas or coffee while driving the Coquihalla Highway between Vancouver and Kamloops or on the way to the Okanagan via Kelowna. If you're like me, you probably didn't know about the great hiking and backpacking opportunities in the region. Now you will! The area surrounding the Merritt, British Columbia…
The Headwall Lakes hike in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park is a wonderful choice if you want a wilder, slightly more challenging hike than nearby Chester Lake. While the trailhead shares the same parking lot as the Chester Lake hike, the two hikes feel completely different. On the Headwall Lakes hike you won't see many people, perhaps 10% of what you'd see on a typical day on the Chester Lake hike. The trail to Headwall Lakes…