Hikes in Alberta

The hike to Boom Lake is a pleasant and popular excursion in Banff National Park. This route is great for beginners as the trail is clear, the path well-made and there is a beautiful view at Boom Lake. We love this hike on very hot days, as it is mostly in the forest.

The Centennial Ridge and Mount Allan Summit is the highest maintained trail in the Canadian Rockies. It’s a true pinnacle with great views and a nice alpine hike along the way. Bring lots of water as you’re exposed most of the day. The Trail is closed from April to late-June each year.

For a visually stunning hike, try the Big Hill Springs trail in the foothills of Alberta's Rocky Mountains. Trek past a series of small, rushing waterfalls and bubbling springs, all isolated within a beautiful coulee. This kid-friendly trail makes for a fun time for adventurers of all ages!

One of the best walks in Banff is the classic walk along the Bow River. This trail is perfect for beginners or those with limited physical ability, offering beautiful views of the forest, scenic Bow River, Bow Falls and Banff Springs Hotel.

The Opal Hills hike in Jasper National Park is exhilarating, with a unique beauty that casts a spell on the hikers who make it through the steep trail – moving up to a lush meadow and beautiful mountains. This is truly one of the best hikes in Jasper.

The Valley of the Five Lakes hike is an easy, enjoyable hike in Jasper that leads to five different stunning alpine lakes. The vibrant greens and blues of the water make each lake better than the next, and the whole family can enjoy the views without too much of a challenge.

The hike to Elbow Lake is a wonderful, family-friendly hike in the Highwood Area. It’s also the perfect first backpack trip, as Elbow Lake is so close to the trailhead. We do this hike every year with our family.

Hiking the Glenmore Reservoir trail is a great half day trip, or just head out on a portion of the path for an hour or two! It is perfect for all abilities and explores the entire reservoir, staying close to the water and wetlands that the reservoir is famous for. This is a heavily populated area in the summer months, but many visitors choose short routes within the area rather than committing to the full loop.

We love this less-visited part of Sunshine Meadows. You get to take in the Standish Viewing deck, Rock Isle Lake and the beautiful Monarch Viewpoint, all on well-maintained paths. Take the Standish chair up to start and reduce the elevation gain on this hike.

From the south side of the park, the Edworthy Park Loop hiking trail is a quick and easy way to spend an hour or two taking in some nature. When visiting the city it can be hard to find green space, but Edworthy Park is the perfect escape with plenty of amenities at the central day use area.

Mount Burke is an underrated, bigger version of Prairie Mountain that isn’t as well-known. On a sunny weekend, we only ran into one other group, which is very rare considering the trail is good quality and the views are amazing. Get ready to see the foothills, white-topped mountain peaks, the interesting flat Plateau Mountain nearby and the lone abandoned fire watch hut at the very top. However, the views come with a price – hiking up Mount Burke is a real grind.

If you’re going hiking in Banff, you need to get up to Sunshine Meadows for the incredible hike to Citadel Pass. This hike has it all, beautiful wildflowers, expansive views, multiple lakes and above all, varied and stunning views. We love this hike.

Arethusa Cirque is a gem of a hike, being an overlooked neighbour to nearby Ptarmigan and Pocaterra Cirques. The views are especially spectacular in larch season, which takes place in

The best hikes in Banff must include the hike up to Healy Pass. An exquisite hike, especially during Autumn with the larches in full colour. Get impressive views from the pass and take an optional descent via Simpson Pass to add variety.

This hike to Bourgeau Lake and Harvey Pass is a sure-fire way to induce happiness. Though the numbers make this trail seem big, the feeling of being on a true adventure makes the day go easily and quickly. Definitely one of the best hikes near Banff!

This long but rewarding hike starts in the trees and bring us to the fire lookout at the top of Moose Mountain. This is really popular shoulder season hike just 45 minutes from Calgary.

This hike has it all, starting in the forest before traversing a beautiful grassy meadow then gaining elevation in the alpine as climb the ridge. The views are spectacular throughout the hike.

This is a relative low effort high reward hike up a grass topped foothill of the Rockies just west of turner valley. From the top we have great views as the foothills turn into the towering peaks of the Rockies.

At only 3.5 km round trip this is a short and easy hike that is perfect for after work. Mesa Butte is a mid elevation hill with tremendous views of the surrounding area. The fire pit at the top it also made for a great picnic.

Powderface Ridge is a popular early or late season hike at the end of Highway 66. There are several variations of the trail, all with decent views, making it suitable for a variety of fitness levels.