Scrambles in Alberta
Where to Hike in Alberta
Activities in Alberta
The Canadian Province of Alberta is an outdoor-lovers paradise. World famous destinations like Jasper, Lake Louise, Waterton and Banff draw the crowds, and for good reason – they’re beautiful. Big mountains, stunning emerald coloured lakes, abundant glaciers, forests, game and fresh air make Alberta one of the best places for your upcoming holiday.
With most of the accessible Rocky Mountains in Alberta protected by national and provincial parks, a holiday in Alberta is special. There are big mountains, stunning emerald coloured lakes, glaciers, forests and fresh air. Alberta has some of the best, untouched wilderness on earth, and the ideal way to explore this wonderful province is on foot, ski or bike.
In winter, there are downhill ski areas, most famous are the ski resorts Sunshine Village and Lake Louise. Winter is not just about downhill skiing, there is also abundant xc-ski trails and exhilarating backcountry skiing options. Winter is also low season, and a trip to Alberta in winter means great hotel rates.
Summer sees Alberta’s national parks fill up with eager outdoor explorers. Luckily there is just so much nature that you only notice the crowds in a few places, the rest of the Canadian Rockies stay peaceful and tranquil. While hiking is the most popular summer activity, you can also climb, bike, canoe and kayak.
After a hard day outdoors, one of the best parts of Alberta are the great mountain towns. Full of everything from campsites to 5-star hotels, these towns allow you to enjoy some civilization, which means great coffee, good food and fun bars!
Displaying 45 of 54 routes
Route guides for Hiking in Alberta
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Victoria Peak Route Guide
Victoria Peak is the highest peak in the Castle area, scrambling up Victoria Peak provides spectacular views of where the colorful mountains of the Castle meet the prairies.
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Pyramid Mountain Scramble Route Guide
The famous Pyramid Mountain is one of Jasper’s premier landmarks. It casts unforgettable reflections on nearby Pyramid and Patricia lakes as it stands tall above. This scramble route requires a full day’s effort and will leave your legs screaming by the time you finish up the lengthy distance and elevation gains required to reach the summit.
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Loaf Mountain and Spionkop Ridge Route Guide
Loaf Mountain is the second highest peak in the Castle area and is bordered by spectacularly colorful valleys. An extension to the summit of Spionkop Ridge provides a spectacular view into Waterton Lakes National Park.
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Windy Point Ridge, The Buckle, and Talus Peak Route Guide
This beautiful scramble to Windy Ridge with an extension to Talus Peak and the Buckle can be called a gem found off the beaten track. It’s not very popular and we don’t really know why. The views are breathtaking (Abraham Lake especially), making the Windy Point Ridge, the Buckle and Talus Peak Scramble our favourite along the David Thompson Highway!
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Drywood Mountain Traverse Route Guide
The Drywood Mountain Traverse is a long and easy traverse of a high ridge in the colorful Castle Wildland. The traverse is followed by a descent to a brilliantly-blue lake for a swim and possible camping, making this a spectacular summer outing!
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Southfork Mountain and Barnaby Ridge Route Guide
This scramble to Southfork Mountain and Barnaby Ridge has it all, a backcountry campsite on beautiful Southfork Lakes, a long ridge top traverse, and spectacular scenery throughout!
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Mount Ernest Ross Route Guide
The trail to the top of Ernest Ross Mount is a little challenging, but a fun scramble. You will find yourself on a quiet path with constantly changing surroundings: from bushes, trees, scree to almost vertical rock boulders. Although most of the trail is not too hard, one section will make you sweat a little: the scrambly part is a little steep and you will have to use some of your rock-climbing skills. But it’s worth all the effort, as the views from the top will take your breath away. From the surrounding peaks, to Kootenay Plains, and Abraham Lake – the panorama here is stunning!
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Table Mountain Route Guide
Table Mountain is a colorful ascent alongside a creek, with spectacular photo opportunities above the sheer north face, and great summit views of where the mountains meet the prairies. In other words, a perfect day out in the Castle!
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Turtle Mountain Route Guide
The rockslide off Turtle Mountain over a century ago fractured the mountain on a scale that is difficult to imagine, yet this scramble takes you across the fractured summit ridge where the sheer scale of the forces at play are apparent. A stop at the Frank Slide Interpretive Center afterwards to complete the history lesson makes this a fascinating and different kind of scramble.
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Two O-Clock Ridge Route Guide
The Two O-Clock Ridge Trail is a wonderful scramble near David Thompson Highway. After a short, but steep scramble you will find yourself surrounded by the Tuff Puff Ridge, Mt Ernest Ross and Two O-Clock Peak.
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Pincher Ridge Route Guide
Pincher Ridge is located near the heart of Castle Wildland Provincial Park, a spectacular part of the Canadian Rockies. The scramble up Pincher Ridge provides a stunning aerial view of the surrounding ridges of red argillite, lush green valleys, and the intersection of the mountains with the prairies.
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Mount Gladstone Route Guide
A scramble up Mount Gladstone is a wonderful day out in the Castle! A nice trail alongside a lively creek, a colorful ascent, and unparalleled views of Castle Peak and Windsor Mountain make it one of the most scenic mountains in the entire park!
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Coral Ridge Route Guide
The Coral Ridge scramble is a treat for adventure lovers, as this path is not very well known and very few people choose to scramble up here. Prepare for some bushwalking, as bits of the path can be spotted only rarely. The trail leads to the secluded and breathtaking lookout point on the ridge, as well as a vantage point for a closer look at the Mt Stelfox.
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Morro Peak Scramble Route Guide
Morro Peak is a simple scramble rated easy. It is a moderately trafficked trail just outside of the Town of Jasper. Reach new heights and take in great views from the top of this peak. You’ll avoid the major crowds that some other trails in the region see.
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Mount Haig Route Guide
Mount Haig is the highest peak in Castle Provincial Park, and you can’t go wrong scrambling to the top of the highest peak in any park let alone Castle Provincial Park! Add on a scenic and swimmable lake at its base, abundant huckleberries and salmonberries along the approach, and you’ve got an excellent outing on Mount Haig.
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Eagle Ridge and Mountain Scramble Route Guide
Even though the trail to Eagle Ridge and Eagle Mountain is way less popular than the ‘neighbours’ Coliseum and Shunda Mountains up north, it’s worth all the effort. With beautiful views that open up to the plain lands of Alberta and the foothills of the Canadian Rockies, this trail is well known among the locals, but not so much by the travellers that come to hike the Nordegg Area from further.
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Mount Coulthard Route Guide
Located in Castle Wildland Provincial Park, the scramble up Mt Coulthard takes you through a spectacular and lush alpine basin, an historical plane crash site, and provides wonderful up-close views of the spectacular peaks of the Flathead Range.
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Akamina Ridge Trail Route Guide
Akamina Ridge is an incredible hike and a must-do when visiting Waterton Lakes National Park. It’s reserved for experienced hikers willing to go the distance for high alpine views. This hike is filled with crystal clear lakes and panoramic views. Leave the kids behind—this one is difficult.
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Devil’s Thumb Route Guide
When choosing to scramble up the Devil’s Thumb, you’ll pass by famous landmarks on your way. When you reach the Big Beehive junction, you’ll leave the crowds behind, taking the less travelled route to new heights. Enjoy solitude and views of both Lake Louise and Lake Agnes from high above. The Devil’s Thumb is known to cast a thumb-like shadow below, so aim for perfect conditions to catch this phenomenon.
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Mist Mountain Route Guide
Scrambling Mist Mountain takes you up the largest peak in the immediate area, which is a sure-fire guarantee for an awesome summit view! Not only that, but scramble route is a scenic and pleasant approach that can’t be beat.
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Mount Sparrowhawk Route Guide
Scrambling up Mount Sparrowhawk is the perfect scramble for those new to scrambling or families with older children. It is not too technical, but provides an unbeatable view of the vast Spray Lakes reservoir.
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Mount Niblock and Whyte Route Guide
Completing the Mount Niblock and Mount Whyte circuit in Lake Louise requires a lot of effort and concern for safety, but it is an exciting adventure that takes scramblers beyond the usual Lake Louise experience. This trail will surely require a reward when accomplished!
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Mount Lougheed Route Guide
Mount Lougheed, a peak so huge and prominent that it even has its own sign and small viewing area on the trans-Canada highway., offers one of the most scenic approaches and best summit panoramas in Kananaskis! The face visible from the highway, however, is not a scramble, so don’t be put off - an easy scramble route does exist on the other side.
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Mount Temple Route Guide
This challenging scramble begins at the famous Moraine Lake and ascends one of the tallest peaks in the Canadian Rockies. You’ll need to be prepared and know the route well before attempting Mount Temple, as you’ll find yourself slogging up scree, scrambling rock bands, and possibly coming in close range of cornices. It sounds intimidating, but the effort is rewarded! The trail gains elevation from Moraine Lake through Larch Valley and Sentinel Pass—two remarkable hikes—before becoming more technical towards the summit. You’ll surmount a great deal of elevation gain, leaving you feeling like you’re on top of the world. Glaciers, lakes, and surrounding peaks come into view, leaving those who take on this challenge feeling extremely rewarded.
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The Fortress Route Guide
The Fortress is aptly named for its ominous appearance from Highway 40, however a scramble to the summit can be fairly easily achieved via two ascent routes. The scramble to the top of the Fortress is not only fun, but also provides a stunning view!
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Tower of Babel Route Guide
The Tower of Babel Scramble is a technical route that requires hands-on movements, helmets, and a good sense of where you are going. It is an incredibly rewarding scramble and a great way to take things to the next level. The top is a large plateau and the perfect place to take in views of Moraine Lake away from the crowds.
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Snow Peak Route Guide
Scrambling Snow Peak brings you rising over scenic Burstall Pass. Snow Peak can be an easy or difficult scramble depending on the time of year, but since it straddles the continental divide there are spectacular views of massive peaks in BC.
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Smutwood Peak Route Guide
Scrambling Smutwood Peak offers spectacular views of the two jagged mountains from which it derives its name: Mount Smuts and Birdwood. A lively mountain creek, waterfalls, and deep blue alpine lakes guarantee a wonderful scramble.
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Mount Cory Route Guide
Scrambling to the summit of Mount Cory is reserved for experienced hikers and scramblers. This steep trail is a grind from the start, taking hikers from the valley floor to the peak of Mount Cory. This scramble is exhilarating and provides incredible high alpine views without a long approach. If you are ready to use all fours, this scramble is for you.
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Grotto Mountain Route Guide
Scrambling up Grotto Mountain offers a commanding aerial view of Canmore and the Bow Valley. Often thought of as a quick scramble, the route is a bit more technical than meets the eye, making a scramble up Grotto Mountain really fun!
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Mount Bell Route Guide
Mount Bell is one of Banff National Park’s big scrambles, and it can be approached from two sides. Tackling this scramble from Boom Lake Trail is a great way to get to the peak! Boom Lake Trail is an easy way to get you to the base of impressive Mount Bell, which makes the exit a lot more enjoyable.
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Mount Redoubt Route Guide
The scramble to the summit of Mount Redoubt takes hikers through the incredible Skoki area, which is popular for backpackers and horseback riders. You will begin on the less busy side of the Bow Valley at the Lake Louise Ski Resort and follow flowing creeks up Boulder Pass before reaching views of Ptarmigan Lake and Redoubt Lake from Mount Redoubt.
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Mount Howard Route Guide
The views from the summit of Mount Howard are as spectacular as any, but it is the long and wonderfully scenic ridge walk to get there that sets it apart from others in the area.
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Mount James Walker Route Guide
A scramble up Mount James Walker is an engaging adventure! Amazing summit views combine with a beautiful approach beside a lively creek, past multiple tarns, and up an isolated valley to make a Mount James Walker Scramble worthy of any bucket list!
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East End of Rundle Route (EEOR) Route Guide
Scrambling the East End of Rundle or EEOR is a popular scramble close to Canmore. It is often under-estimated, and there are tricky sections on this for new scramblers. This scenic scramble has stunning views of the surrounding peaks from the summit.
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Caldron Peak Route Guide
Caldron Peak is a scramble that requires a lot of effort. There are creek crossings, glaciers, multiple alpine lakes, and scree slopes that feel like you are walking backwards. Expect continually changing views and incredible landmarks to reward you the entire way! Glacial lakes cascade into each other between waterfalls and icefields along this beautiful trail.
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Mount Indefatigable – South Peak Route Guide
The scramble up the South Peak of Mount Indefatigable is a great scramble and the views of Upper Kananaskis Lake from the summit are unparalleled!
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Mount Rundle Route Guide
Locals stare at Mount Rundle day in and day out, enough to acquire a personal relationship with the impressive feature. Its stark angle, and swirling weather are enough to push hikers to the top. It is one of those peaks that calls hikers to its summit. It begins with switchbacks through the forest and becomes more technical as it rises with dangerous slab and frustrating scree all the way to the top. The summit rises high above the town of Banff, giving expansive views of the ranges surrounding it.
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Mount Edith Route Guide
Mount Edith scramble begins with the unsuspecting Cory Pass hike before branching off to the right to begin gaining Mount Edith. There is a north and south route that each have their own great features. Mount Edith is a gripping adventure for those who are ready to take on something more technical.
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Eiffel Peak Route Guide
Eiffel Peak isn’t frequented by many who make their way to Moraine Lake. It is a difficult scramble with less popularity than Mount Temple. Hikers will see Moraine Lake and Larch Valley before heading off on their own to Eiffel Peak. Lots of elevation and some technical features keep the crowds away, so you will be sure to find solitude atop this peak.
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Mount Bourgeau Route Guide
The scramble up Mount Bourgeau gives way to a commanding view of the Bow Valley near Banff. The trip takes you by scenic Bourgeau Lake and Harvey Pass en route to the summit, which means you’ll still have an amazing day even if you abort your summit bid.
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Observation Peak Route Guide
Aptly named, the scramble up Observation Peak gives a bird’s eye view of turquoise Peyto Lake and Bow Lake at the base of glaciated giants on the continental divide. Observation Peak is a stunning scramble on the Icefields Parkway.
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Helena Ridge Route Guide
Scrambling the summit of Helena Ridge offers the best view of the amazing Castle Mountain Plateau. Scenic lakes, fossils, and lovely old-growth forest will keep you entertained on the approach. This is an incredible scramble.
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Paget Peak Route Guide
Scrambling Paget Peak offers a spectacular view of the glaciated peaks of the Great Divide and a fantastic aerial view of turquoise Sherbrooke Lake. An old fire lookout en route offers a wonderful place for a sheltered snack and serves as a nice backup plan should the weather turn bad.
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Cascade Mountain Route Guide
Scrambling up Cascade Mountain is a classic scramble in the Canadian Rockies. Towering over the Bow Valley, the iconic Cascade Mountain provides a spectacular view of Lake Minnewanka, the Banff Town site, and hundreds of surrounding peaks. Avoid this route if there is still snow, or conditions are wet or foggy, at which point the route becomes very dangerous.
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