Snowshoe Trails in Alberta

The Snowshoe trip to Rummel Ridge is a relatively safe and easy ascent to an incredible viewpoint above Rummel Lake. The in-your-face view of Mount Galatea and those of massive peaks across the valley compete for your attention.

The snowshoe trail from Johnston Canyon to the Ink Pots takes adventurers through the incredible icy landscape of Johnston Canyon before leading into the quiet forest. The trail emerges into a subalpine meadow, where you will find the frozen ink pots.

Snowshoeing up Commonwealth Ridge is no easy feat, but you will be rewarded with an up-close view of spectacular Mount Smuts and The Fist. The wonderful cornice scenery on the upper slope make Commonwealth Ridge an exciting snowshoe outing. This trip is only suitable for people with avalanche training and avalanche gear.

The multi-use Moraine Lake Road snowshoe sees cross-country skiers, ski tourers, snowshoers, and sometimes even fat bikers! This is an excellent way to experience the majestic Moraine Lake in the Valley of The Ten Peaks without the summer crowds. This is easily the most popular summer destination; however, it sees very few visitors in the winter. Spend a full day on this route, enjoying the grandeur of the lake before you turn back.

Snowshoeing to Chester Lake is one of the most popular Snowshoe routes in Kananaskis. The spectacular view of Mount Chester rising above the meadows surrounding Chester Lake justify this trip as the most popular snowshoe trail in Kananaskis.

Snowshoeing the Sulphur Mountain Trail via Cosmic Ray Road will take you from valley bottom to the summit of Sulphur on a rarely visited route. Avoid the crowded front side of Sulphur Mountain and find solitude on Cosmic Ray Road. You’ll begin at Cave and Basin National Historic Site before gaining elevation and views of the Sundance Range. After gaining the summit, you’ll descend via the main trail towards the Town of Banff.

Snowshoeing to Rummel Lake brings you to some wonderful viewpoints in the Kananaskis Range. Mount Galatea, the highest in the area, towers over Rummel Lake while awesome snowy scenery and views of peaks in the Spray Valley make the ascent interesting.

The snowshoe up to Little Lougheed offers a perfect vantage point to view the spectacular Spray Lakes Reservoir and the snowy peaks surrounding it. An entertaining maze of boulders on the ascent and the challenging avalanche terrain turns this shorter route into a challenging and interesting day out!

The Shadow Lake Snowshoe Trail is rated as difficult due to its distance. It is a well-graded trail that leads you up roughly 1,000 m over 17.0 km before returning the way you came. This is commonly used by those who will be staying the night at Shadow Lake Lodge and not often frequented by day users. If you are comfortable with the longer distance, this is an excellent way to spend a full day in the winter and experience Shadow Lake amid snowy scenery.

Snowshoeing to Rawson Lake is a Kananaskis Classic! Enjoy this trail as it goes along Upper Kananaskis Lake before going up through a giant pine forest towards Rawson Lake. The picturesque Rawson Lake is stunning in winter.

Snowshoeing to Stoney Lookout is a great way to explore a favourite summer trail in winter. You’ll feel like you have been transported to a winter wonderland while travelling through this quiet trail. Admire the forest as you make your way to the final lookout where you can look over the Town of Banff.

Snowshoeing to Healy Pass is a great day out in winter, and a fantastic break from the busy ski hills. The trail to Healy Pass is popular and often packed down thanks to its popularity. The expansive views of the vast meadows of Healy Pass and Sunshine Meadows make this a fantastic snowshoe trip.

Snowshoeing to Troll Falls is a classic family outing in Kananaskis. This easy trail is a fun loop to the impressive frozen Troll Falls and then back via Hay Meadow, which is along the Kananaskis River. This trail is great for all abilities.

The snowshoe to Lillian Lake gets you into some very pretty country. Be aware to not go beyond Lillian Lake, as that is serious avalanche terrain.

Lying on the edge of the Athabasca Icefield and surrounded by some of the tallest mountains in Alberta, a snowshoe trip into Wilcox Pass offers the casual snowshoer a glimpse into the world of snow and ice typically reserved for the serious mountaineer.

Snowshoe along the summer hiking trail for Burstall Pass and enjoy travelling through dense forest as you make your way to the incredible Burstall Lakes. Once at Burstall lakes enjoy grand views of Mount Robertson and its impressive glacier from the meadows.

Hogarth Lake is a nice, easy snowshoe, perfect for a family. With nice views and great terrain, consider adding this trip if you’re new to snowshoeing or heading out with beginners. It’s also nice to combine with Burstall Lakes trail for a great day!

If you can’t get out to Skoki Lodge for a few nights, consider this wonderful snowshoe trip up to Deception Pass. This is a great, though long, daytrip from Lake Louise Ski Hill. While faster to do on skis (especially the descent), you can also do this trip snowshoes.

A snowshoe trip at Sunshine Village should be on everybody’s checklist and exploring Rock Isle Lake in winter is spectacular. Locals refer to this as ‘Snowshoeing on Top of the World’, and on a sunny day it’s easy to see why. The views are stunning on this easy snowshoe.

A snowshoe trip to Crystal Ridge, along the Icefields Parkway, takes you through fascinating boulders, giant crystals, and awe-inspiring views of the Wapta Icefield and its enormous peaks. We love this trip, however you should have avalanche training to go on this snowshoe.