Best trails near Canmore

Snowshoe Trails in Canada

Country in North America

Canada is perhaps the ultimate adventure holiday destination, with huge national parks, towering mountain ranges, crystal-clear alpine lakes, and lush forests. If you’re looking for a real experience in the Great Outdoors, Canada certainly won’t disappoint. The world’s second-largest country, Canada has enough awe-inspiring sights to satisfy even the most enthusiastic nature lovers!

Spreading across the top of North America, and extending all the way into the Arctic, Canada is home to an abundance of rare and wonderful wildlife. Travelers here must share the land with a whole host of creatures, including moose, bears, mountain lions, and wild Canadian geese, and if you’re lucky, you may catch a glimpse of some of these remarkable creatures in their natural habitat. Indeed, it’s Canada’s wildness that attracts many visitors – it’s one of the only places in the world where you can really escape from it all and immerse yourself in nature.

Canada’s most popular regions for adventure travel are Alberta and British Columbia, home to the Canadian Rockies and some of the country’s most spectacular scenery. Come here for hiking, backpacking, climbing, scrambling, cross-country skiing, mountain biking, and much more! Whether you want to dip your toes in a crisp alpine lake or trek along some of the most exhilarating ridge walks in the Rockies, there’s something for everyone here.

Canada is so huge, and the possibilities for adventure travel so vast, it can be difficult to know where to start! To help you plan your journey, we’ve put together guides to all the best regions for adventure travel in Alberta and British Columbia. You’ll find activity guides, tour recommendations, and top tips for planning a trip – all you need to do is decide where to go first!

Guide-book quality info for over 8,000 trails

View Snowshoe Trails in Canada on Map

View Map

Snowshoeing regions in Canada

    Best Snowshoe Trails in Canada

    Open details for Rummel Ridge

    Rummel Ridge

    Moderate
    7.0 km
    680 m
    4-6h

    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.

    User Ratings
    Overall Rating
    9.8
    Technical Difficulty
    Easy (Circle)
    Suitable for beginners, families, young children, and those looking for a casual adventure.
    Physical Difficulty
    Easy (Circle)
    Suitable for beginners, families, young children, and those looking for a casual adventure.
    Open details for Commonwealth Ridge

    Commonwealth Ridge

    Very Hard
    6.9 km
    550 m
    3-6h

    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.

    User Ratings
    No Reviews
    Open details for Johnston Canyon to Ink Pots

    Johnston Canyon to Ink Pots

    Moderate
    11.7 km
    608 m
    3-4h

    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.

    User Ratings
    No Reviews
    Open details for Chester Lake

    Chester Lake

    Moderate
    7.0 km
    300 m
    3-5h

    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.

    User Ratings
    Overall Rating
    9.3
    Technical Difficulty
    Intermediate (Square)
    Suitable for intermediates who are ready for a little bit more adventure.
    Physical Difficulty
    Easy (Circle)
    Suitable for beginners, families, young children, and those looking for a casual adventure.
    Open details for Moraine Lake Road

    Moraine Lake Road

    Moderate
    24.0 km
    993 m
    6-8h

    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.

    User Ratings
    No Reviews
    Open details for Rummel Lake

    Rummel Lake

    Moderate
    10.5 km
    385 m
    4-6h

    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.

    User Ratings
    Overall Rating
    9.5
    Technical Difficulty
    Intermediate (Square)
    Suitable for intermediates who are ready for a little bit more adventure.
    Physical Difficulty
    Intermediate (Square)
    Suitable for intermediates who are ready for a little bit more adventure.
    Open details for Sulphur Mountain Snowshoe

    Sulphur Mountain Snowshoe

    Hard
    13.1 km
    906 m
    4-5h

    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.

    User Ratings
    No Reviews
    Open details for Little Lougheed

    Little Lougheed

    Hard
    5.5 km
    780 m
    3-6h

    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!

    User Ratings
    Overall Rating
    9.0
    Technical Difficulty
    Advanced (Diamond)
    Suitable for advanced experience level looking for a solid adventure.
    Physical Difficulty
    Intermediate (Square)
    Suitable for intermediates who are ready for a little bit more adventure.
    Open details for Shadow Lake Snowshoe

    Shadow Lake Snowshoe

    Very Hard
    34.2 km
    1,016 m
    8-10h

    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.

    User Ratings
    No Reviews
    Open details for Rawson Lake

    Rawson Lake

    Easy
    7.3 km
    300 m
    2-3h

    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.

    User Ratings
    Overall Rating
    9.8
    Technical Difficulty
    Easy (Circle)
    Suitable for beginners, families, young children, and those looking for a casual adventure.
    Physical Difficulty
    Easy (Circle)
    Suitable for beginners, families, young children, and those looking for a casual adventure.

    Change happens, fees shouldn't

    Suggested Tours

    Open details for Summit Mount Olympus Trekking Tour

    Summit Mount Olympus Trekking Tour

    Greece
    Trekking
    Self-Guided
    4 days
    From $195
    Months Tour Operates
    J
    F
    M
    A
    M
    J
    J
    A
    S
    O
    N
    D

    This tour is your chance to trek one of the most mystical mountains on earth: Mount Olympus. This self-guided journey starts in Litochoro, an enchanting town at the foot of Greece’s highest peak. Then you’ll spend two days on the mountain, sleeping in a mountain hut on the second night. You should be comfortable hiking up some serious elevation on this tour to reach the summit, a worthy reward for your effort.

    View More
    Open details for Jericho to Jerusalem through Wadi Qelt Tour

    Jericho to Jerusalem through Wadi Qelt Tour

    Israel
    Trekking
    Self-Guided
    2 days
    From $190
    Months Tour Operates
    J
    F
    M
    A
    M
    J
    J
    A
    S
    O
    N
    D

    The incredible Jericho to Jerusalem through Wadi Qelt Hiking journey from Jericho to Jerusalem is the perfect introduction to the natural beauty of the West Bank region that spans Palestine and Israel. Journeying on foot, you’ll experience these iconic areas in a truly unique and spectacular way.

    View More
    Open details for Avalanche Skills Training 1 in the Canadian Rockies

    Avalanche Skills Training 1 in the Canadian Rockies

    2 days
    From $225
    Months Tour Operates
    J
    F
    M
    A
    M
    J
    J
    A
    S
    O
    N
    D

    Avalanche safety is a must-have tenet of backcountry adventure and a critical step in keeping yourself and your adventure partners safe in the wintertime and shoulder season. The Avalanche Skills Training 1 in the Canadian Rockies tour is a practical chance to learn the basics of avalanche safety in one of the most beautiful mountain environments in the world.

    View More
    Open details for Self-Guided Mount Triglav Trek

    Self-Guided Mount Triglav Trek

    Slovenia
    Walking
    Self-Guided
    3 days
    From $250
    Months Tour Operates
    J
    F
    M
    A
    M
    J
    J
    A
    S
    O
    N
    D

    Take on a quintessential Slovenian trekking adventure to the summit of its highest mountain! The Self-Guided Mount Triglav Trek allows you to hike at your own pace and enjoy the incredible scenery of Triglav National Park.

    View More

    Other Activities in Canada

    Trip Planners

    Essential Tools for Any Adventure

    Find a hotel in some of the most beautiful locations on earth.

    Book your own car to have complete freedom on your next adventure.

    Gear-up for your next adventure.

    This page may include affiliate links. We may get a small commission for the purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you.
    We only recommend tools we personally think are great.

    Change happens, fees shouldn't

    Recent Stories

    Open details for Banff in Winter: Plan your Perfect Weekend

    Banff in Winter: Plan your Perfect Weekend

    By Lynn W
    February 19th, 2023
    Open details for Winter Weekend in Lake Louise

    Winter Weekend in Lake Louise

    By Lynn W
    February 17th, 2023
    Open details for Jasper National Park in Winter: A Perfect Weekend

    Jasper National Park in Winter: A Perfect Weekend

    By Lynn W
    February 12th, 2023
    Open details for A winter adventure in BC’s Assiniboine Provincial Park

    A winter adventure in BC’s Assiniboine Provincial Park

    By Richard Campbell
    January 29th, 2023
    Detailed Route Guides
    Real GPS Coordinates
    Reliable Trail Reports
    Experienced-Based Travel Tips
    GPS App
    Extensive Travel Guides

    Subscribe to our newsletter

    Get a weekly dose of discounts and inspiration for adventure lovers

    Tours

    Routes

    Blogs