Read more: How to hike Maligne Canyon. Fall – my favourite season of the year and the best time to hike in Alberta. Just because there’s snow on the ground doesn’t mean you can’t hike. Check out our guide on the Johnson Lake trail. If Alberta is known for anything, it's those gorgeous Rocky Mountains. Winter is often preferable due to fewer crowds. The West Fish Creek Hike in the western part of the park is one of our favourite ways to reconnect with nature when we don’t have time to drive out of town. Directions to Portal Creek: Drive south out of Jasper on Highway 93 (Icefields Parkway) and turn right onto Highway 93A. Details: Sulphur Skyline is a short (but steep) climb will reward your efforts with stunning views. Bulgaria. Dinosaur Provincial Park is located about 48 kilometres northeast of Brooks. Elevation: 60m Cross over Galatea Creek several times, and keep an eye out for frozen falls clinging to small cliffs along the way. Jasper National Park is an absolute gem. Continue past the falls to an area of shallow pools called the Ink Pots to extend your adventure. Resilient adventurers can camp at this trailhead, although the sites are not maintained during winter, so bring a shovel. How do I get to the Skyline Trail trailhead? Feel the freshness of the winter air as you immerse in nature amid the urban jungle of Calgary. Distance: 3.0km It’s mostly paved, making for a nice walk during the winter. You’ll likely encounter large crowds at the beginning of your journey, since the trail starts near Chateau Lake Louise, but the view during your hike will be worth it. Bloggers who have lived the adventure:Barry from HikingWithBarry.comAudrey from BanffandBeyond.com, Closest city: BanffLength: 8.6 kmElevation Gain: 535 mTime: 4-5 hoursDifficulty: Moderate. For the best road trip, check out Elbow Falls after your hike (a 2 minute walk from the parking lot), then grab a treat in Bragg Creek. The Hogarth Lakes Trail is a leisurely loop through the forest and along shorelines of frozen lakes. Sep 13, 2020 - 4 minute read. Once you’re exposed, the elements can be relentless, so bring some layers to block the wind. Wide open plains and arid badlands beg to be explored, too. Starting from the Elbow Falls parking lot on Highway 66, you’ll hike up, up, up to summit Prairie Mountain. Beginner-friendly and efficient are two ways to describe the Johnson Lake Trail. How do I get there: The trailhead is located about 9.3 kilometres from the town of Waterton, on the Akamina Parkway (Cameron Lake Road). Just make sure to prepare properly. O’Brien Lake surrounded by larches is equally spectacular – one of the top larch hikes in Alberta Larch hikes – Larch Valley for an overcrowded but premiere experience. Distance: 9.8km Lower trailhead: From Banff Ave, turn east onto Buffalo Street, which turns into St. Julien Road. Finally, one of the most distinctive hikes in Alberta is at Wapta Icefields. There are sections where snowshoes won’t do the trick, which is why we suggest packing microspikes as well. We prefer it in the winter when you still get magnificent landscapes but deal with way fewer crowds. The hike has a moderate elevation and should be suitable for intermediate hikers. The West Fish Creek Hike leads you over bridges, next to grasslands and ponds, and among lovely forests. Travel Alberta . Avalanche risk is non-existent on this hike, so it’s ready to attempt when you are. Check the winter conditions before you go. All Rights Reserved, When you purchase something via the links in our articles, we may earn a small affiliate commission. The Elbow Valley is a wonderful place to hike in fall. Details: Waskahegan Trail is one we've described before as "hidden in plain sight." Walk for about a kilometre, and you’ll leave the sounds of the town behind you as you head deeper into the abundant nature in Banff National Park. We love this trail on a bluebird day as a fun family outing. We want to help you find them. How to get to Waskahegan Trail? Pocaterra Cirque Kananaskis Trail. Directions to Astoria River: Find the trailhead across from the HI Edith Cavell Hostell along Edith Cavell Road. From the top of the chairlift, you get outstanding views of the Sunshine Meadows and the surrounding larch forest. Are you ready for the hikes?! If you're looking for great Alberta state park trails, check out Bow Valley Provincial Park. Details: This section of the park contains a lot of hills, wildlife and beaver ponds There are several trails within the Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area, and the Siksika Trail connects some of these. Check out our guide on the Boom Lake trail. This is much more than a casual walk in the park—prepare to work up a sweat on the Prairie Mountain Trail. Time: 2–3 hours. Chris Istace. Varying in difficulty, hikers should be able to find a trail to match the adventure they want to experience. Located in Banff National Park, around 10-15km away from Lake Louise, Moraine Lake is probably the most photographed and best hikes in Alberta to explore if you want an iconic landscape. Details: Completing this trail end-to-end means using two vehicles or taking the shuttle service from town. Get the GPS route and guide for the Galatea Creek and Lillian Lake trail to help navigate while you’re out in the snow. From Chateau Lake Louise, follow the shoreline path to the trailhead for Lake Agnes/Big Beehive. Elevation: 490m Innsbruck. Bloggers who have lived the adventure:Barry from HikingWithBarry.com, Closest city: ElkwaterLength: 32 kmTime: Dependent on trail chosenDifficulty: Difficult. Even a walk through downtown Banff will wow you – especially if it’s your first time visiting. Elevation: 300m Want to see where these rank against Canada's greatest hikes? This is a family-friendly route with magical views along the Kananaskis River, ending at the icy, frozen Troll Falls. Check out the Tunnel Mountain hike guide and plan a winter getaway in Banff. P.P.S: If you're in need of quality hiking gear, check this out. Mar 28, 2018 - 10 minute read. Distance: 3.9km (+ other various routes) How do I get to the Mount Stearn trailhead? This challenging trek is less popular than others, so you may encounter grizzlies rather than other hikers. Top Banff Hiking Trails: See reviews and photos of hiking trails in Banff, Alberta on Tripadvisor. Bloggers who have lived the adventure:Rhonda from TravelYesPlease.comBarry from HikingWithBarry.com, Wilson Hui CC by 2.0 flickr.com/photos/wilsonhui, Closest city: BanffLength: 11.9 kmElevation Gain: 883 mTime: 3-4 hoursDifficulty: Difficult. And no, they're not all in Banff. Bloggers who have lived the adventure:Kari from GetInspiredEveryday.com, Closest city: WatertonLength: 17 kmElevation Gain: 700 mTime: 6-8 hoursDifficulty: Moderate. Guide to the Best Hikes in Kananaskis – Alberta 2:42 AM. When you venture out during colder months, you’re in for astounding close-up views of frozen waterfalls at the end of this trail. "We found this trail moderately strenuous, we are a group of 9 ages 5-70 but the payoff was so worth it and definitely worth the effort." Details: This is an easy, mostly flat trail that will take you across footbridges to Blakiston Falls and the viewing platforms. The Bow River Trail is kind of a choose-your-own-adventure. In the winter, the waterfalls in this extraordinary limestone canyon freeze over and create fantastical icicles over the rocks. The Grotto Mountain day use area is on the north side of the highway and well marked. Bloggers who have lived the adventure:Steven from StevenSong.comGrant's Tracks, Closest city: BanffLength: 2.4 km and 5 km (see below)Elevation Gain: 50 m and 120 mTime: 1-2 hoursDifficulty: Easy. Last Updated September 4, 2020. With a trailhead seemingly on every doorstep, sweeping vistas and crystal-clear rivers are just a hike away. How do I get to the Siksika Trail trailhead? From Edmonton, take the Yellowhead east. Beautiful Forgetmenot Pond is a popular picnic spot, but also makes a great walk with young children as the trail is flat and only 2 km long. From Grande Cache, drive about six kilometres north on Highway 40. This particular trail runs through avalanche terrain, so be careful and prepared to enter this high-risk area. When thinking of geological wonders, Jasper National Park springs to mind, and the Maligne Canyon trail jumps to the top of the list. As of August 2020, it is closed for construction, so check for updates before planning your adventure. 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