Hiking facts
- Recommended travel time
June to October
- Flight connections
Edelweiss tips:
Mountains, prairie, forests – anyone flying to Canada for a hiking holiday is spoilt for choice. The options for hikers here in the Canadian Rockies are equally diverse and unique. Why not combine hiking with fishing? (But please note: in many places, this requires a license, especially if you want to go salmon fishing.) And then, of course, there’s the wildlife in the national parks. When following in the footsteps of wolves, bears and the like, however, it’s best not to go alone, but with an experienced guide. And if you’re staying at a camp site, remember never to keep food in or near your tent.
Top hiking routes around Calgary
A bit of adventure in Kananaskis Country Medium
To the west of Calgary, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, lies the Kananaskis Country park system, consisting of ten national parks (Banff National Park borders it to the north, but is not part of it). Naturally, there are countless trekking highlights here. The hiking trail over the Burstall Pass, with its stunning views, is very popular. It winds its way through woods, across meadows and alongside meltwater streams. A leisurely tour with a touch of adventure.
- Tour duration 5 hrs 30 min
- Distance 17.7 km
- Ascent 640 m
- Descent -640 m
A walk to the origins of Banff National Park Medium
Anyone going for a hike near Calgary will end up in Banff National Park sooner or later. There are routes here to suit every taste and every level of difficulty. To start with, we recommend the Sundance Canyon Trail to the hot spring, where the origins of the national park can be found. Dispute over its use ceased towards the end of the 19th century, when the regional government placed the area under protection, thereby leading to the establishment of the national park. Along the route, there are wonderful views across the valley of the turquoise-blue Bow River, meadows, forests and mountains.
- Tour duration 3 hrs 15 min
- Distance 11.2 km
- Ascent 270 m
- Descent -270 m
This is the summit: Cascade Mountain, Banff’s ‘local’ mountain Difficult
Anyone wishing to climb Cascade Mountain – the ‘local’ mountain, towering high above Banff – will need to be in pretty good shape. The trail takes you across the scree slopes where winter sports enthusiasts gather during the cold season and past steep flanks towards the summit. Once you reach the summit, you’ll be treated to breathtaking views of Banff, out over the national park and the Bow River. If you’re lucky, you might spot a fossilised shell in the rocks.
- Tour duration 14 hrs
- Distance 33.8 km
- Ascent 1,800 m
- Descent -1,800 m
Lake Louise, Lake Agnes and the Six Glaciers Difficult
This popular walk starts on the shores of Lake Louise and offers some of the most spectacular views in Banff National Park: Mount Lefroy, Mount Victoria and the Six Glaciers. Along the trail stands the famous two-storey tea house, which was built in 1924 in the style of a log cabin by two Swiss mountain guides. Contrary to what the name suggests, they don’t just serve herbal brews here, but also some very tasty dishes. Above the tea house, the trail turns into a narrower path and then leads into more mountainous terrain above the tree line.
- Tour duration 6 hrs 30 min
- Distance 18.3 km
- Ascent 710 m
- Descent -710 m
Right up close to the sky in Jasper National Park Difficult
The Skyline Trail is one of the most popular long-distance hiking routes in Jasper National Park. The name says it all: there’s hardly anywhere else where you can feel so close to the sky. More than half of the route runs above the tree line, offering spectacular views. The route starts at Maligne Lake and leads to the foot of Signal Mountain. Jasper National Park is renowned for its abundance of campsites set in natural surroundings – there are around a hundred of them. It is advisable to book in advance.
- Tour duration 11 hrs 30 min
- Distance 38.2 km
- Ascent 1,410 m
- Descent -1,050 m
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