The best hiking in Alberta

Alberta is a hiking paradise with trails scattered throughout the entire Rocky Mountain Range and some of the best hikes in Canada being in Alberta. Hikers visit Alberta from all over the world, in search of some world class scenery and photos from the hiking trails in the Rockies. Hiking in Lake Louise is some of the most impressive hiking around and the trails are steeped in history, dating back to the pioneers that surveyed the mountains for railways, the fur traders before them and countless eons of first nations travel before them. Though there are no ruins, or ancient cities or relics, the history in the Rockies is about 10,000 years old!

Hiking in Alberta can be divided into a few different areas. Kananaskis county, Banff area, Lake Louise, the Icefields Parkway and Jasper area. Each have their subtle nuances and can have drastically different hiking trails and scenery.

Hiking in Kananaskis is an incredible experience. There are fewer hikers than in the National Parks, and the trails are usually a little less developed. You should definitely have a map and be good at route finding for some of these hikes. The best hikes in Kananaskis are known for their prolific meadows full of wildflowers, surrounded by dramatic peaks. The valley bottoms are decorated with incredibly blue lakes. The hiking trails here also tend to have lots of wildlife!

Hiking in Banff area is rich with a diverse array of hiking trails and also offers some of the best easy hiking trails. You can access many of the best hikes in Banff right from downtown, walking out towards the hikes. Some of these hikes are also in Canmore, which is just 20 minutes out of town and a great place to stop for a beer after your hike!

Hiking in Lake Louise is very popular, but the trails are well worth the effort. Most of them gain some elevation and head up to a teahouse, a mountain pass or an alpine lake. Some of our favourite hikes from our guided walking tours in the Rockies are found here.

The Icefields Parkway is an incredible destination for ambitious hikers. Most of the hikes are at least a good half day, though some are fairly quick and easy, such as Parker Ridge or Wilcox Pass. The main hiking trails on the Icefields Parkway are most known for their glacier views!

Hiking in Jasper is an amazing thing to do and should be on your trip list. The valleys in Jasper tend to be wider, which means the peaks aren’t quite as dramatic, but this seems to be a plus for wildlife, which is very plentiful here. The mountains have colourful shades in them, such as Pyramid Mountain on the edge of town that shines red and brown in the right light.

Finding the best hikes in Alberta is not hard when there are so many to choose from. The best thing is, you can’t go wrong. Make sure you bring a warm layer and a jacket, plus a map and compass. See how many of these day hikes you can do on your trip! Below are some of our favourites.

Our favourite hikes in alberta

Ha Ling Peak

8 km return | 800 m elevation Ha Ling hike is a very strenuous slog steadily and steeply uphill until you break out into the open scree slope and summit the shoulder for unbelievable views of the Bow Valley and Canmore. This is easily one of the most scenic and rewarding hikes in Canada, and a must do during your hiking trip in the Rockies.

buller pass

15 km return | 685 m elevation Buller Pass hike is a little more unknown and tougher to find, but after hiking through and old burn section and breaking out into the hanging valley, it is easily worth it. You can climb up either south or north pass and descend the other to make a bit of a loop. Route finding is necessary and you should be well prepared for this hike near Canmore.

Chester Lake

9 km return | 300 m elevation Chester Lake is a relatively short and easy hike, as far as hikes in the Canadian Rockies go, but the rewarding scenery at the lake is not to be underestimated. Chester Lake is gorgeous, with tranquil water and amazing perspectives looking up at the dramatic mountains around you.

plain of six glaciers

9 km return | 370 m elevation One of our favourite hikes in Canada, and a regular on our Rockies hiking tours, Plain of Six Glaciers is an amazing trail with incredible views most of the way. Start off by walking along Lake Louise, then steadily climb to the teahouse with views of Abbott Pass and Victoria Glacier ever present.

Eiffel Lake

12 km return | 500 m elevation Eiffel Lake is an incredible hike near Moraine Lake, featuring jaw dropping mountain scenery and a surprisingly purple/ blue lake at the end. One of the best hikes in Canada, and another regular hike on our guided hiking tours in Banff!

parker ridge

4.5 km return | 250 m elevation Parker Ridge is the easiest hike with the best view. Simply put, the glacier views are far too good for how easy this hike is. It is crowded, but who can blame the crowds for coming. Definitely worth it and a perfect hike to do during your hiking trip in Canada.

Cavell Meadows

8.5 km return | 500 m elevation Very dramatic cliff faces and hanging glaciers make this one of the best hikes to do near Jasper. Only a couple hours in length, the scenery on this trail make it one of the best hikes to try in Canada, or at least in the Rockies.

opal hills

10 km return | 500 m elevation Opal Hills is an understatement…. This is definitely a mountain and a hefty hike with amazing views of Maligne Lake far below. This is one of the best hikes in Jasper National Park and another regular on our hiking tours.

Guided hiking tours and walking holidays in Alberta