The Best Hiking Trails in Alberta

The easier trails at Lake Louise get loads of traffic during the summer. The path to Fairview Lookout is no exception, but it’s far less crowded than the Lakeshore Trail or even the trail to Lake Agnes....

Once you’ve captured the obligatory photo at the front of Moraine Lake, you can escape the brunt of the crowds by venturing onto the Lakeshore Trail. You aren’t likely to have it all to yourself, but the little bit of walking is enough to keep the majority of people away....

"Lake Louise may be the most-photographed location in Banff National Park, famed for milky turquoise water reflecting dramatic, snow-capped peaks,” [says](https://fatmap.com/guidebooks/13803/hike-the-8-best-trails-in-alberta's-beautiful-lake-louise) adventure travel writer Jesse Weber. If you want to do more than simply snap a photo of the dramatic view, but you don’t feel like climbing a nearby mountain, opt for this mellow hike along the shore of the lake....

This canyon is a true oddity for the Canadian Rockies. It’s a slot canyon cut sharply into limestone––a much different form than the broad glacial valleys where you’ll typically find flowing water....

On this trail you can walk right up to the edge of the ice where the Athabasca Glacier ends. This glacier is one of several that originates in the massive Columbia Icefield, which lies in the mountains above....

This loop is especially good in autumn when the leaves change color, and when slow alights on surrounding mountains. At any time of year, however, it’s a nice stroll through the forest that includes an incredible view....

This is an easily accessible and easily doable hike close to the town of Jasper and the campgrounds. It’s a great hike for families or anyone seeking a casual stroll in nature....

Sunwapta Falls is a popular stop along the Icefields Parkway, the road between Banff and Jasper National Parks. Here, the Sunwapta River funnels through some narrow gorges on its way to join the Athabasca River....

If you're looking for a short but stunning hike in Jasper National Park, then the Edge of the World Trail needs to be on your list. This short one-kilometer out-and-back runs along the side of an elevated ridge and along the top of a series of cliffs below Marmot Peak, located just off Marmot Road....

This trail provides many options for a leisurely stroll from your campsite or lodging at Lake Louise. It’s a loop that’s accessible from many places in the village, including the railway station restaurant, village market, tent campground, and trailer campground....

Hike around three pristine alpine lakes, Larx Grizzly and Rocky Isle in an unreal setting of emerald forests, wildflower meadows and the iconic Canadian Rockies. There are a couple of viewing platforms along the route which give you fantastic 360 views far out across the majestic big mountain landscapes....

This hike starts in the Highwood area. It is a lightly-trafficked trail through the forest but then opens up into some great alpine. There are a ton of wildflowers and if you take a break, look back so you can see across the valley....

The Bears Hump Trail is one of the most accessible trails in Waterton National Park. This trail has been rebuilt after it was destroyed by a forest fire back in 2017....

The Bertha Lake trail is one of the classic hikes in Waterton Lakes National Park. This is a fantastic trail that is very well maintained and should definitely be on your must-do list when visiting Waterton....

Hot springs near rivers, or at lower elevations are pretty common, and so are commercial hot springs. Those are great, but how epic are 100% natural, vegan, hot springs embedded into the alpine slope of a mountain, with epic alpine views? Tucked away in the middle of the Kananaskis range just outside of Calgary, you’ll find the Mist Mountain Springs, hot spring pools overlooking the epic rockies range....

A trip to Lake Louise is incomplete without a hot drink and cake at a teahouse set high in the mountains. Inspired by inns of the Swiss Alps, two classically styled teahouses are unique fixtures of Banff National Park....

One of the best views of Lake Louise is atop The Big Beehive, where you can gaze upon the turquoise water from high above. Sometimes called the Beehive for short (though there is another rock called Little Beehive), this formation is the buttress that’s reflected in Mirror Lake, and it’s said to resemble a giant beehive....

Little Beehive is a rocky summit near Lake Agnes that grants an especially wide panorama. From the top you can see over Lake Louise and much of the Bow River Valley unfolding below, and mountains all around....

The valley called Paradise lies between the valleys of Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, and though thousands drive past it every day, relatively few stop and hike here. Its trails are much longer and a bit more rugged than those of the more popular destinations, so Paradise Valley remains uncrowded even during the busy season....

Helen Lake is a popular day hike from the Icefields Parkway near Bow Lake. The attention is well deserved because it’s one of the most all-around beautiful short hikes in Banff National Park....