Best trekking routes in Canada

ByTravesía Pirenaica
Alberta, Canada / Photo: Matt Thomason (unsplash)Alberta, Canada / Photo: Matt Thomason (unsplash)
Alberta, Canada / Photo: Matt Thomason (unsplash)

READ ALSO: The best trekking routes in North America "

Alberta

The Canadian province of Alberta is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. World-famous destinations such as Jasper, Lake Louise, Waterton and Banff draw the crowds, and for good reason - they are beautiful.

Banff

A holiday in Banff should be on everyone's bucket list. This small mountain town has it all, and exploring Banff by foot, bike, ski or car is a complete sensory experience.

Trekkings

  • Sunshine to Assiniboine (54.0km 1,555m 3-5 days, difficulty: moderate)
  • Devon Lakes (61.0km 2,032m 3-4 days, difficulty: high)
  • Baker Lake and region the Skoki (33.1km 1,450m 3-4 days, difficulty: moderate)
  • Gibbon, Whistling, and Healy Pass (37.5km 2,015m 4-5 days, difficulty: moderate)
  • Egypt Lake (25.0km 1,164m 2-4 days, difficulty: medium)

Excursions

  • Healy Pass (19.0km 705m 5-6h, difficulty: moderate)
  • Citadel Pass (21.9km 885m 6-8h, difficulty: high)
  • Bourgeau Lake / Harvey Lake / Harvey Pass (20.4km 1,075m 6-8h, difficulty: moderate)
  • Twin Cairns and Monarch Viewpoint (7.2km 175m 1.5-3h, difficulty: easy)
  • Circuit Edith and Cory Pass (14.3km 1,075m 6-8h, difficulty: moderate)

Bragg Creek and Sheep River

The Bragg Creek and Sheep River area is a wonderful series of provincial parks southwest of Calgary. Known and used primarily by Calgarians, it has wonderful activities while offering breathtaking views.

Trekkings

  • Turbine Canyon (48.1km 2,313m 3-5 days, difficulty: high)
  • Weary Creek (36.0km 2,738m 3-4 days, difficulty: high)
  • Elk Lakes and Petain Basin (35.8km 1,276m 2-3 days, difficulty: easy)
  • Rae Lake (16.0km 375m 2-3 days, difficulty: easy)
  • Big Elbow Circuit (56.4km 1,420m 3-4 days, difficulty: medium)

Excursions

  • ForgetMeNot Ridge (24.5km 944m 7-8h, difficulty: moderate)
  • Moose Mountain (14.7km 573m 4.5-5.5h, difficulty: moderate)
  • Nihahi Ridge (10.0km 706m 3-4h, difficulty: moderate)
  • Volcano Ridge (18.7km 659m 5.5-6.5h, difficulty: medium)
  • Butte Table (3.5km 229m 1-2h, difficulty: easy)

Canmore

A holiday in Canada can be anything you want, but if you're looking for a mountain adventure in the west, plan a trip to Canmore, Alberta!

  • Heart Mountain Horseshoe (11.0km 935m 5-7h, difficulty: moderate)
  • Wind Ridge (13.3km 775m 4-6h, difficulty: medium)
  • Grassi Lakes Circuit (4.0km 185m 1-2h, difficulty: easy)
  • Ha Ling Peak, Miners Peak & The Three Humps (5.3km 885m 3-5h, difficulty: medium)
  • Quarry Lake (3.0km 15m 1h, difficulty: easy)
  • Main Street, Bow River and the Rail Bridge (3.7km 25m 0.75-1.5h, difficulty: easy)
  • Lady MacDonald Tea House (8.6km 905m 4-6h, difficulty: medium)
  • Mt. Yamnuska Circuit (11.0km 935m 5-6.5h, difficulty: high)
  • Bow River Trail (11.8km 60m 1 - 4h, difficulty: easy)
  • Grotto Canyon (4.4km 115m 1.5-2.5h, difficulty: easy)

Castle

Castle Provincial Park and Castle Wildland Provincial Park are newly established (2017) provincial parks in the southwest corner of Alberta. Some of the key features of these spectacular Provincial Parks include some of the most colourful rock faces in the Rockies.

  • Victoria Peak (17.6km 1,021m 6-8h, difficulty: moderate)
  • Loaf Mountain and Spionkop Ridge (20.8km 1,314m 7-12h, difficulty: moderate)
  • Drywood Mountain Traverse (24.2km 1,359m 7-12h, difficulty: moderate)
  • Southfork Mountain and Barnaby Ridge (18.0km 1,395m 7-12h, difficulty: moderate)
  • Table Mountain (9.4km 764m 4-7h, difficulty: medium)
  • Turtle Mountain (7.5km 922m 4.5-7h, difficulty: high)
  • Pincher Ridge (11.7km 849m 5-8h, difficulty: medium)
  • Mount Gladstone (16.9km 984m 7-10h, difficulty: moderate)
  • Mount Haig (11.6km 1,205m 6-9h, difficulty: moderate)
  • Mount Coulthard (19.1km 1,112m 6-9h, difficulty: medium)

Icefields Parkway

A trip along Canada's Icefields Parkway is a journey along one of the most beautiful roads in the world. Also known as Highway 93N, the Icefields Parkway stretches 232 km between Lake Louise and the town of Jasper.

Trekkings

  • Sunshine to Assiniboine (54.0km 1,555m 3-5 days, difficulty: moderate)
  • Devon Lakes (61.0km 2,032m 3-4 days, difficulty: high)
  • Baker Lake and the Skoki Region (33.1km 1,450m 3-4 days, difficulty: moderate)
  • Gibbon, Whistling, and Healy Pass (37.5km 2,015m 4-5 days, difficulty: moderate)
  • Egypt Lake (25.0km 1,164m 2-4 days, difficulty: medium)

Excursions

  • Helen Lake and Cirque Peak (17.2km 1,007m 6-8h, difficulty: high)
  • North Molar Pass (23.9km 737m 7-10h, difficulty: high)
  • Parker Ridge Trail (5.9km 250m 1.5-3h, difficulty: easy)
  • Wilcox Pass (9.8km 409m 3-4h, difficulty: medium)
  • Bow Glacier Falls (8.4km 155m 2-3.5h, difficulty: easy)

Jasper National Park

Jasper National Park is an iconic park in the Canadian Rockies, and a trip here should be on your bucket list. Once in Jasper you'll find a vast wilderness full of mountains, lakes, glaciers and wildlife.

Trekkings

  • Skyline Trail (40.9km 1,500m 2-3 days, difficulty: medium)
  • Maligne Pass and Replica Peak (38.7km 1,758m 2-3 days, difficulty: medium)
  • Tonquin Valley (42.2km 966m 2-3 days, difficulty: moderate)
  • Berg Lake (57.1km 910m 3-5 days, difficulty: medium)
  • Cairn Pass (62.3km 1,984m 3-5 days, difficulty: high)

Excursions

  • Opal Hills (7.8km 466m 3-5h, difficulty: medium)
  • Cavell Meadows (6.0km 400m 2 - 3.5 h, difficulty: easy)
  • Sulphur Skyline (8.2km 666m 3 - 5 h, difficulty: medium)
  • Whistlers Mountain and Indian Ridge (8.8km 750m 3 - 5 h, difficulty: moderate)
  • Angel Glacier Trail (1.6km 87m 1 - 2 h, difficulty: easy)

Kananaskis - Smith Dorrien

The Smith-Dorrien is a gravel road that runs through some of the best mountainous terrain in the Canadian Rockies. Mostly undiscovered by tourists, you'll find locals enjoying this spectacular area!

Trekkings

  • Turbine Canyon (48.1km 2,313m 3-5 days, difficulty: high)
  • Weary Creek (36.0km 2,738m 3-4 days, difficulty: high)
  • Elk Lakes and Petain Basin (35.8km 1,276m 2-3 days, difficulty: easy)
  • Rae Lake (16.0km 375m 2-3 days, difficulty: easy)
  • Big Elbow Circuit (56.4km 1,420m 3-4 days, difficulty: medium)

Excursions

  • Burstall Pass (15.0km 450m 4-6h, difficulty: medium)
  • Windtower (10.7km 1,005m 5-7h, difficulty: moderate)
  • Buller Pass (14.6km 685m 5-7h, difficulty: medium)
  • Tent Ridge Horseshoe (10.4km 747m 4-6h, difficulty: moderate)
  • Headwall Lakes (14.7km 535m 5-7h, difficulty: moderate)

British Columbia

Beautiful British Columbia is a great place for a holiday. Fly to Vancouver and from there explore everything from BC's rugged coastline to the interior mountain peaks.

Strathcona

Planning a trip to Canada's West Coast and want to avoid the crowds? Head to Strathcona Provincial Park on Vancouver Island, a locals' secret.

  • Flower Ridge (24.0km 1,460m 7-10h, difficulty: high)
  • Bedwell Lake (11.4km 929m 3-5h, difficulty: moderate)
  • Mt Albert Edward (30.9km 1,635m 9-12h, difficulty: high)
  • Lady Falls (1.0km 33m 1h, difficulty: easy)
  • Elk River Trail (24.0km 666m 6-8h, difficulty: moderate)
  • Mt Myra (22.5km 1,678m 8-12h, difficulty: high)
  • Mt Becher (11.7km 648m 3-4.5h, difficulty: medium)
  • Lake Helen MacKenzie (8.9km 249m 2-3h, difficulty: easy)
  • Upper Myra Falls (7.9km 152m 2-3h, difficulty: easy)
  • Augerpoint Beach (0.6km 20m 0.5-1h, difficulty: easy)

Whistler

Whistler is famous for its downhill skiing and snowboarding, but this is truly an all-season paradise. You benefit from a wonderful village based on great mountain terrain and views.

  • Panorama Ridge (30.9km 1,810m 9-12h, difficulty: high)
  • Cheakamus Lake (16.6km 500m 4-6h, difficulty: moderate)
  • Wedgemount Lake (15.6km 1,375m 6-8h, difficulty: high)
  • Black Tusk (26.1km 1,393m 9-12h, difficulty: high)
  • Garibaldi Lake (24.1km 1,073m 5-7h, difficulty: high)
  • Joffre Lakes (11.8km 393m 3.5-6h, difficulty: medium)
  • Blackcomb Meadows (9.7km 387m 2.5-4h, difficulty: medium)
  • High Note Trail (10.7km 658m 3-4.5h, difficulty: medium)
  • Brandywine Falls (1.5km 35m 0.5-1h, difficulty: easy)
  • Lost Lake (5.1km 120m 1-2h, difficulty: easy)

Yoho National Park

A holiday in Yoho National Park has all the hiking, biking, skiing and adventure of Banff or Jasper, yet is often overlooked by the crowds.

  • Lake O'Hara All Souls Route (9.5km 794m 5-7h, difficulty: moderate)
  • Iceline (13.2km 767m 4-6h, difficulty: moderate)
  • Emerald Basin (10.0km 242m 3-4h, difficulty: medium)
  • Lake McArthur (8.3km 310m 3-5h, difficulty: medium)
  • Yoho Valley Circuit (28.5km 1,395m 8-11h, difficulty: high)
  • Paget Lookout & Sherbrooke Lake (10.4km 545m 3-4h, difficulty: medium)
  • Wapta Falls (4.8km 83m 1-2h, difficulty: easy)
  • Twin Falls and Whaleback (19.8km 950m 6-8h, difficulty: high)
  • Hamilton Lake (11.2km 832m 4-6h, difficulty: moderate)
  • Niles Meadow and Sherbrooke Lake (21.7km 1,040m 6-8h, difficulty: high)