Hiking Guide · Alberta, Canada
Top 10 Hikes
in Alberta
Ranked by Difficulty — Easy to Expert
Moderate ×3
Hard ×3
Expert ×2
Alberta is home to some of the finest hiking terrain in the world. Within Banff and Jasper National Parks alone, there are over 3,000 kilometres of maintained trail — from flat lakeside walks accessible to almost anyone, to high-altitude passes and summits that demand full-day commitment and mountain experience.
This guide ranks ten of the very best trails across the full difficulty spectrum. Every hike listed is in Banff National Park, Jasper National Park, or along the Icefields Parkway — a Parks Canada Discovery Pass is required for all of them. Bear spray is strongly recommended on every trail.
Easy
Flat to gently rolling. Suitable for all fitness levels and families.
Moderate
Some elevation gain. Good fitness needed. Half-day hikes with rewarding views.
Hard
Significant climb. Strong fitness required. Expect a full day on the trail.
Expert
Extreme elevation or distance. Experienced mountain hikers only.
Easy Hikes
Well-maintained trails with minimal elevation gain — suitable for beginners, families, and those who want stunning scenery without a punishing climb.
Johnston Canyon
4.4 – 7.6 km return
↑ 120 m
1.5 – 3 hrs
The most popular trail in Banff National Park — and it earns every visitor. Catwalks bolted directly into limestone cliff walls guide you through a dramatic narrow gorge carved by Johnston Creek, leading to the Lower Falls (45-minute walk) and on to the spectacular Upper Falls. The turquoise water thundering through narrow walls is genuinely stunning, including in winter when the falls partially freeze into extraordinary ice sculptures.
- Lower Falls accessible via a flat, easy 45-minute walk — suitable for all ages and most mobility levels
- Upper Falls extends the hike to 7.6 km return with more canyon drama and a larger waterfall as reward
- The Inkpots extension (9.4 km return) leads to seven vivid mineral springs at the canyon head
- In winter, partially frozen falls and ice formations on the cliffs make this a spectacular cold-weather destination
Arrive before 9am or after 4pm in summer — the catwalks become genuinely congested at midday and the experience suffers considerably.
Lake Louise Lakeshore Trail
4.5 km return
↑ 30 m
1 – 1.5 hrs
The most iconic flat walk in the Canadian Rockies. The Lake Louise Lakeshore Trail follows the north shore of the lake with the Victoria Glacier growing steadily larger at every step. The water colour — an almost surreal turquoise produced by suspended glacial rock flour — is most vivid on sunny mornings. The trail is almost entirely flat and ends with a direct view of the glacier at the back of the lake. The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise at the trailhead is worth a wander through even if you’re not staying.
- Completely flat trail with world-class views from the very first step — accessible to almost everyone
- Victoria Glacier grows dramatically in the frame as you walk — the approaching scale is extraordinary
- Best lake colour on sunny mornings when light hits the water at a low angle
- Can be combined easily with the Plain of Six Glaciers trail or a café stop at the Chateau
Arrive before 8am — the lake becomes extremely crowded by 10am in peak season and the early morning light on the water is the best of the day.
Moderate Hikes
Meaningful elevation gain with genuinely spectacular payoffs — these are the trails that most visitors remember most vividly.
Parker Ridge
4.8 km return
↑ 250 m
2 – 3 hrs
Parker Ridge is one of the finest short hikes on the entire Icefields Parkway — taking you above the treeline to a panoramic ridge with sweeping views of the Saskatchewan Glacier, the largest valley glacier in the Canadian Rockies. The trail is short but moderately steep in sections, rewarding hikers quickly with one of the most dramatic viewpoints in the park. The experience of standing on an open ridge looking down over ancient ice with nothing but sky is genuinely unforgettable.
- Panoramic views of the Saskatchewan Glacier and River Valley from the ridge — extraordinary scale
- One of the few hikes that reliably gets you above treeline without a full-day commitment
- Wildflowers line the upper slopes in vivid colour throughout July and August
- Located directly off Highway 93 — easy to include on a Calgary–Jasper road trip
The wind on the ridge can be fierce even on warm days — pack an extra layer regardless of the weather at the trailhead.
Lake Agnes Teahouse
7.0 km return
↑ 385 m
2.5 – 4 hrs
The Lake Agnes Teahouse hike is one of the most satisfying half-day hikes in Alberta — a steady climb from Lake Louise through forest and past Mirror Lake to a historic teahouse perched above a glacial cirque. Built in 1901 and still operating entirely on supplies carried in by hand, the teahouse serves tea and homemade baked goods that taste all the better after the climb. Above the teahouse, the Little Beehive extension gives one of the best aerial views of Lake Louise in existence.
- The 1901 teahouse is one of Canada’s most famous mountain hut experiences — tea and scones at 2,135 m
- Mirror Lake en route provides perfect reflections of Big Beehive on calm mornings
- The Little Beehive extension (add 1.5 km return) gives a magnificent aerial view of Lake Louise below
- Well-maintained, clearly signed trail — approachable for fit beginners on their first real climb
The teahouse operates on a first-come basis with no reservations — arrive before noon in summer to avoid a long wait for a table.
Edith Cavell Meadows
8.0 km return
↑ 380 m
3 – 4 hrs
The Edith Cavell Meadows hike is arguably Jasper’s finest moderate trail — beginning at the dramatic face of Angel Glacier and climbing through rocky moraines and subalpine forest to wildflower-filled meadows with outstanding glacier views. The Angel Glacier hanging from Mount Edith Cavell’s north face is one of the most photogenic subjects in the Canadian Rockies, and from the upper meadows the sight of it framed by wildflowers in July and August is breathtaking. The drive to the trailhead on tight switchbacks is an adventure in itself.
- Angel Glacier viewpoint from the lower trail — one of the most photographed scenes in all of Jasper NP
- Upper meadows in July and August are carpeted in wildflowers beneath a permanent glacier backdrop
- Good chance of spotting mountain goats on the rocky moraine sections of the trail
- Cavell Pond sometimes contains floating ice chunks calved from the glacier above
Push past the lower Angel Glacier viewpoint to the upper meadow — most hikers stop below and miss the best of what this trail offers.
Hard Hikes
Full-day hikes with significant elevation gain. Strong fitness is essential — these are the trails that deliver Alberta’s most dramatic rewards.
Plain of Six Glaciers
14.4 km return
↑ 365 m
4 – 6 hrs
The Plain of Six Glaciers trail begins at Lake Louise and ends at a high teahouse beneath an astonishing arc of glaciers. The hike follows the lakeshore, then climbs steadily past moraines and ice-carved rock to a plateau that was once the convergence of six major glaciers — all now retreated. The 1927 teahouse at the terminus serves hot drinks to those who have earned them. The scale of what was here, and the scale of what remains, is awe-inspiring and sobering in equal measure.
- The teahouse platform view — looking out over the glacial debris field and remaining ice — is one of the finest in Banff NP
- The approach via Lake Louise shoreline is one of the most beautiful stretches of trail in Canada
- The 1927 teahouse is the oldest mountain teahouse in the Canadian Rockies still in operation
- Glacier views throughout the upper section reveal the extraordinary scale of the Columbia Icefield system
Start by 7am to reach the teahouse before the midday rush and to have the upper section largely to yourself on the return journey.
Wilcox Pass
8.0 km return
↑ 335 m
3 – 5 hrs
Wilcox Pass is widely regarded as one of the best hikes on the entire Icefields Parkway and regularly features on lists of Canada’s greatest trails. The trail begins in forest, breaks dramatically through the treeline, and opens into alpine meadow with staggering views of the Columbia Icefield, Mount Athabasca, and the Athabasca Glacier directly across the valley. The sense of scale — standing on an open ridge looking down at one of the largest non-polar icefields in the world — is genuinely overwhelming.
- Views of the Athabasca Glacier and Columbia Icefield from directly across the valley — the best available perspective from any trail
- High probability of spotting bighorn sheep on the rocky upper slopes
- Relatively short for the scale of scenery it delivers — an extremely high reward-to-effort ratio
- Just 3 km from the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre — easy to combine with an icefield visit
Start early — trailhead parking fills fast and the best light on the glacier is in the morning. This is the hike to prioritise on a Jasper day.
Bald Hills
10.4 km return
↑ 480 m
3 – 5 hrs
The Bald Hills trail climbs steadily from the Maligne Lake trailhead to an open summit ridge with a 360-degree panorama that ranks among the finest viewpoints in Jasper National Park. The views of Maligne Lake below — the largest glacially-fed lake in the Canadian Rockies — from the ridge are extraordinary, revealing the full length of the lake with Spirit Island visible far below in the water. The fire road trail is wide and well-marked throughout, making navigation straightforward despite the elevation gain.
- 360-degree summit panorama including the full 22 km length of Maligne Lake and surrounding ranges
- Spirit Island visible in the water far below — one of Canada’s most photographed landmarks seen from above
- Wide fire road trail makes navigation easy even for first-time visitors to Maligne Lake
- Wildflower meadows below the summit ridge are exceptional in July and August
Continue to the true summit beyond the main viewpoint — 90% of hikers stop short and miss the full 360-degree panorama.
Expert Hikes
High-alpine trails with extreme elevation gain or distance. Experienced mountain hikers only — these are the trails Alberta hikers talk about for years.
Sentinel Pass via Larch Valley
11.6 km return
↑ 725 m
5 – 7 hrs
Sentinel Pass via Larch Valley is one of the most celebrated hikes in the entire Canadian Rockies — climbing through the famous larch forests of Larch Valley before ascending to Sentinel Pass, the highest trail-accessible point in Banff National Park at 2,611 metres. The larches turn brilliant gold in mid-September, creating scenes that regularly appear on lists of the world’s best autumn hikes. Views from the pass — over Moraine Lake on one side and into Paradise Valley on the other — are among the finest in Alberta.
- Larch Valley in mid-September: possibly the finest autumn hiking landscape in Canada — golden larches set against snow-dusted peaks
- Sentinel Pass at 2,611 m is the highest trail-accessible pass in Banff NP — views in both directions are outstanding
- Moraine Lake far below becomes increasingly dramatic as elevation is gained
- Access requires a Parks Canada shuttle reservation from Moraine Lake — book well in advance at recreation.gc.ca
Visit in mid-September for the golden larch season — it is the single most spectacular day-hike landscape in Canada and worth planning your entire trip around.
Mount Bourgeau Summit
21.6 km return
↑ 1,675 m
8 – 12 hrs
Mount Bourgeau is one of the most accessible peaks in the Canadian Rockies in terms of technical difficulty — no climbing or scrambling required to reach the 2,931 m summit — but its extraordinary elevation gain of 1,675 metres and 21.6 km distance make it one of the most demanding day hikes in Alberta. The trail passes through four ecological zones before reaching the summit plateau, where the views span the entire Bow Valley and surrounding ranges in a comprehensive panorama that few day hikes in Canada can rival.
- No technical climbing required to summit a 2,931 m peak — accessible to fit, experienced hikers
- Four ecological zones traversed in a single day — a comprehensive experience of Alberta’s mountain landscape
- Summit views span the entire Bow Valley — one of the widest panoramas available from any Alberta day hike
- Bourgeau Lake at the halfway point provides a beautiful rest stop with refilling opportunity
Begin by 5:30am — this is a full-day commitment and you must summit and begin descending before afternoon thunderstorms develop on the exposed upper ridge.
All 10 Hikes at a Glance
| # | Hike | Park | Difficulty | Distance | Elevation | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Johnston Canyon | Banff NP | Easy | 4.4 km | 120 m | 1.5–3 hr |
| #2 | Lake Louise Lakeshore | Banff NP | Easy | 4.5 km | 30 m | 1–1.5 hr |
| #3 | Parker Ridge | Icefields Pkwy | Moderate | 4.8 km | 250 m | 2–3 hr |
| #4 | Lake Agnes Teahouse | Banff NP | Moderate | 7.0 km | 385 m | 2.5–4 hr |
| #5 | Edith Cavell Meadows | Jasper NP | Moderate | 8.0 km | 380 m | 3–4 hr |
| #6 | Plain of Six Glaciers | Banff NP | Hard | 14.4 km | 365 m | 4–6 hr |
| #7 | Wilcox Pass | Jasper NP | Hard | 8.0 km | 335 m | 3–5 hr |
| #8 | Bald Hills | Jasper NP | Hard | 10.4 km | 480 m | 3–5 hr |
| #9 | Sentinel Pass (Larch Valley) | Banff NP | Expert | 11.6 km | 725 m | 5–7 hr |
| #10 | Mount Bourgeau Summit | Banff NP | Expert | 21.6 km | 1,675 m | 8–12 hr |
Alberta’s trails are, collectively, one of the greatest gifts the natural world has given any province. Start at whatever level feels right, respect the mountain environment, carry bear spray, and let the landscape do the rest. There is no bad hike in the Canadian Rockies — only hikes you haven’t done yet.
Lace up · Head out · The Rockies deliver
