The 14 Best Day Hikes In The Canadian Rockies

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Are you looking for the best day hikes in the Canadian Rockies? Well then this blog post has got you covered and will help you plan the perfect Canada itinerary.

The Canadian Rockies are home to over a thousand hiking trails and if you want you could spent years trying to cover them all. Of course some of these Canada hikes are a little more spectacular and those are the ones that we will focus on!

So when I was planning my trip to the Canadian Rockies I had listed a couple of hikes that I absolutely couldn’t miss. Unfortunately once we got there our entire itinerary went up into flames, or better into snow, due to the fact that the past spring had been incredibly cold. All of the hiking trails above 2000 meter were still covered in a huge layer of snow (I am talking waist height) and there was a high avalanche risk.

This pretty much meant that I had to search for new hikes that were possible and safe to complete!

In this list you’ll find all of the hiking trails in the Canadian Rockies that we completed but I will also list the ones that we couldn’t do due to the snow. At least then I also didn’t do all of my research for nothing!

Plus I will give you all the tools and tips you’ll need so you yourself can have an amazing and safe time on these hikes in the Canadian Rockies!

The 14 Best Day Hikes In The Canadian Rockies

I just arrived home from an amazing holiday in Canada. For the main part we focussed on exploring the Canadian Rockies in both Alberta and British Columbia. In my opinion the two most beautiful provinces in entire Canada. Then of course I am a sucker for mountains and crystal clear lakes.

All of the hikes listed here can be done in a single day, even though that some will require a very early start if you want to finish. I know that it’s not always easy to handle all of the logistics when planning a trip to a destination that you’ve never visited before. And especially with Canada all of the different camping options, permits and overall logistics seemed a little overwhelming while I was still home.

So while some of these hikes in the Canadian Rockies might seem very long, it’s important to know that if needed they are some backcountry camping options as well to split these hikes in half.

When to go hiking in the Canadian Rockies

So hiking season in the Canadian Rockies officially starts at the start of June and will last until the end of September. However there are a couple of very important details that you need to factor in:

• In June and early July there can still be a lot of snow on the higher alpine levels meaning there’s a high avalanche risk and that some hiking trails will still be closed off.
• If you want access to as many hikes in the Canadian Rockies as possible I recommend booking your holiday in August.
• In September it will already be a lot colder but if you go in the first two weeks then the chances of encountering snowfall will also be very low. Plus there will be a lot less people on the trail and the larches will already start turning yellow and orange.

Essential tips for hiking in Canada

• Wear proper hiking shoes! A lot of the trails can be rocky and uneven and you don’t want to loose your balance or slide down.  I love my Danner Mountain Light Boots and Blundstone Boots the most for exploring the outdoors.
• Pack for 4 seasons: even in the summer months it can be very cold if you start hiking in the early morning. Make sure you’re wearing layers so you can easily take something off or put on an extra layer if you’re taking a break.
• Make sure to arrive early at the most popular hiking trails to ensure you have the best experience.
• Bring a small first aid kit with you. You can always hurt yourself during a hike and it’s important that you’re able to disinfect wounds as fast as possible.

Before you head out hiking you’ll need to

• Research your trail! I usually do this on the AllTrails app where you can read a detailed description and look through other people’s reviews and photos. This way you’ll also have a good idea of what you’re getting yourself into.
• Factor in overall distance, elevation gain, current conditions and your fitness when selecting a trail.
• Print a physical map of the trail and/or download offline maps. You can easily do this within the AllTrails app if you take the subscription.
• Tell someone your plans before heading off (where you are going and when you will be back).
• Read up on the Leave no Trace Principles.

Best hiking trails in the Canadian Rockies

Always make sure to carry Bear Spray with you when you go hiking. Canada is a bear country and you could encounter a grizzly or black bear at any time.

The best day hikes near Vancouver

1. St. Marks Summit

St Marks Summit is a wonderful hike very close to Vancouver which will give you a direct view over Lion’s Bay. This wonderful hiking trail in the Canadian Rockies will lead you through a beautiful forest, through meadows and with a little bit of luck you’ll even spot a black bear in the distance.

St. Marks Summit is part of the Howe Sound Crest Trail that spans over 30km from Cypress to a point along the Sea to Sky Highway near Porteau Cove. The section of the trail that St. Mark’s Summit is on starts from Cypress Mountain which is the first mountain along this route and offers spectacular views of Howe Sound on a clear day.

Location – Cypress Mountain
Distance – 11km round trip
Elevation – 460 meters
Season – July to October
Difficulty – Moderate
Duration – 4 hours
Driving time from Vancouver – 30 minutes

2. Joffre Lakes Hike

The hike up to Joffre Lakes is one of the most popular hikes near Vancouver. Joffre Lakes is one of BC’s most beautiful hikes and is relatively easy to access compared to other alpine lakes in the region.

A free Day-Use Pass is required to hike this trail beginning June 17, 2022. Reservations can be made with BC Parks.

During this hike near Pemberton you’ll pass by all 3 lakes and all of them are vibrant turquoise in color. That is if the sun is shining, otherwise they’ll look more emerald. You’ll pass by the first lake after only 200 meter into the hike but after that it’s a bit of a climb up. My favorite was lake number 2 and from there it’s only a short hike up to lake number 3 which will also take you across a couple of bridges and alongside a waterfall.

Location – Joffre Lakes Provincial Park
Distance – 10km round trip
Elevation -370 meters
Season – late June to September
Difficulty – Moderate
Duration – 3,5 hours
Driving time from Vancouver – 2,5 hours

3. Brunswick Mountain Trail

Completing the Brunswick Mountain trail was super high on my list but unfortunately there was still too much snow and hiking it didn’t come without it dangers at the end of June.

A free Day-Use Pass is required to hike this trail beginning June 17, 2022. Reservations can be made with BC Parks.

Brunswick Mountain is the highest of all the North Shore peaks, and as such has incredible views in all directions. Howe Sound and its islands, Brunswick Lake, Sky Pilot Mountain, The Lions, Mount Harvey, and Grouse Mountain are all prominently on display. The narrow summit has a 360 degree panoramic view that is truly one of the best around.

Location – At the end of Cypress Provincial Park
Distance – 14.3km round trip
Elevation – 1546 meters
Season – July to September
Difficulty – Hard
Duration – 7 to 9 hours
Driving time from Vancouver – 45 minutes

4. Panorama Ridge Hike

The views from Panorama Ridge are some of the most scenic views in the Garibaldi Provincial Park area. I had been looking forward to this hike for months but unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be. Even after we left Garibaldi lake was still completely frozen and the snow level was up until my waist.

A free Day-Use Pass is required to hike this trail beginning June 17, 2022. Reservations can be made with BC Parks.

While many hikers do complete this trail in a day, the distance and elevation gain to Panorama Ridge make for a very long day. For this reason, some people prefer to hike to Garibaldi Lake or Taylor Meadows and camp overnight, before completing the hike to Panorama Ridge the following day.

Do know that if you want to go backcountry camping at one of these campsites that you have to make a reservation from long before. You can make a reservation through this site!

Location – Garibaldi Provincial Park
Distance – 30km round trip
Elevation – 1520 meters
Season – mid July to October
Difficulty – Hard
Duration – 11 hours
Driving time from Vancouver – 1 hour 45 minutes

The best day hikes in Yoho National Park

5. Emerald Lake Hiking Trail

Emerald Lake is a spectacular and serene turquoise glacial lake surrounded by mountains in Yoho National Park. The lake is surrounded by snow capped mountains and on a clear day you’ll see them perfectly reflected into its crystal clear water.

This is one of the easiest hiking trails in this article and one that is ideal to complete with the entire family. The Emerald Lake hike will take you all around one of the most beautiful lakes in Yoho National Park and afterwards you can grab a drink at the café across the boathouse.

Another popular activity here is to rent a canoe and go out on the water. Besides this lake being so stunning it’s a lot less frequently visited than those other glacial lakes in the Canadian Rockies such as Moraine Lake and Lake Louise.

Location – Yoho National Park
Distance – 5.1km
Elevation – 122 meters
Season – May to October
Difficulty – Easy
Duration – 1,5 hours
Driving time from Field – 15 minutes

6. Lake O’Hara Hiking Trail

The Lake O’Hara hike in Yoho National Park had been on the top of my bucket list for months! I had done endless amounts of research and was incredibly excited to discover this elusive place myself. Unfortunately, by the time we visited the road up to the lake was still under high avalanche risk, the lake itself was still frozen and there was tons of snow on the trails making it not safe for us to visit without proper avalanche gear.

However, like I said before I would share all of the knowledge that I garnered so here is everything you need to know!

Lake O’Hara is a hidden gem in Yoho National Park and lies in the province of British Columbia. A trip to the lake is one of the most sought after backcountry experiences in the Canadian Rockies so you better come prepared.

There are two ways to reach lake O’Hara:

• You hike the 22km round trip to the base of Lake O’Hara. Not ideal but there’s very little elevation so if you would start before sunrise you could still combine it with one or maybe two of the hikes surrounding the lake itself.
• Get a spot on the most coveted bus ride in the Canadien Rockies. And the thing is: you can’t just reserve your seat. You have to enter a lottery system and hope that you’ll get picked. Your name goes into a random drawing system and there is a non-refundable fee of $10 to be paid with the application.  For more information visit the reservation policy page on the Parks Canada website. You can select up to 6 dates and by the start of April you’ll know if you’ve got it or not.

So let’s say you haven’t been successful at getting a bus ticket (we weren’t for that matter), then here’s what you could do.

I would suggest starting your hike about 2 hours before sunrise. A quick walker can get to Lake O’Hara in 2 hours from the car park. Once you arrive at Lake O’Hara there are several hiking options and I’ll list my favorite ones below:

• The Opabin Plateau – A 8.5km round trip with a 250m elevation gain to a rocky outcrop that gives you a stunning view over Lake O’Hara and Mary Lake.

• Lake Oesa Trail – A 6.5km return trip with about 240 meters of elevation gain and one of the most beautiful trails at Lake O’Hara.

The best day hikes in Banff National Park

7. Lake Agnes Tea House Hike

The Lake Agnes Tea House hike is one of the most popular short hikes in Banff National Park and its start is located right next to the spectacular Lake Louise. Now to get to Lake Agnes there are a two options. The shortest way up starts right next to the lake but this trail is also pretty boring and simply goes up through the trees without any spectacular views.

In my opinion the best way to hike up to the Lake Agnes Tea House is by taking a little longer route but one that will take you along incredible vista’s! Simply start by following the trail towards the end of the lake and then follow the signs that lead to the junction trail. This way you will have stunning views over Lake Louise, the enormous glacier in the back and the surrounding mountains! For the way back follow the signs to Mirror Lake and then hike back towards the parking lot. This way you’ll make a much more fun loop trail than the boring out & back trail.

Don’t expect to have the tea house to yourself since this is a very popular trail and if you want to grab a drink you’ll need to have cash with you.

Location – Lake Louise
Distance – 8km
Elevation – 378 meters
Season – June to October
Difficulty – Easy
Duration – 2,5 hours
Driving time from Banff – 40 minutes

8. Little Beehive Trail

The hike up to Little Beehive actually starts at the exact same spot as the Lake Agnes Teahouse Trail and will add 3km extra to your hiking adventure but is very much worth the little extra effort. The view over Lake Louise and the surrounding mountains is absolutely breathtaking and there’s a perfect spot to take photos in a safe way!

Location – Lake Louise
Distance – 11.5km
Elevation – 535meters
Season – June to October
Difficulty – Easy
Duration – 3,5 hours
Driving time from Banff – 40 minutes

9. Lake Minnewanka Trail

The Lake Minnewanka shoreline trail is one of the best things to do around Lake Minnewanka in Banff National Park. And the best part about this hike is that you can make it as short or as long as you would like. It’s an out & back trail that will give you incredible views over the Lake Minnewanka reservoir and its surrounding mountains.

The first kilometer you’ll follow the paved trail next to the shore of Lake Minnewanka which will also be the busiest place cause here you’ll also find a couple of café’s and the boat house. But it doesn’t take long to leave the crowds behind and you’ll find yourself in a lush forest and crossing the Cascade river. Don’t forget to take in the views of the Stewart Canyon once you pass the wooden bridge. After that the trail leads up through the forest and eventually you’ll walk on a rocky gravel path up next to the spectacular lake.

Since this hike is on the edge of core grizzly territory, there are seasonal restrictions in place. Between July 10 and September 15, cycling is not permitted, hikers must hike in tight groups of 4 or more (carrying bear spray) and dogs are not permitted past the Stewart Canyon Bridge.

💡 TIP – When driving to Lake Minnewanka make sure to drive the full circle of the Minnewanka Scenic Road. It’s one of the most spectacular sceneries in Banff National Park and one where it’s very easy to spot wildlife in the early morning or late evening. In just two days we spotted a black bear, a grizzly bear with her cub and several elk.

Location – Lake Minnewanka
Distance – 30km
Elevation – 300 meters
Season – June to October
Difficulty – Easy
Duration – 3 to 6 hours
Driving time from Banff – 15 minutes

The best day hikes in Kananaskis Country

10. Barrier Lake Hike

The Barrier Lake hike is one of the most popular hikes in Kananaskis and pretty unique in its kind. For a pretty short hike up you’ll be rewarded with a one of a kind view. You’ll see the Rocky Mountains on one side and look out over the prairie on the other.

It’s one of the very few places in Canada where you’ll find yourself in the Canadian Rockies and also see the prairie.

So the thing about most hikes in Kananaskis Country is that they are very badly indicated and the cell service here is pretty non existent. Therefore I highly recommend downloading your trail map before heading out! The only time I ever had any cell service was when I was already on top of the mountain.

You can do the trail to the Prairie View Lookout either as an out & back hike or as a loop. I highly recommend doing it as a loop! It will add a couple more kilometers but it’s a lot less dull and you’ll also pass by a waterfall!

The details I am providing below are for the loop.

Location – Barrier Lake
Distance – 15.4km
Elevation – 451 meters
Season – June to October
Difficulty – Moderate
Duration – 2 to 4 hours
Driving time from Canmore – 25 minutes

11. Windtower Hiking Trail

One of the most breathtaking views in Kananaskis Country is from on top of one of the mountains surrounding Spray Lakes. There’s a ton of hikes to choose from but when we were there the hike up to Windtower was the only one that wasn’t in an avalanche risk and not still fully covered under a thick carpet of snow.

Make sure to bring enough layers with you cause even on a sunny day it can get incredibly windy on top of the mountain and the weather can shift in a minute.

The hike starts pretty mild and winds up through the forest until you reach the West Wind Pass. For a lot of people this is the end of their hiking journey and while the view from here is already pretty stunning, it’s nothing compared to what you’ll find on top of the mountain!

The path now goes alongside the mountain and for a while it remains flat with some climbing involved. the last part of the hike is another 400 meter climb up on loose gravel rocks. Easy to hike back down but a pain in the ass to hike up. Take small steps and bring hiking sticks with you for some extra support.

Once you’re at the top get ready to enjoy spectacular 360° views!

Location – Spray Lake
Distance – 9.8km
Elevation – 898 meters
Season – June to October
Difficulty – Moderate to Hard
Duration – 5 to 6 hours
Driving time from Canmore – 25 minutes

The best day hikes in Jasper National Park

12. Valley of the Five Lakes Trail

One of the most beautiful and rewarding hikes in Jasper National Park is the Valley of the Five Lakes hiking trail. This easy hike will take you along 5 pristine lakes, one even more beautiful than the other and can be enjoyed by the entire family.

It’s a very popular hike in Jasper National park and the parking lot is located right next to the Icefields Parkway. It’s not the biggest parking lot so I do advise you to arrive at 9am the latest to make sure you can grab a spot!

Location – Jasper National Park
Distance – 4.7km
Elevation – 162 meters
Season – June to October
Difficulty – Easy
Duration – 1.5 hours
Driving time from Jasper – 10 minutes

13. Maligne Canyon Trail

Another popular and easy hiking trail in Jasper National Park is the Maligne Canyon Trail.

Maligne Canyon is the deepest canyon in Jasper National Park, with a depth of more than 50 meters at certain points. You can explore this incredible landmark by crossing 6 bridges built across various points of the canyon.

There are several parking lots from where you can start this loop. We started at the fifth bridge which was pretty cool cause that way we saved the best for last! At bridge number 3 you’ll find an impressive waterfall and towards bridge number 2 and 1 the canyon is at its deepest.

Location – Maligne Road
Distance – 3.7km
Elevation – 131 meters
Season – June to October
Difficulty – Easy
Duration – 1.5 hours
Driving time from Jasper – 15 minutes

14. Sulphur Skyline Trail

This is one of my favorite hiking trails in the Canadian Rockies cause it’s not every day that you can get 360° views with only hiking up that amount of elevation. And do you want to know the best part? After completing this hike you can take a dip in a hot spring!

Yes, you read that right! The trailhead for the Sulphur Skyline Trail is located at the parking lot for the famous Miette Hot Springs.

I really enjoyed this hike cause the elevation goes gradually and at the very end there’s a bit of a steep climb. But by then you are already above the tree line and you can enjoy the incredible views while hiking up.

I advise you to start this hike early in the day cause it’s a very popular trail. We even saw an entire school class making their way up while we were already heading back down.

Location – Jasper National Park
Distance – 7.9km
Elevation – 653 meters
Season – June to October
Difficulty – Moderate
Duration – 3.5 hours
Driving time from Jasper – 40 minutes

Charlotte

Charlotte Lint is the founder of Charlies Wanderings.
Charlotte has traveled all over the world and is based in Belgium where she also owns her very own dental practice.
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