Start exploring…
Over our years of travel, we have hiked extensively across six continents and New Zealand. However, the Canadian Rockies remains one of our favorite places. We’ve spent about twelve months in total hiking here, and explored trails across five national parks and a dozen provincial parks. From lakes and waterfalls to glaciers and high mountain passes, these trails have so much to offer. Whether it’s a short jaunt or full-day trek, our journeys here have been nothing short of inspiring.
| Hike | National Park or Wilderness Area | Province | Distance (miles) | Elevation Gain (feet) |
| Aylmer Lookout | Banff National Park | Alberta | 14.7 | 3,000 |
| Bow Glacier Falls | Banff National Park | Alberta | 5.4 | 700 |
| Hector Lake | Banff National Park | Alberta | 3.3 | 300 |
| Peyto Lake Trail | Banff National Park | Alberta | 1.6 | 300 |
| Saddle Mountain | Banff National Park | Alberta | 5.3 | 2,300 |
| Sulphur Mountain (Sanson Peak) | Banff National Park | Alberta | 7.4 | 2,400 |
| Sunset Pass | Banff National Park | Alberta | 12.0 | 3,100 |
| Burstall Pass | Kananaskis | Alberta | 14.3 | 2,900 |
| Ha Ling & Miner’s Peak | Kananaskis | Alberta | 5.5 | 3,000 |
| Mount Allan | Kananaskis | Alberta | 10.1 | 5,000 |
| Mount Lipsett | Kananaskis | Alberta | 8.9 | 2,400 |
| Piper Pass Peak | Kananaskis | Alberta | 13.2 | 3,200 |
| Sarrail Ridge | Kananaskis | Alberta | 7.6 | 2,600 |
| Windtower | Kananaskis | Alberta | 6.5 | 3,300 |
| Yates Mountain | Kananaskis | Alberta | 9.9 | 2,500 |
| Mount Burke | Kananaskis | Alberta | 7.7 | 3,200 |
| Bald Hills | Jasper National Park | Alberta | 9.0 | 2,400 |
| Boundary Lake | Jasper National Park | Alberta | 1.5 | 200 |
| Parker Ridge | Jasper National Park | Alberta | 2.5 | 900 |
| Wilcox Pass | Jasper National Park | Alberta | 6.0 | 1,100 |
| Thompson Falls (Blaeberry, BC) | – | British Columbia | 7.1 | 1,300 |
| Applebee Dome | Bugaboo Provincial Park | British Columbia | 6.5 | 3,200 |
| Cobalt Lake | Bugaboo Provincial Park | British Columbia | 10.7 | 4,600 |
| Great Glacier | Glacier National Park | British Columbia | 6.7 | 2,400 |
| Hermit Trail | Glacier National Park | British Columbia | 4.8 | 2,800 |
| Perley Rock | Glacier National Park | British Columbia | 8.5 | 4,300 |
| Assiniboine Pass | Kananaskis | British Columbia | 16.3 | 2,700 |
| Niblet, Nublet, Nub Peak | Kananaskis | British Columbia | 7.5 | 2,400 |
| Wonder Pass | Kananaskis | British Columbia | 17.6 | 1,800 |
| Dog Lake | Kootenay National Park | British Columbia | 3.2 | 600 |
| Iceline & Little Yoho Valley | Yoho National Park | British Columbia | 13.5 | 2,900 |
| Lake O’Hara Alpine Circuit | Yoho National Park | British Columbia | 21.8 | 5,000 |
| Mount Hunter Lookout | Yoho National Park | British Columbia | 7.6 | 3,000 |
| Sherbrooke Lake | Yoho National Park | British Columbia | 3.7 | 800 |
| Wapta Falls | Yoho National Park | British Columbia | 5.4 | 700 |
Canadian Rockies scrambles
If you’re looking to do any peak bagging in the Canadian Rockies, most summits require some level of scrambling. More challenging than an on-trail hike, scrambling typically involves navigating exceptionally steep and loose terrain (scree and rock), using your hands for balance and climbing, and some level of route-finding in remote areas, as many routes don’t follow a maintained trail. Scrambles are divided into classes 1 through 5 using the Yosemite Decimal System, increasing in difficulty with regard to exposure and technical skill. Do your research thoroughly before heading out to make sure the routes are within your ability and that you are carrying all necessary gear. The peaks may be shorter but the terrain here is serious, with a lot of scrambles easily rivaling many of Colorado’s 14ers.
Most of our scrambles following routes established by local mountain experts Alan Kane and Andrew Nugara. If you’re keen to do some scrambling in Canada’s Southern Rockies, we highly recommending picking up these two guides before venturing out. They have been invaluable resources for us in planning and staying safe on difficult and unfamiliar terrain.
| Scramble | National Park or Wilderness Area | Province | Distance (miles) | Elevation Gain (feet) |
| Bow Peak | Banff National Park | Alberta | 8.5 | 3,400 |
| Cirque Peak | Banff National Park | Alberta | 10.2 | 3,400 |
| Fairview Mountain | Banff National Park | Alberta | 7.8 | 3,500 |
| Helena Ridge | Banff National Park | Alberta | 14.6 | 4,900 |
| Little Hector | Banff National Park | Alberta | 5.5 | 4,500 |
| Little Marvel | Banff National Park | Alberta | 13.0 | 4,000 |
| Molarstone Peak | Banff National Park | Alberta | 15.1 | 3,500 |
| Mount Andromache | Banff National Park | Alberta | 7.7 | 4,600 |
| Mount Bourgeau | Banff National Park | Alberta | 15.0 | 5,000 |
| Mount Richardson | Banff National Park | Alberta | 13.3 | 4,600 |
| Packer’s Pass Peak & Fossil Mountain | Banff National Park | Alberta | 21.0 | 5,900 |
| Paradise Valley & Sentinel Pass Loop | Banff National Park | Alberta | 10.6 | 2,300 |
| Pharaoh Peaks | Banff National Park | Alberta | 20.2 | 6,000 |
| Ptarmigan Peak | Banff National Park | Alberta | 13.0 | 4,300 |
| Skoki Mountain | Banff National Park | Alberta | 21.2 | 5,300 |
| The Onion | Banff National Park | Alberta | 12.2 | 2,900 |
| The Sphinx | Banff National Park | Alberta | 20.5 | 6,000 |
| Boundary Peak | Jasper National Park | Alberta | 4.9 | 3,000 |
| Gusty Peak | Kananaskis | Alberta | 9.5 | 3,400 |
| Headwall, Chester Lakes & The Fortress | Kananaskis | Alberta | 11.6 | 3,900 |
| Heart Mountain | Kananaskis | Alberta | 6.1 | 3,400 |
| Little Arethusa | Kananaskis | Alberta | 4.0 | 2,000 |
| Little Lougheed | Kananaskis | Alberta | 3.1 | 2,200 |
| Smutwood Peak | Kananaskis | Alberta | 11.6 | 3,300 |
| Snow Peak | Kananaskis | Alberta | 11.8 | 3,100 |
| Tent Ridge | Kananaskis | Alberta | 6.4 | 2,700 |
| Abbott Ridge & Mount Abbott | Glacier National Park | British Columbia | 11.2 | 4,200 |
| Emerald Triangle & Mount Field | Yoho National Park | British Columbia | 13.6 | 4,700 |
| Mount Schaffer | Yoho National Park | British Columbia | 19.3 | 4,300 |
| Mount Niles | Yoho National Park | British Columbia | 14.2 | 4,800 |
| Paget Peak | Yoho National Park | British Columbia | 5.8 | 3,200 |
