Snowshoeing in Kananaskis is one of the best ways to get out and experience the beauty of the Canadian Rocky Mountains in the winter.
Just imagine being on a quiet mountain snowshoe trail, with snowcapped trees & mountains all around and large snowflakes falling slowly from the sky. You will often feel like you are in a snow globe on these Kananaskis snowshoe trails.
It really doesn’t get any more peaceful than that. Before long, you may join us and start calling these easy Kananaskis snowshoe trails your happy place.
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Introduction to Kananaskis Snowshoeing
If you’ve never snowshoed before, don’t be scared off by the idea of wearing those old wooden snowshoes.
As you might expect, modern snowshoes are very different. Today, snowshoes are light and have a claw on the bottom to give you some grip to help you with slopes on harder snowshoe trails. It really is something that can be done by anyone!
One thing that might surprise you is that you will still sink into the snow, even while wearing snowshoes! Breaking trail is hard work, but most Kananaskis snowshoe trails are popular enough that the snow will already be packed down!
It’s a ton of fun to walk in the deep snow while snowshoeing in Kananaskis. If you are ever wondering how much your snowshoes help – just take them off and take a few steps in the deep snow and you’ll see!
Before you head out on your first snowy adventure in Kananaskis snowshoeing, remember to follow any cautions or closures on the trails, and follow winter trail etiquette.
Snowshoe Tips for Beginners
Here are a few beginner snowshoe tips before you hit the Kananaskis snowshoe trails:
Stay off dedicated, groomed cross-country ski trails. All other Kananaskis snowshoe trails are shared use, allowing for a variety of winter sports such as fat biking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, etc. If cross-country ski tracks exist on a shared use Kananaskis snowshoe trail, try to stay to the side and leave the tracks intact.
Keep dogs on leash and off of cross-country ski tracks.
Know the dangers, like how to be safe around wildlife and be educated about where you are going and any avalanche risks.
Check the Kananaskis snowshoe trail report for your trail before leaving home for possible closures or dangers to be aware of.
If you need any additional information, stop at the Barrier Lake Visitor Information Centre along AB-40 (Highway 40).
Above all, have fun! Snowshoeing in Kananaskis is such a fun winter activity! Play in the deep snow and enjoy feeling like a kid again!
12 Easy Kananaskis Snowshoe Trails
One of our favorite places to get out snowshoeing is Kananaskis Country! You’re not likely to find big crowds, the snow is usually plentiful and there are some great snowshoeing trails for all capability levels.
Kananaskis is easily accessible from Banff, Canmore or Calgary and you can find snowshoe rentals in any of those locations. For anyone looking for the best things to do in Canmore in winter, this is definitely one of them!
1. Hogarth Lakes Snowshoe Trail
Hogarth Lakes Snowshoe Loop is a great Kananaskis snowshoe trail for newcomers to the sport. Hogarth Lakes is a 3.9 km loop over flat terrain around and over a series of frozen lakes.
Take the opportunity to play in the deeper snow along the trail to have some fun and test out your snowshoes. The only caution with this trail is make sure the lakes are completely frozen – nobody wants to be out snowshoeing with a cold, wet foot that went into the water through some thin ice!
The Hogarth Lakes snowshoe trail leaves from the Burstall Pass day use parking lot on the Smith-Dorrien (AB-742). From the end of the parking lot, opposite the entrance, follow the path along the lake and look for your first snowshoe sign leading to the right.
You can get this easy Kananaskis snowshoeing trail map your phone with the AllTrails app. Find it by searching for “Hogarth Lakes Trail“.
A recent App of the Year winner, AllTrails is also one of the best apps for visiting Banff! Enjoy map downloads and many more premium features with a 7-day free trial of AllTrails+!
How to get to Hogarth Lakes Loop Snowshoe:
From Calgary, take Trans-Canada Highway (AB-1) to the Kananaskis Trail (AB-40) exit and turn right onto Kananaskis Trail. Follow AB-40 for approximately 50 km then take a right onto Kananaskis Lakes Trail. After 2 km, take a right turn onto the Smith-Dorrien and follow it for 20 km until you see the sign for the Burstall Pass parking lot on the left.
From Banff, turn off the Trans-Canada Highway (AB-1) into Canmore then take the Spray Lakes Rd (AB742) which will become the Smith-Dorrien, for approximately 43 km. There will be signs for the Burstall Pass parking lot on the right.
2. Troll Falls Snowshoe Trail
The Troll Falls trail is popular all year round for hiking and snowshoeing. In fact, this Kananaskis winter hiking trail is so popular that unless you are there shortly after a snowfall, you might find Microspikes to be a better option than wearing snowshoes.
The Troll Falls snowshoeing trail is one of the most popular Kananaskis snowshoe trails for good reason. It’s a very kid-friendly, short & easy 1.7 km (one way) trail through a beautiful wintery forest to the base of a frozen waterfall.
The Troll Falls snowshoe trail is nice and wide with very little elevation gain for most of the way, making it ideal for a family snowshoe outing or a winter activity for a group of friends.
You can get this easy Kananaskis snowshoeing trail map your phone with the AllTrails app. Find it by searching for “Troll Falls“.
How to get to Troll Falls Snowshoe:
To get to this popular Kananaskis snowshoe trail, take the Trans-Canada Highway (AB-1) to the Kananaskis Trail (AB-40) exit. Turn off AB-40 towards Kananaskis Village. The Troll Falls parking lot is on the right and the trailhead is at the far end of the parking lot.
3. Wintour Snowshoe Trail
Snowshoeing down a road doesn’t always give you that sense of being in nature, but you’ll get some amazing winter mountain views along this unique Kananaskis snowshoe trail. Highway 40 closes for the winter every year on December 1 from Kananaskis Lakes Trail to Hwy 541, turning it into a fun opportunity to go snowshoeing.
The Wintour snowshoeing trail starts at the Highway #40 Winter Gate and continues for 5.1km, but you can keep snowshoeing as long as you want then turn back. Snowshoeing on a snow-covered highway provides lots of space to spread out, making it a great Kananaskis snowshoeing trail for a group outing or for parents pulling a chariot.
Note: This is the only Kananaskis snowshoe trail on this list without a toilet at the trail head. If you need to get rid of some coffee before you start the Wintour snowshoeing trail, you can stop at the Galatea trailhead, just 10 minutes north on Highway 40.
How to get to the Wintour Snowshoe Trail:
From the Trans-Canada Highway (AB-1) take the Kananaskis Trail exit onto AB-40 (Highway 40). Follow Highway 40 until you reach the winter closure gate. There is plenty of parking outside the winter gate or at the nearby King Creek Day Use area.
4. Lower Kananaskis Lake Snowshoe Trail
The Lower Kananaskis Lake snowshoe trail is a scenic 3.9 km one-way trail that follows the shoreline of Lower Kananaskis Lake. This Kananaskis snowshoe trail is nice and easy due to its moderate length and flat elevation profile. You’ll enjoy the dual benefit of a beautiful winter walk through the forest along with sweeping mountain views across the frozen Kananaskis Lake.
If you are looking for a slightly longer Kananaskis snowshoe, the Lower Lake snowshoe trail will connect up with the 1.8km Marsh Loop snowshoe trail.
You can get this easy Kananaskis snowshoeing trail map your phone with the AllTrails app. Find it by searching for “Lower Lake Kananaskis Interpretive Trail“.
How to get to the Lower Kananaskis Lake Snowshoe Trail:
Take the Trans-Canada Highway (AB-1) to the Kananaskis Trail (AB-40) exit and turn onto the Kananaskis Trail. Follow AB-40 for approximately 50 km then take a right onto Kananaskis Lakes Trail. Stay on Kananaskis Lakes Trail until you see signs for the Canyon Day Use Area on the right. Follow the road to the parking lot.
The Lower Kananaskis Lake Snowshoe trail leaves from the same parking lot as the Canyon snowshoe trail and the Penstock Loop trail. The trailhead for the Lower Kananaskis Lake snowshoe is on the west side of the Canyon parking lot.
5. Penstock Loop Snowshoe Trail
One of our all time favorite easy Kananaskis snowshoeing trails and one we do every year is the 4.5km Penstock Loop.
The Penstock Loop snowshoe trail has a pretty dramatic start. After a short distance, you’ll cross a small bridge over a hydroelectric dam on the shores of the Lower Kananaskis Lake. If you are lucky, the water will be flowing and shooting high into the sky out of a huge pipe down the hill.
After the dam, you have the choice to continue left or right down the slope (depending on how you want to do the Penstock loop). Most people go right down through the trees.
The Penstock Loop snowshoe trail is predominantly in the trees except the last portion up along the lake. It also crosses the Smith-Dorrien highway, so be cautious looking for cars before venturing across.
You can get this easy Kananaskis snowshoeing trail map your phone with the AllTrails app. Find it by searching for “Penstock Loop Trail“.
How to get to the Penstock Loop Snowshoe:
Take Trans-Canada Highway (AB-1) to the Kananaskis Trail (AB-40) exit and turn onto Kananaskis Trail. Follow AB-40 for approximately 50 km then take a right onto Kananaskis Lakes Trail. Stay on Kananaskis Lakes Trail until you see signs for the Canyon Day Use on the right. Follow the road to the parking lot.
The Penstock Loop snowshoe trail leaves from the same parking lot as the Canyon snowshoe trail and the Lower Kananaskis Lake snowshoe trail. The trailhead for the Penstock Loop snowshoe is on the north side of the Canyon parking lot – just to the right of the toilets.
6. Sawmill Loop Snowshoe Trail
The Sawmill Snowshoe Loop is one of the more difficult ones on this list of easy snowshoe trails in Kananaskis, but it’s short enough that we’ve included it.
The 5.1km Sawmill snowshoe loop starts on a forested trail that soon starts to climb. You’ll gain 508ft of elevation on this Kananaskis snowshoe trail, but you’ll earn some great views of the valley. Plus, once you reach the top of the loop, it’s a super-fun downhill snowshoe all the way back to the parking lot.
The Sawmill Loop snowshoe trail starts right from the Sawmill Day Use parking lot at the far end past the toilets.
You can get this easy Kananaskis snowshoeing trail map your phone with the AllTrails app. Find it by searching for “Sawmill Snowshoe Loop“.
How to get to the Sawmill Loop Snowshoe:
From Calgary, take Trans-Canada Highway (AB-1) to the Kananaskis Trail (AB-40) exit and turn right onto Kananaskis Trail. Follow AB-40 for approximately 50 km then take a right onto Kananaskis Lakes Trail. After 2 km, take a right turn onto the Smith-Dorrien and follow it for 14 km until you see the sign for the Sawmill parking lot on the right.
From Banff, turn off the Trans-Canada Highway into Canmore then take the Spray Lakes Rd (AB742) which will become the Smith-Dorrien, for approximately 45 km. There will be signs for the Sawmill parking lot on the Left.
7. Elkwood Loop Snowshoe
Another great Kananaskis snowshoe trail for beginners is the Elkwood Loop snowshoe trail. This trail will take you through a forested area, the Elkwood Campground and past Marl Lake. The perfect spot to enjoy the views and play in the deep snow.
This easy Kananaskis snowshoeing trail leaves from the Elkwood Campground parking lot. This trail can be done from the William Watson Lodge, which will add an additional 0.7 km to the 3.4 km loop.
There are lots of cross-country ski trails in Elkwood so please be careful not to step on them. Just follow the trail map and signs to the snowshoe trail.
How to get to the Elkwood Loop Snowshoe:
Take Trans-Canada Highway (AB-1) to the Kananaskis Trail (AB-40) exit and turn onto Kananaskis Trail. Follow AB-40 for approximately 50 km then take a right onto Kananaskis Lakes Trail. Stay on Kananaskis Lakes Trail for approximately 6 km until you see signs for the Elkwood Campground on the left.
8. Canyon Snowshoe Trail
The Canyon snowshoe trail is the third easy Kananaskis snowshoe trail which starts from the Canyon Day use area (the other two are the Penstock Loop snowshoe trail and the Lower Lake snowshoe trail).
The kid-friendly Canyon snowshoe trail runs for 2km (one-way) from the Canyon Day Use area to the Peter Lougheed Discover Centre.
Along the way, this easy Kananaskis snowshoe trail alternates between forest trails and the wide open winter roads of the Canyon Campground. The Canyon Snowshoe Trail is a great place to find solitude in the winter in Kananaskis – chances are you won’t see any other people snowshoeing this beautiful trail.
How to get to the Canyon Snowshoe Trail:
Take Trans-Canada Highway (AB-1) to the Kananaskis Trail (AB-40) exit and turn onto Kananaskis Trail. Follow AB-40 for approximately 50 km then take a right onto Kananaskis Lakes Trail. Stay on Kananaskis Lakes Trail until you see signs for the Canyon Day Use on the right. Follow the road to the parking lot.
The Canyon snowshoe trail shares the same trail as the Penstock Loop for the first 200m of snowshoeing. To snowshoe the Canyon trail, go don’t cross the bridge over the hydroelectric dam – go straight instead. The trailhead for the Canyon / Penstock Loop snowshoe is on the north side of the Canyon parking lot – just to the right of the toilets.
9. Watridge Lake Snowshoe Trail
The Watridge Lake Trail to the Karst Spring Trail is one of our favorite Kananaskis hikes in the summer. Thankfully, the fun continues after the snow starts to fly as Watridge Lake becomes a very popular multi-sport winter trail.
Most people will consider the Watridge Lake Trail a cross-country ski trail, but the trail so wide that a large area off to the side has been set aside for snowshoeing, winter hiking or fat biking. The Watridge Lake Trail is groomed in the winter, so you may not need snowshoes to manage the deep snow, but you’ll appreciate the traction they will give you on the hills.
If you snowshoe Watridge Lake Trail, we highly recommend continuing on to do the short, but steep Karst Spring Trail. In spring/summer Karst Spring is an incredible cascading waterfall and, as you might imagine, it’s very scenic in the wintertime. The water flow is lower, but this is offset by beautiful ice and snow formations along the waterfall.
Like frozen waterfalls? The Green Monster winter hike in Kananaskis features 8 frozen waterfalls!
Get complete information on the Watridge Lake Trail in Winter.
How to get to the Watridge Lake / Karst Spring Snowshoe Trail:
The Watridge Lake Trail is found in the popular Mt. Shark Day Use area in Kananaskis. The drive to Mt. Shark from Calgary takes 2.25 hours. According to Google Maps you are indifferent time-wise between these two options:
- Highway 1 to Highway 40 south to the Kananaskis Lakes turnoff, then north up the Smith-Dorrien Highway (AB742) to the Mount Shark Day use area. (158km)
- Highway 1 to Canmore, then south on the Smith-Dorrien Trail highway. (146km)
10. Shark Lake Snowshoe
We always like finding new Kananaskis snowshoe trails and we started the new year by snowshoeing to Shark Lake. This was a brand new snowshoe trail in Kananaskis to us, though we’ve done plenty of other things in the area. Just up the road from Mount Engadine Lodge, an unmarked parking lot is where you’ll start the snowshoe to Shark Lake.
While some might consider the 8km Shark Lake snowshoe a moderate snowshoe, we would still rank it as an easy snowshoe trail given how flat it is. There are a few small hills, but they are short and relatively easy. Our kids managed this snowshoe quite easily, though thankfully we weren’t the first ones out breaking this snowy trail.
Along the Shark Lake snowshoe trail, you’ll have some mountain views behind you and you’ll also catch some glimpses of the Spray Lakes. The trail meanders along the base of Tent Ridge with snow covered trees on both sides.
Towards the end of the trail, you’ll find yourself descending into a more dense forest as you near the lake. Eventually the trees open up to reveal Shark Lake resting at the base of Mt. Shark.
The Shark Lake snowshoe trail is easy to follow, but if you find yourself breaking trail, look for the trail markers periodically tied to the trees.
How to get to the Shark Lake Snowshoe:
From Calgary, take Trans-Canada Highway (AB-1) to the Kananaskis Trail (AB-40) exit and turn right onto Kananaskis Trail. Follow AB-40 for approximately 50 km then take a right onto Kananaskis Lakes Trail.
After 2 km, take a right turn onto the Smith-Dorrien and follow it for 28 km until you see the sign for the Mount Engadine Lodge on the left. Follow the road past the lodge, over the bridge and until you encounter an unmarked parking lot on your right. The Shark Lake trailhead is across the road and up the hill.
From Banff, turn off the Trans-Canada Highway into Canmore then take the Spray Lakes Rd (AB742) which will become the Smith-Dorrien, for approximately 40 km. Turn right at the Mount Engadine Lodge and follow the directions above.
Get all the information about the Shark Lake snowshoe trail.
11. Torpor Snowshoe
As we continue discovering easy snowshoeing in Kananaskis, our second new snowshoe trail of the year was the Torpor snowshoe trail. This is a relatively new marked snowshoe trail in the Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, which is a shared fat biking trail in Kananaskis.
The Torpor loop snowshoe trail can be accessed from three different parking lots: Elk Pass, Boulton Creek Campground or the Boulton Bridge parking lots. The best way to find this easy Kananaskis snowshoe trail is from the Boulton Bridge parking lot. The Torpor trailhead is directly to the right of the toilets.
The 6 km Torpor snowshoe trail starts with a short uphill climb followed by a short section in the trees and then following a powerline. You’ll get mountain views both behind and in front of you the entire way (if the skies are clear). The Torpor snowshoe trail follows the powerline to the Elk Pass parking lot where it veers to the right back into the trees and across the access road to the parking lot.
From there you’ll spend the time on a narrow trail through the trees before joining the High Rockies winter trail through the Lower Lake Campground, past the Boulton Bridge Trading Post (closed for winter) and back to the Boulton Bridge parking lot.
Be cautious doing the Torpor Loop Trail with kids, as it crosses the Kananaskis Lakes Trail on two separate occasions in addition to the Elk Pass parking lot access road.
How to get to the Torpor Loop Snowshoe:
Take Trans-Canada Highway (AB-1) to the Kananaskis Trail (AB-40) exit and turn onto Kananaskis Trail. Follow AB-40 for approximately 50 km then take a right onto Kananaskis Lakes Trail. Stay on Kananaskis Lakes Trail for approximately 10 km until you see signs for the Boulton Bridge on the left (not the Boulton Trading Post). Follow the road to the parking lot.
12. Frozen Toad Snowshoe Loop
The Frozen Toad Loop snowshoe had been on our list of Kananaskis snowshoe trails to try for some time and we finally made it out in late January. Snowshoeing the Frozen Toad Loop is relatively easy, especially when the trail is packed down. We’d consider this to be an easy snowshoe trail in Kananaskis, but it’s distance of 8.1 km is pushing it slightly towards a moderate trail.
Despite the distance, the trail is flat almost the entire way. Starting at the Boulton Creek Campground parking lot, the trails starts out with a short uphill section. From there it’s flat through the wetlands between the Boulton Creek and Elkwood campgrounds.
The real draw of this trail is the stunning mountain scenery you get as you walk along the shores of Marl Lake. This is the perfect place to stop for lunch.
After returning into the forest, there’s a small section that descends to another open, flat area to finish off the second half of this snowshoe loop.
For extra distance the Elkwood Loop can be done as an add on to the Frozen Toad Loop.
How to get to the Frozen Toad Loop Snowshoe:
Take Trans-Canada Highway (AB-1) to the Kananaskis Trail (AB-40) exit and turn onto Kananaskis Trail. Follow AB-40 for approximately 50 km then take a right onto Kananaskis Lakes Trail. Stay on Kananaskis Lakes Trail for approximately 10 km until you see signs for the Boulton Trading Post / Boulton Creek Campground on the left. Follow the road to the parking lot.
Tips for Snowshoeing in Kananaskis
The most important things about snowshoeing in Kananaskis is to know the terrain, stay safe and be prepared for the elements.
Always check the weather forecast and be prepared to turn back if the weather changes. The weather can change quickly in the mountains and blowing snow can cause zero visibility.
Be aware of the terrain you are snowshoeing into and only venture into avalanche terrain if you know what you are doing. The established Kananaskis snowshoe trails listed here are not in avalanche terrain, but it’s always an excellent idea to learn the avalanche basics from Avalanche Canada.
Dressing in layers is the best way to stay warm and avoid getting wet while snowshoeing in Kananaskis. Be sure to add/remove layers throughout your snowshoeing trip to keep from getting too sweaty and protecting your feet from getting wet.
Read More
Learn more about how to dress for activities in the Canadian Rockies in our post about Banff winter essentials.
Days are short in the winter and it gets darker much earlier than expected especially when the sun ducks down behind the mountains. Plan your Kananaskis snowshoe trips early in the day.
Wearing snowshoes is a ton of fun, but microspikes are a viable option to snowshoes for trails that are well packed down. When we are unsure of the trail conditions, we bring both and decide when we get there.
Read More
It can be hard to decide whether to use snowshoes or micro spikes. Our post on the best winter traction devices will help you decide.
Where to Rent Snowshoes in Kananaskis
If you are visiting Kananaskis, it’s easiest to rent your snowshoes the evening before you plan to head out. With snowshoes in hand you can leave at your leisure in the morning without having to take time to visit the snowshoe rental shop first.
If you live nearby, we recommend renting your for first time snowshoeing in Kananaskis. Once you are convinced that it’s something you’ll be doing more often, then pick up your own pair of snowshoes!
Be Sure to Try Winter Hiking Too!
If you love winter activities in Banff and Kananaskis, be sure to check out these great easy winter hikes!
Moderate Kananaskis Snowshoe Trails
Once you’ve gotten the hang of these easy Kananaskis snowshoe trails, why not try something a little harder? Kananaskis has a great selection of moderate snowshoe trails to enjoy. Here are some of our favorites:
- Chester Lake snowshoe trail
- More moderate snowshoe trails coming soon!
Difficult Banff Snowshoe Trails
Looking for a challenging snowshoe trail in Banff? Try some of these difficult Banff snowshoe trails:
- Cascade Amphitheatre snowshoe
- More challenging snowshoe trails coming soon!
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Dan Brewer, a life-long Alberta resident, calls Canmore home along with his wife and two kids. He is the co-owner of Travel Banff Canada, where he gets to share his passion for the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Dan, along with his family, love being outdoors doing one of the many activities they enjoy in the mountains: hiking, mountain biking, paddleboarding, skiing, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
When he's not in Canmore enjoying one of his favourite local hikes, you can find him hoping on a plane to explore a new country with his family or working on one of their other two travel sites: Family Can Travel and Baby Can Travel.