The Heart Creek Trail is an enormously popular Kananaskis hike and for good reason. The Heart Creek hike is fun, easy and beautiful, which makes it one of the best kid-friendly hikes near Canmore.
Hikers follow the path of the gently flowing Heart Creek into the belly of a dramatic mountain canyon, filled with large evergreen trees and boulders on the canyon floor. The best part of this easy Kananaskis hiking trail is crossing the little wooden bridges over Heart Creek again and again.
The Heart Creek Trail packs a lot of fun and scenery into a short distance, making it an ideal hike for Bow Valley locals or an easy day hike from Calgary. Best of all it can be enjoyed year-round, as it’s also a fun winter hike.
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Is the Heart Creek Trail Right For You?
The Heart Creek Trail is one of the best hikes in Kananaskis Country. Although it is about as easy as you can get in the Canadian Rockies, you should still determine whether this hike is suitable for you before you begin.
How Long is the Heart Creek Hike?
The round-trip distance of the Heart Creek Trail is 4.3 km (one-way distance of 2.15 km).
How Steep is the Heart Creek Trail?
The total elevation gain you’ll encounter along the Heart Creek Trail is 300 m. This may sound like a lot, but in reality, the incline along the Heart Creek hike is quite gentle the whole way. In fact, the scenery along Heart Creek is so beautiful and the multiple bridge crossings are so fun, you’ll barely notice the uphill.
How Hard is the Heart Creek Hiking Trail?
The Heart Creek Trail is one of the most popular kid-friendly hikes in Kananaskis. On any given day of the year, you’ll see many families enjoying this beautiful hike near Canmore. One of the many reasons Heart Creek is so popular is that virtually anyone who is in reasonable shape can enjoy this hike.
There are a couple of hills along the Heart Creek Trail which are a little steep, but they are short. We rate the Heart Creek Trail as an easy Kananaskis hike.
How Long Does It Take to Hike Heart Creek?
It should take a typical adult approximately an hour to hike the full round-trip distance of this easy Kananaskis hike. This is hiking time only, so allow extra time for the bridges, creek stops and time at the waterfall.
If you hike the Heart Creek Trail with kids, expect it to take longer, especially if they stop to play in the water. For reference, when we hiked Heart Creek with our kids (aged 4 & 6), it took us around 90 minutes. More recently, we hiked Heart Creek again when our kids were 10 & 12, and it only took us 75 minutes.
Alternatives to the Heart Creek Hike
If the Heart Creek hike isn’t right for you, don’t worry as there are plenty of excellent easy hikes in Kananaskis Country.
If you are looking for something a little easier, there are several other easy Kananaskis hikes nearby in Bow Valley Provincial Park. The Montane Interpretive Trail was one of our favourite hikes when our kids were very small. The Many Springs Trail is another good alternative nearby; it’s a flat, easy walk through a forest and along the shores of a beautiful lake.
What to Expect on the Heart Creek Hike
There is so much to enjoy about the kid-friendly Heart Creek Trail near Canmore. Here are some of the many highlights:
Access Trail from Parking Lot to the Heart Creek Trailhead
The first 0.7 km of the Heart Creek Trail is not the most scenic part of the hike. This access trail runs from the Heart Creek parking lot to the canyon junction and parallels the Trans-Canada Highway.
The traffic noise and occasional views of the Lafarge cement plant across Lac des Arcs do not make this the nicest stretch of trail. Thankfully, it’s short, and the rest of the Heart Creek hike more than makes up for it.
Near the end of the access trail, you’ll enter a beautiful aspen forest with a bench and excellent Rocky Mountain views.
Before you enter the Heart Creek Canyon, take the time to read the interpretive signs about the impacts the 2013 flood had on the Heart Creek hiking trail. Even today, it’s still easy to see debris piles along Heart Creek from this catastrophic flood.
Entering Heart Creek Canyon
Once the Heart Creek Trail enters the canyon, the fun really begins, especially if you have kids. Kids will love crossing the little wooden bridges, balancing along fallen trees, and climbing over large boulders.
Heart Creek is shallow enough that kids should be able to safely play in the water (with supervision) throwing rocks, making rock piles, floating sticks, splashing and everything else they can think of!
Keep your eyes on the cliff walls of the Heart Creek Canyon as you might see some rock climbers scrambling to the top!
The end of the Heart Creek hike is a very popular picnic spot. It’s a beautiful spot, next to a rock wall with a loud, hidden waterfall tucked just out of sight. There are a few park benches here, with lots of spots to relax and enjoy the beauty of this special Kananaskis spot. This is a popular spot for kids to play in Heart Creek while their parents sit, watch and have a coffee or snack.
The end of the Heart Creek hike is a beautiful spot with a really happy vibe; a good reward for your effort!
Read More
We recently ventured even further up Heart Creek on a guided tour. If you are seeking a little more adventure, check out our post on canyoning at Heart Creek, and discover how our readers enjoy a 10% discount!
Heart Creek Trail Location
The official Heart Creek trailhead is located in a huge parking lot near the Lac des Arcs overpass. It’s a one hour drive from central Calgary to Heart Creek and only a half-hour from Banff.
If you feel up to it, the Bow Valley Bunker trail is another kid-friendly Kananaskis hike which also originates from the Heart Creek parking lot. This interesting hike features a Cold War bunker dug deep into the mountain which is great fun to explore.
As a reminder, parking anywhere in Kananaskis Country requires a Kananaskis Conservation Pass.
Official Heart Creek Trailhead
Heart Creek Trail Map
The Heart Creek hiking trail is pretty easy to follow. Start at the trailhead and follow the access trail through the forest until you reach the bench near the aspen trees. Turn right at the bench, then follow the trail up Heart Creek Canyon toward the hidden waterfall.
We use the AllTrails app while hiking the Heart Creek Trail, but to be honest, you likely won’t need it for navigation purposes. We use AllTrails for all our adventures in the Canadian Rockies. In addition to helping stay on the trails, we like the ability to track our stats (distance, elevation gain, etc.).
To find the Heart Creek hiking map on AllTrails, simply click on the link for the “Heart Creek Trail Map”. Because Heart Creek is close to Canmore and the Trans-Canada Highway, you may have cell service, but don’t rely on it. Download your trail map before you go.
Banff App Pick
AllTrails is one of our most recommended apps for visiting Banff, and your trip is the perfect time to try AllTrails Plus. Start with the 7-day free trial to download maps, save hikes, and use premium features before heading into the mountains.
Hiking Heart Creek Trail with Kids
The Heart Creek hike is not only one of the top things to do in Canmore with kids, but it’s one of the best kid-friendly hikes in Kananaskis. As you can see from the pictures, we’ve been hiking Heart Creek with our kids for many years.
If you visit Heart Creek Trail on a weekend during hiking season, you’ll quickly see from the over-full parking lot that this is one of the most popular family hikes in Kananaskis.
Heart Creek Trail is a perfect easy Kananaskis hike for kids. It’s a short and easy hike near Canmore which follows the gentle stream of Heart Creek into a mountain canyon.
With towering cliffs overhead, kids love crossing Heart Creek over fun little wooden bridges. There are approximately seven bridges over Heart Creek. I always plan on counting them, but then I end up having too much fun and forget!
In addition to the kid-friendly Heart Creek bridges, the stream is gentle enough that kids can play in or near the water (with adult supervision, of course). There’s plenty of rocks along the shore to throw into the water and/or build inukshuks with. The forest also has lots for kids to explore, including rocks and fallen logs to climb on.
Heart Creek Bunker Hike – A Bonus Kid-Friendly Hike
If your kids still have enough energy after hiking Heart Creek, there’s another awesome kid-friendly hike from the same parking lot. The Heart Creek bunker hike is a 4 km hike (2 km each way) to a Cold War era bunker carved deep into the side of Mount McGillivray.
Built in the 1960s, the Heart Creek Bunker goes 55 m deep into the mountain, with a side channel over 40m long. It was designed to protect the nation’s critical documents against a catastrophic emergency, such as a hydrogen bomb.
The Heart Creek bunker hike itself is nothing special, but venturing into the cold, damp and VERY dark cave is incredibly fun for kids of all ages. Be sure everyone has their own powerful flashlight or headlamp. It is extremely dark inside.
Where to Stop for Lunch or a Break
If you prefer a proper sit down picnic, you’ll find picnic tables around the Heart Creek parking lot.
There’s also a bench on the Heart Creek Trail just before the trail enters the canyon. This bench is in the midst of a beautiful aspen forest with some nice mountain views. Take a few moments to read the interpretive signs about the impact of the 2013 flood on Heart Creek.
The Heart Creek Trail runs through a mountain canyon with a lush forest setting. If you’d like, there are many places along the hiking trail where you can sit down on a rock or log and enjoy a break.
But, of course, the best place to stop for lunch on this easy Kananaskis hike is at the end of the Heart Creek hike. There’s a waterfall at the end, but it’s hidden so you can hear it, but not see it. There’s a few benches here which are often occupied, so bring a picnic blanket and find a nice spot by the river.
Heart Creek Hiking Safety
Kananaskis Country is prime bear and cougar habitat. Please take the time to read up on bear safety and cougar safety before hiking in Kananaskis Country.
We recommend you check the latest Heart Creek trail report for trail conditions, wildlife warnings and possible closures before you head out.
Wildlife Safety
When hiking in Kananaskis Country, you are responsible for your own safety. Before hitting the hiking trails, we highly recommend reading our Essential Kananaskis Hiking Tips for information about bear safety, trail conditions, wildlife warnings and possible closures.
Heart Creek Trail Logistics
On-leash dogs are allowed on the Heart Creek hike. This hike is so popular that it’s one of the rare Kananaskis hikes where people actually keep their dogs on leash.
There are washrooms in the Heart Creek parking lot.
There is a vehicle break-in warning posted in the Heart Creek parking lot. Take your valuables with you on the hike or better yet, leave them at home.
There are no drinking water facilities on the Heart Creek Trail, so fill your reusable water bottles or hydration packs before you leave home.
You might get some cell service from Canmore or Exshaw, but don’t count on it for your safety.
What to Bring Hiking on the Heart Creek Hike
Even though this is a fairly easy Kananaskis hike, you should bring along basic hiking gear to ensure a safe and successful outing. Before hitting the Heart Creek Trail, be sure to check out our recommended Kananaskis hiking gear.
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Heart Creek Hike in Winter
The Heart Creek Trail is one of the best winter hikes near Canmore as it is especially beautiful in the heart of winter. You’ll love the sight and sound of flowing water underneath the partially frozen, snow covered Heart Creek. Take a moment to stop and appreciate this beautiful scene on one of the many bridges.
The bed of Heart Creek Canyon will be covered in a soft blanket of snow. The red bark of dogwood bushes pops against this brilliant white background. The humidity of the creek water often results in the surrounding trees, shrubs and rocks getting completely covered in thick frost.
It’s an easy winter hike, which makes it less treacherous and more accessible to most winter hikers. Although not very steep, the Heart Creek trail conditions in winter will be slippery so we do recommend some form of traction device for your winter boots.
In winter, you’ll often be hiking Heart Creek on hard-packed snow, but it can get icy in spots, especially near the creek and on the hilly sections. We’ve attempted hiking the Heart Creek Trail in winter without traction devices and at times, have turned back when it was too icy. This can be especially true in early spring, when cold nights and warm days create regular freeze-thaw conditions.
When deciding how to dress for the Heart Creek hike in winter, keep in mind you will be hiking into the heart of a canyon. With the sun low in the sky during the winter months, it will be hard for the sun to find its way past the canyon walls to the hiking trail. You will be in shade for most of this winter hike with a good possibility of a cold wind whipping down the canyon.
We recommend dressing in layers and expecting temperatures several degrees colder than the Canmore forecast. It’s always a good idea to have a large daybag to store unused layers in.
Read More
Interested in more easy winter hikes near Heart Creek? Check out our comprehensive list of easy winter hikes in Banff and Kananaskis.
We hope you and your family love the Heart Creek hike in Kananaskis as much as we do!
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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 hopping 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.