Best Hikes in Kananaskis: 22 Local Picks

Whether you’ve come to visit Banff National Park or live nearby, hiking in Kananaskis will leave you wanting to come back for more. With jaw dropping views, we’d consider many of these to be the best hikes in Kananaskis Country.

While we think that the Rocky Mountain views from these Kananaskis hikes are more than worth it, there’s more than that! From waterfalls to stunning mountain lakes to alpine meadows filled with wildflowers, the incredible beauty and variety of these hikes is what makes Kananaskis one of the best places for hiking.

To help you find the best hiking trails in Kananaskis for your needs, we have sorted our list into three groups: Easy Kananaskis Hikes, Moderate Kananaskis Hikes and Difficult Kananaskis Hikes. Ranking the best hikes in Kananaskis is not easy, but I hope this list will help you find the trails that are best for your interests and ability level.

While you are hiking in the Canadian Rockies, you won’t want to miss these 22 Kananaskis hiking trails!

This post contains compensated links.

Why Hike in Kananaskis Country?

Kananaskis Country is one of our favourite places to hike in the Canadian Rockies. It’s much easier to escape the crowds of Banff National Park and find quiet hiking trails.

Because these Kananaskis hiking trails are close to Calgary and Canmore, it’s definitely a favourite place for locals to hike. While no one can dispute the incredible views you can get in Banff, you’ll find equally breathtaking views in Kananaskis.

The 8 Best Easy Hikes in Kananaskis Country

Not every hike in Kananaskis needs to be a full day outing. Some of the best easy hikes in Kananaskis still deliver beautiful mountain views, waterfalls, lakes, boardwalks and plenty of scenery without requiring a ton of effort.

These easy Kananaskis hikes are perfect for families, beginner hikers, shorter hiking days or anyone who wants a rewarding trail without taking on something too difficult. These are the Kananaskis hikes I’d start with if you want maximum scenery for a more manageable effort.

1. Grassi Lakes Trail

Grassi Lakes is an easy hike in Kananaskis with a great payoff. This short Kananaskis hike is very popular on weekends because it’s the perfect family-friendly hike. The trail is wide, and at only 4 km, it’s manageable for most hikers.

Grassi Lakes does have two different routes. If you prefer, you can do both trails as a loop. To improve your views, we recommend doing the harder trail on the way up and the easy trail on the way down. Up at the top, you’ll be rewarded with views of the most stunning turquoise lakes.

Hiking Grassi Lakes is also possible in the winter and is one of the best easy Canmore winter hikes. This family-friendly hike in Kananaskis is busy enough that any snow will be packed down quickly requiring only winter boots (or possibly microspikes if the trail gets icy).

This family-friendly Kananaskis hike is very popular, so get there early. For even more tips on how to best enjoy this easy hike, check out our full post on the Grassi Lakes Trail.

Grassi Lakes Trail Stats:
Distance: 4.0 km out and back
Elevation: 170 m

2. West Wind Pass Trail

The West Wind Pass is a short Kananaskis hike that rewards hikers with some of the best scenery over such a short distance. While hiking up the side of a river valley, you’ll get sweeping views over the Spray Lakes Reservoir.

At the top of the West Wind Pass trail, you’ll be standing at a mountain pass below The Rimwall and Windtower mountains. Looking northeast, you’ll get incredible views of Wind Ridge, another of our favourite Kananaskis hikes. You can also see Little Sister, also known as Hope, and Pigeon Peak.

It’s a stunning viewpoint which requires less than 3 km of hiking to get there.

This could quite possibly be my favourite family-friendly hike in Kananaskis. The view-to-effort ratio is incredible! See more in our full blog post on the West Wind Pass Trail.

West Wind Trail Stats
Distance: 5.4 km out and back
Elevation: 353 m

3. Heart Creek Trail

The Heart Creek Trail is one of the most popular Kananaskis hiking trails, and for good reason. A fun, easy and beautiful hike, the Heart Creek Trail is one of the best kid-friendly hikes near Canmore.

The Heart Creek Trail follows the path of a gentle creek deep into the belly of a dramatic mountain canyon. The best part of this easy Kananaskis hike is crossing the little wooden bridges over the creek again and again.

As great as this easy Kananaskis hike is, there’s a bonus easy hike from the same parking lot which is a ton of fun. Get all the details in our post on the Heart Creek Trail.

Heart Creek Trail Stats:
Distance: 4.7 km out and back
Elevation: 300 m

4. Troll Falls Hike

Troll Falls is one of the best easy hikes in Kananaskis Country. The main trail is wide and relatively flat as it winds through a lush forest to the lower falls, where Marmot Creek drops into a dramatic little canyon.

While many people turn around at Troll Falls, I think it’s worth continuing on the upper trail if you have the time. The short loop to Marmot Falls and the Upper Falls adds more waterfalls, a fun walk behind Marmot Falls and a beautiful section along Marmot Creek. It does get a little steeper than the main trail, but it adds a lot of fun and scenery to the overall hike.

Troll Falls is one of the most popular family-friendly hikes in Kananaskis Country. It’s also an excellent Kananaskis hike for beginner hikers, so the large parking lots fills quickly. We recommend arriving early on weekends and holidays.

Get all the details on this easy Kananaskis waterfall hike, along with information about the various add-ons trails, in our post on the Troll Falls Trail.

Troll Falls Hike Stats:
Distance: 4.8 km loop including Upper Falls and Hay Meadow
Elevation: 270 m

5. Ptarmigan Cirque Trail

Ptarmigan Cirque is one of the best hikes in Kananaskis if you want amazing mountain scenery without a long day on the trail. Starting from Highwood Meadows, this short loop takes you through forest, open alpine meadows and into a beautiful mountain cirque beneath Mount Rae.

This is one of the most popular Kananaskis hiking trails in fall, when the larch trees turn golden. Even outside of larch season, Ptarmigan Cirque is still worth doing for the mountain views, wildflowers, waterfalls and rocky scenery. It’s also a great family-friendly hike in Kananaskis, though there are a few rooty and steeper sections that make it feel more like a real mountain trail than a simple walk.

Because Ptarmigan Cirque shares the Highwood Meadows parking area with other popular hikes, it can get very busy, especially during larch season.

Discover why this is one of our favorite family hikes in Kananaskis by reading our post on the Ptarmigan Cirque Trail.

Ptarmigan Cirque Hike Stats:
Distance: 3.6 km loop
Elevation: 267 m

6. Blackshale Suspension Bridge Hike

Another one of the best easy hikes in Kananaskis is the hike to the Blackshale Suspension Bridge. While you can park along the Smith-Dorrien (highway 742) and make this a short 1 km hike, we recommend hiking to the Blackshale Suspension Bridge from the Black Prince Day Use parking lot. From the parking lot you’ll cross the Smith-Dorrien and start the 6 km hike along the High Rockies Trail.

The trail undulates through the forest and while there may not be much to see, iit’s a pleasant walk through the trees that eventually opens up to reveal the Blackshale Suspension Bridge.

Note: The Suspension Bridge is closed in the winter, but there is a bypass trail if you’d like to continue further along the High Rockies Trail.

For more information about how to hike to this top Kananaskis attraction, check out our post on the Blackshale Suspension Bridge Hike.

Blackshale Suspension Bridge Stats
Distance: 6.1 km out and back
Elevation: 333 m

7. Many Springs Interpretive Trail

Many Springs Interpretive Trail is one of the easiest hikes in Kananaskis, but it still packs in plenty of scenery for such a short trail. Located in Bow Valley Provincial Park, this short loop has wildflowers, mountain views, clear spring water, a wooden boardwalk and a small dock overlooking the spring.

This is a great Kananaskis hike for families, beginner hikers or anyone who wants a short walk with a lot to look at along the way. In late spring and early summer, the wildflowers are one of the biggest highlights, especially if you enjoy slowing down and noticing all the small details along the trail. You’ll also get views of Door Jamb Mountain, Loder Peak, Yamnuska and the surrounding Bow Valley scenery.

Many Springs is short and mostly flat, so it won’t take long to complete, but that’s also what makes it such a good easy hike in Kananaskis. It’s a nice option if you’re already in Bow Valley Provincial Park or looking for something easy to do near Canmore.

You can see more pictures and get all the important details in our post on the Many Springs Trail.

Many Springs Interpretive Trail Stats:
Distance: 1.9 km loop
Elevation: 46 m

8. Montane Interpretive Trail

The Montane Interpretive Trail is a short and easy hike in Kananaskis that’s perfect when you want mountain views without a big effort. Located in Bow Valley Provincial Park, this 1.6 km loop packs in a surprising amount of scenery, including open meadows, wildflowers, forest, interpretive signs and beautiful views up the Bow Valley toward Canmore.

This was our go-to Kananaskis hike when our kids were little and just starting to hike on their own. The trail is well-marked and easy to follow, with only a couple of gentle uphill sections. One of the best parts is the bench viewpoint, where you get views of Yates Mountain, the Twin Towers and the famous Three Sisters from a different angle than usual.

Because the Montane Trail starts from the Bow Valley Administration & Information Centre, it’s also easy to combine with other short hikes in Bow Valley Provincial Park. The Bow Valley paved pathway starts from the same parking lot too, making this a great option if you want to add on an easy Kananaskis bike ride after your hike.

Learn why this was one of our all-time favorite hikes for young kids in our post on the Montane Trail.

Montane Interpretive Trail Stats:
Distance: 1.6 km loop
Elevation: 58 m

Additional Easy Hikes in Kananaskis

I’ve listed my eight favourite hikes in Kananaskis Country above, but there are many more to choose from. If you’d like to see more options, see our full list of the best easy hikes in Kananaskis. If your travels also take you to Banff National Park, why not check out our favorite easy hikes in Banff?

The 5 Best Moderate Hikes in Kananaskis Country

If you’re ready for more distance and elevation, but don’t necessarily want a big summit or exposed ridge hike, these moderate Kananaskis hikes are a great place to start. This section includes some of the best lake hikes in Kananaskis, plus a few trails with bigger viewpoints and more variety along the way.

These moderate Kananaskis hikes offer a rewarding step up from the easier trails, without getting into the more challenging terrain of hikes like Tent Ridge, EEOR or Mount Yamnuska. They’re still real mountain hikes, so expect some steady climbing, changing weather and trail conditions.

1. Chester Lake Hike

Chester Lake is one of the more popular hiking trails in Kananaskis, and for good reason. Chester Lake trail meanders up through the forest and pays off hikers with stunning mountain views at the top.

In the summer, we enjoy the nice wide trail for this family-friendly hike in Kananaskis. A picnic along Chester Lake is the perfect way to enjoy a warm afternoon in the summer in Kananaskis. For some extra fun, check out the nearby Elephant Rocks.

Chester Lake also makes a great winter hike in Kananaskis once the snow has been packed down. If there’s been a recent snowfall, plan to pack snowshoes and enjoy snowshoeing to Chester Lake. The meadow at the top is the perfect place to play in the deep snow.

Note: As part of an ongoing Kananaskis trail closures program, the Chester Lake hike is closed every year from May 1 to June 29 to allow the area to dry and prevent damage.

Chester Lake is one of the few Kananaskis hikes that we make time for every single year. It’s one of our all time favorite hikes. For more info, check out our post on the Chester Lake hike.

Chester Lake Trail Stats
Distance: 9.0 km out and back
Elevation: 310 m

2. Pocaterra Ridge Trail

Pocaterra Ridge is one of the best Kananaskis hikes, especially if you’re visiting in fall. This popular Kananaskis hike starts from Highwood Meadows and takes you through mountain meadows, creek crossings, larch forest and eventually up to an incredible ridge with big views over Highwood Pass.

While Pocaterra Ridge is best known as one of the best larch hikes in Kananaskis, it’s worth doing even outside of fall. The scenery is varied the entire way, but the final climb to the ridge is steep and will definitely get your heart pumping. If you don’t want to hike all the way to the summit, you can still enjoy the larch forest and mountain scenery by turning around before the last steep climb.

Just keep in mind that this is a very popular hike during larch season, and the Highwood Meadows parking lot can fill early.

For more about this hike, including information about seasonal road closures, read our post on the Pocaterra Ridge Trail.

Pocaterra Ridge Hike Stats:
Distance: 8.4 km out and back
Elevation: 659 m

3. Rawson Lake Trail

Rawson Lake is one of the best easy to moderate hikes in Kananaskis Country. It’s not often you get to enjoy not one, but two incredible Kananaskis lakes on the same hike!

Starting along the Upper Kananaskis Lake Trail, it’s hard to tear yourself away from the mountain reflections on the lake in the morning. The peacefulness of the Upper Lake in the morning makes you want to take it slow and hang around for a while.

While the Upper Kananaskis Lake trail starts off easy, you’ll soon reach some steeper sections after the junction to Rawson Lake. Keep going though, because the views at Rawson Lake are more than worth the effort!

I’ve been hiking to Rawson Lake for decades and I’m always excited to go back. Find out why in our full blog post on the Rawson Lake Trail.

Rawson Lake Trail Stats:
Distance: 7.8 km out and back
Elevation: 320 m

4. Yates Mountain via Prairie View Trail

A popular and rewarding hike from the Barrier Lake day use area, the Yates Mountain Trail is one of the best hikes in Kananaskis.

The Yates Mountain Trail offers a wide variety of scenery. You start with a lakeside stroll along Barrier Lake, then climb through dense forest to viewpoints over Barrier Lake and the Kananaskis Valley.

Given the Yates Mountain Trail is on the south side of the mountain, it gets lots of sun making it a nice option for a spring hike in Kananaskis.

This is the best hiking trail from the very popular Barrier Lake day use area. Get all the details in our full blog post on the Yates Mountain Trail.

Yates Mountain Trail
Distance: 12.3 km out and back (option for a 15.9 km loop)
Elevation: 601 m

5. Karst Spring Trail

Hiking the Watridge Lake Trail to Karst Spring is one of the best spring hikes in Kananaskis. The Watridge Lake Trail is wide, making it a family-friendly hike in Kananaskis. If walking along the wide road doesn’t appeal to you, the Watridge Lake Trail is also an easy Kananaskis bike trail.

Along Watridge Lake Trail, you’ll get some impressive mountain views and Watridge Lake itself is beautiful. If you’ve ridden bikes to Watridge Lake, it’s time to park them and continue on the Karst Spring Trail by foot. The raging waterfall at the end of the Karst Spring Trail is well worth the effort.

We also recommend the Watridge Lake Trail in winter, which can be cross country skied, snowshoed or even fatbiked.

The natural spring at the end of this hike is so powerful, it could easily be the most impressive natural attraction in Kananaskis Country. See more in our full post on the Karst Spring Trail.

Karst Spring Trail Stats
Distance: 10.2 km out and back
Elevation: 194 m

The 9 Best Difficult Hikes in Kananaskis Country

If you’re looking for challenging Kananaskis hikes, this section has some great options for you, including some of my all-time favorite hikes. These difficult Kananaskis hikes include steep climbs, long ridge walks, exposed terrain, scrambling sections and some of the most impressive views in the area.

From classic summit hikes near Canmore to full-day routes deeper in Kananaskis, these difficult trails are best suited for experienced hikers who are comfortable with elevation gain, changing conditions and more challenging mountain terrain. The payoff can be incredible, but these are the hikes where you’ll want to check trail reports, start early, carry proper gear and be honest about your ability level.

1. Wind Ridge Hike

One of our all time favourite Kananaskis hiking trails is hiking Wind Ridge. We’ve done this Kananaskis hike many times and it never fails to impress us. When our kids reached 5 & 7 years old, we were excited to finally able to take them up this difficult day hike in Kananaskis.

The Wind Ridge hiking trail passes through a lush forest before climbing to an alpine meadow. Be sure to time this hike when the mountain wildflowers are in bloom. Hiking through the alpine meadow with the mountain views will leave you breathless.

Wind Ridge is also a great fall hike in Kananaskis, when you get to see the glowing aspen trees in their yellow splendor throughout the valley.

Note: The Wind Ridge trail is closed every year from December 1 to June 15 to protect critical winter range habitat for elk and bighorn sheep.

The mountain views and wildflowers on this amazing Kananaskis hike are second-to-none. Find out more in our full post on the Wind Ridge Trail.

Wind Ridge Trail Stats:
Distance: 12.7 km out and back
Elevation: 950 m

2. Tent Ridge Trail

For advanced hikers only, Tent Ridge is easily one of the best hikes in Kananaskis, especially if you’re looking for a full day of epic Rocky Mountain views. This horseshoe-shaped ridge hike sits near the southern end of Spray Lakes and delivers incredible views over Spray Valley, Mount Shark and the surrounding peaks.

Tent Ridge has become one of the most popular Kananaskis hikes in recent years, and once you’re up on the ridge, it’s easy to see why. The views are outstanding almost the entire way, but this is not a hike I’d recommend for everyone. There is some scrambling, exposure and route-finding involved, so we only recommend it for experienced hikers who are comfortable on more challenging mountain terrain.

If you’re capable and conditions are good, Tent Ridge really lives up to the hype; it’s one of our favorite hiking trails in Kananaskis Country. Our blog post on the Tent Ridge hike is coming soon!

Tent Ridge Hike Stats:
Distance: 10.1 km loop
Elevation: 747 m

3. Wasootch Ridge Hike

At the risk of calling all the Kananaskis hikes our favourites, the Wasootch Ridge hike definitely makes that list. We first hiked the Wasootch Ridge trail some 15 years ago and fell in love with the incredible mountain views.

We’ve returned to this challenging Kananaskis hike several times over the years, continuing to enjoy it each time as much as the last. After a steep grind through the forest, you reach the ridge and hikers are treated to stunning mountain views the entire time.

To complete the full hike will take some scrambling on the final peaks. Like most hikers, we usually turn around around the 5.2 km mark, often because of time. But don’t worry, you’ll get the best part of the hike even if you don’t go to the Wasootch Ridge summit.

The non-stop views of the Canadian Rockies on this hike are why it ranks so high on our list of the best hikes in Kananaskis Country. Check out more pictures on our full blog post on the Wasootch Ridge Trail.

Wasootch Ridge Trail Stats:
Distance: 13.8 km out-and-back
Elevation: 975 m elevation gain

4. Sarrail Ridge Trail

The hike to Rawson Lake is on our list of the best moderate hikes in Kananaskis. If you have some energy after Rawson Lake, we recommend heading up to Sarrail Ridge. One of the steepest hikes in Kananaskis Country, this add-on trail is only for experienced hikers in very good shape.

You reach the Sarrail Ridge hike via Rawson Lake trail. You may not enjoy the steep climb (and by steep, we mean straight up!), but the incredible lake and mountain views at the top of Sarrail Ridge will have you forgetting all about your burning legs.

This is a short and very steep Kananaskis hike, but you’ll be rewarded with some incredible views. See more pictures in our full post on the Sarrail Ridge Trail.

Sarrail Ridge Trail Stats
Distance: 11.3 km out and back
Elevation: 675 m

5. Ha Ling Peak Trail

There’s a reason Ha Ling Peak and EEOR show up on so many lists of the best hikes in Kananaskis: you really can’t beat the views of the Canadian Rockies! While hiking up Ha Ling will get your blood pumping, that uphill climb is well worth it.

We’ve seen people of all fitness levels complete the Ha Ling Peak hike. While it can take some perseverance, one step at a time will get you there. The trail is easy to follow and it has a great reward. Just be cautious going past the saddle where you’ll be hiking on loose rocks and never venture too close to the edge.

With this hike being so close to Canmore, you can reward yourself with some delicious Canmore ice cream in town after your efforts!

For more pictures and important information about this very popular challenging Kananaskis hike, check out our full blog post on the Ha Ling Peak Hike.

Ha Ling Peak Trail Stats:
Distance: 8 km out and back
Elevation: 801 m

6. Mount Yamnuska Trail

The Mount Yamnuska Trail is one of the most popular hikes in Kananaskis Country. There are many different versions of this Kananaskis hike, ranging from a traditional hike through a beautiful aspen forest to a challenging scramble with an exposed chain section along the backside of the mountain to the summit.

Recent upgrades by Alberta Parks have improved the route along the backside of Mt. Yamnuska, but the full summit hike is still challenging and exposed. That said, there are more rescues per year on the Mt. Yamnuska trail than on any other mountain in the Canadian Rockies.

Before deciding to do the full loop version of this immensely popular Kananaskis hike, we recommend you read our post on the Mt. Yamnuska Trail to ensure it is right for you.

Mt. Yamnuska Trail Stats:
Distance: 11 km loop
Elevation: 896 m elevation gain

7. Miners Peak

It’s little additional effort to hike up Miners Peak after you’ve already made it up to the saddle of the Ha Ling Peak hiking trail, but it’s quieter and the views are equally spectacular. In addition, you’ll get one of the best views of Ha Ling Peak.

Ha Ling Peak consistently shows up on lists of best Kananaskis hikes, but little is said about Miners Peak. While we think Ha Ling Peak is one of the best hiking trails in Kananaskis, if time permits, we highly recommend hiking to Miners Peak as well.

In a lot of ways, we like this Kananaskis hike better than its neighbour Ha Ling. Find out why in our full post on the Miners Peak trail.

Miners Peak Trail Stats:
Distance: 8.1 km out and back
Elevation: 829 m

8. East End of Rundle Trail (EEOR)

After the view of Ha Ling Peak from Miners Peak, you can get an equally jaw dropping view from this difficult Kananaskis hike. Hiking up EEOR (East End of Rundle) is another one of the best hikes in Kananaskis.

The higher you climb hiking EEOR the better the views get! Even with those incredible mountain views, hiking EEOR can be challenging especially when it comes to finding the trail. We highly recommend using the AllTrails app for this hike.

Staying on the trail can be difficult on this challenging Kananaskis hike. Get links for the trail map and much more in our post on the East End of Rundle Trail.

East End of Rundle Trail Stats:
Distance: 5.6 km out and back
Elevation: 877 m

9. Burstall Pass Trail

Burstall Pass is one of the best Kananaskis hikes if you’re looking for a long hike with a wide variety of mountain scenery. This trail starts near Mud Lake and takes you through forest, past Burstall Lakes, across a wide meadow and eventually up to Burstall Pass, where you’ll get incredible views back towards Mt. Chester, Mt. Galatea and the surrounding peaks.

This is a difficult Kananaskis hike, mostly because of the distance and elevation gain. The first half of the trail is relatively gentle, but the second half gets steeper as you climb toward the pass. If you’re not sure you want to commit to the full hike, you can still hike as far as the large meadow and get some amazing Kananaskis scenery without doing the harder climb to the top.

Burstall Pass is also one of the best larch hikes in Kananaskis, especially in mid-to-late September. There are larch trees along the upper section of the trail and beautiful views of golden larch forests from the pass, making this a great fall hike.

For more information on this difficult Kananaskis hike, read our post on the Burstall Pass Trail.

Burstall Pass Hike Stats:
Distance: 14.8 km out and back
Elevation: 650 m

What Do You Need For Kananaskis Hiking?

You’ll find the remoteness of Kananaskis will often leave you without a cell signal, which means you need to be prepared in advance.

To help you stay safe and make the most out of your trip, we have written a post about our recommended hiking gear for the Canadian Rockies.

It’s also a good idea to have a quick read of our guide on how to properly dress for hiking in Banff, which also applies to hiking in Kananaskis.