Top 10 Hiking Trails in Kananaskis Country, Canadian Rockies

May 22, 2022 Janette Largent

Discover the best top things to do in Kananaskis Country, Alberta including Highwood Meadows Trail, Ptarmigan Cirque Trail, Pigeon Mountain Trail, Centennial Ridge Trail, Village Rim Trail, Wasootch Ridge Trail, Bow River Loop, Galatea Lakes Trail, Ribbon Creek Trail, Rawson Lake Trail.
Restaurants in Kananaskis Country

1. Highwood Meadows Trail

Hwy 40, 17 KM S of Kananaskis Lakes Trail junction Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, Alberta Canada +1 403-678-0760 http://www.albertaparks.ca/peter-lougheed/information-facilities/trails/highwood-meadows.aspx
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 8 reviews

Highwood Meadows Trail

2. Ptarmigan Cirque Trail

Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, Alberta Canada +1 866-427-3582 http://www.albertaparks.ca/kananaskis-country/advisories-public-safety/trail-reports/peter-lougheed/ptarmigan-cirque-interpretive
Excellent
77%
Good
23%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 35 reviews

Ptarmigan Cirque Trail

Reviewed By silverbrook - London, Canada

The Ptarmigan Cirque Trail is the second, more challenging trail that originates in the same area the Highwood Meadows area. It is about a 6K hike with some elevation that takes you across Highway 40 into the Alpine Meadows area, giving you some spectacular views of Mt.Arethusa and Mt.Rae. For this trail you will need some good footwear, since most of it is on trails, as well as water and sunscreen. You should also be on the lookout for wildlife, large and small during your trek. There is ample parking at the start of the trail as well as some information signs at the start where the two trails start. Older kids and adults should really enjoy this hike, but younger ones may find it a bit too long since it is a couple hour loop. You can make more a day of it by doing both trails.

3. Pigeon Mountain Trail

Canmore, Alberta T1W 2T8 Canada
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 2 reviews

Pigeon Mountain Trail

4. Centennial Ridge Trail

Dead Man's Flats, Canmore, Alberta Canada +1 403-678-0760 http://www.albertaparks.ca/parks/kananaskis/kananaskis-country/advisories-public-safety/trail-reports/kananaskis-valley/centennial-ridge
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 4 reviews

Centennial Ridge Trail

Reviewed By BenLar137 - Calgary, Canada

We had great weather for our recent adventure on this trail, but you wouldn't want to be caught in bad weather on it, so make sure you have an 9 - 10 hour good weather window when attempting this hike. Mt Allen summit is the prize on this trail, regardless if you come from the north or the south. We like the north approach. It IS a bit longer, but you gain the altitude over a longer trail, making it averagely less steep than the south approach from Ribbon Creek / Kananaskis Village. We haven't done the south approach for a while, so can't say how much scrambling (hand holds required) there is there, but averagely steep gradients, with the inevitable rocky trails can be a bit challenging, especially going down. The north approach does have a couple of short scrambling sections (less that 10 ft / 3 m's) where you need your hands to get up/down them, but they are not extremely steep, there's no endless drop-offs, so most anybody should be able to manage them. The north approach also has gorgeous alpine meadows, and lovely alpine trails through the woods at the higher levels. The lower levels and approach are on old exploration roads, and are, for the most part, nice to walk. If you're thinking about this one, do some research on the internet (and you may need to search under Mount Allen trails), make sure you have the physical stamina for this (must be able to walk up and down steep trails for 9 hours) and have a good weather window.

5. Village Rim Trail

Kananaskis Village, Alberta Canada http://www.albertaparks.ca/parks/kananaskis/kananaskis-country/advisories-public-safety/trail-reports/kananaskis-valley/village-rim/
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 2 reviews

Village Rim Trail

6. Wasootch Ridge Trail

Alberta Canada
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 2 reviews

Wasootch Ridge Trail

7. Bow River Loop

Canmore, Alberta Canada
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 10 reviews

Bow River Loop

Reviewed By Travleriam - Edmonton, Canada

Easy well maintain walkway. We do this several times each visit. Views are spectacular and there are plenty of benches along the trail for rest stops.

8. Galatea Lakes Trail

Kananaskis Park, Alberta Canada +1 403-678-0760 http://www.albertaparks.ca/parks/kananaskis/kananaskis-country/advisories-public-safety/trail-reports/kananaskis-valley/galatea-creek
Excellent
57%
Good
36%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 14 reviews

Galatea Lakes Trail

9. Ribbon Creek Trail

Kananaskis Provincial Park, Canmore, Alberta Canada +1 403-678-0760 http://www.albertaparks.ca/parks/kananaskis/evan-thomas-pra/information-facilities/day-use/ribbon-creek
Excellent
54%
Good
46%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 26 reviews

Ribbon Creek Trail

Reviewed By Charlotte_Saudades86 - The Netherlands, null

This hike was great, it has challenging parts such as climbing up the rocks with chains. I think it is about 10km or so to get to the lake. At the lake there is a campground. There were lots of other great people around the fire that also concurred the hike up there. Would really recommand this one (in summer, not winter).

10. Rawson Lake Trail

Kananaskis Lakes Trail, Kananaskis, AB Trailhead is at end of Kananaskis Lake Trail, Alberta T0L 2H0 Canada +1 403-591-6322 http://www.albertaparks.ca/peter-lougheed/information-facilities/trails/rawson-lake.aspx
Excellent
73%
Good
27%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 37 reviews

Rawson Lake Trail

Reviewed By BenLar137 - Calgary, Canada

There are some challenges with a short, steeper section, but almost everybody should be able to manage this fantastic hike. On our recent visit, there was a group of seniors, 70+, as well as mom's group with their newborns, so we really mean it is for everyone. The trail follows the Upper Kananaskis Lakeshore Trail for a short while, and the views from this leg are quite something. The uphill section through the forest gives you wonderful mossy woods. At the lake, the view across the water when you arrive is classic, but don't stop there. In the summer, it's safe to negotiate left, to find your own little spot on the lake. For those with time and lots of gas in the tank, outside of the snow season, you can proceed on very strenuous informal route to the ridge to the north, which has a stunning view down valley from the top. Up the to lake is safe all year, but when the snow has come, the cirque around the lake is a big avalanche threat, so DO NOT venture beyond the stream outflow area where the trail first meets the lake.

ThingsTodoPost © 2018 - 2024 All rights reserved.