Best Hikes in the Canadian Rockies

Best Hikes in the Canadian Rockies

The Canadian Rockies are a hiking paradise and I wanted to make an easy resource for you to find the best hikes with the best views! I have picked 3 hikes for each category of easy, medium and difficult!

Easy Hikes

Grassi Lakes Trail (Canmore)

Stats: 3.4km (1-2 hours)

• Grassi Lakes is a popular hiking spot in Canmore, Alberta, known for its stunning turquoise-coloured lakes and picturesque views. It is only a 3.4km hike and fairly easy! The area is perfect for a leisurely day hike or a relaxing picnic by the water. It is a short hike with a big payoff! This hike can be done from May to October.

Johnston Canyon (Banff)

Stats to Upper Falls: 5.5km return, 255 meters (2 hours)

• Johnston Canyon is a popular hiking spot in Banff National Park and it is about 10 minutes out of town. The hike first goes to the Lower Falls and then to the Upper Falls at the end and it is a one way hike. This hike takes you through dramatic canyons with waterfalls and cliffside walkways. The Lower falls are a short walk from the trailhead, and the upper falls are slightly longer. It is an easy hike in the area all in all! If you are there in summer it is probably one of the busiest hikes in Banff so try to go early to avoid crowds, it does not get that busy in winter. We did it in winter and it was seriously a winter wonderland, the frozen waterfall were insane.

• Tunnel Mountain Trail (Banff)

  Stats: 4.3km, 400m (2-3 hours)

  • The Tunnel Mountain Trail in Banff offers a relatively easy to moderate hike with stunning views of the Canadian Rockies. The 4.3 km trail with 400m elevation gain, starts near the town of Banff, provides a good workout with its steep incline but rewards hikers with panoramic vistas of the Bow River and surrounding area. With a mix of switchbacks and level sections, this popular trail is accessible to hikers of all ages and abilities. Don't forget to pack water, snacks, and your camera for this picturesque adventure in the heart of Banff National Park! We did this for sunrise and it was super pretty. You can do it in winter or summer, just bring crampons in winter.

Medium Hikes

East End of Rundle (Kananaskis)

Stats: 4.8km, 823 meter elevation gain (4 hours)

• The East End of Rundle, also known as EEOR, is a popular scramble hike in Kananaskis just outside of Canmore. It is 4.8km return over 823 meters. So straight up! The route starts near the Spray River bridge and involves a non-technical ascent up the right-hand profile of the mountain. While sturdy hiking boots are essential, no special climbing gear is required. Just be prepared for steep, strenuous hiking and some slippery conditions, especially when wet. Remember to stay on the marked trail and enjoy the adventure!

Big and Little Beehive (Lake Louise)

Stats: 12km, 880m elevation gain (6 hours)

• The Beehive is a popular hiking trail at Lake Louise. There are 2 Beehives the Big Beehive and the Little Beehive. Both hikes start at the Upper Lake Louise parking area and take you up to a charming European-style tea house nestled by Lake Agnes. From there, you can continue on to the Big Beehive for panoramic views or head to the Little Beehive for a lookout over the Bow Valley. We did both of the Beehives, and it was worth it as the Little Beehive is just a small detour. If you are there and you can do it, definitely do both! If you have to pick one, I would choose the Big Beehive. The little Beehive is only an extra 1.7km in total.

  Lake O'Hara: Opabin Plateau Loop (Yoho National Park)

Stats: 9km, 500m elevation gain (4-5 hours)

• The back country in Lake O'Hara is honestly one of the prettiest areas we have ever been! We did the Opabin Plateau Loop with the add on to Lake Oesa (The Alpine Loop Trail) and it was one of the most scenic hikes we have ever seen. This greater loop is about 9km and 500m elevation and worth every step. The Opabin Prospect lookout is the prettiest spot on the trail, but Lake Oesa itself is stunning too. There is also the mellower Shoreline trail which is just as pretty and has some great swimming spots. NOTE: you do need a shuttle to get to the beginning of this hike. The shuttles are on a lottery and the permits are usually up for grabs in March, you will have to keep checking the Parks Canada Site. On our travel tips section we wrote how to book this, so check it out. We did not get the shuttle, so we had to hike an extra 11km down a gravel road just to start the hike!

Difficult Full day or Multi day Hikes

Floe Lake (Kootenays)

Stats: 20 km, 900m elevation gain (8 hours or overnight)

• Floe Lake is a beautiful spot in Kootenay National Park, known for its stunning turquoise waters and picturesque mountain backdrop. It is one of the prettiest hikes in the Rockies. Situated in Yoho National Park, this hike is usually done as an over night, and you will need to get a camping permit. You can do it as a day hike with no permit. It is also part of a multi day trek called the Rockwall trail as well but we opted just to stay the night at Floe Lake. Last minute cancellations do pop up!

Mount Assiniboine (Banff)

Stats: 52km, 1500m elevation gain (3-5 days)

• Mount Assiniboine, known as the "Matterhorn of the Rockies," is a stunning destination in the Canadian Rockies. It is a multi day trek, and most people recommend 4-5 days for this trip. Getting to Mount Assiniboine is part of the reason why it’s so exclusive. Hiking to Mount Assiniboine is approximately 26 KM one way or you can book a helicopter. Most people opt to take a helicopter ride at least one way in or out of the park. Or you could hike 26 KM both ways You have to get permits way in advance and they are usually sold in February and sell out quickly. You can camp or stay at the Assiniboine Lodge. The lodge is very pricey $500 plus, so I would recommend to camp. Where Is It The park is situated on the eastern edge of British Columbia, right on the border with Alberta and just south of Banff National Park. See the Mt Assiniboine map above to see exactly where it is. There are no roads into the park as it is truly situated in the backcountry and can only be accessed via three hiking trails or you can take a helicopter flight in.

Berg Lake Trail (Jasper Area)

Stats: 37km, 1500m elevation gain (at least 3-4 days)

• The Berg Lake Trail is a 37 km trek in the Canadian Rockies that takes you to the most beautiful alpine lakes and mountain views ever. You need to have a permit to camp on this trail, as it is a multi day trek. The permits sell out day of in February, so if you want to do it, keep an eye out on the BC Parks website for permit bookings. The best campsite to stay at is the Berg Lake Site. We recommend staying at least 2 nights on the trail. This hike has been closed since 2021 due to a landslide. We have plans to do it in September 2025, so I will update this section with info and pictures.