Hi everyone!
My group and I are looking for recommendations on a 3-5 hour summit hike with minimal scree! We’ve done south Lawson peak and loved it so something similiar would be much appreciated :)!
Thanks!
I saw a post recently from someone wanting to walk on the glacier. Hopefully it wasn’t this man. stay safe.
Hello! My family's new to Calgary and this will be our first summer camping and hiking around Kananaskis and Banff.
I was wondering, if you happen to see a bear on a trail or in a campground, should you always report it to Alberta Parks or something like that? Or maybe there's some nuance, like black bears are fine, grizzlies no? Or like, 100 metres away is normal, but "on" the trail is not?
And then a follow up question -- I've got the Rogers cell phone plan where you can send text messages via satellite coverage, where normally you wouldn't have cell coverage. Since you can text but not make phone calls with this plan when you're out in the wild, is there any phone number you should text if this happens? Or, just wait until you're back in cell phone range and call then? Not sure like if you're out backpacking or far away on a hike and you can't call immediately.
For either, who should you call or text?
Thanks so much!
https://www.albertaparks.ca/parks/kananaskis/elbow-sheep-wpp/#adv-20488
This is a warning, not a closure, for Highway 40 which is seasonally closed to vehicles right now until June 15th, 2026
The seasonal road closure gate is here: https://www.google.com/maps/search/King+Creek/@50.7156793,-115.1085077,2224m
It is not shown on the map view of GoogleMaps but you can see it on Street View.
We had to cut our time short due to limited number of PTO days! Has anyone done this plan? hows the hike all the way down from Robson pass?
| Friday, July 17th | Kelowna ☀️ | Valemount ⛰️ | 5.5h | Leave after work (2pm) and drive to Valemount. Stay night at Comfort inn and suites |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, July 18th | Berg Lake trailhead 🏔️ | Emperor Falls 🌊 | 16km | Start first day of hike |
| Sunday, July 19th | Emperor Falls 🌊 | Robson Pass 🏔️ | 7km | Hike to Robson pass, stay night |
| Monday, July 20th | Robson Pass 🏔️ | Trailhead | 21km + 5.5h drive | Hike back and drive home to Kelowna |
Hey guys, looking for a good overnight backpacking hike around early June (around June 7). Driving from Calgary so preferably within 3–4 hours.
Not really from around here so I’d really appreciate any recommendations or favourite spots. Thanks!
Hi folks my friend and I were looking for some help deciding between these two hikes as a short hike option over the summer. We have an early morning 6:30 am lake Louis shuttle and we're planning on driving the icefields parkway after so wanted to squeeze in a quick hike if possible. From my understanding little beehive can be done in around 3 hours as an out and back and Parker ridge in 2 hours. I know they are both very different I guess I'm just wondering if you had to choose between the two which would you say is more of a must do hike in terms of experience and view. Would we be missing out by not doing any of the hikes around lake Louis
While it was snowing the trail was absolutely breathtaking! Honestly if you kept on moving too you didn’t even feel cold.
Hi everyone,
I’m 35M based in Calgary and I’m looking to get into scrambling and build confidence exploring trails and mountains of varying difficulty.
Last year I completed Table Mountain and really enjoyed it, so I’d like to work through other well-known routes around the area such as Mount Shark, the Hoffman Trail, Turtle Mountain, and Smutwood Peak.
I’ve recently invested in proper hiking gear, including a Garmin inReach, and I’m ready to start building this into a more serious hobby and lifestyle.
I’d appreciate any recommendations on good places, routes, or resources for learning the basics of scrambling safely.
Thanks
I just planned a last minute trip for the last weekend of May - staying at The Prince of Wales Hotel. I realize it's still cold, wintery, and not the ideal hiking season. I just had a free weekend haven't been to Alberta yet so I figured why not?! I love, love, love exploring places during shoulder seasons.
What are the best hiking options (maybe within 45 min drive) that are doable this time of year? They can be big, small, any suggestions. I've done some research on google and have gotten a lot of conflicting suggestions so I wanted to come to the source of knowledge!
Are there any other must-see or must-do things around that area? I'm going to spend a few nights down at Lake McDonald in the US on my way out of town so I will hit the US side of Glacier at that point.
I found three ticks on my friend and one was already latched on! Please be careful out there. Located in the Ghost Public zone! Etick confirm these are Dermacentor sp. (le français suivra): The tick you photographed is most likely Dermacentor andersoni, but it could also be Dermacentor variabilis or Dermacentor albipictus. These three species can be encountered in Alberta and cannot be reliably distinguished using photographs. You will find information on all three species below.
Dermacentor andersoni This tick is also known as the Rocky Mountain wood tick (RMWT) and it does not transmit the agent of Lyme disease. This species can transmit other pathogens to humans, such as those responsible for Colorado tick fever, Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), and tularemia, but infections are extremely rare in Alberta. A toxin in the saliva of the female RMWT can, on very rare occasions, cause paralysis, which can be rapidly reversed by prompt removal of attached ticks.
In Alberta, RMWT can transmit RMSF to pets and Anaplasma marginale to cattle
Dermacentor variabilis This tick is also known as the American dog tick and it does not transmit the agent of Lyme disease. This species can transmit other disease agents to humans, including the pathogens responsible for RMSF and tularemia, but infections are extremely rare in Alberta.
In Alberta, American dog ticks pose little risk of pathogen transmission to pets, although they can transmit A. marginale to cattle.
Where and when can you be exposed? Although adults of the American dog tick are frequently encountered by people and companion animals in Alberta, populations of this species are not known to be established in the province. American dog ticks are typically encountered in areas with little or no tree cover such as along trails or grassy fields and scrubland. They usually feed on wild mammals but will also bite humans, pets, and domestic animals. In Alberta, adult American dog ticks are most frequently encountered from spring to early summer, especially on sunny days.
I have done mount Galatea and the tower (the peaks above Galatea lakes), and I am looking for suggestions for difficult scrambles so I can work up to Assiniboine in the next few years. I am experienced and fit, so length or elevation gain do not matter. I have some gear, and I’m looking at Joffre if I can get my buddy to guide me through the crevasses. Hidden gems are welcome, and preferably in kananaskis or Banff. Thanks
Me and my friends have recently wanted to get into hiking. We all play sports and go to the gym so we are all relatively athletic. That being said, we have no hiking experience and I was wondering if there are any good uphill hikes that don’t have any crazy scrambles or need for hiking skill and have a beautiful view at the top. I was looking at sarrail ridge but the reviews are making me think twice. Any suggestions would be appreciated!
Im going to go to king creek ridge and was wondering if anyone has had any experience with iPhones satellite features and can comment on how it is around/near the kananaskis area
Hi all wondering if Parker ridge is worth it if already planning on doing cirque peak. Is there enough variation between the two or should I use that time elsewhere. Planning on driving the entire parkway to jasper already. Any help is appreciated Tia
For context, I’m in Calgary
Me and my friends have recently wanted to get into hiking. We all play sports and go to the gym so we are all relatively athletic. That being said, we have no hiking experience and I was wondering if there are any good uphill hikes that don’t have any crazy scrambles or need for hiking skill and have a beautiful view at the top. I was looking at sarrail ridge but the reviews are making me think twice. Any suggestions would be appreciated!
