Canada’s Western provinces of British Columbia and Alberta are home to the Canadian Rockies, offering some of the best hiking and most scenic views on the planet. When visiting this side of the country, there are several trails that hikers simply can’t miss when they wish to fully experience the great thing about the country.
These are 10 hikes with epic viewpoints, with varying difficulty levels. There’s something for everybody so all visitors to Canada’s Western provinces can appreciate their natural wonders.
10 Joffre Lakes
Joffre Lakes is a 10.9 km out and back trail in British Columbia. The route is a moderate difficulty level by having an elevation gain of 880 meters over the course of the hike. Set among massive trees, these rocky paths take hikers to 3 lakes, each at a higher elevation compared to last. While the 3 lakes are stunning shades of turquoise, the 3rd lake is the best viewpoint of the trail. Encompassed by vast mountains and forests, hikers might enjoy a peaceful moment in the third lake all privately.
9 Stawamus Chief
Located near Squamish, British Columbia, the Stawamus Chief Trail is really a challenging yet short hike that can take an average of 2 hours and 39 minutes to complete. It’s a 6.0 km loop having a whopping 654 meters of elevation gain. Hikers should anticipate climbing a number of rocky staircases, ascending ladders, and scaling rock faces with the help of chains to achieve Peak 1, Peak 2, and Peak 3.
While very difficult feat, reaching the peaks of the Stawamus Chief Trail is worthwhile for that incredible views of Squamish and Howe Sound. Although dogs are permitted on the trail when on a leash, this isn't a particularly dog-friendly route due to the ladders and rock climbing involved.
8 Lynn Canyon Loop
Visitors to Vancouver for a weekend can still jump on a legendary hike without venturing too much outside the city. Lynn Canyon is located in North Vancouver and allows travelers to obtain a taste of British Columbia’s beautiful forest landscapes on the short and fairly easy hike.
The Lynn Canyon Loop is a short 2.6 km trail that can take only 47 minutes (typically) to complete. Despite its brevity, the loop offers three scenic viewpoints which are definitely photo-worthy. Included in this are the suspension bridge, twin falls, and 30-foot pool.
7 Garibaldi Lake Trail
In the Squamish-Lillooet region of British Columbia lies Garibaldi Lake Trail, a trek with a moderate difficulty rating that takes just below 6 hours to accomplish. The trail is eighteen.2 km out and back, and due to its length is a popular choice for camping overnight before hiking back the next morning.
BC Parks has had steps to reduce the amount of hikers around the trail to avoid overcrowding. By 2022, visitors must register online for his or her trek at discovercamping.ca to obtain their day-pass.
6 Panorama Ridge
Also situated in Garibaldi Provincial Park, Panorama Ridge is really a long trail with a high difficulty rating. It's a 28.3 km loop that typically takes just over nine hours to complete. The hike has 1541 meters of elevation gain, meaning the views from the summit are really unforgettable.
Since this can be a long and difficult trek, it’s better to complete this hike between June and October when the weather is pleasant and the trail is free of charge from snow and ice.
5 Big Beehive
The Big Beehive is one of the most rewarding hikes in Banff National Park. The ten.9 km out and back trail is recognized as a frightening route that takes approximately 4 hours to finish. Hikers gain 776 meters of elevation throughout the trek.
The trailhead starts at Lake Louise near the Fairmont Hotel. Partway up the trail, the Lake Louise teahouse is the perfect destination to tea and lunch time before continuing up the trail towards the actual Big Beehive. Here, hikers encounter steep switchbacks resulting in the top where you can find stunning views of Lake Louise’s vibrant blue waters down below.
4 Wilcox Pass
Located in Jasper National Park, Wilcox Pass Trail is a challenging point-to-point hike that can take approximately three and half hours to accomplish. The trail is 11.4 km long with 414 meters of elevation gain. This can be a great stop while driving the long-lasting Icefields Parkway while offering exceptional views of the Columbia Icefields.
The trail starts out in the forest and moves into a wide open pass where it’s not unusual to determine big-horned sheep grazing. Keep the camera ready to snap some shots on this unique hike in Western Canada.
3 Sentinel Pass via Larch Valley Trail
A popular trail near Moraine Lake, the Larch Valley Trail is named for that gorgeous larches that line the pathway. In late September, these unique trees turn a vibrant shade of yellow, making this trail ideal for autumn photography.
Sentinel Pass via Larch Valley is definitely an 11.1 km out and back hike with 799 meters of elevation gain. It requires approximately 4 hours to accomplish and is challenging. The Sentinel Pass especially needs a rugged pair of hiking shoes to navigate the steep switchbacks. However, hikers who get to the top are rewarded with wondrous views of the peaks surrounding the lake.
2 Parker’s Ridge Trail
Parker’s Ridge Trail to Saskatchewan Glacier is a 6.4 km out and back trail in Alberta, along the Icefields Parkway. It takes only about two hours to complete with 338 meters of elevation gain. The trail is open year-round and may even be completed in snowshoes during the winter season.
In any season, the viewpoint searching within the Saskatchewan Glacier after the trail is a sight to behold.
1 Upper Kananaskis Lake Trail
Many people to Banff National Park choose to remain in Canmore, Alberta for the duration of their trip because of less expensive accommodations. While in Canmore, avid hikers should check out some of the best trails in Canada’s beautiful Kananaskis Country.
For a short and simple hike near Canmore, top of the Kananaskis Lake Trail is simply under two hours and 7.7 km out and back. It takes just 154 meters of elevation gain but nonetheless rewards hikers with a panoramic viewpoint that overlooks the region’s many mountain peaks.
