Scenic and peaceful spot just outside of Banff. Great for kayaking or SUP; water is very calm. It's…read morelocated right alongside the biking trail and is a nice change of pace.

Came here for one of the sunsets and it was nice, peaceful and of course beautiful. The water is so…read morecalm the reflection of the mountains is like a mirror image. Sitting there watching the sunlight slowly fade behinds the mountains it was truly a peaceful and calm moment for my mind.

There is nothing more beautiful than visiting a glacial lake in the middle of Banff National Park…read more This lake was one of our first stops for viewing and hiking. Lake Minnewanka is 142 meters deep (465 feet) and 21 kilometers (13 miles) long. It is the closest lake to the town of Banff and it is the largest lake in the park. The color of the lake is so striking with jewel tones of emerald, it is so clear and clean. The beautiful color comes from the glacial meltwater. Minnewanka means "Water of the Spirits" and there is a legend that when the Stoney people would travel in the neighborhood of the lake, they could hear voices of the resident spirits. The lake offers plenty of recreation opportunities such as picnicking, hiking, taking a cruise, renting a canoe or kayak, rent a motorboat, or fishing for lake trout and mountain whitefish, and relaxing lakeside. Swimming is not recommended as the water is pretty frigid. The most unique thing about this lake is the town of Minnewanka Landing. In the early 1800's, it was once a thriving resort town. When the lake was dammed in 1941 to provide power to Banff and Calgary the water rose and now all that's left is a ghost town underwater. We decided to take a trail and hike. We were there in September and we were cautiously aware that bear season was approaching. We did not hike too far just about five miles around the lake's perimeter and returned as we had no bear spray. The scenery with the surrounding mountains was absolutely stunning and gorgeous. I believe the trail was the Stewart Canyon - Aylmer Pass Junction. On our way out, we got to see a couple of big horn sheep roadside. So cute! So much to see here and a great way to start our trip in Banff National Park. Love CANADA!!

I know Moraine Lake and Lake Louise get all the glory, but I actually really liked Lake Minnewanka…read more It was less crowded and there were more things to do. They had boat cruises and you could rent a canoe, kayak, or motorized boat. Also, it was convenient and fast to take the Roam Transit 6 bus here. Also, it seems like all the wedding photoshoots were here since it's less crowded and you don't have to hike very far to get really great pictures. My tip - just follow the wedding photographers, they know the best spots to get good shots. The pier was just nice to hang out and take pictures as well.

Grassi Lakes are amazing!!!! Truly emerald color and crystal clear waters. Since the easy trail was…read moreunder construction and closed, we took the difficult trail, which was much more steep. Totally worth the climb. Loved it.

So grateful for the recommendation we received from a local Calgarian Canadian to try this trail!…read moreThe views are absolutely spectacular!! This hike is located near a residential area in Canmore. Follow your GPS navigation which ultimately will take you down a single road, surrounded by tall evergreen trees, and a small dirt lot on the left for parking before you embark on the trail. A few recommendations: Park on the street as the lot fills up quick, bring sunscreen, and take the harder trail. Initially when starting the hike there will be two signs for the "Easy" and "More Difficult" trail paths. Trust me when I say the more difficult path is worth the extra strenuous steps. We had no idea that halfway through the path you stumble upon a gorgeous waterfall and incredible views of a giant lake surrounded by beautiful mountains. Then as you continue on this trail, you'll ultimately come to a clearing with emerald and turquoise lakes which is the perfect spot to stop, indulge in a quick snack, and soak in all those spectacular views. All in all if you take the not so easy trail you'll complete the entire thing within an hour and a half, including those moments where you stop and contemplate just gorgeous this country is. One final tip: bring Bear spray and attach bells to your hiking gear. The last thing you want to do is startle a bear and end up in a frightening situation. Luckily we did not see any bears on the trail, but we did see a Black Bear crossing the road as we were leaving the parking lot! We heard from locals that Canmore has a lot of Bear sightings so just plan ahead, be aware of your surroundings, and enjoy your fantastic hike on this beautiful trail!

Going on a spontaneous, free hike, at your own risk is one of the perks after cruising observatory…read moredeck. Highest peak elevation level at 8,041 ft. Pros are getting 360 degree views and great cardiovascular exercise. Cons about hiking this area are some of the wooden steps are slightly loose and bugs at the top swarming around.

We took the Banff Gondola up to the top of Sulphur Mountain. It was a fun ride and there's much to…read moresee at the top! There's an observation deck, which leads to a boardwalk that has amazing panoramic views of the town of Banff, Bow Valley and six mountain ranges. The boardwalk ends at the historic cosmic ray station, which is not longer in use. There is also a couple restaurants, gift shop and an interpretive center at the summit. This is a must while visiting this area. Would highly recommend!

I recently did a trail run to Chester Lake and back on the Chester Lake Trail. Chester Lake is such…read morea beautiful lake. The view of Gusty Peak, the Fortress and Mount Chester in the background while standing on the shores of this lake is so picturesque. You can see the reflection of the mountains and the clouds in the clear water. Mount Chester is named after the HMS Chester, which was severely damaged in the Battle of Jutland in 1916. Chester Lake is a small lake in the Alberta side of the Canadian Rockies. It is located inside Spray Valley Provincial Park in Kananaskis Country. The lake itself is located in a small valley just northwest of the base of Mount Chester. I was here during the summer with my running group and Chester Lake Trail was one of our runs. We passed several people on the trail that were hiking. In the winter, the trail to the lake is popular for snowshoeing. Even though I dreaded the elevation climb, I enjoyed this trail run and was able to take some great photos of Chester Lake before heading back. A Kananaskis Conservation Pass is required to park your vehicle in Kananaskis.

When: Mid-October Difficulty: Moderate to Advanced,…read moredepending on weather Distance: 8 miles out and back to Lake Lillian (We couldn't get to Galatea due to weather) Time Required: 5-6 hours out and back (Keep sunset and daylight in mind when choosing a start time) Conditions: Trail offers large expanses of shade broken up by sections that show the mountain tops and allow you to look down into the valley. Interesting Elements: Rock slide and avalanche path crossings Payoff: Lake Lillian, Backpack Camp, and (if reachable) Galatea Lake Would you recommend this hike to visitors?: Yes. Especially in the Spring/Summer The Kananaskis area is just off the beaten path for many tourists who are either visiting Banff or Canmore, so you'll find a trail that's frequented by locals and a bit quieter than those closer to town. Under normal conditions, I'd say this trail is most definitely moderate. There's about a 1,500 ft elevation gain over the course of about 4 miles, and it's extremely gradual save for a section or two. For us, the trail ended up being slightly more advanced due to overnight temps below freezing and light snow which, over the course of the day, turned to ice. Ascending was tricky, but careful foot placement had us moving at a steady pace. Descending was another story, making sure to step cautiously to maximize what little traction was available from unmolested snow and rocks. In these conditions poles and/or traction aids are recommended, and if we had them, the trail would have been moderately difficult. The views of the creek as you cross the multiple bridges are peaceful. Mountains are in view almost the entire time, and there are several points at which you really get a sense of scale for this incredible place. Sadly the big payoff for us was not Lake Lillian, but rather the campsite where we found two hikers who'd started a wonderful fire! We also shared some mulled wine with two Russian hikers too, warming us up from the inside and making the descent a lot more enjoyable.

Came here on a weekday afternoon around 2PM, parking lot about half full. Saw a lot of people on…read morethe way down when we were going up. Trail crossed the creek a few times, lots of bridges. Path wasn't too steep, definitely moderate, good views along the way. Rocky in some parts but manageable. Took about two hours to the lakes - Lillian Lake was pretty, and Galatea Lakes were awesome! Basically had the lakes to ourselves, it was great. Didn't see anyone on the way down, we were the only car when we got back around 7PM. Great hike!

Quick hike to check out the frozen river and waterfall. The first half is underwhelming but it gets…read morebetter once you see the benches right before the river. During the winter, it's best to use crampons as it is icy and there is a bit of incline. There were only a few car in the parking lot on Sunday morning when I visited and still plenty of spaces at noon when I left. There's toilets in the parking lot but no sink area.

Came here on a weekday morning, not really any cars. Beginning of the hike has a bit of street…read morenoise and power lines above, but it goes into the canyon. Pretty rocky as everyone else has said, not super interesting. Nice walk but wouldn't go out of my way to come here.

I would not listen to the other reviews that say Ha Ling Peak "is for everyone!" or that it's…read more"easy". This trail is definitely difficult for a multitude of reasons -- and yes, there are families on the trail but to actually complete the whole trail (which is what my review is about) there is a scramble at the summit which can be terrifying for those afraid of heights and/or inexperienced hikers, especially with the wind (and hail, when we hiked it) blowing at you. Regardless of the fact that we did this hike because we saw other reviews saying it was a trail for everybody, beginners included, we were able to complete most of it. We were a group of 5 (with our parents) who needed some breaks along the way and so our total hike time ended up being 4 hours. It was a great workout with some unparalleled views so I'd attempt at least a portion of it if you can. I'd just say to really watch for the weather forecast before you go. We had a 30 percent chance of rain at a time earlier in the day but we ended up being pounded with hailstorms at the top of the summit where there was literally zero cover. As long as you time your hike correctly, in terms of the weather, I think it'd be a very pleasant experience! Even so, the hail made it an experience that I will never forget. We didn't see much wildlife coming up, probably due to the fact that it's a pretty popular hike. It's also super dog friendly which is wonderful!

To get to Ha Ling Peak: - Drive to Canmore, then drive up…read morehighway #742 (the Smith-Dorrien-Spray Lakes Trail) towards Canmore Nordic Centre. - On Highway #742 pass the Nordic Centre and continue on the gravel road until you reach Goat Creek Parking Lot on the right hand side (there is a sign that says Goat Creek Parking Lot). - Park at Goat Creek Parking lot and cross the gravel road, cross the little bridge and you will find the trail head. Labelled as a moderate / Intermediate hike... I'm outta shape so I found it to be more than moderate as the hill is steep ALL the way up and down, plus there is the scramble at the top! but I made it and so can you! Endurance is your best friend here as you will be walking up a mountain on an incline the WHOLE time with not many (if any) flat areas. With that said, there were grandmas and grandpas, kids, dogs, and even parents carrying babies in backpacks on the trail!!! Wow!!! Be sure to wear layers as you will sweat and get hot while in the trees, but once past the tree line it is windy and chilly....so...tank top, t-shirt, wind breaker, grippy gloves (for scrambling), and a toque! (haha - wish I had brought mine!). Bring a backpack with water and lunch and enjoy the view! It took us just under 5 hrs (round trip) to complete (with my MANY stops and VERY leisurely pace!! Plus lunch near the top). The view was spectacular and well worth the hike up. Once at the top you have a view of the town of Canmore, plus a 360 view all around!! My toes and knees did hurt coming down as it is steep... and I even had good shoes on! So definitely wear good shoes (preferably hiking ones) and bring walking sticks if you have them. Highly recommended! p.s. once called "Chinaman's peak"