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!

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"

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!

Fabulous hiking trail, provides great views at the top although you can't go all the way to the top…read morebecause there is a ranger station up there...... Our mutual friend J uses it for training because the driveway to go up to the parking lot is maintained in the winter so it's good for burning lotta calories and running straight uphill while training in cleats if that's your kind of thing....... I should mention that only go this route if your car is in good shape or you have a 4 x 4 because the dirt road is pretty rough on the way up and on the way down. We broker serpentine belt for the second time in a year !

Moose Mountain is fat tire mountain bike freedom. The mountain is host to to countless miles of…read morecommunity maintained gorgeous mountain bike single track. There's a big difference between riding your mountain bike on trails, and riding on trails that were creatively crafted for the sole purpose of mountain biking. These trails have been crafted corner by corner from the dirt up for the very best mountain bike experience. The result is a breathtaking combination of smiles, thrills, and high fives. Respect these trails! If you pack it in, pack it out. If you break it, fix it. If you can't jump it - don't. If it's a downhill trail, use it in the down hill direction. If you don't feel like riding in the uphill direction, the road is open from May 15 - December 1. There's no shame in loading a pickup truck full of bikes and driving to the top. Just make sure to drive with respect and do your best not to dust storm them people who choose to ride up. If you do like pedalling upward and onward, there is a really fun trail (Pneuma) that rides along near moose mountain road. While it's not as efficient as riding up the road, it's a far more enjoyable. Pneuma is possibly the most fun I've ever had riding up a hill. Going for a hike? Great - there's room for that too! Grab your best walking stick and a hiking map so you can stick to the hiking trails. While it may be tempting to walk up the downhill mountain bike trails, please don't. You won't be missing out - trails that are intended for hiking have far more interesting hiking terrain, scenery, and take you locations with gorgeous views. Group hikes up DH mountain bike trails are just detrimental to the trails and dangerous for everyone. Here's your hiking info - http://www.braggcreek.ca/kananaskis/trails/moosemtn.htm Directions: Head south on 22 until you reach Bragg Creek. Hang left at the 4-way stop sign until a T intersection with a stop sign. Turn right at the 'T' intersection onto HWY 66. Continue to drive west past McLean Creek, past "Station Flats", the next road on the right side is Moose Mountain Rd. Moose Mountain Road is open Most trails are accessed by driving up Moose Mountain Rd and end out at Canyon Creek/Ing's Mine. There is parking at Ing's Mine and Station Flats.

Wonderful Spot to bring the whole Family together and enjoy the Canadian Rockies and so many other…read moregreat places like the trails and the Amazing Restaurant in Exshaw just a 10 minute drive from the Willow Rock Campground The Canadian Rockies Surrounding it are Just Magnificent

I wanted to give this review 2 stars based on my personal experience, but Bow Valley earns one more…read morestar for the potential I saw there. About 15 minutes before hitting Canmore on the way from Calgary, 10 minutes off the highway Bow Valley is a Provincial Park camp ground and day use park. A winding road took us toward the camp site, with great mountain views, a lake and picnic areas. $31 / night per lot, and another $23 for a second unit (tent) on the site. We arrived and checked in, met our friends there and got to setting up. Our site was pretty much in a field, NOTHING was level anywhere, rolls and dips, and a steady slope heading toward the back of the site. The overhead view on the website looked much nicer than the reality of the site. We were told that we can not set up anything on the grass, everything had to be on the gravel.. not very comfortable. So our tent had to go on a gravel slope? No thank you, we got our $23/night back and stayed in our friends trailer. Not a great start to the trip, but cold beer made the evening better. One big plus they have, is a very well maintained and clean bathrooms and showers. Much better than other sites we have gone to. So for the extra star, we walked around the site and made our way down to the river. The sites along the water are amazing! Lots of trees, well landscaped, and water access. IF we go back, it would have to be one of those sites. So great potential if you get the good spots. Basically from what we saw, half the sites were amazing, treed in proper camp sites, and the other half were in a field with landscaping done to resemble the surface of the moon. 2 Star personal experience, but one bonus star for potential! Either way, it is 45 minutes outside of Calgary, and a weekend getaway with friends is always good!

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 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.

We had an amazing time visiting Lake Louise and Moraine Lake with Wondergo Adventures! Our guide…read morewas prompt, friendly, and went out of his way to give us the best experience. We kayaked on Lake Louise and got to walk around the lake and take pictures while they transported and set up a kayak for us. Our guide even had coffee, tea, cronuts, and warm hand towels for us! We mentioned to our guide that we had not had the time to visit much of Banff, so he extended our trip and drove us to a few vistas and a waterfall on the way back to Canmore. We will definitely use this company again next time we visit.