HIKING IN THE ROCKIES
Whether you are a beginner hiker or an experienced scrambler, there is something for everyone in our wide-open backyard
Activity Available all year rounD,
depending on trail closures
Hiking in the Rockies is an experience of pure adrenaline, and delight. Banff National Park and Yoho National Park both offer awesome hiking trails, and the experience will be one you will never forget.
Please ask our front desk at check-in if there are currently any guided hikes being offered. Parks Canada is a great resource for guided hikes.
Banff
The Hoodoos
Area:
Banff
Closest CRMR lodge:
Buffalo Mountain Lodge
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This short, easily walked trail offers a not-to-be missed sight: the enchanting hoodoos, which are natural formations above the Bow River. Excellent viewpoints, interpretive information and just a short jaunt from the Lodge.
MINNEWANKA LOOP
Area:
Banff
Closest CRMR lodge:
Buffalo Mountain Lodge
–
This meandering scenic drive not only takes you along the shore of Lake Minnewanka, but also through the long-since deserted coal mining town and industrial site of Upper Bankhead and Lower Bankhead, respectively.
Other activities on the loop include fishing, hiking, canoeing, swimming (seasonal), picnicking and cycling.
TUNNEL MOUNTAIN
Area:
Banff
Closest CRMR lodge:
Buffalo Mountain Lodge
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This moderate and short hike offers spectacular 360-degree views of the Banff townsite and surrounding area. This trail is usually the first to melt its snow cover each spring.
Johnston Canyon Falls
Area:
Banff
Closest CRMR lodge:
Buffalo Mountain Lodge
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Experience the thundering power of water on rock. It’s just a 1.1 kilometer hike up a paved trail and catwalks to the Lower Falls (which are wheelchair accessible); the Upper Falls are a further 1.6 kilometers. With its sharp drop-offs, the canyon trail definitely has an exciting edge.
With proper footwear and ice cleats, this is an excellent winter hike as well.
Lake Louise
Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House
Area:
Lake Louise
Closest CRMR lodge:
Deer Lodge
–
The hike to the Plain of Six Glaciers is one of Banff National Park’s classic hikes. The hike begins at Chateau Lake Louise which is located 5 minutes from Deer Lodge. From the parking lot, it’s 5.5 kms to the Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse. Continue another 1.6 kms along the trail to the viewpoint for a closer view of the glaciers.
LAKE AGNES
TEA HOUSE
Area:
Lake Louise
Closest CRMR lodge:
Deer Lodge
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Lake Agnes Tea House is a family run tea house situated near Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada. At an altitude of 2,135 m or 7,005 ft, the Tea House is located in a lovely hanging valley on the shores of Lake Agnes. After a forested 3.5 km hike, with an elevation gain of 400 m or 1,300 ft, the valley opens to reveal spectacular Lake Agnes. Together with Mirror Lake and Lake Louise, these lakes are often referred to as the ‘Lakes in the Clouds’.
MORAINE LAKE HILLS
Area:
Lake Louise
Closest CRMR lodge:
Deer Lodge
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The hike around the Moraine Lake Shoreline is the easiest way to appreciate the beauty of this famous alpine lake. A flat, easy trail weaves its way through shoreline trees and offers extraordinary views of the Ten Peaks, a series of encircling summits all over 10,000 feet. Hike up the Rock Pile for an alternative view of these turquoise waters and the nearby Tower of Babel. (3 km return)
There is no longer public parking at Moraine Lake.
TAKAKKAW FALLS
Area:
Field
Closest CRMR lodge:
Emerald Lake Lodge
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Take the Yoho Valley Road (3 kilometres east of Field) north for 13 kilometres to one of Canada’s highest and most dramatic waterfalls. Open to vehicle traffic in the summer and to cross country skiers in the winter. The trail is track-set for the first 7 kilometres only during the winter.
Field
BURGESS SHALE
Area:
Field
Closest CRMR lodge:
Emerald Lake Lodge
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A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Burgess Shale formation – high atop Wapta Mountain and Mount Stephen – is considered one of the world’s most significant fossil finds. Once an ancient seabed, the Burgess Shale is a rich deposit of tiny fossilized animals.
Highly protected, the area is NOT open to the public, although guided hikes of the Burgess Shale Walcott Quarry and Mount Stephen Fossil Beds are available during summer months.
NATURAL BRIDGE
Area:
Field
Closest CRMR lodge:
Emerald Lake Lodge
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Located eight kilometers south of Emerald Lake Lodge, the Natural Bridge spans the rushing waters of Kicking Horse River and is one of the park’s most popular and accessible destinations. A marvel at any time of year, the bridge can be reached by hiking, cross country skiing, snowshoeing or vehicle.
Yoho Lake from Emerald Lake
Area:
Field
Closest CRMR lodge:
Emerald Lake Lodge
–
Take the Emerald Lake trail 1.4kms to the Yoho Lake Trail, which leads away from Emerald Lake. The gently sloped path increases in steepness near Yoho Pass. The top of the pass offers a breathtaking view of Emerald Lake and the Van Horne Range. The trail descends to Yoho Lake and rewards hikers with a view of Mount Wapta.
PRIVATE Guided HIKES
Every trail has a tale to tell.
Admire the beauty of the Canadian Rockies on a guided hike with Great Divide Nature Interpretation. You will see more and understand more – things you would have missed on your own. Choose either a day hike or a half day option, in Lake Louise, Yoho or Kootenay. Along the trail, they weave together stories about wildlife, wildflowers, glaciers, history, and the big picture processes that reveal the “why” of it all. You’ll come away enriched.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For additional trail information: contact Yoho National Park Headquarters in Field or call 250.343.6783
Banff Lake Louise Tourism is also a wonderful resource to find out more about classic hikes in the Rockies and more.
Looking for a guided hike? Canadian Rockies Alpine can take you on your next adventure or BackRoads offers guided tours of the area.
Of course, once you decide which hike to do, the next step is booking your stay at Buffalo Mountain Lodge in Banff, Deer Lodge in Lake Louise, or Emerald Lake Lodge in Field, BC! We have the perfect hiking package for you.