I’ve done a lot of hiking around Banff and in the Canadian Rockies… and the trails at Sunshine Meadows have by far the best effort-to-reward ratio. There is literally nowhere else where you can wander through wildflower meadows, hike past alpine lakes, and enjoy mountain views while barely breaking a sweat. In the winter this …
Canadian rockies
Heads up: The Berg Lake Trail is currently closed but will fully reopen on June 26, 2025. It suffered extensive damage due to flooding in late June and early July 2021 and has been partially or completely closed since then while repairs are underway. The Berg Lake Trail in Mount Robson Provincial Park is one …
I’m not a huge water person, but I LOVE hot springs. After a day of hiking or hours in the car on a road trip, being able to sit in some warm water, outdoors, surrounded by nature… bliss. Thankfully, Western Canada has some great hot springs. In fact, all of the hot springs in Canada …
For years I sped through Yoho National Park on Highway 1, in a hurry to get to Banff. From the road, the mountains were pretty but they didn’t entice me to stop. Oh how wrong I was! Once I finally got off the highway and saw all the things to do in Yoho National Park, …
The Yoho Valley in Yoho National Park is a special place. In the Cree language, “Yoho” is an expression of wonder or awe. It pretty much means “wow!” And while it sounds cheesy, that’s what I kept saying when I spent three days backpacking the Yoho Valley Loop including the Iceline Trail. I had been …
Note: I’ve updated my Mount Assiniboine hiking guide to include updated info for 2025 including the new requirement for reservations at Porcupine Campground. With its prominent Matterhorn shape, Mount Assiniboine is one of the most photographed peaks in the Canadian Rockies. And that makes hiking to Mount Assiniboine one of the most spectacular backpacking trips …
There are so many things to do in Banff all year round it can hurt your head. Most people either visit Banff in the summer or in the winter, but there are some fantastic activities to enjoy in Banff in the spring. Banff in the spring may not be the most typical time to visit. …
Note: The devastating 2024 fires in Jasper National Park burned the northern portion of the Skyline Trail. However, as of December 2024, the trail has fully re-opened and is safe to hike. The Skyline Trail is one of the most popular backpacking trips in Jasper National Park. And it’s easy to see why – it’s …
Note: I’ve updated this post with the latest 2025 information for Lake O’Hara including info about the random-draw day-use bus lottery. A few years ago, I FINALLY made it to Lake O’Hara in Yoho National Park. It’s such a gorgeous area that I actually struggle to describe it. Of course, there’s a brilliant blue-green alpine …
Every year I make a trip to the Canadian Rockies to go backpacking. I love the glacier views, turquoise lakes, and alpine meadows. Here’s my list of the best backpacking trips in the Canadian Rockies. I’ve done most of the trips on this list and the rest are at the top of my to-do list! …