Spring Hikes
Spring is a time of renewal in the mountains as snow begins to melt and waterfalls surge with fresh runoff. Wildlife becomes more active, and lower elevation trails are perfect for enjoying the first signs of the hiking season.
As the weather warms, icy sections can develop quickly on the trails, so you may want to consider renting hiking crampons/cleats, and hiking poles from Gear Up Mountain Sports.
Grassi Lakes is a hike located just outside of Canmore and is a favourite among locals and visitors alike! You can take the “more difficult” route (which isn’t strenuous), but the trail is a little more narrow than the “easy” route. This route gives you a nice view of a beautiful waterfall on your way up to the lakes. At the top, you often can enjoy not only the view, but also rock climbers scaling the mountains around you! We often take the “easy” route back down, which has a wide and busy path.
The Bow River Trail is a Canmore classic trail right in town! It follows along the Bow River, and offers stunning views of the Canmore mountain ranges. You can take the trail out to the old Engine Bridge, which is the perfect spot for a photo op, and gives a glimpse into the history of years passed in Canmore! There are lots of benches and a few park spaces along the trail that gives you the opportunity to take a break and enjoy the views!
​Troll Falls is located near Kananaskis Village (about a 40 minute, very scenic drive from Canmore) and is an easy out and back trail with relatively little elevation gain and clearly marked and well maintained trail. Enjoy the peace of the forest as you walk along the trail, with a beautiful waterfall waiting for you to explore! This hike can be enjoyed usually with regular footwear, however there can be very icy sections surrounding the falls if you are looking to explore around the Upper Fall area.
Kananaskis Village is another wonderful little setting to explore! There is a lovely short trail that circles around the resort area with some absolutely amazing vistas of the surrounding mountains! One of our favourite places to go and grab a coffee from the shop and spend some time soaking up the views and the fresh mountain air!
Grotto Canyon is just a short drive from Canmore, and a nice short hike with almost no elevation gain. You hike through a canyon, and are rewarded with a few nice little waterfalls at the end. Along the way, try and spot the cave drawings on the rocks that date back to pre-European times!
In the town of Banff, there is a gondola that you can take up to the top of Sulphur mountain, or you can hike it (approx 1.5-2hrs to hike up). There are platforms and a boardwalk at the top of the mountain that you can look out over the town, and provides panoramic views of 6 mountain ranges in all directions. If you are looking for a view-- this one is a must! There is also a new state-of-the-art interpretive centre and multi-sensory theatre at the top of the mountain. To top it off, you can enjoy a wonderful meal at the Sky Bistro, with floor to ceiling windows to enjoy the views while you dine in the sky! (You can book gondola/dining experiences online to help with your planning as well!)
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Tunnel mountain is another winter favourite, with lovely views of the town of Banff below, but is a little more leisurely to tackle than neighbouring Sulphur mountain. This hike is about half the elevation of Sulphur, if you are looking for something a little quicker!
Johnston Canyon is a popular, but classic hike. There are 2 waterfalls, the lower, which is the smaller and busier of the two, and the upper waterfall, which tends to have less traffic and is well worth the short hike. Doing this hike in spring is very neat with the thawing waterfalls and snow along the canyon. It can be very icy though, so bringing along some walking cleats (or renting them from GrearUp Sports in Canmore) is not a bad idea!
Another of our favourite ways to spend the day is to take a nice relaxing walk along the Three Sisters Pathway. From Bridge Road in Canmore, take a left after crossing the bridge toward the public boat launch. From there you can follow a section of the Trans Canada Trail that takes you all the way out to the Three Sisters community (or you can turn around at any point along the way). We love how the trail weaves between forested areas, open park spaces, some residential areas, and even passes by a few old mines! If you walk all the way out to the Three Sisters community, you can make a quick stop at the Market Bistro to relax, grab a bite to eat, and regain some energy for the walk back! We have always enjoyed their flatbread pizzas! The trail back follows the same route back into Canmore.
