The classic Bertha Lake Trail is a short, steep hike involving 500m ascent to a busy but remarkably unspoilt mountain-fringed lake. Once at the lake there’s also an easy trail that runs right around its shores (adding another 5km to the trip). If you’re not up to either of the above, you can just do the first part of the...

The Akamina Parkway ends at Cameron lake where you can hire a canoe or choose from a broad range of hiking options: Easy: Akamina Lake (0.5km; 15min) Cameron Lakeshore (1.6km; 30min) Moderate: Forum (return: 3hrs/8km/300m ascent) and Wall (return: 4hrs/11km/165m ascent) lakes are both moderately-hard half-day hikes. Hard Carthew Summit (return: 8hrs; 20km; 1070m ascent), a superb but trail that...

West of downtown Canmore the land quickly begins to rise and the town starts to thin out, so that by the time Spray Lakes Road has climbed to Canmore Nordic Centre, you’re only left with views of the urban area. This modern former Olympic facility provides more than 65km (37 miles) of groomed and track-set trails for both classic and...

With few good mountain bike trails in the park, this is Waterton Lakes’ best circular ride, even though half is on access roads. But you get the roads out of the way early on, leaving a challenging climb and some lovely rolling singletrack to finish off. Start: Waterton, park on street. Directions (see map in photos): •Head north along the...

Cradled by a bowl of knife-edged Rockies and gathered on the banks of the rapid, ice-clear Elk River, Fernie‘s setting can compete with that of any Canadian mountain town. This makes first impressions of the town – a line of bland motels, chain stores and garages along Hwy-3 – a bit of a let-down, yet only block beyond, lie pleasant...

Without question one of the best mountain biking destinations in the world, Fernie has so many mountain biking trails that you write a book about them. That’s why Fernie Mountain Bike Club has been involved in producing a slick book ($20) that’s well worth picking up at any local bike or outdoor store. Part of the proceeds fund all-important trail...

Scenic mountain bike ride with a bit of everything: town views, lakeside trails and plenty of singletrack. This is a good introduction to what Jasper has to offer fat tires without venturing far from town: and there are plenty of options to lengthen and shorten the well-marked trails too. Pick up a free trail map at the visitor centre or...

Beyond Canmore Nordic Centre Spray Lakes Road soon loses its asphalt cover and begins to climb in earnest, but just before it does, a small turn-off leads to a parking lot. This is the trailhead for an easy 2km hike (1hr round-trip) to Grassi Lakes, a series of small tranquil, deep-green lakes high above town on a route with exceptional...

The Greywolf Nordic Centre is what the Greywolf Golf Course, beside Panorama resort, becomes in winter. It has around 20km of trails in varied terrain that have been groomed for classic and skate skiing. Also here are some 4 km of snowshoe trails which lead to the Hale Hut, a cosy warming hut. The hut is provided and maintained as...

This hike provides great bang for buck: it’s easy and several interesting features line the way – but don’t expect any good views. From Grotto Pond, 12km east of Canmore, this hike starts unpromisingly along a powerline, but soon cuts into the woods to Grotto Canyon. There’s no formal trail but the way up the tight, steep-sided canyon is clear...

Upscale lodge and catskiing operation with a huge amount of astounding terrain, including an abundance of steep chutes and natural half pipes, a favorite with boarders. Three-day packages here start at $2,189. In summer the lodge offers Bed and Breakfast accommodation from $159 and has an expensive restaurant (daily 11am–10pm) with a lovely outdoor deck and top-quality regional food –...

The two thirty-person cable cars of the Jasper Tramway take turns in climbing 1000m in 7 minutes to provide splendid views (at 2285m) over Jasper. The summit also has an interpretive centre and an expensive restaurant; but best of all is the hike (1hr • moderate • 2.8km return) to the top of Whistlers Mountain (2470m), for even better views...

Superb ride that climbs above treeline for peerless prairie and Rocky Mountain views before a long twisty, rocky and rooty, but fast, descent. It’s a big ride that takes a lot of energy even if you shuttle it between the start and finish points (see map in entry photos). Without the shuttle, you’ll need to add a fairly shadeless 17km...

If you’ve seen the film Brokeback Mountain, you’ll already have seen some of the finest scenery in Kananaskis Country – since it was the location for much of it. Yet most first-time visitors to the region race straight from Calgary to Banff, ignoring Kananaskis Country, the dramatic foothills area that lines the eastern boundary of Banff National Park. Created out...

Step out of the Golden Eagle Gondola – the resort’s main lift – and it’s hard not to stop and gape at the remarkable pristine slopes that stretch ahead in a lofty wonderland of clouds and peaks. But what’s below just as seductive to skiiers and boarders looking for backcountry-style adventure, since the ski area encompasses many untamed open bowls,...

The Kimberley Nordic Club trail network lies beside Kimberley resort and encompasses 33km of track set trails with centre skating lanes, the longest loop being 7 km. Floodlit skiing is possible until 10pm and there’s a ice warm-up hut, with wood stove, drinking water, and free hot chocolate! The club website has a free downloadable map of the system which...

A sure source of elation, the views from the top of the Kindersley-Sinclair Col are exceptional, with endless peaks of Banff and Jasper and Yoho National Parks fading away into the horizon. The best way to tackle the hike is by going up the hard 10km Kindersley Pass Trail, which really steepens towards the Kindersley–Sinclair Col. From this point it’s...

As with Yoho, Kootenay National Park seems little more than a British Columbian extension of Banff National Park. Certainly, it’s the least famous of the Rockies parks, but there are plenty of worthwhile diversions along Hwy-93 between Banff and Radium Hot Springs – not least the hot springs themselves. It might seem a bit uncharitable to boil the park down...

The large parking lot, restaurant (Apr–Oct 8am–8pm) and souvenir shop at the start of the easy hike into Maligne Canyon should immediately set your expectations. This is clearly a significant local attraction, but often very busy too. Certainly, this 50m-deep canyon is one of the Rockies’ most spectacular, partly because, in places, it’s so narrow that you could almost jump...

The 48km road from Jasper to Maligne Lake is often slowed by wildlife sightings and heavy traffic heading to one of Jasper National Park‘s main sights. For good reason, since the lake is stunning, particularly when its 22km length is still enough to mirror the surrounding bristly forests and snow-tipped craggy peaks. The name (pronounced here as Ma-leen) comes from...