BEST OF THE ROCKIES HIKING TRIP
Make your Canadian Rockies hiking trip the best it can be! Join the only Banff tour that is planned and operated by a local Canadian Rockies-based company. Drawing from 30+ years of experience guiding in the mountains, we have created what we think is an itinerary that packs the biggest punch for the first time hiker in the Rockies.
All trails have been selected for their diversity of scenery, variety of terrain, easy accessibility and most of all, because they rank highest on our “reward for effort” index. They are but a small sample of what’s to be found in the Rockies – but each hike ranks as one of the best
- Visit the most famous parks and trails of Banff, Yoho, Kootenay, and Kananaskis
- Local guides with fantastic knowledge of the region
- Short drives to trailheads
- Comfortable lodgings in Kananaskis, Banff and Lake Louise
ITINERARY
DAY 1: Arrive Calgary, transfer to Kananaskis. Meet guide and group in evening.
DAY 2: Spectacular hiking in Kananaskis Country.
DAY 3: Hiking to Chester Lake or Burstall Pass. Don’t forget your camera.
DAY 4: "Fire and Ice"on the Stanley Glacier Trail in Kootenay National Park.
DAY 5: The Classic day hike at Lake Louise in Banff National Park
DAY 6: Sentinel Pass or Iceline Trail. On the Top 3 list of hikes in the Canadian Rockies!
DAY 7: Tour concludes with shuttle to Calgary.
DAY 1 Arrive in Calgary
Upon your arrival in Calgary we will arrange transportation for you to Kananaskis. We meet that evening to go over plans and options for the following days, look at maps of the area and check to see that you are properly outfitted.
Overnight: Pomeroy, Kananaskis
DAY 2 Walking Prairie View in Kananaskis
Your guide will meet you at the hotel after breakfast, following which we’ll head out on our first hike in Kananaskis country. Our choice to break the ice is Prairie View Lookout trail. This trail, located in the Front Ranges, will allow you to see the incredible difference there is looking east towards Calgary and the Prairies or looking west towards the incredible Canadian Rocky Mountains.
Elevation Gain: 420m. Distance: 13km. Duration: 3-4hrs
Overnight: Pomeroy, Kananaskis
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 3 Kananaskis hike and transfer to Banff
Our drive to Banff will be done through the scenic Spray Lakes road. About half-way through, we will stop for our day hike, Chester Lake or Burstall Pass. Your guide will make the best decision depending on the group’s ability to let everyone get acclimatized to our higher elevation and dry air.
Elevation Gain: 350-450m. Distance: 10-15km. Duration: 3-5hr
Overnight: Banff Park Lodge, Banff
Driving distance: 125km; Duration 2.5hr
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 4 Fire and Ice
Today’s hike takes us into Kootenay National Park and the Stanley Glacier Trail. You’ll walk through a remarkable valley of “Fire and Ice” – “fire” being the remains of a 1968 wildfire, almost regrown now, and “ice” being the Stanley Glacier overhanging the cliffs at the head of the valley.
Elevation Gain: 600m. Distance: 13km. Duration: 4-5hr
Overnight: Banff Park Lodge, Banff
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 5 Lake Louise
After a healthy breakfast, we’ll drive directly to world famous Lake Louise. Here we will have a choice of hikes available including a walk to the Lake Agnes Teahouse, or to the Plain of Six Glaciers or to do a round trip circuit including both. After our hike we’ll head towards Lake Louise Village for the evening.
Elevation Gain: 400m. Distance: 18km. Duration: 6-8hr
Overnight: Lake Louise Inn, Lake Louise
Driving distance: 100km; Duration 1hr
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 6 Final Challenge
For our final day of hiking, we’ll have a difficult choice to make: either Moraine Lake and Sentinel Pass or the Iceline Trail in Yoho National Park. It’s a difficult choice to make because we consider both trails to be in the list of top hiking trails of the Canadian Rockies. We will be well rewarded at the end of the day while sitting altogether for our farewell dinner
Elevation Gain: 750m+. Distance: 12km+. Duration: 6-8hr
Overnight: Lake Louise Inn, Lake Louise
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 7 Transfer to Calgary
Breakfast at Lake Louise Inn with complimentary shuttle to Calgary included in the morning.
Meals Included: Breakfast
**NOTE: Drive times provided above are approximate and may vary according to weather, traffic and changes in road conditions.
INCLUSIONS
Cost Includes:
- 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 1 Dinner
- 6 nights in hotels/lodges 3-star category
- Private transport in mini-van
- Professional hiking/interpretive guide
- National park entry fees and sightseeing as indicated
- All permits, sightseeing and National Park entrance fees
- Shuttle to hotel on arrival day and to Calgary airport on final day
Cost Does Not Include :
- Personal expenses
- Air fares
- Travel insurance
- Meals not indicated
- Tips
FAQ
How difficult is it? How fit and experienced need you be?
This program is designed for fit walkers. No previous mountain hiking experience required.
This Canadian Rockies walking trip involves hiking for up to 6 to 7 hours per day, usually with distances of 10-14 kilometres. The final walk may be longer with a possible distance up to 21 km. Elevation gains will vary from 300 m up to 800 m. (2,800 ft) on the final day. You will need to carry a daypack large enough for spare clothing, your camera, lunch and something to drink each day.
Guides and Group Size
Your guides are experienced professional hiking guides with certification from the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides and/or from the Mountain Parks Heritage Interpretation Association. They are chosen for their enthusiasm and interest in sharing their knowledge of these mountains.
The minimum group size will be 4, maximum 8.
Accommodation and Meals
Accommodation is double occupancy. Each of the lodgings we have chosen were selected for their unique character and relatively easy access to other amenities. Banff, and Lake Louise are very interesting communities and we have found over the years that most people who visit the Canadian Rockies also want to get a feel for the local culture. Kananaskis on the other hand is a little bit more remote and will provide a perfect way to connect with nature from day 1. Banff’s tourism heritage is going back to the 1880’s and Lake Louise is renown for its spectacular scenery.
We will be happy to book rooms for you before and after the tour; please contact us for the most recent rates.
All breakfasts are included as are picnic lunches and trail snacks. Dinner on the final night is included. Please specify any special dietary requirements you have on your application so we can incorporate them into our lunch menus.
Transfers to and from Calgary
We will arrange a shuttle for you from Calgary or Calgary Airport to Kananaskis and from Lake Louise back to Calgary. Once the final group is confirmed your guide will plan a group shuttle departure that fits most arrivals. If your arrival does not fit this departure, we will arrange a shuttle for you with one of the scheduled services. Return to Calgary will be arranged in the same manner. Driving time from Calgary to Kananaskis is approx. 1 ¼ hours and driving time from Lake Louise to Calgary is approximately 2 ½ hours.
Climate
This trip operates during the main months of summer, though snow can linger at high elevations until well into the season. Weather is unpredictable at any time of year, but is generally quite warm in July and August. Daytime highs range from 15-25 C and nighttime temperatures can drop to 5-10 C. Temperatures in June and September can be cooler with nighttime temperatures occasionally dropping below freezing. As with alpine environments throughout the globe, the higher you go, the lower the temperature becomes. Ensuring that you have the correct clothing for an alpine environment is crucial. Please see below for information on clothing and equipment requirements.
Insurance in the National Parks
Please ensure that your health plan will cover you in case of illness or accident whilst here. Obtain extra travel insurance if necessary.
FORMS
Multiday Trip Waiver
Please read this waiver carefully. You will be required to sign this waiver once you meet your guide.
MAP
- June 21-27, 2026 - Guaranteed
- July 5-11, 2026
- July 19-25, 2026
- August 2-8, 2026
- August 16-22, 2026
- September 13-19, 2026
$3895.00 + 5% GST (Double Occupancy)
Single supplement - add $1400
Contact us if you like to book this trip as a fully private and customized adventure!
“I like the fact that the company is local (from Banff). Very well led and organized. I was very happy to have experienced the breathtaking Canadian Rockies in such a way.”
-Paul W.
“The cadence of this trip was ideal! Starting with a gentle hike in the foothills, progressing to a more dramatic hike was perfect. I hope more people come to explore the Rockies on guided hikes like this. It can’t be beat!”
-Jennifer M.