Backpacking Western Canada: Natural Alpine Beauty of the Mountains Firsthand

Backpacking, trekking, bushwalking — wherever you hail from and whatever you call it, it’s a great way to spend more than an afternoon getting close to nature and enjoying the beautiful wilderness of Banff, Alberta and the surrounding Canadian Rockies. What better way than strapping a pack on your back with gear and food and hitting the trail?

It’s a the perfect way to enjoy the outdoors in Western Canada. After a few days, even if you’re not in the best of physical shape, your muscles will firm up and you’ll enjoy the easy pace of a hike. At that point it’s easy to become absorbed in the beauty around you, especially here in the Canadian Rockies: alpine meadows carpeted in wildflowers, soaring peaks adorned with majestic waterfalls, and skies that seem to go on forever.

Of course there are innumerable trails criss-crossing Alberta and Western Canada, of all difficulty levels and lengths. You could go for an easy out-and-back over the weekend, or spend weeks in the backcountry of the Canadian Rockies, perhaps traversing the peaks of the Continental Divide.

Looking for a short backpacking opportunity right outside Banff town? Check out the Aylmer Pass trail at Lake Minnewanka for a spectacular backpacking trip just outside of town. Want something a little longer? Here’s several options for trips of three or four days.

Assiniboine Loop

This trip starts and finishes at the Mt. Shark trailhead in Kananaskis Country, Alberta, just ouside of Banff National Park. Travel through three connected wilderness areas for awesome views Mt. Assiniboine, the sixth highest mountain in the Canadian Rockies, and one of the most impressive in the Banff area. There are some seasonal restrictions here, so check in with a ranger before going out.

Campsites: McBride’s Camp – Night 1; Lake Magog Campground or the BC Parks trail shelter, Mt. Assiniboine Provincial Park – Nights 2 and 3 (separate BC Parks campground fees will be collected on-site); Marvel Lake, or stay at the Bryant Creek trail shelter – Night 4.
Elevation gain: 545 m
Distance: 55 km

Bryant Creek

This trip takes you to the amazing Mt. Assiniboine with a great starting point at the Sunshine Village ski area that traverses the flowery (or muddy, depending the season) meadows of Citadel Pass. Hike the Sunshine Village ski area maintenance road or catch a ride on White Mountain Adventures private shuttle to the base village. The trip ends at the Mt. Shark trailhead in Kananaskis Country, Alberta. Check with a ranger for info on seasonal restrictions.

Campsites: Porcupine Campground, Mt. Assiniboine Provincial Park – Night 1; Lake Magog Campground, Mt. Assiniboine Provincial Park – Night 2 or 3 (where separate BC Parks campground fees will be collected on-site); McBride’s Camp – Night 3 or 4.
Elevation gain: 660 m
Distance: 55.7 km

Banff and Mount Assiniboine

Get into Banff’s backcountry with this series of trails connecting Sunshine Village ski area to the Vista Lake viewpoint on Highway 93 on foot or via a shuttle ride by White Mountain Adventures. On the way, explore the Egypt Lake area en route. After climbing over Gibbon Pass, the trail meanders past a series of scenic lakes before the final descent to the highway.

Campsites: Egypt Lake – Night 1; Ball Pass Junction – Night 2 and 3; Twin Lakes – Night 3 or 4.
Elevation gain: 1390 m
Distance: 40 km

If you want to join a guided backpacking group trip, there are a number of tour and guide companies that offer backpacking trips, often times packaged with pre-and post-trip options for accommodations and transportation. This is a great option of you’re not an experienced backpacker, or if you’re not familiar with Alberta or don’t have a lot of time to spare.

We can recommend Yamnuska Mountain Adventures for your guided backpacking excursion. Their licensed, experienced, professional guides can take you on short or long trips of varying difficulty throughout the year. Yamnuska can also arrange private, guided backpacking tours.

Interested in winter trekking or backpacking on skis? Ski mountaineering or hut-to-hut traverses in the backcountry? Yamnuska can help you with that too.

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Yamnuska Mountain Adventures

200 – 50 Lincoln Park
Canmore, Alberta, Canada

Jasper, Alberta

By Kay Barbaro
Staff Writer

Hands down, Jasper National Park is one of the most beautiful, inspiring places in the world to visit (and live, if you can do it), in large part because of it’s vast, amazing terrain. If you really want to get out and see some of the best terrain in the Canadian Rockies, and experience it the right way, you’ll want to do an overnight trip here. Below, you’ll find a couple two-night trip suggestions. We also have information on three-night trips, and longer trips in Jasper National Park.

Saturday Night Lake Loop

Medicine Lake, well worth the hike.

This is a great beginners’ trail, partly because it has little elevation gain, partly because it starts and ends in the Jasper townsite. Campsites are at Saturday Night Lake, High Lakes and Minnow Lake. Note: Seasonal fishing in all lakes except Cabin Lake.

Map: Jasper 83D/16.

Distance: 27.5 km.

Elevation gain: 540 m

Maximum elevation: 1700 m.

Jacques Lake

Jacques Lake is a good choice for novice hikers in Jasper National Park. The trailhead is at the south end of beautiful Medicine Lake, 28 km from Jasper townsite. It’s a fairly easy hike. The trail begins with a walk along a fire road for 1.6 km to Beaver Lake. The remaining 10.4 km follow a easy to find trail to the campsite at the far end of Jacques Lake. Note: Camping is not permitted at Beaver Lake. Fishing is not permitted at Jacques Lake.

Map: Medicine Lake 83C/13.

Distance: 12 km one way.

Elevation gain: 90 m.

Maximum elevation: 1555 m.

Geraldine Lakes

Geraldine Lakes is a bit more difficult of a trail, with a quick elevation gain partway in, but it’s well worth the effort. Access to the trailhead is from the Geraldine fire road, just north of Athabasca Falls on Highway 93A. The parking area is 6 km up the fire road. The initial 2 km of this trail are easy, traveling a clear path to the first of the Geraldine Lakes. This is where it gets a little more breathtaking, both due to the scenery and steepness, with each step. Here the trail climbs along a waterfall, crosses a large boulder field and skirts the edge of a small glacial lake (known as a tarn). Then it gets even steeper. You’ll reach the only campsite at the far end of the second lake. Good hiking boots and endurance requirements for this trip. Note: Finding the trail among the boulder field can be tricky; therefore this trail is not recommended for beginners. No open fires.

Map: Athabasca Falls 83C/12.

Elevation gain: 400 m.

Maximum elevation: 1875 m.

Distance: 6 km one way.

Watchtower Basin

Families of bighorn sheep relax in Jasper.

Love steep climbs, creek fording and terrific views? The Watchtower trailhead starts about 19 km from Jasper townsite on Maligne Road. A steep climb leads to an flower-filled (depending on the time of year, of course) alpine meadow. Hikers get to ford the main creek to reach the campsite. Access to the Skyline trail is 3.5 km beyond the campsite. Note: Route finding is a bit difficult between the campsite and Skyline trail.

Map: Medicine Lake 83C/14.

Distance: 9.8 km one way.

Elevation gain: 985 m.

Maximum elevation 2375 m.

For further information on guided tours in the Canadian Rockies, fill out the blue form on the right side of this page.