As an avid day and weekend trekker, I have discovered 12 scenic waterfalls hikes within 2 – 3 hrs of Calgary that are easy to moderate, therefore, are family-friendly. Johnston Canyon is one of the most popular hikes near Calgary, and it’s easy to see why. “With a short 3km hike, you discover the incredible landscape of the Albertan badlands. Around 15km of trails wind their way into the Rocky Mountains, providing seclusion, peace and a fantastic experience of nature along the way. Troll Falls near Kananaskis Village is an out-and-back hike to a stunning icefall ringed by small cliffs. [twitter]Grassi Lakes Trail Trail Length: 3.3km return / 90 minutes Elevation Gain: 165m. Ptarmigan Cirque. It’s not hard to see why. The Plain of Six Glaciers in Banff National Park is a hidden gem amongst the more popular hikes around Calgary. We’ve compiled a list of the top 10 best family hikes near Calgary, focusing on the regions around Canmore and Kananaskis. The 10 Greatest Hikes in Calgary. 10 Hikes for Preschoolers To Do Near Calgary I grew up in Saskatoon Saskatchewan but every year our family would go camping for a couple of weeks in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. The easy hike follows Heart Creek to a waterfall, a distance of about three kilometres. Let’s take a look at some of the best hikes near Calgary for families to explore. When it comes to backyards, Calgary’s is hard to beat. Aylmer Lookout (Banff National Park) Floe Lake (Kootenay National Park) Iceline Trail (Yoho National Park) 15 Best hikes near Calgary. All hikes are sorted based on distance from Calgary – closest to furthest. The 10 Best Hikes Near Calgary by Kristin Warkentin / Feb 8, 2017 Share Tweet Share Share Pin . Need an easy, family-friendly outing you can knock off in an hour or two? The scenery delights in equal measure as the trail weaves through lush pine forest with the falls as the destination. The exposed cliffside trails, fortunately never venturing too close to the edge, provide a fantastic viewpoint for the canyon’s plunging depths and white-rapid river. If you’re looking for awesome family hikes near Calgary, 10Adventures is here to help! If you are anything like me you know that water soothes the soul. Here you cross the Bow River on the historic Canmore Engine Bridge and then walk along the Bow River, eventually reaching Riverside Park. Katherine Rundell is a travel writer at Academic Writing Service and Essay Services and an editor at Essay Help portal. #1: Ptarmigan Cirque. If you’re not sure where to stay, try out the beautiful town of Canmore, or the resort community of Kananaskis Village. “Coulee” means valley or gully, and as you explore trails along both sides of the creek you’ll find endless opportunities for kids to hop on rocks or make their own log formations. Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park 10 Waterfall Hikes for Preschoolers To Do near Calgary. Let’s be honest - Autumn is short-lived in Calgary; we basically go from summer straight … There are three routes up the iconic mountain, but this one is the most “late spring” early summer-friendly of all of them. Lake Agnes Trail. See also. Sits there all day gaming and sipping buds. We do this hike every year with our family. This is another great day trip from Calgary, and the nearby ice cream shop at Boulton Creek Campground is a real treat. At nearly 7 kilometers, this hike around Griffith Woods is the perfect pick-me-up on a gloomy day. Seeing them encounter nature for the first time can be a real joy, and it’s an excellent opportunity to introduce your children to the great outdoors. [twitter]Troll Falls – Kananaskis Country Trail Length: 3.2 km return / approx 90 minutes Elevation Gain: 40m Age Appropriate: this hike is stroller friendly making it great for all ages. Moose Mountain. We tried to stay within a three hour drive of Calgary; and while this is not an extensive list of hikes available to you, it does highlight a few sensational hiking trails to try in Banff National park, Jasper National Park and the Ya Ha Tina area.. A 4km round trip, this is a hike with a purpose as at the furthest point you’ll discover a beautiful waterfall and a perfect picnic spot that offers an opportunity to rest those weary legs. These trails are easy to hop on and hop off, so you can tailor your trip to any distance that suits you. See also. #1: Troll Falls, Kananaskis. It’s a great loop that allows you to see a lot of different parts of Calgary, including Elbow River and part of the Discovery Ridge neighbourhood. Hike through a canyon on a solid ice creek bed to view large towering frozen waterfalls. Sandstone rock sculptures and an arid climate that’s a far cry from the mountains make this a unique experience.”. The Cross Conservation area is a great place for a winter walk near Calgary Glenbow Ranch is an excellent place for a winter walk near Calgary Go dog-sledding – one of the fun day trips from Calgary. Grassi Lakes. If you’re looking for easy hikes Kananaskis is the place to be! But he's just not into any of that. What an article. Located near Nakiska, this hike is popular year-round with families. Griffith Woods Perimeter Loop. The Lake Agnes Trail hike, also known as the Teahouse Hike, is a moderate hike with spectacular views of Lake Louise. Crawl behind curtains of ice, climb around on the ice, or even bring your skates when conditions are right. A combination of hiking and scrambling will take you along and up a sharp ridge to top out on the peak itself and glory in panoramic views of the surrounding area. Learn how your comment data is processed. For a medium day hike that maximizes the view, head to Ha Ling Peak. But any visitor to Calgary should take some time to explore the wonderful wilderness of the Banff National Park and beyond. Distance: 14.5 km return The hike to Elbow Lake is a wonderful, family-friendly hike in the Highwood Area of Kananaskis. If you need your daily dose of nature but don’t have time to drive to the mountains, try a local park! This hike can also be done in winter, though don’t go right after a big snowfall as you’ll be breaking trail. Let’s take a look at some of the best hikes near Calgary for families to explore. If you’re looking for fun day trips from Calgary almost everyone will love dogsledding. For its diverse array of climate and geography, Johnston Canyon is unrivalled near Alberta. “A range of hikes and other recreational pursuits can be found at Horseshoe Canyon, in Kneehill County,” says Tony Taylor, travel expert at Essayroo and Australianhelp. This hike has varied terrain and wonderful views. Be careful in autumn as the hike through the trees can be slippery. This 0.5 km out-and-back trail is perfect for families with young children, though the rocks near the falls can be slippery. Some Calgarians rate Picklejar Lakes as their absolute favourite hike in the Canadian Rockies. 6 Hikes Near Calgary That Everyone Will Love Explore the great outdoors with hikes everyone can enjoy a short drive from Calgary. #9: Main Street, Bow River and the Rail Bridge, #10: Black Prince Interpretive Trail / Warspite Lake, Hiking the Arctic Circle Trail with Lisa Germany. Big Hill Springs Provincial Park has all the elements of a fun family hike – bridges, water, and a forest trail – over a short distance even preschoolers can manage. Johnston Canyon, found just outside of Banff and still an easy day trip from Calgary, is one of the most popular hikes in the region. Located in the Sheep River Provincial Park, this is a great option for an easy day trip from Calgary. Troll Falls is a classic, family-friendly hike in Kananaskis. Photo Credit: Trip Advisor 6. Maybe consider joining one of the local meetup hiking groups, they can be a great way to get out hiking when your hubby wants to sip a couple of beers instead! There are two hikes you can do from the Heart Creek parking lot. This is an absolute perfect hike for young families with children of all ages. 8. “Head early to Ha Ling Peak as this trail can get crowded on weekends,” recommends Michelle Gillman, writer at OX Essays and State Of Writing. Looking for brilliant hikes near Canmore? Heading out for a hike is a wonderful family activity, and a great way to make memories with your kids. This is an awesome hike, and only just over an hour drive from the city. Catching all the amazing scenery our beautiful region has to offer. A brutal climb (800m over 4km) will get you huffing and puffing, but the vista from the top will make the ascent a distant memory. (65 Km from Calgary) 2. A hike around Quarry Lake is one of Canmore’s hidden gems, and one of the loveliest hiking trails near Calgary. The leaves are changing colours as we speak. 1) Bow River Pathway & Prince Island In Calgary, you can enjoy a scenic hike without ever leaving the city as there are over 40km of urban trails that snake their way through downtown. The hike to Ptarmigan Cirque is a family favourite, especially once the larches start to change in autumn. Read: 5 Easy Winter Walks Within 40 Minutes of Calgary. The special thing about this park is that it features a large spring and several small waterfalls that flow year-round. Dr. Jay shares his top 5 fall hikes near Calgary. While Troll Falls is nice, our favourite part of the walk is the return journey through Hay Meadow, where you walk along the Kananaskis River and have wonderful views. And Chester Lake hike is no exception. I should dump his ass... LOL, this is the best comment I've seen this month Carmela. These family hikes near Calgary feature easy terrain, as well as fun places for the kids to explore. Copyright © 2021 10Adventures Inc. All rights reserved. When hiking in Calgary, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Ptarmigan Cirque is locally famous as a great hike to view autumn larches, and it is also a fun location for a family photo shoot! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Best kid friendly trails in Calgary, Alberta 5,361 Reviews Explore the most popular kid friendly trails near Calgary with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you.