Best backpacking trails in Alberta

The 25 best backpacking trails in Alberta, out of 266 that we map, ranked by trail score.

How we rank trails Ranked by trail score, highest first.

The list

Sorted by rank

1SkylineNear Maligne Canyon · Jasper National ParkHard · 45.2 km · 1,953 m gain · 16 hLake · Views · Glacier · Camping · Passes Amber Mountain and Notch94score
2Johnston Canyon TrailNear Moose Meadows · Banff National ParkHard · 15.1 km · 556 m gain · 5 h 15 minWaterfall · Views · River or creek · Canyon · Passes Johnston Creek Valley and Lower Falls90score
3Caldron Peak TrailBanff National ParkHard · 20.1 km · 1,487 m gain · 10 h 30 minLake · Summit · Views · River or creek · Passes Peyto Lake · Viewpoint and Caldron Lake87score
4Paradise Valley TrailNear Lake Louise · Banff National ParkHard · 23.8 km · 1,443 m gain · 10 h 45 minLake · Views · Alpine · Passes Lake Louise and Saddleback Pass86score
5Three Isle Lake TrailNear Fortress Junction · Peter Lougheed Provincial ParkHard · 22.5 km · 867 m gain · 8 hLake · Views · River or creek · Camping · Passes Upper Kananaskis Lake83score
6Elbow Pass/Lake TrailNear Fortress Junction · Elbow Sheep Wildland Provincial ParkModerate · 10.5 km · 264 m gain · 3 h 15 minLake · Waterfall · Views · River or creek · Passes Elbow Pass and Elbow Lake82score
7Deception PassNear Lake Louise · Banff National ParkHard · 19.9 km · 731 m gain · 7 hLake · Views · Camping · Hut or tea house · Passes Halfway Hut and Ptarmigan Lake80score
8Pyramid MountainNear Jasper · Jasper National ParkHard · 20.5 km · 847 m gain · 7 h 30 minLake · Views · Passes Pyramid Lake80score
9Burstall Pass TrailNear Fortress Mountain Resort · Banff National ParkHard · 25.0 km · 1,036 m gain · 9 hLake · Views · River or creek · Alpine · Passes Mud Lake and Burstall Pass80score
10Upper Kananaskis Lake TrailNear Fortress Junction · Peter Lougheed Provincial ParkModerate · 10.4 km · 249 m gain · 3 h 15 minLake · Waterfall · Camping · Passes Upper Kananaskis Lake80score
11Citadel Pass TrNear Banff · Banff National ParkHard · 18.1 km · 679 m gain · 6 h 15 minLake · Views · Camping · Alpine · Passes Mad Trapper's Smokehouse and Howard Douglas Lake78score
12Arnica LakeNear Banff · Banff National ParkModerate · 15.0 km · 1,091 m gain · 7 h 45 minLake · Views · Camping · Alpine · Passes Vista Lake and Arnica Lake77score
13Sunset PassBanff National ParkHard · 26.8 km · 1,325 m gain · 10 h 30 minLake · Waterfall · Views · Camping · Passes Norman Creek Falls and Sunset Pass77score
14Cascade ValleyNear Anthracite · Banff National ParkModerate · 118.2 km · 2,481 m gain · 36 h 15 minLake · Waterfall · Views · River or creek · Passes Wigmore Lake76score
15Glacier LakeNear Saskatchewan River Crossing · Banff National ParkHard · 14.9 km · 587 m gain · 5 h 15 minLake · Views · Glacier · Camping · Passes Viewpoing and Glacier Lake76score
16Landslide Lake TrailKiska/Willson Public Land Use ZoneHard · 41.5 km · 2,376 m gain · 17 h 45 minLake · Views · River or creek · Camping · Passes Landslide Lake76score
17Palliser PassNear Kananaskis Village · Banff National ParkHard · 37.8 km · 726 m gain · 11 h 30 minLake · Views · River or creek · Camping · Passes Spray Lakes Reservoir and Belgium Lake76score
18Healy PassNear Banff · Banff National ParkModerate · 23.6 km · 1,086 m gain · 8 h 45 minViews · River or creek · Camping · Hut or tea house · Passes Creekside Lodge and Healy Pass (Trail Junction)74score
19Tonquin Valley trailNear Jasper · Jasper National ParkHard · 40.6 km · 1,234 m gain · 13 h 15 minLake · Views · River or creek · Camping · Passes Maccarib Pass and Amethyst Lakes74score
20Great Divide TrailNear Crowsnest Pass · Livingstone Public Land Use ZoneHard · 37.6 km · 1,802 m gain · 14 h 15 minLake · Views · Alpine · Passes Window Mountain Lake74score
21Whistling ValleyNear Banff · Banff National ParkModerate · 17.2 km · 811 m gain · 6 h 30 minLake · Views · Camping · Hut or tea house · Passes Haiduk Lake and Egypt Lake Shelter72score
22Saturday Night Lake LoopNear Jasper · Jasper National ParkHard · 24.1 km · 696 m gain · 8 hLake · River or creek · Passes Marjorie Lake and Caledonia Lake72score
23Gorge CreekNear Diamond Valley · Bluerock Wildland Provincial ParkHard · 21.6 km · 713 m gain · 7 h 15 minWaterfall · River or creek · Canyon72score
24ChabaJasper National ParkHard · 29.3 km · 446 m gain · 8 h 30 minWaterfall · Camping · Passes Sunwapta Falls71score
25Johnston CreekNear The Ink Pots · Banff National ParkHard · 51.0 km · 1,876 m gain · 17 h 45 minViews · River or creek · Camping · Alpine · Passes Pulsatilla Pass71score

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