Best canyon hikes in Alberta
The 25 best canyon hikes in Alberta, out of 50 that we map, ranked by trail score.
How we rank trails Ranked by trail score, highest first.
- All hikes
- Easy 1,139
- Moderate 662
- Hard 1,193
- Under 5 km 1,547
- Kid friendly 1,101
- Waterfalls 89
- Lakes 445
- Summits 652
- Views 1,398
- Glaciers 137
- Loops 245
- Backpacking 266
- Wheelchair friendly 75
The list
Sorted by rank- 1Johnston CanyonNear Moose Meadows · Banff National ParkEasy · 5.7 km · 218 m gain · 2 hWaterfall · Views · River or creek · Canyon · Passes Johnston Creek Valley and Lower Falls97score
- 2Maligne CanyonNear Maligne Canyon · Jasper National ParkModerate · 4.0 km · 121 m gain · 1 h 15 minWaterfall · Views · River or creek · Canyon · Passes Maligne Canyon94score
- 3Johnston 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
- 4Bighorn Canyon TrailNear Nordegg · Crescent Falls Public Land Recreation AreaModerate · 5.0 km · 181 m gain · 1 h 45 minWaterfall · Views · Canyon · Passes Crescent Falls Viewing Platform and Crescent Falls84score
- 5Grotto CanyonNear Exshaw · Bow Valley Provincial ParkHard · 11.6 km · 741 m gain · 5 h 30 minLake · Waterfall · Canyon · Cave · Passes Grotto Mountain Pond81score
- 6Horseshoe Canyon TrailNear Elkwater · Cypress Hills Provincial ParkModerate · 8.7 km · 260 m gain · 2 h 45 minViews · Canyon77score
- 7Stewart CanyonNear Anthracite · Banff National ParkEasy · 2.4 km · 80 m gain · 50 minViews · River or creek · Canyon · Passes View point76score
- 8Gorge CreekNear Diamond Valley · Bluerock Wildland Provincial ParkHard · 21.6 km · 713 m gain · 7 h 15 minWaterfall · River or creek · Canyon72score
- 9Gorge Creek LoopNear Diamond Valley · Bluerock Wildland Provincial ParkHard · 21.7 km · 641 m gain · 7 h 15 minWaterfall · River or creek · Canyon · Camping70score
- 10Sundance CanyonNear Banff · Banff National ParkModerate · 1.9 km · 90 m gain · 45 minViews · River or creek · Canyon · Passes Sundance Canyon Trail Viewpoint66score
- 11Coulee Viewpoint TrailNear Patricia · Dinosaur Provincial ParkEasy · 0.9 km · 29 m gain · 20 minViews · Canyon64score
- 12Spruce Coulee TrailNear Elkwater · Cypress Hills Provincial ParkEasy · 2.0 km · 65 m gain · 40 minCanyon61score
- 13Mistaya CanyonNear Saskatchewan River Crossing · Banff National ParkEasy · 1.3 km · 71 m gain · 30 minViews · River or creek · Canyon · Passes Mistaya Canyon59score
- 14Cline River Canyon ViewpointKiska/Willson Public Land Use ZoneEasy · 2.5 km · 53 m gain · 45 minViews · River or creek · Canyon59score
- 15Steve Canyon RouteNear Exshaw · Bow Valley Provincial ParkEasy · 1.0 km · 63 m gain · 25 minLake · Canyon · Passes Grotto Mountain Pond56score
- 16Spruce Coulee WestNear Elkwater · Cypress Hills Provincial ParkEasy · 3.7 km · 109 m gain · 1 h 15 minCanyon56score
- 17Upper Canyon Creek SE Ridge RouteNear Kananaskis Village · Elbow Sheep Wildland Provincial ParkHard · 4.9 km · 670 m gain · 4 h 15 minSummit · Views · River or creek · Canyon · Passes Bryant Ridge Peak 455score
- 18Canyon Creek Peaks RouteNear Kananaskis Village · Don Getty Wildland Provincial ParkHard · 8.7 km · 937 m gain · 6 hViews · River or creek · Canyon · Alpine · Passes Bryant Ridge Peak 1 and Bryant Ridge Peak 252score
- 19Canyon Creek TrailNear Paddy's Flat · Ing's Mine Provincial Recreation AreaModerate · 10.9 km · 267 m gain · 3 h 30 minRiver or creek · Canyon52score
- 20South Gorge CreekNear Diamond Valley · Bluerock Wildland Provincial ParkModerate · 10.6 km · 330 m gain · 3 h 30 minRiver or creek · Canyon52score
- 21Coulee Ridge Rd TrailNear Medicine Hat · Medicine HatEasy · 3.0 km · 34 m gain · 50 minViews · Canyon51score
- 22Kin Coulee Park TrailNear Medicine Hat · Medicine HatEasy · 2.9 km · 101 m gain · 1 hRiver or creek · Canyon50score
- 23Kin Coulee RoadNear Medicine Hat · Medicine HatEasy · 2.1 km · 7 m gain · 35 minRiver or creek · Canyon50score
- 24Coral Creek Canyon TrailKiska/Willson Public Land Use ZoneModerate · 6.8 km · 236 m gain · 2 h 15 minRiver or creek · Canyon50score
- 25King Creek CanyonNear Fortress Junction · Peter Lougheed Provincial ParkHard · 3.3 km · 288 m gain · 2 hRiver or creek · Canyon50score