Best short hikes in Alberta
The 25 best short hikes in Alberta, out of 1,547 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
- Kid friendly 1,101
- Waterfalls 89
- Lakes 445
- Summits 652
- Views 1,398
- Glaciers 137
- Canyons 50
- Loops 245
- Backpacking 266
- Wheelchair friendly 75
The list
Sorted by rank- 1Maligne CanyonNear Maligne Canyon · Jasper National ParkModerate · 4.0 km · 121 m gain · 1 h 15 minWaterfall · Views · River or creek · Canyon · Passes Maligne Canyon94score
- 2Bow Falls TrailNear Banff · Banff National ParkEasy · 2.4 km · 54 m gain · 45 minWaterfall · Views · River or creek · Passes Bow falls viewpoint and Bow Falls93score
- 3Big BeehiveNear Lake Louise · Banff National ParkModerate · 4.5 km · 387 m gain · 2 h 45 minLake · Waterfall · Views · Alpine · Passes Lake Agnes Tea House and Lake Agnes93score
- 4Tunnel Mountain SummitNear Banff · Banff National ParkModerate · 4.4 km · 286 m gain · 2 hSummit · Views · Passes Tunnel Mountain and King's Lookout89score
- 5Moose Lake LoopNear Jasper · Jasper National ParkEasy · 2.8 km · 66 m gain · 50 minLake · Views · Passes Skyline trail (3days) and Maligne Lake88score
- 6Bow Summit ViewpointBanff National ParkModerate · 4.6 km · 202 m gain · 1 h 45 minSummit · Views · Alpine88score
- 7Lake Louise LakeshoreNear Lake Louise · Banff National ParkModerate · 4.6 km · 75 m gain · 1 h 15 minLake · Views · Passes Lake Louise88score
- 8The Whistlers SummitNear Jasper · Jasper National ParkEasy · 2.5 km · 200 m gain · 1 h 30 minSummit · Views · Alpine · Passes Summit Restaurant and The Whistlers88score
- 9Grassi LakesNear Canmore · Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial ParkEasy · 3.0 km · 150 m gain · 1 h 15 minLake · Waterfall · Views · Passes Lower Grassi Lake88score
- 10Lake MinnewankaNear Anthracite · Banff National ParkModerate · 3.5 km · 78 m gain · 1 hLake · Views · River or creek · Passes Lake Minnewanka and Lake Minnewanka Cruise87score
- 11Cascade PondsNear Anthracite · Banff National ParkEasy · 2.1 km · 31 m gain · 35 minLake · Waterfall · Passes Cascade Ponds87score
- 12Little BeehiveNear Lake Louise · Banff National ParkModerate · 2.4 km · 153 m gain · 1 hSummit · Views · Alpine · Passes The Little Beehive and Little Beehive87score
- 13Peyto Lake LookoutBanff National ParkEasy · 1.5 km · 60 m gain · 35 minLake · Views · Alpine · Passes Peyto Lake · Viewpoint87score
- 14Blakiston Falls TrailNear Waterton Park · Waterton Lakes National ParkEasy · 2.3 km · 75 m gain · 45 minWaterfall · Views · River or creek87score
- 15Lower Sunwapta FallsJasper National ParkEasy · 2.9 km · 78 m gain · 55 minWaterfall · Views · River or creek · Passes Sunwapta Falls and Lower Sunwapta Falls86score
- 16Skogan Pass TrailNear Kananaskis Village · Kananaskis Conservation Pass areaEasy · 4.9 km · 151 m gain · 1 h 45 minWaterfall · Views · River or creek · Passes Marmot Falls85score
- 17Bighorn 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
- 18Mirror Lake HighlineNear Lake Louise · Banff National ParkModerate · 1.8 km · 93 m gain · 45 minLake · Views83score
- 19Mount Niblock RouteNear Lake Louise · Banff National ParkExpert · 4.8 km · 791 m gain · 6 hLake · Summit · Views · Glacier · Passes Lake Agnes and Mount Niblock83score
- 20Tower of Babel RouteNear Lake Louise · Banff National ParkExpert · 2.1 km · 504 m gain · 3 h 45 minSummit · Views · Alpine · Passes Tower of Babel83score
- 21Riders of RohanNear Canmore · Bow Valley Wildland Provincial ParkModerate · 2.4 km · 267 m gain · 1 h 45 minLake · Waterfall · Views · Passes Lower Grassi Lake83score
- 22Upper StoneyNear Banff · Banff National ParkModerate · 4.4 km · 239 m gain · 1 h 45 minSummit · Views · Passes Stoney Lookout Mountain82score
- 23Bow River TrailNear Banff · Banff National ParkEasy · 3.7 km · 27 m gain · 60 minViews · River or creek · Historic site · Hut or tea house · Passes Banff Pedestrian Bridge82score
- 24Devil's Thumb RouteNear Lake Louise · Banff National ParkHard · 2.0 km · 258 m gain · 1 h 45 minSummit · Views · Alpine · Passes Devil's Thumb82score
- 25Lake Annette LoopNear Jasper · Jasper National ParkEasy · 2.8 km · 8 m gain · 40 minLake · Views · Passes Annette Lake81score