Best hikes near Calgary

We ranked the 1,368 hiking trails within 130 km of Calgary by trail score, which weighs scenery, trail quality and how often each trail is photographed and visited. 373 are easy, 348 moderate and 647 hard. The closest is RiverWalk Pedestrian Way, 1 km away.

How we rank trails Ranked by trail score and distance from Calgary, so the score is one of two inputs.

Top 25

Sorted by rank

1Prairie MtnNear Paddy's Flat · Kananaskis Conservation Pass areaModerate · 7.8 km · 691 m gain · 4 h 45 min · 55 km from CalgarySummit · Views · Alpine · Passes Prairie Mountain89score
2Ranger SummitNear Bragg Creek · Kananaskis Conservation Pass areaModerate · 8.1 km · 298 m gain · 2 h 45 min · 46 km from CalgarySummit · Views86score
3McLean Creek Hill RouteNear Paddy's Flat · McLean Creek Off Highway Vehicle Public Land Use ZoneModerate · 9.9 km · 389 m gain · 3 h 30 min · 46 km from CalgarySummit · Views · River or creek · Passes McLean Hill79score
4Mount Glasgow North RouteNear Kananaskis Village · Elbow Sheep Wildland Provincial ParkHard · 11.1 km · 904 m gain · 6 h 15 min · 63 km from CalgarySummit · Views · River or creek · Alpine · Passes Mount Glasgow North83score
5Eagle HillNear Mînî Thnî · Sibbald Lake Provincial Recreation AreaHard · 14.4 km · 443 m gain · 4 h 45 min · 57 km from CalgarySummit · Views · Passes Eagle Hill80score
6Skogan Pass TrailNear Kananaskis Village · Kananaskis Conservation Pass areaEasy · 4.9 km · 151 m gain · 1 h 45 min · 77 km from CalgaryWaterfall · Views · River or creek · Passes Marmot Falls85score
7Bow Falls TrailNear Banff · Banff National ParkEasy · 2.4 km · 54 m gain · 45 min · 106 km from CalgaryWaterfall · Views · River or creek · Passes Bow falls viewpoint and Bow Falls93score
8Sulphur MountainNear Banff · Banff National ParkModerate · 9.7 km · 670 m gain · 4 h 45 min · 106 km from CalgaryWaterfall · Summit · Views · Alpine · Passes 224092score
9Mount Fullerton RouteNear Kananaskis Village · Don Getty Wildland Provincial ParkHard · 15.4 km · 1,054 m gain · 7 h 30 min · 66 km from CalgarySummit · Views · River or creek · Alpine · Passes Mount Fullerton80score
10Grassi LakesNear Canmore · Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial ParkEasy · 3.0 km · 150 m gain · 1 h 15 min · 94 km from CalgaryLake · Waterfall · Views · Passes Lower Grassi Lake88score
11Rawson Lake TrailNear Fortress Junction · Peter Lougheed Provincial ParkModerate · 8.7 km · 390 m gain · 3 h 15 min · 89 km from CalgaryLake · Waterfall · Views · River or creek · Passes Upper Kananaskis Lake and View of the Lake in front of Mount Sarrail85score
12Forgetmenot Ridge TrailNear Kananaskis Village · Don Getty Wildland Provincial ParkHard · 6.1 km · 634 m gain · 4 h 15 min · 61 km from CalgarySummit · Views · Alpine · Passes Lower Ridge and Forgetmenot Ridge North Summit77score
13Johnston CanyonNear Moose Meadows · Banff National ParkEasy · 5.7 km · 218 m gain · 2 h · 126 km from CalgaryWaterfall · Views · River or creek · Canyon · Passes Johnston Creek Valley and Lower Falls97score
14Boundary RidgeNear Bragg Creek · Kananaskis Conservation Pass areaModerate · 9.5 km · 329 m gain · 3 h 15 min · 46 km from CalgaryViews73score
15Elbow Pass/Lake TrailNear Fortress Junction · Elbow Sheep Wildland Provincial ParkModerate · 10.5 km · 264 m gain · 3 h 15 min · 82 km from CalgaryLake · Waterfall · Views · River or creek · Passes Elbow Pass and Elbow Lake82score
16Vermilion Lakes RoadNear Banff · Banff National ParkEasy · 8.5 km · 58 m gain · 2 h 15 min · 111 km from CalgaryLake · Views · River or creek · Passes 3rd Vermilion Lake and Vermilion Lake Viewpoint91score
17Tunnel Mountain SummitNear Banff · Banff National ParkModerate · 4.4 km · 286 m gain · 2 h · 106 km from CalgarySummit · Views · Passes Tunnel Mountain and King's Lookout89score
18Grotto CanyonNear Exshaw · Bow Valley Provincial ParkHard · 11.6 km · 741 m gain · 5 h 30 min · 80 km from CalgaryLake · Waterfall · Canyon · Cave · Passes Grotto Mountain Pond81score
19Three Isle Lake TrailNear Fortress Junction · Peter Lougheed Provincial ParkHard · 22.5 km · 867 m gain · 8 h · 89 km from CalgaryLake · Views · River or creek · Camping · Passes Upper Kananaskis Lake83score
20Iyarhe Ipan RouteNear Paddy's Flat · McLean Creek Off Highway Vehicle Public Land Use ZoneHard · 5.9 km · 634 m gain · 4 h · 55 km from CalgarySummit · Views · Passes Iyarhe Ipan and Swany's Ridge74score
21Lake MinnewankaNear Anthracite · Banff National ParkModerate · 3.5 km · 78 m gain · 1 h · 103 km from CalgaryLake · Views · River or creek · Passes Lake Minnewanka and Lake Minnewanka Cruise87score
22Lusk Ridge RouteNear Stoney Nakoda · Kananaskis Conservation Pass areaHard · 19.9 km · 1,496 m gain · 10 h 30 min · 58 km from CalgarySummit · Views · Passes Lusk Ridge East and Lusk Ridge74score
23Cascade PondsNear Anthracite · Banff National ParkEasy · 2.1 km · 31 m gain · 35 min · 105 km from CalgaryLake · Waterfall · Passes Cascade Ponds87score
24The Wedge RouteNear Mount Kidd RV Park · Elbow Sheep Wildland Provincial ParkHard · 7.6 km · 1,114 m gain · 7 h · 79 km from CalgaryLake · Summit · Views · Alpine · Passes Wedge Pond and The Wedge79score
25Riders of RohanNear Canmore · Bow Valley Wildland Provincial ParkModerate · 2.4 km · 267 m gain · 1 h 45 min · 94 km from CalgaryLake · Waterfall · Views · Passes Lower Grassi Lake83score

Questions

What is the best hike near Calgary?: Prairie Mtn ranks first: a 7.8 km out and back trail with 691 m of elevation gain, rated moderate.
What is the best easy hike near Calgary?: Skogan Pass Trail, 4.9 km with 151 m of climbing.
What is the best waterfall hike near Calgary?: Skogan Pass Trail, 4.9 km with 151 m of climbing.
What is the best lake hike near Calgary?: Grassi Lakes, 3.0 km with 150 m of climbing.
What is the hardest hike near Calgary?: By elevation gain, Centennial Ridge Trail: 2,972 m over 38.6 km.
How many hiking trails are near Calgary?: Hike Alberta maps 1,368 hiking trails near Calgary, counting trails that start within 130 km.

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