Best backpacking trails near Canmore
The 15 best backpacking trails near Canmore, out of 26 that we map, ranked by trail score.
How we rank trails Ranked by trail score and distance from Canmore, so the score is one of two inputs.
- All hikes
- Easy 145
- Moderate 102
- Hard 237
- Under 5 km 261
- Kid friendly 133
- Waterfalls 26
- Lakes 69
- Summits 140
- Views 287
- Canyons 7
- Loops 39
- Wheelchair friendly 9
The list
Sorted by rank- 1Cascade ValleyNear Anthracite · Banff National ParkModerate · 118.2 km · 2,481 m gain · 36 h 15 min · 21 km from CanmoreLake · Waterfall · Views · River or creek · Passes Wigmore Lake76score
- 2Spray River EastNear Banff · Banff National ParkEasy · 11.0 km · 261 m gain · 3 h 30 min · 17 km from CanmoreRiver or creek · Camping66score
- 3Palliser PassNear Kananaskis Village · Banff National ParkHard · 37.8 km · 726 m gain · 11 h 30 min · 26 km from CanmoreLake · Views · River or creek · Camping · Passes Spray Lakes Reservoir and Belgium Lake76score
- 4Stoney TrailNear Kananaskis Village · Bow Valley Wildland Provincial ParkHard · 23.4 km · 437 m gain · 7 h · 22 km from CanmoreLake · Camping · Passes Barrier Lake69score
- 5Mount Peechee RouteNear Canmore · Banff National ParkHard · 22.7 km · 2,070 m gain · 14 h · 9 km from CanmoreSummit · Views · River or creek · Alpine · Passes Mount Girouard57score
- 6Sundance PassNear Banff · Banff National ParkModerate · 22.3 km · 511 m gain · 7 h · 21 km from CanmoreViews65score
- 7Lost Lake RouteNear Fortress Mountain Resort · Spray Valley Provincial ParkHard · 13.7 km · 791 m gain · 6 h · 26 km from CanmoreLake · Views · Camping · Alpine · Passes Lost Lake71score
- 8Healy PassNear Banff · Banff National ParkModerate · 23.6 km · 1,086 m gain · 8 h 45 min · 29 km from CanmoreViews · River or creek · Camping · Hut or tea house · Passes Creekside Lodge and Healy Pass (Trail Junction)74score
- 9Elk LakeNear Banff · Banff National ParkModerate · 18.2 km · 614 m gain · 6 h 15 min · 24 km from CanmoreLake · Views · Camping · Alpine · Passes Elk Lake67score
- 10Centennial Ridge TrailNear Kananaskis Village · Bow Valley Wildland Provincial ParkHard · 38.6 km · 2,972 m gain · 20 h 45 min · 21 km from CanmoreViews · Alpine · Passes Coal Mine and Olympic Summit63score
- 11Wonder Pass / Marvel Lake TrailNear Canmore · Banff National ParkHard · 19.4 km · 757 m gain · 6 h 45 min · 25 km from CanmoreLake · Views · Camping · Alpine · Passes Wonder Pass66score
- 12Bryant CreekNear Kananaskis Village · Banff National ParkModerate · 25.1 km · 471 m gain · 7 h 30 min · 26 km from CanmoreLake · River or creek · Camping · Passes Spray Lakes Reservoir61score
- 13Mount Bogart RouteNear Kananaskis Village · Bow Valley Wildland Provincial ParkHard · 20.0 km · 2,466 m gain · 15 h 45 min · 17 km from CanmoreViews · Alpine · Passes Mount Bogart52score
- 14Jumpingpound RidgeNear Kananaskis Village · Kananaskis Conservation Pass areaHard · 24.7 km · 1,187 m gain · 9 h 30 min · 30 km from CanmoreViews · Alpine · Passes Canyon Creek Hill63score
- 15Brewster CreekNear Banff · Banff National ParkModerate · 54.1 km · 1,554 m gain · 17 h 45 min · 23 km from CanmoreViews · River or creek · Camping · Hut or tea house · Passes Halfway Lodge and Allenby Pass56score