Best backpacking trails in Kananaskis Country
The 15 best backpacking trails in Kananaskis Country, out of 32 that we map, ranked by trail score.
How we rank trails Ranked by trail score, highest first.
- All hikes
- Easy 199
- Moderate 210
- Hard 417
- Under 5 km 404
- Kid friendly 189
- Waterfalls 16
- Lakes 77
- Summits 277
- Views 482
- Glaciers 22
- Canyons 15
- Loops 62
- Wheelchair friendly 7
The list
Sorted by rank- 1Three 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
- 2Elbow 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
- 3Upper 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
- 4Gorge CreekNear Diamond Valley · Bluerock Wildland Provincial ParkHard · 21.6 km · 713 m gain · 7 h 15 minWaterfall · River or creek · Canyon72score
- 5Lost Lake RouteNear Fortress Mountain Resort · Spray Valley Provincial ParkHard · 13.7 km · 791 m gain · 6 hLake · Views · Camping · Alpine · Passes Lost Lake71score
- 6Big ElbowNear Kananaskis Village · Elbow Sheep Wildland Provincial ParkHard · 43.8 km · 904 m gain · 13 h 15 minLake · Waterfall · River or creek · Camping · Passes Edworthy Falls and Elbow Lake70score
- 7Gorge Creek LoopNear Diamond Valley · Bluerock Wildland Provincial ParkHard · 21.7 km · 641 m gain · 7 h 15 minWaterfall · River or creek · Canyon · Camping70score
- 8Maude Lawson TrailNear Fortress Junction · Peter Lougheed Provincial ParkHard · 18.7 km · 873 m gain · 7 hLake · Views · River or creek · Glacier · Passes Lawson Lake and Maude Lake69score
- 9Stoney TrailNear Kananaskis Village · Bow Valley Wildland Provincial ParkHard · 23.4 km · 437 m gain · 7 hLake · Camping · Passes Barrier Lake69score
- 10Aster Lake TrailNear Fortress Junction · Peter Lougheed Provincial ParkExpert · 11.1 km · 684 m gain · 6 h 15 minLake · Views · Camping · Alpine · Passes Hidden Lake and Foch Pond68score
- 11PneumaNear Paddy's Flat · Kananaskis Conservation Pass areaHard · 20.5 km · 787 m gain · 7 h 15 minViews · Passes Lookout65score
- 12Jumpingpound RidgeNear Kananaskis Village · Kananaskis Conservation Pass areaHard · 24.7 km · 1,187 m gain · 9 h 30 minViews · Alpine · Passes Canyon Creek Hill63score
- 13Centennial Ridge TrailNear Kananaskis Village · Bow Valley Wildland Provincial ParkHard · 38.6 km · 2,972 m gain · 20 h 45 minViews · Alpine · Passes Coal Mine and Olympic Summit63score
- 14Telephone LoopNear Bragg Creek · West Bragg Creek Provincial Recreation AreaHard · 25.0 km · 670 m gain · 8 h59score
- 15Elbow LoopNear Kananaskis Village · Elbow Sheep Wildland Provincial ParkHard · 25.5 km · 421 m gain · 7 h 30 minRiver or creek59score