Best hard hikes in Southern Alberta
The 15 best hard hikes in Southern Alberta, out of 97 that we map, ranked by trail score.
How we rank trails Ranked by trail score, highest first.
- All hikes
- Easy 41
- Moderate 27
- Under 5 km 60
- Kid friendly 38
- Lakes 16
- Summits 56
- Views 91
- Loops 14
- Backpacking 16
The list
Sorted by rank- 1Livingstone Fire Lookout TrailNear Crowsnest Pass · Bob Creek Wildland Provincial ParkHard · 20.0 km · 830 m gain · 7 h 15 minSummit · Views · Alpine · Passes Thrift Peak69score
- 2Coffin Mountain RouteDon Getty Wildland Provincial ParkHard · 11.0 km · 655 m gain · 4 h 45 minSummit · Views · Alpine · Passes Coffin Mountain68score
- 3Windy Peak Hills RouteKananaskis Conservation Pass areaHard · 16.8 km · 1,055 m gain · 7 h 45 minSummit · Views · Alpine67score
- 4Sugarloaf Mtn TrailNear Crowsnest Pass · Livingstone Public Land Use ZoneHard · 16.1 km · 1,014 m gain · 7 h 30 minSummit · Views · Alpine · Passes Sugarloaf Lookout65score
- 5Mount Burke North Peak RouteDon Getty Wildland Provincial ParkHard · 12.1 km · 1,134 m gain · 7 h 30 minSummit · Views · Alpine · Passes Mount Burke North Peak and Mount Burke63score
- 6Chaffen Ridge to Chaffen Peak RotueLivingstone Public Land Use ZoneHard · 17.6 km · 944 m gain · 7 h 15 minSummit · Views · River or creek · Alpine · Passes Chaffen Ridge and Chaffen Peak62score
- 7Rasberry Lookout TrailKananaskis Conservation Pass areaHard · 9.4 km · 658 m gain · 4 h 45 minSummit · Views · Alpine · Passes Raspberry Ridge61score
- 8Thunder Mountain RouteNear Crowsnest Pass · Southern AlbertaHard · 9.6 km · 944 m gain · 6 h 15 minSummit · Views · Alpine · Passes Thunder Mountain61score
- 9Johnson Creek Ridge TrailWillow Creek Public Land Use ZoneHard · 11.6 km · 585 m gain · 4 h 30 minSummit · Views · River or creek · Passes Johnson Creek Ridge60score
- 10Pasque Mtn TrailNear Elkford · Kananaskis Conservation Pass areaHard · 14.0 km · 807 m gain · 6 hSummit · Views · Alpine · Passes Pasque Mountain59score
- 11Chaffen Peak RouteLivingstone Public Land Use ZoneHard · 11.7 km · 701 m gain · 5 h 15 minSummit · Views · River or creek · Alpine58score
- 12Thrift Peak Alt RouteNear Crowsnest Pass · Bob Creek Wildland Provincial ParkHard · 11.5 km · 873 m gain · 6 hSummit · Views · Alpine · Passes Thrift Peak58score
- 13Mount Burke TrailKananaskis Conservation Pass areaHard · 7.9 km · 765 m gain · 5 hSummit · Views · Alpine · Passes Mount Burke and Cameron Lookout57score
- 14Cabin Ridge TrailNear Elkford · Livingstone Public Land Use ZoneHard · 14.5 km · 921 m gain · 6 h 45 minSummit · Views · Alpine · Passes Twin Peaks56score
- 15Camp Ridge RouteNear Maycroft · Bob Creek Wildland Provincial ParkHard · 22.3 km · 1,096 m gain · 8 h 45 minViews · Alpine · Passes Thrift Peak55score