Best lake hikes in Southern Alberta
The 15 best lake hikes in Southern Alberta, out of 16 that we map, ranked by trail score.
How we rank trails Ranked by trail score, highest first.
- All hikes
- Easy 41
- Moderate 27
- Hard 97
- Under 5 km 60
- Kid friendly 38
- Summits 56
- Views 91
- Loops 14
- Backpacking 16
The list
Sorted by rank- 1Walk on the Wild Side trailNear Picture Butte · Southern AlbertaEasy · 3.9 km · 1 m gain · 60 minLake · Camping · Passes Picture Butte Reservoir59score
- 2Marshland TrailNear Lake Newell Resort · Kinbrook Island Provincial ParkModerate · 7.7 km · 1 m gain · 2 hLake · Passes Lake Newell57score
- 3Willow Creek Ridge RouteNear Nanton · Southern AlbertaHard · 22.2 km · 982 m gain · 8 h 15 minLake · Views · River or creek · Passes Chain Lakes Reservoir55score
- 4Iron Lakes Ridge RouteKananaskis Conservation Pass areaHard · 5.0 km · 466 m gain · 3 hLake · Views · Alpine50score
- 5Iron Creek Mountain TrailKananaskis Conservation Pass areaHard · 7.9 km · 554 m gain · 4 hLake · River or creek · Passes Bear Pond47score
- 6Bear Pond Ridge RouteKananaskis Conservation Pass areaEasy · 1.3 km · 41 m gain · 25 minLake · Views · Passes Bear Pond44score
- 7Creekside TrailNear Cremona · Southern AlbertaEasy · 1.6 km · 61 m gain · 35 minLake · River or creek · Hut or tea house · Passes Kindle Pond43score
- 8River WalkNear Foothills Outfitters · Southern AlbertaEasy · 1.1 km · 11 m gain · 20 minLake · Views · River or creek · Passes Stone Recliner and Canoe Pond42score
- 9James Lake TrailKiska/Willson Public Land Use ZoneEasy · 2.6 km · 84 m gain · 55 minLake · Passes Eagle Lake40score
- 10Memory Lake TrailNear Elkford · Livingstone Public Land Use ZoneModerate · 11.7 km · 246 m gain · 3 h 30 minLake · River or creek39score
- 11Strip Park pathNear Raymond · Strip ParkEasy · 4.0 km · 0 m gain · 1 hLake · Passes Corner Lake36score
- 12Stafford lake LoopNear Brooks · Lake Stafford ParkEasy · 2.3 km · 0 m gain · 35 minLake · Passes Stafford Lake31score
- 13Lost Lake LoopNear Summer Village of Burnstick Lake · Southern AlbertaHard · 20.8 km · 455 m gain · 6 h 30 minLake · Camping29score
- 14Trout Pond LoopNear Taber · Southern AlbertaEasy · 2.3 km · 10 m gain · 35 minLake · Passes Trout Pond25score
- 15Trout Pond PathNear Taber · Southern AlbertaEasy · 2.6 km · 7 m gain · 40 minLake25score