Best short hikes in Southern Alberta
The 15 best short hikes in Southern Alberta, out of 60 that we map, ranked by trail score.
How we rank trails Ranked by trail score, highest first.
The list
Sorted by rank- 1Cache Creek TrailNear Elkford · Beehive Natural AreaEasy · 4.5 km · 111 m gain · 1 h 30 minWaterfall · Views · River or creek · Passes Oldman River Falls Viewing Area and Oldman River Falls62score
- 2David Thompson TrailNear Rocky Mountain House · Southern AlbertaEasy · 1.8 km · 9 m gain · 30 minViews · Historic site · Camping · Passes Rocky Mountain House Bison Lookout59score
- 3Walk on the Wild Side trailNear Picture Butte · Southern AlbertaEasy · 3.9 km · 1 m gain · 60 minLake · Camping · Passes Picture Butte Reservoir59score
- 4Hailstone Butte East Side TrailKananaskis Conservation Pass areaModerate · 4.2 km · 357 m gain · 2 h 30 minViews · Alpine54score
- 5Iron Lakes Ridge RouteKananaskis Conservation Pass areaHard · 5.0 km · 466 m gain · 3 hLake · Views · Alpine50score
- 6Rocky Mountain House Cross Country Ski LoopNear Rocky Mountain House · Southern AlbertaEasy · 4.8 km · 3 m gain · 1 h 15 minHistoric site47score
- 7Tornado Mountain RouteNear Elkford · Southern AlbertaHard · 2.5 km · 750 m gain · 4 h 15 minSummit · Views · Alpine · Passes Tornado Mountain47score
- 8Happy TrailsNear High River · George Lane ParkEasy · 4.7 km · 8 m gain · 1 h 15 minRiver or creek44score
- 9Bear Pond Ridge RouteKananaskis Conservation Pass areaEasy · 1.3 km · 41 m gain · 25 minLake · Views · Passes Bear Pond44score
- 10WHSL Traverse RouteDon Getty Wildland Provincial ParkHard · 4.2 km · 547 m gain · 3 h 30 minSummit · Views · Alpine · Passes Windy Peak43score
- 11Creekside TrailNear Cremona · Southern AlbertaEasy · 1.6 km · 61 m gain · 35 minLake · River or creek · Hut or tea house · Passes Kindle Pond43score
- 12Chimney TrailNear Rocky Mountain House · Southern AlbertaEasy · 1.2 km · 1 m gain · 20 minRiver or creek · Historic site42score
- 13River WalkNear Foothills Outfitters · Southern AlbertaEasy · 1.1 km · 11 m gain · 20 minLake · Views · River or creek · Passes Stone Recliner and Canoe Pond42score
- 14Cell Phone Ridge RouteWillow Creek Public Land Use ZoneModerate · 4.6 km · 298 m gain · 2 h 15 minSummit · Views · Passes Cell Phone Ridge41score
- 15James Lake TrailKiska/Willson Public Land Use ZoneEasy · 2.6 km · 84 m gain · 55 minLake · Passes Eagle Lake40score