As easy of a snowshoe route that you will ever get, but scenic just the same.

Difficulty: Light - moderate

Round trip: 10 km

Hiking Time: 2.5 - 3.5 hours 

Elevation Gain: 120 m

FitBit: approx. 14,000 steps and 19 flights of stairs

Location: Peter Lougheed Provincial Park

TRAIL HEAD

Marked: Yes

Facilities: No

How to get there: From Calgary drive west on Hwy 1 until exit 118 to Kananaskis Trail/Hwy 40. Drive about 50 km to where the road closes (Dec - Jun). Park and walk to the road blockades and you will see the trail sign.

The yellow portion is your trail.

TRAIL DETAILS

Your trail head will be marked by a sign that says Wintour Trail 5 km (note this is one way and will be another 5 km to return). Route finding is non-existent on this one. You are simply following the highway there and back. Where the snowshoe tracks stop and you see a little neon orange snowshoe sign veering to the left you may continue a short ways. (But this is where we turned around). Return the way you came.

Kid Friendly: yes
Dog Friendly: yes 
But note the snow is deep off the pre-trampled path (if there is one).

Happy Snowshoeing!

A moderate hike through the trees and across varying terrain. There is no amazing view from the top, but for exercise and a simple good time this can be a nice short hike.

Difficulty: moderate

Round trip: 8 km

Hiking Time: 2.5 - 3.5 hrs 

Elevation Gain: 420 m

FitBit: approx. 13,500 steps and 138 flights of stairs

Location: Kananaskis

TRAIL HEAD

Marked: yes

Facilities: yes 

How to get there: From Calgary drive west on Hwy 1 until you can take exit 118 to Kananaskis Trail/ Hwy 40. Drive approximately 15km to where you will see a sign for Baldy Pass Trail and park in the lot on the west side of the road.

Click for directions from Calgary.

Trail Map

HIKE DETAILS

Your trailhead is across the road from the parking lot so on the east side of the highway. You'll see a pedestrian crossing leading to the start of the trail. The initial part of the hike is easy, you won't accumulate terribly much elevation until you are about midway. The terrain changes back and forth from dirt and rooty paths to a rocky washed out riverbed, so as usual wear appropriate footwear.

There is only one fork in the path, but it is close to the start and there is a map to direct you. Simply keep left along the more beaten trail and continue hiking east. Most of the trail is among the trees, but when out of the shade the sun can be warm on sunny day. You'll know you are at the pass when you reach a large pile of rocks and a cairn someone has built on top. The trail splits and continues both north and south, but details for those are not found here yet. When you are satisfied with your progress, return the way you came. You'll find the views are better on the way down!

Kid Friendly: yes
Dog Friendly: yes

NOTE

-This one has limited views as you climb and at the top (they are behind you so better on your descent), so your best bet may be to make this a longer trip and continue the climb a little ways. Though details for that are not available here yet. 

Happy Hiking!

Difficulty: Strenuous

Round trip: 11.5 km

Hiking Time: 5-6 hrs

Elevation Gain: 744 m

FitBit: approx 17,000 steps total and 244 flights of stairs

Location: Kananaskis

TRAIL HEAD

Marked: No.

Facilities: No.

How to get there: From Calgary drive south on Hwy 2. You have multiple options to go through different small towns such as Black Diamond, Longview, or High River, just choose the way you feel best, and make your way south on Hwy 22 to Hwy 532. Turn right (W) and drive approx 21.5 km to where you'll see a small pond. Cross the Texas gate and park in the pullout just after it on your left.

HIKE DETAILS

Find your trail on the north side of the Texas gate on the same side of the road that you parked, climbing up the hill to the east. Your path is pretty well trodden the majority of the way and you'll hike up and down five hilly peaks. If the trail ever fades, keep trekking in the direction of the farthest peak and you'll surely find it again. When you see another trail intersects yours, going north and south (as in the photo below) do not follow this one, but continue upwards and east.

The details for this hike end right before Windy Peak, but with it in sight, just covered in snow. Surmount the last rocky hill and enjoy a well earned rest before heading back the way you came.

Looking at Windy Peak (you can see the trail continue, but this is where we stopped).

Enjoy the variety of scenery all around you on this hike and even on each individual hill. Plus if you look far to the North on a clear day you may see Calgary.

NOTE

-There is no shelter from the sun or wind so be prepared with sunscreen and layers if called for. 
-Poles would be handy on this one.  
-The details here are technically to the hill just before Windy Peak. As there was too much snow on Windy Peak we didn't make it that far nor to the decent which would make the trail a loop versus there and back again. That will make a difference for elevation gain and distance/hiking time. For details to the loop click here.

Kid Friendly: yes *at your discretion of how far they can go. But sometimes kids have more stamina than us adults :) 
Dog Friendly: yes

Happy Hiking!

Difficulty: Light - moderate

Round trip: 4.5 km

Hiking Time: 2 - 3 hours

Elevation Gain: 378 m

FitBit: approx 10,750 steps and 155 flights of stairs

Location: Kananaskis

TRAIL HEAD

Marked: Sort of

Facilities: No

How to get there: From Calgary drive west on HWY 1 to Canmore. Get onto the Smith-Dorrien (HWY 742) on which you will pass the Canmore Nordic Centre. At that point you can reset your odometer to 0 and at approximately 18.5 km from there park in the pullout on the right side (w) side of the road.

HIKE DETAILS

Cross the road to find your trail on the east side of the highway. Almost immediately come to a fork and go left. Initially you are on the Trans Canada Trail and will quickly arrive at a second fork. A hand written sign will direct you to keep right and ascend the steeper looking path.

Hiking generally NE towards the pass you will find lovely views open up behind you quite quickly. In a few places the trail will appear to fork again, (sometimes downward to the right). It would appear that all these trails eventually meet up at different places. Stick to the path most trodden and you should reach your destination with no issues.

Nearing the pass you will see a visible trail climbing the mountain to your right, ignore it as that climbs up to summit Windtower (details not provided here). Continue until you crest the pass and find some reprieve from the wind by descending to the grassy plateau just a little ways further. Then sit and enjoy your well earned view!

EXTRA TIPS

-April 1 to June 15 the trail will be closed for bighorn sheep lambing. 

-This trail has a few little sections where you dip down slightly, not significantly each individual time, but enough overall to add turn 378 m of elevation gain into a cumulative amount of about 470 m.

Kid Friendly: yes
Dog Friendly: yes

Happy Hiking!

Difficulty: Light

Round trip: 9 km

Hiking Time: 3 - 4 hours

Elevation Gain: 330 m

FitBit: approx 13,000 steps and 120 flights of stairs

Location: Peter Lougheed Provincial Park

Kid Friendly: yes

Dog Friendly: yes*

TRAIL HEAD

Marked: Yes

Facilities: Yes

How to get there: From Calgary drive west on Hwy 1. Turn off at Kananaskis Trail/Hwy 40 and drive approximately 50km. At Kananaskis Lakes Trail turn right (west) into Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. Drive approx 2.2 km and turn right (north) onto the Smith Dorrien Trail. From here to your destination you will be on a gravel road versus a paved highway. Continue 20.2km more and turn right (north east) into the Chester Lake day use area.

Click for directions in Google Maps.

Trail Map

HIKE DETAILS

Your trail head is marked in the north east corner of the large parking lot. The start of the route has changed slightly since the flood of 2013, but it is well trodden and easily identifiable.

Hike on a wide rocky path through the forest gradually gaining elevation at a steady pace. You will see a couple of one-way signs along the way, follow them using the alternate route on your return to avoid heavy traffic later in the day. Otherwise, your trail is quite self explanatory.

Enjoy your trek through the woods and a few meadows on this hike. The hardest part is the elevation gain in the first two thirds of the way. After that the views open up, the terrain levels and only beauty awaits at the lake :)

EXTRA TIPS

*I do say this hike is dog friendly, however being such a busy location use your best discretion. And note dogs must always be on leash in the mountains as tickets will be issued if caught off leash.
-This is an extremely popular trail, indicated by the size of the parking lot when you arrive. If you want to avoid the rush you'll need to go early in the morning or on a non holiday week day.
-There is an option to continue hiking past Chester Lake to Three Lakes Valley, but those details are not listed here. 

Happy Hiking!

Difficulty: Light

Round trip: 4 km

Hiking Time: 2 - 3 hours

Elevation Gain: 350 m

FitBit: approx 7,700 steps and 123 flights of stairs

Location: Kananaskis

TRAIL HEAD

Marked: No

Facilities: No

How to get there: From Calgary drive south on Hwy 2. You have multiple options to go through different small towns such as Black Diamond, Longview, or High River, just choose the way you feel best, and make your way south on Hwy 22 to Hwy 532. Turn right (W) and drive approx 21.5km to where you'll see a small pond. Cross the Texas gate and park in the pullout just after it on your left.

HIKE DETAILS

Your trail starts on the northwest side of the road directly across from where you park. Walk up the little hill and head nw, almost immediately you will see and hear a stream's trickle on your left. You will also see two narrow paths on the slop of the hill, stick to the lower one closest to the water. (If you are too close to the stream and don't see the path, walk up the hill a bit more).

As you hike you'll see your destination butte ahead to the north and there is a fire lookout on top (which isn't really visible). You'll gain elevation at an easy pace in the first km, but the last 0.5km is when the real work begins. When your trail appears to dissipate head to the left of the butte and up the steep and grassy slope, the trail will be intermittent so use your best judgement and just aim for the shortest part of the rock band. (Note: at this point there is a trail that seems more obvious and continues to the right of the cliff/butte, in a sort of gully/dip between cliffs, that is not your path. You want to be on the left rock band, as daunting as it seems, it's doable and where you should be). As you make your way up the slope be cautious not to send rocks tumbling down to hikers below you.

Once you get to the rock band you will have to do some climbing (dogs will have to be lifted), and if you can bring knees to chest, it's just like giant stairs for 3 or 4 steps. From there you still climb, but it eases up.

At the top, enjoy the 360 degree view you earned! Note you may be able to see Calgary on a clear day!

EXTRA TIPS

-Ranked 'light' this one is short in distance, but the elevation gain at the end is steep so it won't feel very easy.
-The wind once you come over the ridge is merciless. No matter how much you might sweat on the  way there, it can't hurt to dress in layers, plus bring a touque and mitts. 

Happy Hiking!