Hiking and walking in the Canadian Rockies is some of the best in the world! One experiences a unique ambiance of incredible scenery, mountain culture, and natural history. Access to beautiful terrain is easy and the scenery is second to none. Whether staying in comfortable hotels and lodges in the famous Canadian Rockies resorts of Banff, Canmore and Lake Louise or camping nearby and traveling to different trails each day or roughing it in rustic log cabins at Mount Assiniboine, where the wilderness starts at the doorway, you will find yourself becoming addicted to the heady mix of exercise, scenery and the natural and cultural history of this wonderful place!
We offer several different tours, each unique. The benefit of the hiking and walking tours is that you can leave behind the large backpacks and enjoy the splendor of the Canadian Rockies carrying little on your back.
Best of the Rockies Walking Tours
Wapta Ice Hike: The Wapta Icefields provide a unique opportunity for fit walkers and hikers to enjoy amazing mountain scenery normally reserved for mountaineers. For this 3-day traverse, we start at Bow Lake and hike up to and over the Bow Glacier to the Peyto Glacier staying in alpine huts en-route.
Canadian Rockies Walking Tour: Wildflowers, mountain scenery and exercise from the Front Ranges of the Canadian Rockies to Great Divide in Banff, Jasper, Kootenay and Yoho National Parks. This trip is hotel based and available for private departures from June until September.
Waterton lakes Hiking Tour: Hidden in the far southwest corner of Alberta, Waterton Lakes National Park is a place of superlatives! Join us as we explore this truly unique and stunning landscape over five days, where the most colourful and ancient mountains in the Rockies meet the prairies.
Lake O’Hara Hiking Tour: Lake O’Hara is a place where dreams are made. Its unmatched beauty is enhanced by the strictly protected fragile landscape and the abundance of wildlife that travel through it. Since the late 1800’s visitors have been exploring the areas numerous lakes and majestic snow-capped peaks leading to the development of one of the most extensive and well-maintained trail systems in the mountain parks.
Esplanade Track: Linking alpine cirques, lake and meadows, the Esplanade Track follows the skyline of one of British Columbia’s most beautiful ranges. Running parallel to the Canadian Rockies, the Track offers exceptional panoramic views of the Rockies most famous peaks… Robson, Columbia and Assiniboine.
Hiking & Walking Tours FAQs
How old are participants?
We get people from all age groups, parents with teenagers to fit hikers in their sixties.
How fit do you need to be?
These trips are designed for people who live normal healthy lifestyles that include regular exercise. You don’t have to be exceedingly fit. Most people who join us live in cities. The guides will hold the pace to a speed that is not too fast and which allows you to enjoy the trip. If you are completely out of shape you will find it tough for the first days. We cannot emphasize enough that training pays great dividends in enjoyment. We suggest you train by jogging or hiking (ideally in hilly terrain). If it is hard for you to train before you come, you should consider coming a few days early and doing some day hikes on your own to get ready.
Please consult us if you have any doubts.
What type of food do we provide?
This depends on the program. On multi-day backcountry trips we try to keep the food as light and tasty as possible without jeopardizing nutritional needs. It tends to be a mixture of gourmet home-made, pre-dried meals, and fresh foods prepared by our in-house chef.
On day hiking programs such as the Canadian Rockies Walking Tour we supply hearty hikers lunches.
We cater to vegetarians and those with food allergies (e.g.. peanut allergy). In case of more complicated diets a surcharge may apply. You need to let us know your special needs when you book.
Can Yamnuska organize private trips on demand?
Yes. Please visit our Custom Tours page.
