Popular Day Hikes: Canadian Rockies — Revised & Updated
By Tony Daffern
()
About this ebook
Featuring a fresh design and the most current route updates, Popular Day Hikes is a series of bestselling books written for visitors and locals looking to hike scenic trails from well-established staging areas.
Popular Day Hikes: Canadian Rockies covers 37 popular, accessible trails in one of the world’s most stunningly beautiful natural environments. Featuring easy short-day walks, more-strenuous full-day hikes and the occasional easy scramble in areas around Banff, Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, the Icefields Parkway, Kootenay National Park, Yoho National Park and Jasper, this colourful guide contains something for everyone. Some of the trips included are:
- Spray River Loop
- Sunshine Meadows
- Stanley Glacier
- Lake Agnes
- Plain of Six Glaciers
- Larch Valley
- Yoho Valley to Twin Falls
- Parker Ridge
- Valley of the Five Lakes
- Sulpher Skyline Trail
Each hike includes:
- detailed directions to trailheads
- colour maps and photographs
- seasonal information
- round-trip distances
- trail commentary
- difficulty ratings
Tony Daffern
Tony Daffern is a seasoned climber, hiker and ski mountaineer with close to 50 years of experience on various mountain ranges throughout the world. A civil engineer by training, he is the author of the bestselling guidebook Popular Day Hikes: Canadian Rockies – Revised and Updated and Backcountry Avalanche Safety – 4th Edition. Tony is the co-founder of Rocky Mountain Books, and along with his wife, Gillean Daffern, he was awarded the Banff Mountain Festival’s Summit of Excellence Award in 2006. He lives in Calgary, Alberta.
Read more from Tony Daffern
Backcountry Avalanche Safety: A Guide to Managing Avalanche Risk - 4th Edition Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPopular Day Hikes 2: Canadian Rockies Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to Popular Day Hikes
Related ebooks
Banff National Park, Lake Louise & Icefields Parkway Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFodor's Canadian Rockies: with Calgary, Banff, and Jasper National Parks Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe David Thompson Highway Hiking Guide – 2nd Edition Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBackpacking Washington: From Volcanic Peaks to Rainforest Valleys Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5One Best Hike: Mount Rainier's Wonderland Trail Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDay Hikes in Washington State: 90 Favorite Trails, Loops, and Summit Scrambles Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFamily Walks & Hikes Canadian Rockies: 2nd Edition, Volume 2: Banff, Kootenay, Yoho, Icefields Parkway (Highway 93 North), Jasper Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings103 Hikes in Southwestern British Columbia Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Waterfall Hikes in the Canadian Rockies – Volume 1: Banff - Kananaskis - Crowsnest - Waterton - Yoho - BC Rockies Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings105 Hikes in and Around Southwestern British Columbia Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5One Night Wilderness: Portland: Top Backcountry Getaways Within Three Hours of the City Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Backpacking Arizona: From Deep Canyons to Sky Islands Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLonely Planet Florida & the South's National Parks Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBackpacking Oregon: From River Valleys to Mountain Meadows Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia: The Essential Guide to Overnight Hiking Trips Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Average Guy's (and Gal's) Hiking Guide to Acadia National Park and Mount Desert Island Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFrommer's Banff & the Canadian Rockies day by day Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCanadian Rockies Adventure Guide Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5The Ultimate Guide To Galapagos Cruises Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCracked: A Resource for Activists Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCoasts in Crisis: A Global Challenge Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBehind the Bears Ears: Exploring the Cultural and Natural Histories of a Sacred Landscape Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOur National Parks Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Lines on a Map: Unparalleled Adventures in Modern Exploration Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Vancouver And British Columbia: Your Ultimate Travel Guide to Enjoying Canada’s Hottest Tourist Destination Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLonely Planet Best of Canada Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Lonely Planet Vancouver & Victoria Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPatagonia Travel Guide 2023-2024 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Natural History of Belize: Inside the Maya Forest Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Special Interest Travel For You
Mediocre Monk: A Stumbling Search for Answers in a Forest Monastery Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Kon-Tiki Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/550 Great American Places: Essential Historic Sites Across the U.S. Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Unofficial Disney Parks Drink Recipe Book: From LeFou's Brew to the Jedi Mind Trick, 100+ Magical Disney-Inspired Drinks Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe 12-Hour Walk: Invest One Day, Conquer Your Mind, and Unlock Your Best Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Dead Mountain: The Untold True Story of the Dyatlov Pass Incident Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Haunted October: 31 Seriously Scary Ghost Stories Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Jungle: A Harrowing True Story of Survival in the Amazon Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Dispatches from Pluto: Lost and Found in the Mississippi Delta Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Journeys of a Lifetime, Second Edition: 500 of the World's Greatest Trips Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Arthur: The Dog who Crossed the Jungle to Find a Home Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Destination Truth: Memoirs of a Monster Hunter Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Five Steps to Your Own Internet Travel Agency Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Escape the Wolf: A SEAL Operative’s Guide to Situational Awareness, Threat Identification, a Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Magic Island Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Digital Nomads For Dummies Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOn Trails: An Exploration Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Comfort Crisis: Embrace Discomfort To Reclaim Your Wild, Happy, Healthy Self Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail (Oprah's Book Club 2.0) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Little Black Book of Motorcycle Wisdom Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Asylum Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Lonely Planet The Vanlife Companion Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Quit Like a Millionaire: No Gimmicks, Luck, or Trust Fund Required Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Appalachian Trail Girl's Guide Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Reviews for Popular Day Hikes
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
Popular Day Hikes - Tony Daffern
1 Spray River Loop
A pleasant walk with views of the Spray River and the long ridge of Mount Rundle. This is the only day hike in the Banff area that can be accessed via public transportation.
DISTANCE: 11.5 km loop
HEIGHT GAIN: 120 m
HIGH POINT: 1460 m
MODERATE
YEAR-ROUND
START: Cross the bridge over the Bow River at the south end of Banff Avenue. Turn left. Keep left at the next traffic light and drive to the Banff Springs Hotel. Keep right around the traffic circle and pass under the bridge. Follow the road, bearing to the right past the staff parking, to its end at Spray River trailhead parking.
If you are in Banff without your own transportation you can ride the Banff public transit bus to the Banff Springs Hotel. Check with your hotel or the information centre for routes and schedules.
DIFFICULTY: An easy trail following old fire roads that you will be sharing with mountain bikers. In winter it is groomed and trackset with the tracks on either side, leaving space for you to walk in the middle. It can get very icy, so hiking poles are in order.
1. Follow the wide trail on the west side of the Spray River through spruce and pine forest to a trail junction at 700 m. The trail to the left leads down to the river and will be your return route.
2. Keep straight ahead for now. Just after the top of the first climb look for a horse trail to the left. It makes a pleasant alternative to the fire road for the next kilometre. At a junction near the river, keep right and climb back up to the fire road.
3. The road finally descends, and the forest opens up to allow views of the river and the long ridge of Mount Rundle to your left. Arrive at a junction and picnic area. The trail straight ahead continues up the Spray River valley (see option).
4. Turn left toward the river and descend a few feet to the bridge. Beyond the bridge the trail climbs gently for the next three kilometres, passing Mount Rundle campsite after about half a kilometre.
5. Keep your eyes open for a trail sign on your left indicating the start of Old Quarry Loop.
6. Turn left and follow the trail as it traverses down across a steep bank toward the river. You can see the bridge downstream that you will be crossing shortly. A couple of switchbacks bring you down to river level where the trail follows the river edge to the bridge.
7. Cross the bridge and climb the bank to the trail junction mentioned in 1. Turn right to return to the trailhead.
View of the Banff Springs Hotel from the top of the bank near the start of Old Quarry Loop (5).
The bridge over the Spray River (4).
Mount Rundle from the Spray River Bridge at O2.
Going farther up the Spray Valley
DISTANCE: add 6.4 km to picnic spot, 9 km to Spray River bridge and about 120 m height gain.
You can wander farther up the Spray Valley into Kananaskis Country. However, a logical turnaround point is the bridge over the Spray River. The Spray Valley beyond Goat Creek has been closed to travel in recent years as a result of the park’s bear management program.
1. At the end of 3, continue straight ahead, following the gradually ascending Spray Valley for 2.7 km to an obvious junction on the left.
2. Here you have the option of turning left and descending to a picnic spot by the river or carrying straight on to the bridge over the Spray River. If the latter, keep left at a junction where your trail leaves the main Spray Valley fire road.
3. Return the way you came, turning right across the river when you regain the main loop at (4).
2 Cascade Amphitheatre
A demanding trail to an impressive amphitheatre tucked into the west side of Cascade Mountain. Alpine wildflowers, pikas, hoary marmots and occasional mountain goats are the attractions here.
DISTANCE: 15 km return
HEIGHT GAIN: 640 m
HIGH POINT: 2195 m
MODERATELY STRENUOUS
JULY TO MID-SEPTEMBER
START: Follow the Mount Norquay road from the Banff west interchange to Ski Norquay ski area. Park at the far end of the large parking lot.
DIFFICULTY: Easy downhill to start with, following a ski area access road and then a good trail to Forty Mile Creek. After crossing the creek there is a steady uphill climb with steep zigzags for the last 2 km to the amphitheatre. On the return there is a 155 m climb back up to the ski area.
1. From the parking lot walk between the day lodge and service buildings and follow the gravel road past Cascade Chair for 1.2 km to Mystic Chair. Ignore a hiking sign just before Spirit Chair. The overgrown trail it indicates does not save height gain or distance.
2. The trail to Forty Mile Creek starts a few metres beyond the chairlift. After a short uphill, head steadily downhill to a junction. Trail to Mystic Lake to left. Keep right and continue downhill to Forty Mile Creek. Turn left across the bridge onto Elk Lakes