Alberta is a province rife with opportunities for outdoor activity. The Rocky Mountains sit to the west, there are hundreds of lakes to explore, and breathtaking beauty to see whether you’re hiking, biking, swimming, fishing, or simply sitting still to take a moment for yourself.
Go Hiking in Banff National Park
Next time you’re checking out Banff homes for sale, strap on a pair of hiking boots and head to the Alp-like mountains in Banff.
Banff has over 1,600 kilometers in trails that wind through terrain that affords view of turquoise lakes, snow-capped mountains, and flowered meadows.
Seek out the limestone cliff-enclosed Cascade Amphitheater, a hike that begins at the Mt. Norquay ski area and crosses a bridge over Forty Mile Creek. Prepared hikers may want to tackle the summit of Cascade Mountain.
For a relatively easy hike, take the trail to to Lake Agnes in the Lake Louise area and the historic teahouse on its shores. Enjoy a cup of tea and watch the waterfall that flows into the beautiful blue water.
Reel in a Big One
Alberta Sturgeon Fishing Adventures has hosted big game fishing trips since 2000. Outside of the plentiful sturgeon, hopeful fisherman can hook walleye, sauger, goldeye, pike, mooneye, and burbot.
If you’d rather fish on your own, head to Namur Lake in the Birch Mountains Wildland Provincial Park. The waters there are known for Lake Trout, Great Northern Pike, and Arctic Grayling.
Discover Dinosaurs
Dinosaur Provincial Park is the discovery site of more than 150 full dinosaur skeletons, and elicits the feeling of dinosaurs roaming the Earth to this day. It’s still an active dig site.
Two interpretive fossil displays allow you to see what a dig site really looks like, or you can experience the park from the unique view of paddling down the Red Deer River.
Ride the Iron Horse
The Iron Horse Trail is a 300 kilometer system that runs through northeast Alberta. It was once a route for fur traders, and you can still see the ruts the carts made back in the mid 1800s.
You can tackle the trail by ATV, bike, on foot, or even by horseback.
Park it at Summerland
Summerland Leisure Park is a great place to park your RV for a night or two, and it’s also a great day destination for fun.
The 18-hole mini golf park features greens with a waterfall, curves, turns, hills, and obstacles that are challenging for kids and adults alike.
Go Underground
While the Rockies are breathtaking from the outside, there’s much to be seen when diving deeper.
Canmore Cave Tours offers adventures year-round into Rat’s Nest Cave, a wild, undeveloped cave under Grotto Mountain.
Head Into the Long Hike
The Crypt Lake Trail was ranked one of the top 20 most thrilling hikes in the world by National Geographic – and it’s a six hour hike.
Located in Waterton Lakes National Park, the trail ends in an ascent to Crypt Lake. Most of the area around the lake is covered in ice and snow, and hiking around the circumference requires approximately 45 minutes.
