If you’ve been around for a while, reading snippets of my blogs and social posts, you know I’m a big proponent of living an active, healthy lifestyle. I find a lot of joy in taking time out of my day to get in a good Barry’s class or hike with the fam, and recently, I thought it’d be fun to share some of these glimmers of my life with you!
Now that we’ve officially passed the summer solstice, we all have a great excuse to head out to the mountains for some fresh air, sunshine and quality time with friends, family, or both! Below, I have included some of my very favourite moderate hikes across Western Canada so you have a list to utilize this summer (without having to go through pages and pages in AllTrails). You’re welcome. 🤣 Keep in mind that some of these aren’t in Alberta, so you even have some for your next trip out to BC!
Grassi Lakes – Canmore
Oh ya, this one’s a classic. As a fam, we’ve been known to spend some time on this popular Canmore trail (and I know we aren’t the only ones). Grassi Lakes is a moderate hike that doesn’t take very long to complete – roughly an hour or so, realistically. It’s great if you want to head out with friends and family, but don’t want to arrive back in the city after dinner. Head out early and you’ll get the trail to yourself. Even better, you’ll have the rest of the day to do whatever errands you have back in YYC.
Spirit Trail – Columbia Lakes
Spirit Trail is a stunning hike near Fairmont Hot Springs, BC, and it’s one that we LOVE. Again, this is a moderate hike, with a looped pathway that follows the lake. There are scenic views, and best of all, dogs are welcome! Though it’s 16.7 km, it only has roughly 451 metres of elevation gain, making it doable with kids. My tips? As usual, bring lots of snacks and sunscreen (bug spray, too). If you’re out near Fairmont, I highly recommend it!
Chester Lake – Kananaskis
Hmmm, I sense a theme happening here. Might I like lake hikes? That may be, but this one is a goodie. Chester Lake is regularly closed from May 1 to June 29, so it’s not officially open for the season. We love that this one is beautiful and great for all of us because there’s not too much elevation and it’s not too long – and there are absolutely incredible views of the lake and surrounding forest. If you didn’t already know (don’t worry, I won’t mention the dreaded W word), Chester Lake is popular for snowshoeing. Something to think about!
The Johnson – Invermere
Like the other hikes I’ve mentioned, The Johnson has a nice length at 10 km with only 335 metres of elevation, making it a great option for a summer day with friends or kids. Pack a nice lunch and make somewhat of a day of it. I can guarantee you won’t regret it. I always love looking down at the river from up top – sometimes the water is a beautiful teal.
Valley of the Five Lakes – Jasper
I’ll be honest, I haven’t done this one, but I’ve always wanted to. Although it’s pretty short at 4.8 km and roughly 1 hour and 24 minutes to complete, the views of the lakes look spectacular. As the name suggests, you pass five lakes along the trail, which are all a combination of a blue/green mix. It seems easy, breezy, and close to Jasper (only 9 km south of the Jasper townsite). We’ll see it, some day!
Have you done any of these hikes? I’d love to know. Don’t forget to follow along with my Instagram, and let me know what hikes you love. We’re ready for some happy trails this summer!
