Are you thinking about hiking in Kananaskis this winter with the family? Hiking in the Canadian Rockies under the winter snow carpet with frozen waterfalls is SO magical.
We have so many recommendations below for the best winter hiking options in Kananaskis!
We try to go on a family hike with our kids at least once a week. And this, even in the winter. There are so many amazing hikes to do, and there is something special about a frozen waterfall and snowy mountain views.
So, today, we will share our best winter hikes in Kananaskis Country. The list is from the shortest to the longest hikes.
Note: If you’re looking for Banff winter hikes, check out this article instead.
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Before that, though, be sure to check our winter hiking precautions:
Winter Hikes in the Canadian Rockies: Precautions to Take
Hiking in the winter is amazing, but you’ll also be hiking in avalanche terrain, unpredictable terrain, and icy trails. So you want to be careful and stay safe.
1. Have the proper hiking gear for winter
You want to make sure your kids and yourself are dressed appropriately for the cold weather. Then, on some trails, Spikes or Crampons and Hiking Poles are highly recommended as the trails get super icy in the winter.
2. Check the trail report before heading out. A couple of options to know if a trail has a closure or restriction is to visit the Advisories & Public Safety website and the Trail Reports website from Alberta Parks. Always check the trail conditions before heading out.
Our TOP 3 Winter Hikes in Kananaskis
Below, we share a more extensive list of hikes to do in the winter in Kananaskis and Canmore. Here are our TOP 3 hikes you shouldn’t miss for a winter hiking adventure in Kananaskis:
- Policeman Creek Boardwalk Trail (one of the best family winter hikes in Canmore)
- Blackshale Suspension Bridge (in the winter, it’s super cool!)
- Grassi Lakes Trail (one of the most popular winter hikes in Kananaskis)
1. Elbow Falls Trail
⛔ Warning:
There are a few stairs, so it’s not stroller or wheelchair-friendly. The stairs are also incredibly slippery if it hasn’t snowed for a while.
Elbow Falls is one of the easiest winter hikes in Kananaskis. It’s the perfect winter hike located near Bragg Creek.
A nice secured path allows you to admire the falls and walk along the river. The main road on Highway 66 is closed by the provincial park for the winter a few meters after the turnout for Elbow Falls, so in the summer, there are many other hiking options for longer hikes in the area. Also, there seemed to be some nice bouldering spots as many climbers were walking with their crash pads.
🥾 Elbow Falls Trail Technical Information (from AllTrails) 🥾
Distance: 0.8 km out-and-back
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation gain: 27 m
2. Blackshale Creek Suspension Bridge
The Blackshale Suspension Bridge loop is a fun and easy family-friendly winter hike in Kananaskis with a nice suspension bridge to cross (weather permitting). It takes a little while to get there: from Calgary, it’s about 131 km, and from Canmore, it’s 89 km.
⛔ Warning:
The Blackshale Creek Suspension Bridge closes in the winter when the snow level is too high. Make sure to check the trail conditions before driving all the way there.
However, the drive is worth it and can be combined with other fun winter activities in Kananaskis. You’ll be driving past Boundary Ranch and Kananaskis Village to reach the trail. You could also spend an evening glamping at Mt Engadine, for a unique winter getaway.
Despite the short walk, you will be amazed by the nature, wildlife, mountain views, and, of course, the suspension bridge!
You should visit the Alberta Parks website to ensure the bridge is open. When there is a lot of snow, the park closes the bridge for safety reasons.
If you feel like walking more than 1km, you can do a longer trail (6.1 km out-and-back) called Blackshale Suspension Bridge via Black Prince. You can either begin the hike by parking on the road and walk to the bridge first or drive a little further to the Black Prince Day Use Area parking lot and walk in the forest before reaching the Suspension Bridge to then return to your car.
🥾 Blackshale Suspension Bridge Trail Technical Information (from AllTrails) 🥾
Distance: 1.0 km out-and-back
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation gain: 53 m
3. Quarry Lake Loop Trail
Quarry Lake is a small lake near downtown Canmore. There is a nice, easy trail around the lake. It’s great for a hike in Canmore in winter, but remember it’s not a lake for ice skating. The ice on the lake is ALWAYS too thin to walk on since the lake is fed by an underground spring.
Also, there is a parking lot fee at Quarry Lake (in the low season, you can either pay $2.50/hour or the daily max amount is $37.50), so bring a lunch and some sleds to take advantage of the day-use area.
🥾 Quarry Lake Loop Trail Technical Information (from AllTrails) 🥾
Distance: 1.1 km out-and-back
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation gain: 40 m
4. Heart Creek Bunker
This abandoned Cold War bunker is an excellent kid-friendly hike not far from Canmore. It’s also one of the best winter hikes near Calgary. In fact, it’s the closest one from Calgary on our list.
The trail is relatively easy, although a few sections are very slippery.
Once you reach the bunker, you can walk inside. Bring headlamps or regular lamps to see inside the bunker, as it gets very dark.
Kids will have a lot of fun exploring this place!
🥾 Heart Creek Bunker Trail Technical Information (from AllTrails) 🥾
Distance: 4.0 km out-and-back
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation gain: 235 m
5. Policeman Creek Boardwalk Trail
The Policeman Creek Boardwalk Trail is the best winter hike in Canmore. It’s an easy Canmore hike for kids, offering spectacular views of the Town of Canmore and its surrounding mountains.
The trailhead starts right in town, just off the main street. It follows the Policeman’s Creek, where you’ll walk on a boardwalk for part of the trail and through forests and ponds.
You will absolutely love seeing the snow-capped mountains of Ha Ling, Miner’s Peak, and EEOR.
The paid parking cost is between $2-$3/hour or $24 for the day.
🥾 Policeman Creek Boardwalk Trail Technical Information (from AllTrails) 🥾
Distance: 4.0 km out-and-back
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 81 m
6. Grotto Canyon Falls Trail
Grotto Canyon is one of the most popular family winter hikes in Kananaskis. It gets really busy between families and ice climbers.
You will walk on an open trail with lots of wind for the first few kilometers before reaching the canyon, where you’ll be protected from the wind, and even if it’s a frigid day, you will not feel it as much.
When our kids were between 3 and 6, we used to bring a sled, pulling them out-and-back on the ice creek bed. There are a few spots where the ice is less thick, and you can get your boots wet. Watch out for those spots! Walking through the Grotto Canyon in the winter is still very entertaining, even if you do get wet.
The canyon limestone walls are stunning – some even have thousands of years old pictographs!
⛔ Warning:
I strongly recommend wearing spikes or crampons as it is EXTREMELY slippery.
Once you reach the frozen waterfall, you can enjoy a picnic while watching, from a safe distance, the ice climbers go up and down the ice wall. On the right side, a short trail brings you to a smaller frozen waterfall where people practice ice climbing, too.
You can go up and down in what looks like ice steps. Practice caution as many people without the proper gear slip, stumble, and fall on the ice, hitting their heads on the canyon walls.
Please note that the parking lot is minuscule, so you may want to arrive early to get a spot. You cannot park on the side of the highway.
🥾 Grotto Canyon Creek Trail Technical Information (from AllTrails) 🥾
Distance: 4.2 km out-and-back
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation gain: 395 m
Grotto Canyon Ice Walk Adventure – Guided Tour
This Grotto Canyon Ice Walk adventure guided tour is recommended for families with kids 8 years old and older. You can be picked up in Canmore or Banff.
You will walk through the frozen creek bed, admiring the limestone walls before reaching the frozen falls.
You only need to bring water as they will provide you with:
- ice cleats,
- hiking poles,
- a maple cookie snack, and
- a hot chocolate to warm you up.
▶️ Check this tour & look at the schedule.
7. Grassi Lakes Trail
Grassi Lakes in the winter is one of our favorite trails to do in Kananaskis Country. This 3.4 km easy-to-moderate loop hike is excellent for families as, during the summer, you can take two different routes depending on your hike level.
NOTE: Walking clockwise (the “harder” way up first, then the “easier” way down), is closed during the winter due to the ice that builds up from the water that flows over the trail. The trail is marked as the “Grassi Lakes Interpretive” trail.
Following the easier path, you can enjoy the mountain views and the ever-so-popular Grassi Lakes. At the top of the mountains, there’s an amazing view of the Rundle Forebay Reservoir and the Kananaskis Region. You can walk around the lakes and stop for lunch if it’s not too cold.
⛔ Warning
The trail is within a wildlife corridor. It’s super important to follow signs and stay on the trail. We also keep bear spray with us whenever hiking in Kananaskis and Banff, even though most bears are presumably hibernating (better safe than sorry, I guess).
Moreover, the landscape and wildlife in this hiking trail are also why you want to add it to your list.
To visit Grassi Lakes in winter (and all year-round), you’ll need to get a Kananaskis Conservation Pass, and we suggest getting there as early as possible as this is a popular and busy trail.
Note: In the winter, only the easy trail (also called the Upper Grassi Lakes Trail) is open. The more difficult one (called the Grassi Lakes Interpretive) is closed for safety reasons.
🥾 Grassi Lakes Trail Technical Information (from AllTrails) 🥾
Distance: 4.3 km out-and-back
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation gain: 178 m
8. Troll Falls Trail
Troll Falls is a perfect, easy winter hike in Kananaskis for all levels, including little kids. The 4.7 km trail in the woods leads to a beautiful waterfall where you can stop to admire the view. Troll Falls trailhead is only a few minutes from the Nakiska Ski Resort and the Kananaskis Mountain Lodge, a beautiful Marriott hotel nestled in the mountains.
Contrary to what you or your kids may think, there are no Trolls in this trail (or at least there shouldn’t be!). In fact, Alberta Parks has asked visitors not to leave any troll dolls hidden in the forest as this is considered litter and can harm animals and their ecosystem. The trail is named “Troll Falls” since, apparently, you can see a troll shape in the rocks, but we’ve never seen it.
Moreover, in winter, we love walking in the snow and seeing the frozen waterfalls and the snow-capped mountains in the background. You can also reach the Upper Falls, but it can be slippery, so bring your spikes or crampons and hiking poles.
Although you can visit Troll Falls year-round, seeing the frozen waterfalls is delightful. I highly recommend visiting Troll Falls in the winter! You can also extend your day by visiting Boundary Ranch for a sleigh or horseback ride.
PRO-TIP: Bring a few sleds for the downhill sections with the kids. It makes the hike a little easier and a whole lot more fun.
On the way back, you can use the same trail or follow the power lines back to the parking lot. The mountains of the Kananaskis Valley will surround you.
Before heading to Troll Falls, buy the Kananaskis Conservation Pass. Avoid weekends, if possible, and get there early to avoid crowds.
🥾 Troll Falls Trail Technical Information (from AllTrails) 🥾
Distance: 4.7 km out-and-back
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation gain: 230 m
9. Jura Creek Canyon
This trail is very close to Grotto Canyon. It can be an alternative option if the Grotto Canyon’s parking lot is full or if you want to have a little extra kilometers after doing Grotto.
Being a canyon, Jura Creek is similar to Grotto. However, some of the differences are that there are a lot of boulders and tree branches to climb, walk on, or walk through.
Once you reach the end of the trail, there are more boulders and trees in a broader, more open space. Kids can play endlessly here, climbing up and down different sections of the terrain.
🥾 Jura Creek Canyon Trail Technical Information (from AllTrails) 🥾
Distance: 6.6 km out-and-back
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation gain: 259 m
10. Rawson Lake
Rawson Lake is another excellent family-friendly winter hike we love doing.
It’s rated as hard, but we found that hiking it with kids ages 7 and 4 is an easy to moderate packed trail.
Our kids had a lot of fun walking through the snowed-on forest and looking at funny-looking trees. There was a stump that looked like a huge seat, and our kids took turns sitting on it!
Once at the lake, we enjoyed playing with the snow and watching the frozen lake with Mount Sarrail as the backdrop.
During the summer months, Sarrail Ridge is a popular destination. However, in winter, you must avoid going around the lake or reaching Mount Sarrail/Sarrail Ridge as this is avalanche terrain. In fact, you can spot some avalanches in this area from time to time.
On the way down, our kids loved sliding on the stepper sections! This made for a faster return! This is a must for us in the winter months.
🥾 Rawson Lake Trail Technical Information (from AllTrails) 🥾
Distance: 6.8 km out-and-back
Difficulty: Hard
Elevation gain: 423 m
11. Ha Ling Peak
In my personal opinion, Ha Ling Peak is one of the best winter hikes in Kananaskis.
It may look scary and high from below, but it offers excellent views of the Town of Canmore and the surrounding mountains.
This trail may be on the “harder” side for some kids, but it’s perfectly doable if you’re patient and take extra time.
Once at the summit, it gets extremely cold and windy, so bring lots of layers and, if possible, hand and toe warmers. Please remember to be safe on this trail and DO NOT go too close to the edges as it gets very slippery, and there are (or may be) several areas with cornices.
As you hike up or down, use your spikes or crampons and hiking poles to help yourself not fall in the several icy patches along the trail and stairs.
🥾 Ha Ling Peak Trail Technical Information (from AllTrails) 🥾
Distance: 7.4 km out-and-back
Difficulty: Hard
Elevation gain: 755 m
12. Prairie Mountain
Known as one of the best places to get a workout, Prairie Mountain is a good option for kids ages 9 and older.
There is a love-hate relationship with this trail because of its steepness. However, due to the most recent improvements, the trail’s incline is much more gradual and manageable, which doesn’t make you feel like giving up!
I did this trail a few winters ago and thought about quitting so many times! The trail itself was lovely, with trees everywhere. It was like an enchanted forest. But the incline… a killer!
The views from the summit are gorgeous, and when you get lucky, there is no wind. Otherwise, you can expect solid and cold winds in the winter, so you may want to return to the forested trail quite quickly.
This is a great option not far from Calgary and is a must-try now that it is not as steep as it once was. It shares the same parking lot as Elbow Falls, so make sure to go see the waterfalls to relax after this steep hike.
🥾 Prairie Mountain Trail Technical Information (from AllTrails) 🥾
Distance: 8.4 out-and-back
Difficulty: Hard
Elevation gain: 711 m
13. Chester Lake
Chester Lake is not only a popular Larch destination during larch season, but also an excellent family-friendly winter hike in Kananaskis. The combination of a wide trail with a gradual incline makes this a moderate trail that everyone in the family will enjoy.
You can decide whether to snowshoe, hike, or cross-country ski to the lake. Respect the zones for “cross-country skiing only” so you don’t destroy their trails.
The alpine meadow features Chester Lake with its homonymous mountain.
If you continue walking about 300 m from the lake onto the Three Lakes Valley Trail, you’ll reach the well-known elephant rocks, a pile of boulders that have fallen from neighboring mountains. Kids will love climbing on these rocks!
🥾 Elephant Rocks via Chester Lake Trail Technical Information (from AllTrails) 🥾
Distance: 9.3 km out-and-back
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation gain: 419 m
14. Rummel Lake
This trail can be enjoyed by families with kids of all ages. The fir and spruce forest add a magical touch to this trail in winter – it’s like an enchanted mystic forest.
From this trail, you can spot other mountains, such as Tent Ridge and Mount Galatea. You’ll also see the enchanting Spray Lakes Reservoir.
You can easily enjoy a picnic near the lake before heading back down. Please note that walking on the Lost Lake Route and trying to reach the Pass involves walking through avi terrain, and unless you have the proper gear and training, this should be avoided at all times in winter.
🥾 Rummel Lake Trail Technical Information (from AllTrails) 🥾
Distance: 11.1 km out-and-back
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation gain: 422 m
15. Green Monster Icefall
Located on Highway 40, the Green Monster Icefall is a mesmerizing frozen waterfall with some green color cues – hence why it’s called “Green Monster.”
While this is a longer hike at 11.6 km, many older kids can take up this adventure!
This trail is very “easy” except for a couple of chain sections where you must be very careful. Kids 8 years and older should be able to complete this trail without much of a problem.
During most of the trail, you will be walking on frozen creek beds and packed paths and admire several frozen waterfalls before reaching the famous Green Monster.
Ice climbing is a popular activity in this area, so please be safe and keep others safe if you’re enjoying the icefalls from a shorter distance due to ice fall hazards.
🥾 Green Monster Icefall Trail Technical Information (from AllTrails) 🥾
Distance: 11.6 km out-and-back
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation gain: 548 m
16. Yates Mountain
This beautiful and kid-friendly hike along Highway 40 in Kananaskis is an excellent option for winter hikes.
While it’s over 10 km, its gradual and easy incline makes it a moderate trail and absolutely worth it with the astonishing views!
We’ve done it a few times in the summer, and the kids have enjoyed walking on the forested trail. When you reach the trail’s end, you will get to the first and second viewpoints that will allow you to see the frozen Barrier Lake and the stunning Mount Baldy right across.
PRO-TIP: If your kids are quite young, staying at the first viewpoint is probably the best and the safest option!
The second viewpoint offers the same views from a rockier, more open path that gets slippery with snow and ice.
You can continue a few more kilometers to the Yates Mountain summit, where there’s a fire lookout, and you get views from the opposite side of Highway 40 (you’ll be looking at Highway 1 from this side). But know that this is not necessary! Our kids enjoyed the first viewpoint, which was more than enough before we hiked back down.
🥾 Yates Mountain Trail Technical Information (from AllTrails) 🥾
Distance: 11.9 km out-and-back
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation gain: 654 m
Be Prepared for Your Winter Hikes in Kananaskis
Here are a few things to know when planning winter hiking in Kananaskis.
📱 Download a few apps to help you plan your hiking activity
AllTrails is our go-to app to look at trial reports and see if the trail is kid-friendly. You’ll also find recent information about the status of the trail. A couple of options to know if a trail has a closure or restriction is to visit the Advisories & Public Safety website and the Trail Reports website from Alberta Parks. Always check the trail conditions before heading out.
🥾 Pack the right gear for winter hiking
Pack your backpack (such as the Osprey or the Decathlon hiking backpacks) with hiking shoes, a bottle of water, snacks, and hiking poles. Kids do not need much to enjoy hiking. They can bring as little or as much as they’d like. Usually, a little hiking backpack for them is more than enough.
Furthermore, always bring layers and be prepared for sudden mountain weather changes. It can sometimes be warmer when you start the trail, but it can be snowing, raining, or freezing when you reach the summit. Good base layers (such as the Wool Love or Iksplore base layers) are essential.
Spikes or Crampons and Hiking Poles are highly recommended in the winter as the trails get super icy and slippery.
🐻 Bring bear spray
There is always the possibility of encountering wildlife in Kananaskis and the Canadian Rockies – even if it’s winter and bears are hibernating. Most animals avoid human contact as much as possible. However, Banff and the surrounding areas are bear country; therefore, it’s essential to bring bear spray and know how to use it. I recommend watching this video from Parks Canada to learn how to use it.
Also, keep your children at a safe distance from you when on the trails. You want to see them at all times.
👶 Bring a quality baby/hiking carrier
A good baby/hiking carrier is a must when hiking and walking with toddlers. Clearly, there’s nothing worse than getting midway through a trail only for your little one to decide they aren’t taking another step.
There are so many great hiking carriers for toddlers to choose from. We loved our Ergobaby carrier and our Tula carrier. Although we’ve never been big fans of the big hiking carriers, some families love the Osprey hiking backpack and the Deuter hiking backpack.
🩹 Don’t forget a First Aid Kit
It is always a great idea to take a travel first aid kit with you when traveling with toddlers. Make sure it is well-stocked, especially with bite/sting cream and band-aids – you never know when unsteady little legs might take a tumble. Keep your travel first aid kit somewhere accessible.
Final Thoughts: Which Is the BEST Winter Hike in Kananaskis for the Family?
This is obviously a personal preference and will depend on your kids’ ages and your love of hiking.
We are a fairly active family, but we don’t try to push our young kids beyond their limits.
So for us, the most pleasant hike in Kananaskis is Graiss Lakes. It’s perfect for kids and still a good workout. The views are amazing. We also loved our day at Elbow Falls.
These may be the shortest and most accessible hikes, but they offered great places to teach our kids about hiking. You may have a different experience, but we highly recommend doing those if you have young kids.
For groups with older children, they might enjoy kicking back and watching the ice climbers at Grotto Canyon. I also loved the new Prairie Mountain Trail.
Now, let’s get ready to go DO these family adventures in the Canadian Rockies by making sure you’re well-prepped for the cold with the right gear.
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Emilie is the founder of Love Life Abroad. She helps moms plan epic road trips and outdoor adventures with their families. Because who said adventuring had to stop once we have kids? She’s based in the Canadian Rockies and shares her love for the region as well as other unique places in Canada & USA. She works with tourism boards and outdoor brands to inspire families to experience new unique destinations and outdoor activities.