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Highlights
Backpack through Kananaskis Country for 5 days
Explore Kananaskis Country, an area with views that rival those of Banff but with lighter crowds to contend with.
Discover remote mountain scenery full of peaks, lakes, meadows, and dramatic ridgelines.
Test your strength over 5 days of backpacking designed for the strong intermediate hiker.
Camp each evening in the Canadian backcountry, disconnecting from it all to fully experience the mountains.
Have you heard of Banff’s little sister, Kananaskis? This collection of provincial parks and wildlands make up one of the best hiking destinations in Canada. With scenery that’s just as good as the big national parks but comes with fewer people on the trail, this is the ideal place to get backpacking! The Kananaskis Highlands Backpacking Adventure shows you the very best of this special place!
Spend 5 days on the Kananaskis Highlands Backpacking Adventure, hiking deep into the wilderness to discover tightly-packed limestone peaks, beautifully pristine lakes, and miles of wild forest. The mountain panoramas are breathtaking, and each night you’ll be cozied up under these dramatic mountains in your campsites. This is a real adventure and a chance to get away from it all!
Have you heard of Banff’s little sister, Kananaskis? This collection of provincial parks and wildlands make up one of the best hiking destinations in Canada. With scenery that’s just as good as the big national parks but comes with fewer people on the trail, this is the ideal place to get backpacking! The Kananaskis Highlands Backpacking Adventure shows you the very best of this special place!
Spend 5 days on the Kananaskis Highlands Backpacking Adventure, hiking deep into the wilderness to discover tightly-packed limestone peaks, beautifully pristine lakes, and miles of wild forest. The mountain panoramas are breathtaking, and each night you’ll be cozied up under these dramatic mountains in your campsites. This is a real adventure and a chance to get away from it all!
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Kananaskis Highlands Backpacking Adventure Itinerary
Day 1 Meeting and Hike to Three Isle Lake
Begin the tour with a meeting in Canmore to check everyone’s gear before leaving. Drive along the beautiful Smith-Dorrien Highway to your trailhead, where you’ll hike around the Upper Kananaskis Lakes and along the Kananaskis River.
End your hike at Three Isle Lake, where you’ll camp tonight.
Overnight Location: Camping in Kananaskis
Distance: 10.2km, 525m elevation gain
Meals: Lunch, dinner
Day 2 Day Hike to Northover Ridge
Hike up above the treeline to experience the views from Northover Ridge (2800m). Hike west into the Royal Group and then return to camp for an evening of fishing, stories, and relaxing.
Overnight Location: Camping in Kananaskis
Distance: 10km, 600m elevation gain
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 3 Three Isle to Turbine Canyon
Wake up in paradise, then pack up and head to the Continental Divide through South Kananaskis Pass (2360m), crossing into British Columbia. Pass Beatty Lake and make a big climb to North Kananaskis Pass.
Back in Alberta, enjoy a nice view of Maude Lake before heading down to your campsite at Turbine Canyon.
Overnight Location: Camping in Kananaskis
Distance: 14.2km, 730m elevation gain
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4 Turbine Canyon to Forks Campground
The views you’ll enjoy as you hike out of Turbine Canyon are fantastic! Take your time in this area before leaving en route to Lawson Lake, where you’ll start your descent to Forks Campground.
Overnight Location: Camping in Kananaskis
Distance: 7.8km, 400m elevation loss
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5 Forks Campground to Kananaskis Lakes
After a final breakfast and coffee at camp, begin your return to civilization by hiking through the Upper Kananaskis River Valley to the Upper Kananaskis Lake. Retrace your way back to Canmore, where the group can choose to go out for a celebratory dinner together.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: 7km, 100m elevation loss
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Kananaskis Highlands Backpacking Adventure Price and Dates
This guided backpacking tour in the Canadian Rockies is run as a fixed-departure tour where you’d be joining a group, however, custom private tours can be organized for those willing to travel with their group only (please contact us with your preferred date and the number of people in your group and we will create the itinerary just for you). Please note that due to very high demand and limited availability in campgrounds it is necessary to plan your trip a long time in advance.Prices below are per person:
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Finish
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Accommodation on the Kananaskis Highlands Backpacking Adventure
This tour is based in campsites. You’ll be in 2-3 person tents with no or limited facilities. Participants should be comfortable with a rustic camping experience.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travellers
There are no single rooms available on this tour as all accommodations are communal. There may be a minimum required group size, so please contact us about joining an existing group if you are a solo traveller.
What’s Included in the Kananaskis Highlands Backpacking Adventure?
Meals
4 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 4 dinners are included. If you have special dietary requirements, these may incur an additional fee.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 4 nights are included on this tour. Accommodations before or after the tour are not included but can be booked as a supplement.
Transportation During the Tour
Participants are responsible for their own transportation to Canmore and will be driven from Canmore to the trailhead. We recommend renting a car or booking a shuttle. Canmore is about an hour from Calgary.
Also Included
- Tents
- Guide services
Not Included
- Flights
- Meals, drinks, or snacks
- Travel insurance
- Optional excursions
- Visas if required
- Anything not mentioned as included
- GST (5%)
Optional Extras
- Special dietary requirement meals
- How hard is the Kananaskis Highlands Backpacking Adventure?
- Do I need a visa to travel to Canada?
- Are meals included on the Kananaskis Highlands Backpacking Adventure?
- Do I need insurance?
- How do I get to Canmore to start this tour?
- Is the Kananaskis Highlands Backpacking Adventure guided?
- Do I need to carry my gear myself?
- Where does the Kananaskis Highlands Backpacking Adventure end?
- What do I need to bring?
- Boots
- Multiday pack (55-75 litres)
- Pack cover
- Daypack
- Water bottle or bladder (1-2 litres)
- Sunglasses
- Sleeping bag and sleeping pad
- Pillow
- Sunscreen, SPF lip balm
- Camera
- Headlamp with fresh batteries
- Blister kit
- Earplugs
- First aid items (guides carry a first aid kit, but you may bring your own Band-Aids and anti-inflammatory medication if desired)
- Personal toiletries, including hand sanitizer
- Bug spray
- Plastic mug, bowl, and eating utensils
- Trekking poles (optional)
- Toque
- Insulated jacket
- Fleece jacket
- Hiking pants
- Light footwear for creek crossing or camping
- Hiking socks
- Long underwear
- Do I need special vaccine to s travel to Canada?
- Are there any travel restrictions for Canada?
- When is the best time to travel to Canada for this tour?
We rate this tour as a 4/5. This tour is not recommended for beginner hikers. You should have experience hiking and a solid level of fitness to enjoy this tour, as you’ll be hiking an average of 10-14km each day for consecutive days at high elevations and sleeping in very basic conditions, as well as carrying a backpack of up to 16 kg (35 lbs).
Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government.
6 breakfasts, 7 lunches, and 6 dinners are included. If you have special dietary requirements, these may incur an additional fee.
Yes, it is mandatory to have health and medical insurance to join this trip. Please verify that your insurance covers the included activities on this tour. Get your Travel Insurance.
Fly into the Calgary International Airport (YYC). We recommend you rent a car or book a shuttle as there is no included transportation between Calgary and the meeting point on this tour.
Yes, you will be led by an experienced guide.
Yes, you will carry everything you need, as well as a share of the common food and equipment.
The tour ends in Canmore. You will be responsible for finding your own way back to the airport after the tour.
We’ve given a basic gear list below, but please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about your gear, as you’ll need to carry it!
Check with your family doctor.
Please check with your local government about travel restrictions before you book your tour. This map from the US Department of State provides an overview of the current status in countries around the globe. The UK‘s Foreign Office and Government of Canada also provide advice on foreign travel. Note that the travel advice may change depending on your nationality.
The best time to visit the Rockies for this tour is in July and August when the weather in the mountains is at its warmest and sunniest.
Customer Ratings
Located in Canmore, Alberta at the gates of Banff National Park, Yamnuska Mountain Adventures is one of Canada’s premier providers of mountaineering, rock & ice climbing, backcountry skiing, hiking, and trekking experiences in the Canadian Rockies. For over 40 years, we have hosted thousands of clients from Canada and all over the world. Our brand is known for quality mountain experiences, safety, and well-organized itineraries. We have some of the best mountain guides and hiking guides in the industry. All Yamnuska Mountain Adventures climbing guides are certified through the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides.
