Hiking in the Canadian Rockies

Whilst in the Rockies you'll go above 2,000m altitude on multiple occasions. A good general level of fitness is recommended, as you'll be spending up to six hours per day walking on mountain trails – some of which involve large elevation gains. You'll be hiking for consecutive days, so some fitness preparation in the months and weeks prior to the trip is recommended.

The hikes are all non-technical, with no previous trekking experience required. The selected trails are 'there and back' day hikes, meaning that there is often the flexibility to shorten, sit out a section, or even stay back at the campsite should you want a rest.

No. The early-season departure in mid-June will have some alterations to the hiking trails, as stated in the itinerary. This is due to lingering snow cover – the National Park authorities may not open some hiking trails until slightly later, typically at the start of July. For mid-June departures on Day 5 – Wilcox Pass will be replaced with the Parker Ridge Trail or similar (5.9km, elevation gain/loss 250m)

Yes, bring your swimsuit and a towel! The water will be cold, largely glacial fed lakes, but throughout the trip you'll have opportunities for taking a dip in different mountain lakes: Herbert Lake, Lake Louise, Bow Lake, Pyramid Lake, Patricia Lake, Annette Lake, Cedar Lake.

There will also be the option to hire a canoe locally at Emerald Lake on Day 8, subject to availability and weather conditions. The cost is approx. $90CAD per hour for a Canadian canoe that typically can be shared between 1-3 people.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

Tips are not included in the trip cost. These are entirely at your discretion but there is an expectation to tip for good service. To help budget, 5 to 10 CAD per day for your driver/guide would be a recommended tip.

Drinking water is available at the campgrounds and other points during the hiking days. You will need to carry your own water supply in a daypack throughout the hikes. If you are interested in using a water filter, then you may wish to read our guide here.

The summer season for hiking in the Canadian Rockies spans from mid-June to mid-September. The peak summer months of July and August are the hottest, with temperatures typically sitting between 20-25°C during the daytime. June and September are cooler, with typical daytime temperatures in the mid-teens. Temperatures drop considerably at nighttime (to around 5°C, and lower in June and September), and of course, you should expect to encounter cooler climates when trekking to higher elevations. It is possible that during the early summer dates that there will still be snow cover on some of the trails.

No, as we don't return to the start hotel it isn't possible to leave excess luggage there, unless you have booked an additional night post-trip at the same hotel.

We recommend checking out the country specific information here and also talking to a travel nurse.

No. You'll need to have a larger bag suitable for all your belongings which will be transported for you (you'll have a dedicated vehicle and trailer throughout the trip), and then a small daypack to carry personal items during each day of hiking.

Should localised weather conditions mean that particular trails are either closed or not recommended, then the local guide will adjust the itinerary to try and offer a similar alternative, maintaining group safety as paramount and re-working the order of the itinerary if necessary. Several of the trekking trails are not guaranteed to open in June, they could be closed until July depending on snow levels in the mountains. In this case, the guide will arrange for an alternative trek within the same national parks.

Our recommended travel insurance provider is Campbell Irvine.

Travel insurance is compulsory for all of our adventures and you are required to provide your policy information before departing.

Your insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and the specific activities involved on your adventure. We also strongly recommend it includes cancellation and curtailment insurance, should you be unable to join your trip for specific reasons such as illness.

We fully endorse Campbell Irvine as their insurance offers all of the above, so get in touch with them or call on 020 7938 1734 to get your insurance sorted. We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book your adventure, just to cover you for any last-minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. Children can be accommodated on some private departures.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

• 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
• 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
• 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

Interested in a more exclusive experience? Opt for a 'Private Group' through the dates and prices tab to book this adventure for just you and your chosen companions.

Our team of Adventure Hunters create exclusive adventures with highly vetted, specialist hosts. We only work with independent, local in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. See here for more info about the local teams we partner with.