Canadian Rockies Snowshoeing Tours, Daily Itineraries:

SINGLE DAY SAMPLE ITINERARIES:

We have scheduled single day itineraries out of Calgary, Banff, Canmore and Lake Louise as well as daily trips on a custom basis out of Jasper, Rogers Pass, Golden and Revelstoke.

Here are some sample itineraries in the Canmore, Banff and Lake Louise areas

Lake Louise Alpine Peaks / Banff National Park:
Saddle Mountain, Banff National Park: Start and finsh at Lake Louise and climb up to Saddle Mountain with great views of the north face of Mt. Temple and the glaciers around Lake Louise. Snow conditions permitting, it might be possible to even climb Mt. Fairview, the best viewpoint around Lake Louise, but a bit of a grunt to get all the way to the summit.Possibly return trip by descending to Paradise Valley. Time return trip: 5 hrs, add 3 hours for Mt. Fairview, 2 hrs for Paradise Valley.

Lake Louise Grand View Loop:
Lake Louise - Lake Agnes - Beehive - Louise Falls, Banff National Park:One of the most pupular hikes in summer renowned for its world class views tends to be quite a serene adventure trip in winter. Climb along the trail past the Lake Agnes tea house und up the steep slope to the Beehive view point (avalanche conditions permitting). Return trip via the six glaciers trail and Louise Falls. Return trip 5 hrs.

Kananaskis Provincial Park / Peter Loughheed Provincial Park
Burstall Pass and Snow Peak
Burstall Trail Head - Robertson Glacier - Burstall Pass, Peter Loughheed Provincial Park: A 30 min drive from Canmore takes you to a beautiful area called the Spary Lakes, which is a favorite for ski touring and snowshoeing with Canmore and Calgary locals on the weekends. After following a scenic forest road past a couple of lakes, we head into the alpine on a narrow hiking trail and eventually into a beautiful high valley. Great views of some glaciers and rugged mountains, like Mt. Robertson, Birdwood and Assiniboine in the distance. optional ascent of Snow Peak, if you not tired out yet at Burstall Pass. Return trip 6 hrs, add 2.5 hrs for Snow Peak. Driving time from Canmore about 40 minutes, 1 hr from Calgary.

Chester Lake and Elephant Rocks:
One of our most popular trips! A 1.5 hrs walk takes us into a beutiful alpine cirque surrounded by spectacular peaks at the base of Chester Lake. Another 30 minutes takes us higher to Elephant Rocks, an awesome playground to do downhill slides and jumps into the deep snow on snowshoes. Enjoy the spectacular view to the other side of the valley with Mt. French and Mt. Robertson. This trip can also done as a loop walk and in spring for those who are keen, we could also do a couple of challenging peak scrambles in the area. Driving time from Canmore about 40 minutes, 1 hr from Calgary.


Kootenay National Park:
Mt. Stanley Ice Wall:
Easy trail hike in Kootenay National Park: A windy trail leads us into one of the most spectacular hanging valleys of the Rockies - countless frozen waterfalls (often with ice climbers hanging off them.....) and the glaciated north face of Mt. Stanley make for stunning views while wandering around up there. Return trip 5 hrs. Driving time form Banff and Lake Louise: 30 min.

Paint Pots, Vermillion River:
The classic half day trip just west of the rockies Divide on the BC side. An easy walk in great scenery that takes us by the paint pots.

MULTI-DAY SAMPLE ITINERARIES:
in sequence from easier to more difficult

Lake O'Hara / Yoho National Park:
4 to 5 hrs hiking / day, mostly light forest and tree line terrain with some alpine bowls and many frozen lakes.
Another trip in the Lake Louise area. Lake O'Hara is one of the prettiest and in summer busiest spots of the Canadian Rockies, but very quiet and serene in winter. The terrain is very suitable for snow shoeing. Only the 13 km walk-in (sometimes better done on nordic gear) is a bit mnind numbing. For lodging, you have a choice between the Lake O'Hara Lodge (rooms, fully catered) and the rustic Elisabeth Parker Hut (dormitory sleeping, no running water). The day trips from the lodge or hut lead into beautiful alpine bowls with enormous rock walls and some of the tallest summit of Banff and Yoho National Park looming over your head.

Magnificent Skokie / Banff National Park
4-6 hrs hiking time/day, mostly forested - non glaciated terrain:
Lake Louise - Skokie Lodge, Banff National Park: A classic trip to one of the oldest and probably nicest log house lodges in the Rockies, the Skokie Lodge, which has been granted the protection of a world heritage site by the UNESCO. A very scenic trip into the lodge with vistas of frozen lakes and hanging glaciers to arrive at this magnificent place in the late afternoon. While there as well as on the way to Skokie, there is the option of some easier peak ascents. We recommend to make this trip at least three days with two overnights at the lodge. Early reservation required, if you want to be sure to get a spot at Skokie. In early and late season, we're often lucky even on shorter notice. One way to Skokie in winter 5 hrs.

The Wapta Icefield / Banff National Park:
Depending on itinerary chosen, 4 to 8 hrs hiking / day. All alpine, above tree line terrain, above the huts glaciated.
Peyto Lake - Peyto Hut - Mt. Thompson - Bow Hut - Mt. Crowfoot - Bow Lake, Banff National Park: The heart of the classic Wapta Traverse on snowshoes! Across vast glaciers with ascents of the two most prominent peaks visible from the Icefield Parkway. Lodging in Alpine Club Huts right at the glacier. a two day trip is also possible to Bow hut with one peak ascent the following day. Popular but more challenging is also the "Little Wapta Traverse" from Bow Lake to Peyto Lake (3 or 4 days). For images of the terrain, best click on the slide show button on our ski touring page for the Wapta Traverse in the selft side bar.

Little Yoho / Iceline Loop - Yoho National Park
8-9 hrs of hiking on the approach day (all below treeline), then alpine and glaciated terrain:
Field - Yoho Valley - Takaka Falls - Stanley Mitchell Hut - Iceline Trail - Emerald Lake, Yoho National Park: Yet again, one of the most popular multi-day hiking trips in the summer but rarely a soul seen there in winter. This trip is rather challenging as to endurance and stamina. It requires one night in a tent or open shelter below Takaka Falls and at least one night in a simple, but very cozy log hut of the Canadian Alpine Club, the famous Stanley Mitchell Hut. Super-scenic trip - a marvellous winter adventure for the fit, which requires at least three days. The initial 8 hrs hut approach can be shortened by an overnight stay in an improvised shelter half way.