Matt FordExplorer

This area is best known for Skoki Lodge, a world class back country destination. Unfortunately Skoki Lodge is quite expensive, and very rarely has rooms available. Luckily you can still enjoy everything the area has to offer if you're on a budget. From Highway 1 take the exit to the Lake Louise Ski resort. Drive 1.6 km and then turn right onto a dirt road. After 1 km on this road you will arriv...

This lake is popular with the locals for a reason - it's right off the highway and has lots to offer. There are a few 40+ foot cliffs on the east side, and some smaller ones if you're not feeling that adventurous, as well as a rope swing on the west side of the lake. It only takes about 15 minutes to walk to the far end of the lake on the path and there are lots of quiet spots along the way whe...

At Blanket Glacier Chalet, experience some of the best skiing in the area while taking time off from the rest of the world. This is not a strictly luxury experience, but you won't be roughing it, either: plan on lots delicious food, skiing your heart out, relaxing in the wood-fired sauna and enjoying a pint of Mt. Begbie Tall Timber Ale.The short helicopter ride to the chalet provides excellent...

Head to the northwest corner of the parking lot to find the trail. For the first 5.5 km the trail is quite easy, with only modest elevation increase. At 5.5 km you will arrive at what is known as the gravel flats. Depending on the time of year the gravel flats can be either quite dry or a wide, shallow river.You can stop here, or do a bit of route finding to get to the trail on the other side o...

Park at the "Siffleur Falls Trail Staging Area" parking lot on the east side of the highway. From there you will need to carefully cross the highway to the West side. The waterfall is visible from the highway. There is a gated road that you will walk up. The land on the West side of the highway is a traditional First Nations area so stick to the dirt road and please be respectful.Walk down the...

From the parking lot walk about 350 meters back towards Canmore. At this point you will go down the hill towards Grassi Lakes. From here you have your pick of climbs, be warned though the area is a popular, short hike for locals and tourists. Get there early to enjoy some peace and quiet.You will need to be able to lead climb! I'd suggest picking up a copy of Bow Valley Sport by Derek Galloway,...

Start near Paia on Highway 36 and head east. The road is famous for its many twists and turns, so consider taking lots of breaks to get some fresh air and avoid getting car sick. There are many stops along the way, from ice cream to medium length hikes. Some of the Best Stops: Coconut Glen's: the best coconut milk ice cream you will ever have. Glen serves up healthy, tasty ice cream from his ...

Park at the viewpoint for the Crowfoot Glacier, roughly 32 kilometers after turning off Highway 1. It does sometimes get busy so you might end up parking on the side of the road. From the parking lot head southwest, there is almost always a skin track here. No skin track? Freshies! YAY! After a short descent you will cross the southern section of Bow Lake, the source for the Bow River. The lake...

From Highway 1A take the exit to the Alpine Club of Canada. Park near the woodpile as the actual parking lot is for Alpine Club customers. The trailhead about 30 metres up the road from the woodpile.The start of the trail is fairly relaxed but it quickly becomes a steep uphill battle. There are trail signs for the first 2km or so, but after that the trail is marked with cairns and flagging tape...

Drive up the Icefields Parkway (Highway 93N) for 60 km. From there you will see a small rest stop like parking lot. From there the trail is quite obvious.The trail is short, but very steep. It shouldn't take more than 45 minutes to arrive at the climb. Once there enjoy the beautiful views and varied ice. There are a few mixed climbs and a few pure ice climbs.This road isn't a priority for maint...

A true adventure with lots of route finding, glacier travel, loose rock and high altitude views. This is not for the faint hearted or first timers.From the Moraine Lake parking lot walk down the east side of the lake along the well maintained trail. Towards the end of the lake you will cross the creek twice, there are cables to hold onto but it is a good idea to remove your boots and socks so t...

To reach White Buddha, park at the Powerface Creek parking lot. Between December and May, Route 66 is closed at Elbow Falls, so you may need to park at the gate and walk in, about 0.3 miles (500 m). The trailhead is well marked from the parking lot.The first section of the trail is mellow, though often still covered in slow late into the season. After 0.7 miles (1.2 km), look for a trail going ...

Start at the Goat Creek parking lot and cross the road towards Ha Ling. There is an access road with a gate on the other side. Walk up the road and across the bridge. From there the trail is obvious and will lead you to the summit. Overall it's a fairly easy hike with switchbacksOnce above tree line the trail changes to scree and there are a few options to get the rest of the way up. While not...

Start at the Pocaterra/Highwood pass parking lot. The pond is about 1.5km directly west from the parking lot, but the trail head is not always obvious, especially if there is snow. Keep an eye out for the flagging tape that marks the trail. Consider bringing snowshoes in November.This makes for a great group outing to capture some terrific fall or springtime images. There are lots of very phot...

From the parking lot head East for about 200m, to find the trail that heads North. The trail follows the riverbed for about 45 minutes and in parts is washed out. A piece of flagging tape and a downed tree that is used as a bench marks the point where the trail gets tougher. At this point you will need to put on your crampons and be ready to climb! A series of two short (2-3m) waterfalls start ...

With many different walls to choose from, Skaha Bluffs is a phenomenal climbing area for any level of climber. The rock quality is nothing short of phenomenal, and you will learn to trust even the smallest of holds!Because Penticton is in the Okanagan Valley, it does get quite warm. Consider planning your trip for either spring or fall – it's just too hot to climb in the middle of the summer, w...

Park at the viewpoint parking lot on the left side of the highway, approximately 2.8 km (1.7 mi) after turning off of the Trans Canada Highway. The trailhead is easily located on the north side of the highway. The approach is short but steep and sustained. It starts as a trail and finishes as a scree and loose rock scramble, so careful route finding is essential. It should take around 40 minute...

From the TransCanada Highway take the exit for the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. Just before you arrive at the hotel there will be a large parking lot on the left. It's best to arrive early as a lot of tourists and locals alike use this parking area for hikes and visiting the the lake.From the parking lot, walk around to the west side of the lake where the climbs are located. It's a short, easy...

From the Britannia Beach parking lot walk north. There is a well established trail along the West side of the highway. Walk roughly 400 metres North and you will find a steep trail leading towards the ocean. You'll quickly come to a small boulder field, cross cautiously and follow the cairns. From there the trail is obvious until you make it to the train tracks. Cross the train tracks and head...

From the parking lot find the trail head that leads away from the highway. This is an easy, but very interesting hike that will take you through a winding slot canyon.Take your time and explore all the various options, there are small waterfalls, and if you're feeling really adventurous you can climb around on some of the rocks. Consider bringing sandals if you don't want to get your boots wet....