Kananaskis Lakes Travel Guide

 
by Hermanater
 
  •   Kananaskis Lakes
    by Hermanater
  • Trail to Chester Lake
      Trail to Chester Lake
    by Hermanater
  • Elephant rocks
      Elephant rocks
    by Hermanater
  • Wild flowers on trail to Chester Lake
      Wild flowers on trail to Chester Lake
    by Hermanater
  • Chester Lake
      Chester Lake
    by Hermanater
 

Pro

dabidc profile photo

  Great scenery, good hikes and close to Calgary 


Con

Hermanater profile photo

  Too many people. 


In a nutshell

Hermanater profile photo

  Home away from home 

 

Explore Kananaskis Lakes

Things to Do  

Nakiska ski resort

Nakiska ski resort, Kananaskis Lakes

 PeterVancouver Says:  Quite a good place to start your skiing life as it has a good range of runs for people of every skill, many of which are novice to intermediate.One of the green trails (novice) has a somewhat nerve racking section on a path only a couple of meters wide with hill and drop on... 

Lower Kananaskis Falls

Lower Kananaskis Falls, Kananaskis Lakes

 Hermanater Says:  There is a 16 km loop aound the upper Kananaskis Lake. We took the southern part of the loop to the falls. The temperature was only 4 degrees and looked like snow, but we wanted to get out. When we got there, there was a strong wind and lots of clouds. The trail has a few... 

Troll Falls

Troll Falls, Kananaskis Lakes

 Hermanater Says:  There is a short trail from the Nakiska Ski Hill area that takes you to the Falls. This is a nice short trip for the whole family. You can actually stand under the falls. During the summer, this becomes quite popular and crowded.Use caution because the rocks are very... 

Western Culture

Western Culture, Kananaskis Lakes

 jamiesno Says:  I really enjoyed by visits to the boundary ranch. On one occassion I went for a trail ride and enjoyed the mountain views.Another time I went there for a winter party, tried to learn the two step and done a winter sleigh ride. You will have fun and enjoy the barbeques!!! 

Chester Lake

Chester Lake, Kananaskis Lakes

 Hermanater Says:  'This 3.9km point-to-point trail follows a winding logging road and then a pleasant single track, bringing you to a tiny lake beneath an imposing rock face. From the busy trailhead, follow the wide road, staying left at a junction at km 0.2. As the road climbs, the views to... 

Pickle Jar Lakes

Pickle Jar Lakes, Kananaskis Lakes

 Hermanater Says:  The Pickle Jar Lakes was named after the saying that "there are so many fish you could put a pickle jar in the lake and fill it with fish".The trail (as far as we went) was 9.7 km return with an elevation gain of 650 meters.The morning started off nice and sunny with about 1... 

Grassi Lakes

Grassi Lakes, Kananaskis Lakes

 Hermanater Says:  This is a short hike but is well worth the effort. There are many trails within Kananaskis Country, but this one holds a special fascination with its combination of colour, water and history. Canmore Pioneer Lawrence Grassi hiked this route in the 1920s. He, along with... 

Foran Grade Trail

Foran Grade Trail, Kananaskis Lakes

 Hermanater Says:  This trail takes you along some cliffs over looking the Sheep River. The trail then crosses the highway and slowly ascends through a meadow. The trail will veer left to the top of a small plateau. There are some very nice sights from here.The trail is about 7.4 km long with... 

Mount Kidd stands tall above Kananaskis Village

Mount Kidd stands tall above Kananaskis Village, Kananaskis Lakes

 dabidc Says:  Mount Kidd is a spectacular mountain sheltering the Kananaskis valley at this point from the west winds. Below the mountain lies Kananaskis Village, a major 36 hole golf course, a recreation vehicle camp grund and an interesting 10 km hike from the Village to Galatea creek... 

Hotels  

Delta Lodge at Kananaskis

 1 Review and 171 Opinions  A room with two queen beds was $189 per night. Decent room, but no fan in the bathroom or air... 

Restaurants  

Wildflower Restaurant: A cozy and intimate atmosphere

Wildflower Restaurant: A cozy and intimate atmosphere, Kananaskis Lakes

 BLewJay Says:  Located in the Executive Resort at Kananaskis, the Wildflower Restaurant is a great place to relax in a cozy and intimate atmosphere. You can enjoy a menu specializing in creative Canadian cuisine where only the freshest ingredients have been selected. We started off with... 

Executive Resort @ Kananaskis: Pristine beauty and genuine Alberta hospitality

Executive Resort @ Kananaskis: Pristine beauty and genuine Alberta hospitality, Kananaskis Lakes

 BLewJay Says:  Located in Alberta's Kananaskis Country, the Kananaskis Resort & Conference Centre provides its guests with spectacular views, delicious cuisine and more than enough opportunities to use a camera.We picked this place because of it being near Bow Valley Provincial Park (where... 

Nightlife  

Parks Presentations

Parks Presentations, Kananaskis Lakes

 madamx Says:  Some of the more established campgrounds have simple outdoor ampitheatres. In the evenings, the parks staff put on skits to educate the public about wildlife and environmental issues in Kananaskis. They are geared towards families and can be corny but entertaining. One... 

Local Customs  

Camping

Camping, Kananaskis Lakes

 madamx Says:  Every weekend in the summer, hundreds of people flock to Kananaskis to go camping. The Victoria Day Long Weekend (around the 3rd week in May) is the traditional "opener" for camping. Even though most of the time people freeze to death or get snowed on, they still go. I think... 

Relax and enjoy a lunch after the hike.

Relax and enjoy a lunch after the hike., Kananaskis Lakes

 dabidc Says:  It is the custom of the Chinook Outdoor Club of hikers over 55 to take a break before starting the return hike. We all carry sandwiches and a drink. We have found pic nic tables to use, and have also sat on rocks by the various creeks and rivers that we pass by. The photo... 

Warnings Or Dangers  

Don't feed the animals!!!

Don't feed the animals!!!, Kananaskis Lakes

 spartan Says:  Wildlife is abundant in the area, you will see them while hiking or driving along the road. They may look gentle and docile, but they are not. This is their environment, so respect their home and be aware of your surroundings. I've been to the park numerous time over the... 

Buffalo Berries for the Bears.

Buffalo Berries for the Bears., Kananaskis Lakes

 dabidc Says:  Any hiker must be aware that when in the Rocky Mountains they are in Bear Country and always be on the look out for Bears or the signs that Bears are nearby.The Wardens have placed signs in those areas where the berries the Bears eat in Summer are prolific and those same... 

Off The Beaten Path  

Rawson Lake

Rawson Lake, Kananaskis Lakes

 trek06 Says:  Rawson Lake is in Peter Lougheed Park. Access to trailis from parking lot at Upper Kananaskis Lake. Trail is short around 3.5 Km, but lots of switchbacks. Check out the web site listed fo rup to date trail conditions/bear or cougar warnings/closures in K-Country. K-Country... 

Forget Me Not Pond

Forget Me Not Pond, Kananaskis Lakes

 dabidc Says:  The Pond is no more than a 1.0km stroll around the perimeter, it allows for view of the Rocky Mountains and also to the east . On a calm day, as this was, the pond reflects the surrounding forest and gives the walker a chance to enjoy the serenity.Following a visit in... 

Sports & Outdoors  

Cross Country Skiing

Cross Country Skiing, Kananaskis Lakes

 madamx Says:  Already popular, cross-country skiing is even more so, as costs of lift tickets are increasing as well as gas. A day trip to a popular ski area such as Lake Louise can easily cost $100.There are many groomed cross-country trails in Kananaskis, as well as an opportunity for... 

Fishing

Fishing, Kananaskis Lakes

 madamx Says:  Fishing is excellent in Kananaskis. Most of the lakes are stocked, and the types of fish available are: trout, char, arctic grayling, and whitefish. Fishing licenses can be purchased at Fortress Junction in Kananaskis, and in Calgary. With your license you should receive... 

The Place

Plan a Kananaskis Lakes vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Kananaskis Lakes locals

Experience Kananaskis Lakes
  •   199 Tips and Reviews
  •  455 Photos
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Map of Kananaskis Lakes
 

The People

 
Our Members Say
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 Parking is available just off Highway 40, walk a little to visit the ponds. Te day of this visit was one of clear blue sky, a temperature of 25 C with many... 

 

Questions and Answers

royadams profile photo

Q:  what types of animals will i encouter while sleeping in the kanasksis country for 3 nights aswell as exploring around in the day. 

GrumpyDiver profile photo

A: No one can predict exactly which animals you WILL see, but the following mammals can be found in the area. Lots of deer, coyote, moose, hare, beaver, black and grizzly... 

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Top Kananaskis Lakes Writers

1

Kananaskis Country recreation area for All

dabidc profile photo

 Kananaskis Country was set aside as a Provincial Park in the 1970's and comprises more than 4,000 sq kilometres of mountain and foothill land as a year round recreation area. Parts of it are less than... 

2

GOD'S COUNTRY

madamx profile photo

 Kananaskis is located 40 minutes west of Calgary, and is still relatively undeveloped when compared to Banff. It also contains Peter Lougheed Provincial Park and Bow Valley Provincial Park. There are... 

3

The Kananaskis Area

Hermanater profile photo

 This area contains the foothills of the Rockie Mountains. There are many campsites, hiking, biking and horse trails. It takes about 1 hour to drive here from our place in Calgary. This allows us to go... 

4

Kananaskis

jamiesno profile photo

 I've got some interesting experiences in Kananaskis Lakes. I'd love to share with you the 6 tips I've written, the 9 photos uploaded, and 0 travelogues I've created. 

5

Kananaskis Country: Less Hectic than Banff

zrim profile photo

 We pulled into Calgary about 4:30 p.m. on July 1st. We could have explored the city but I was itching to see the mountains. Kananaskis Country was not on our itinerary, but with the sun not setting...... 

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