Alberta · best-of list
The 9 Best Outdoor Spots in Alberta
All 9 outdoor spots our route editors picked in Alberta, across 3 destinations, gathered in one list. Expect trails, beaches, parks and viewpoints, spread across 3 destinations.
Our curated picks
9 outdoor spots in Alberta, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Banff 3 picks
Bow Falls
Banff · On our Banff & Jasper Loop route
Wide falls on the Bow River below the Fairmont Banff Springs, an easy walk from town.
Tip: Walk the riverside trail from the Bow River bridge.
Photo: Ken Thomas · Public domain
Johnston Canyon
Banff · On our Banff & Jasper Loop route
Catwalks bolted into a limestone canyon lead to Lower and Upper Falls.
Tip: Arrive before 8am; parking fills quickly.
Photo: Theresa Yim · Google
Lake Minnewanka
Banff · On our Banff & Jasper Loop route
Largest lake in the park, with a lakeshore trail and boat cruises.
Tip: Take the Lake Minnewanka Cruise in summer; drive the loop past Two Jack Lake.
Photo: DXR · CC BY-SA 4.0
Jasper 3 picks
Athabasca Falls
Jasper · On our Banff & Jasper Loop route
Powerful falls squeezing through a quartzite gorge.
Tip: Walk all the viewing platforms and the old channel stairs.
Photo: Jakub Fryš · CC BY-SA 4.0
Pyramid Lake
Jasper · On our Banff & Jasper Loop route
Lake just above town with a footbridge to a small island and Pyramid Mountain behind.
Tip: Good sunset and stargazing spot.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
Sunwapta Falls
Jasper · On our Banff & Jasper Loop route
Falls cutting through a gorge just off the Icefields Parkway.
Tip: Short walk to the lower falls is quieter.
Photo: Jon Sullivan · Public domain
Lake Louise 3 picks
Lake Louise Lakeshore Trail
Lake Louise · On our Banff & Jasper Loop route
Flat path along the turquoise lake toward Victoria Glacier.
Tip: Arrive by 7am or use the Parks Canada shuttle.
Photo: jc · Google
Moraine Lake
Lake Louise · On our Banff & Jasper Loop route
Glacier-fed lake below the Valley of the Ten Peaks; reached only by shuttle or tour.
Tip: Book the Parks Canada shuttle; private vehicles are banned.
Photo: Gorgo · Public domain
Rockpile Trail
Lake Louise · On our Banff & Jasper Loop route
Short climb at Moraine Lake to the famous postcard view.
Tip: Five minutes from the shuttle stop.
Photo: John Whitehill Jr. · Google
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the outdoor spots in Alberta?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 9 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Alberta has the most outdoor spots on this list?
Banff, Jasper and Lake Louise lead with 3 each; the other picks are spread across 0 more destinations.
Are any of these free?
7 picks on this list are marked free in our route notes: Bow Falls, Athabasca Falls, Lake Louise Lakeshore Trail, Johnston Canyon, Pyramid Lake, and more. Check ahead, since parking or special exhibits can cost extra.
More lists for Alberta
Best outdoor spots nearby
Destinations on this list
- Banff 3 on this list
- Jasper 3 on this list
- Lake Louise 3 on this list
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.