262 Best Sights in Alberta, Canada

Near Maligne Lake, this 8.2-km (5.1-mile) hike is very steep and takes from four to six hours to complete. There are excellent views of Maligne Valley, and many opportunities to observe wildlife, including moose and bears. Be sure to make noise as you hike, and keep your distance from the wildlife. During summer, you will spot many wildflowers along the trail. Difficult.

Beautiful Overlander Falls was named for the Overlanders Expedition of 1862. The Overlanders were a group of about 150 settlers (including one woman) who traveled from Fort Garry (now Winnipeg, Manitoba) to the interior of British Columbia for the Cariboo Gold Rush. Just west of Overlander Falls, the group split, with half continuing on to the gold rush and half abandoning the dream of gold and returning down the river to Fort Kamloops. There are two ways to get to the falls, one short and one long. The short route to the falls, 0.6 km (0.4 miles) round-trip, begins at a highway pullout about 2 km (1 mile) east of Mount Robson Visitor Centre. The longer trail, 4½ km (3 miles), begins at Robson Meadows Campground. Moderate.

The Blackfoot consider the area around the Waterton Lakes to be sacred. Paahtómahksikimi is the Blackfoot name for Waterton Lake. It means "inner sacred lake." The Paahtómahksikimi Cultural Centre helps visitors connect with the Spirit of Waterton and learn about Blackfoot culture. You can participate in various activities and programs and purchase authentic handcrafted artisan products in the on-site craft store.

This 2.2-km (1.4-mile) interpretive trail is an easy hike that passes through a mixed forest of lodgepole pine, white spruce, aspen, and poplar trees. After looping around, the trail takes you downstream along the Elbow River back to the campground. Easy.

This short but steep 2½-km (1½-mile) trail is a great stop along the Icefields Parkway that takes you above the tree line to one of the prettiest views in the Canadian Rockies. At the top of Parker Ridge, there's an excellent view of the Saskatchewan Glacier, where the Saskatchewan River begins. Snowbanks can persist into early summer, but by late July carpets of wildflowers cover the trail. Stay on the path to keep erosion to a minimum. Moderate.

Park interpretive activities include campground sing-alongs, wildlife presentations, Indigenous programs, and guided hikes. Many events take place at Whistlers Outdoor Theatre at the Whistlers Campground.

With its bright red hue, webbed walls and tubular shape, the once-controversial Peace Bridge has become a cultural icon of Downtown that some have compared to a Chinese finger puzzle. The bridge crosses the Bow River just west of Prince’s Island Park, allowing pedestrians and cyclists to move back and forth between Downtown and the communities on the north side of the river. It provides ready access to Kensington.

The four lakes at the southern end of Elbow-Sheep Wildland Provincial Park are popular with anglers. They can be reached via a 4.2-km (2.6-mile) trail that passes through a forested area before it drops down to the lakes. There is a 450-meter (1,475-foot) elevation gain. Moderate.

This 3.9-km (2.4-mile) boardwalk runs alongside Policeman’s Creek and passes ponds and forested areas with views of the mountains. It's a good place to see ducks, birds, and other wildlife and there are plenty of spots with pretty views.

Just west of the Yellowhead Pass is lovely Portal Lake. A short loop trail around the lake offers the opportunity to walk on the continental divide. There's a lovely picnic area---despite its location next to a major highway. You'll also find toilets and interpretive signs. If you have a British Columbia fishing license, you can fish for rainbow trout in the lake.

Often called the Barrier Fire Lookout trail, the Prairie View Trail switchbacks uphill on an old forestry road to a spectacular viewpoint looking south over Barrier Lake. From this viewpoint, you can either continue to the Barrier Fire Lookout on the north side of the ridge or descend along Jewel Pass. The Jewel Pass trail goes alongside Jewell Creek and passes Jewell Falls before ending on the shores of Barrier Lake. It's 9.8-km (6.1-miles) round-trip with a 475-meter (1,558-foot) elevation gain to the McConnell Ridge viewpoint and another 1.4-km (0.9-miles) round-trip with an 80-meter (262-foot) elevation gain to the Barrier Fire Lookout. If you add Jewell Pass, it's 14 km (8.7 miles) round-trip. Moderate.

Named for the prince who later became King Edward VIII, this hotel was constructed between 1926 and 1927 and was designated a National Historic Site in 1995. Take in the magnificent view from the ridge outside the hotel, or pop inside to enjoy the vista from the comfort of the expansive lobby, where afternoon tea is served. The hotel charges a parking fee, but there are a few free parking spaces. Inquire with the parking attendant about availability.

Prince’s Island Park is a beautiful festival park that hosts the Calgary Folk Festival and the city’s Canada Day celebration. It’s easily accessible by foot or bicycle from either side of the river and offers a pleasant natural getaway from the city. Grab a picnic lunch at River Cafe and make a day of it.

Pyramid Lake sits below Pyramid Mountain and is surrounded by gorgeous mountain views. There are picnic tables and fire rings on the beach and there's a large dock with chairs where you can sit and enjoy the views. Farther along the lake is the trail that leads to Pyramid Lake Island.

The drive from Jasper townsite to Pyramid Lake is only 7 km (4 miles), but it's a pretty one that passes the equally stunning Patricia Lake (also worth a stop). At Pyramid Lake, you can rent a boat or take the short hike out to Pyramid Island. Be on the lookout for elk, bears, and other wildlife.

Reclaimed from an old mining area, Quarry Lake is a popular local recreation area. There's a beach area where the water is shallow with a sandy bottom and the swimming and wading are best on hot days in July and August. The lake is fed by an underground spring and is over 100 meters (328 feet) deep in some places. There's also a grassy area with picnic tables and toilets and about 5 km (3 miles) of trails are nearby. The picnic area is adjacent to an off-leash dog park.

Built between 1890 and 1891, this historic structure is the little white church on Canmore's Main Street. The church was named in 1942 for its founder and first minister, Charles W. Gordon, who wrote popular stories and novels under the pen name Ralph Connor. Listed on the Canadian registry of historic places, the church is an active United Church with services on Sundays at 10 am and a contemplative service on Wednesday evenings. The church is historically significant for its association with the famed author and frontier missionary and for its Carpenter Gothic architecture.

This 3.9-km (2.4-mile) one-way trail leads to a beautiful high alpine lake surrounded by mountain peaks and alpine meadows; it's one of the prettiest spots in Kananaskis Country. The trail goes along Upper Kananaskis Lake and through a pine forest to Rawson Lake. It's a popular hiking trail in summer and a snowshoeing trail in winter. There is 320 meters (1,050 feet) of elevation gain, and because of the high elevation, it's possible to encounter snow on this trail into mid-July. Moderate.

The 15-km (9-mile) route takes you from the prairie up the Blakiston Valley to Red Rock Canyon, where water has cut through the earth, exposing red sedimentary rock. It's common to see bears just off the road, especially in autumn, when the berries are ripe. There are picnic sites along the parkway and at Red Rock Canyon.

A couple of blocks to the north of Kensington's major concentration of shops, bars, and restaurants is this large green space with big trees, a wading pool, and a playground for the kiddos. Grab a picnic lunch from one of the many great cafés in Kensington, plop down a blanket, and have yourself a picnic. In the evening, you can watch the lads play cricket or listen to live music on the small stage here.

This short 0.8-km (½-mile) trail leads up stairs that have been built into rocks and takes you to the top of a rock pile to enjoy an incredible view of Moraine Lake. There are a variety of lookout points from the top of the rock pile, but it's important to stay on the trail, as walking over rocks and logs off-trail can be dangerous. Easy.

Located two blocks north of the Churchill Light Rail Transit (LTR) station, this 400,000-square-foot museum is the largest in western Canada and one of Canada’s top museums. It offers 13 curatorial programs ranging from quaternary paleontology to western Canadian history. The highlight here is the Human History Hall, which celebrates the innovation, culture, and resilience of Indigenous people. Marvel at a 1,600-year-old roasting pit used by Blackfoot people to cook feasts, and discover the intricate floral beading techniques used by Métis people. This poignant exhibit also bears witness to the often difficult narratives resulting from the First Nations' contact with European settlers.

The road to Drumheller and the Royal Tyrell Museum is well marked and takes you through the vast flat Canadian prairie. Once a coal-mining area, Drumheller's major industry today is dinosaurs. The museum is in Midland Provincial Park and holds one of the world's largest collections of complete dinosaur skeletons with more than 40 full-size animals. The barren lunar terrain of stark badlands and eerie hoodoos that surround the area seem an ideal setting for the dinosaurs that stalked the countryside 75 million years ago; but in fact, when the dinosaurs were here, the area had a semitropical climate and marshlands not unlike those of the Florida Everglades. You can participate in hands-on museum exhibits and meet the first dinosaur discovered here: Albertosaurus, a smaller version of Tyrannosaurus Rex, or travel the 48-km (30-mi) Dinosaur Trail through the Red Deer Valley and surrounding badlands.

Across the road from the preserve is Saamis Tepee, the world's largest tepee built for the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics in recognition of Alberta's First Nations people.

Opened on the Stampede Grounds in 2024, the Sam Centre offers interactive exhibits (both permanent and changing) exploring the history of the Stampede and the people that have defined it. For the first time, Calgary has an attraction that tells the Stampede story year-round, and not just in July. Maisie Eatery sells pastries, sandwiches for both breakfast and lunch, coffee, and drinks every day.

Located at the junction of the Icefields Parkway (Highway 93) and Highway 11, this is the only place that offers basic services (gas, convenience store, restaurant, and lodgings) between the hamlet of Lake Louise and the town of Jasper.

Siffleur Falls is one of the most popular trails in Bighorn Country. The relatively easy 8-km (5-mile) round-trip hike will take you across a suspension bridge, a boardwalk, and along a deep gorge with several viewing points before you reach beautiful Siffleur Falls. The trail is wide and relatively easy with only about 100 meters (328 feet) of elevation gain. It's a good hike for families, but it cannot accommodate strollers or wheelchairs. Ambitious hikers can continue on past the first falls to see two more waterfalls at 6.2 km (3.9 miles) and 6.9 km (4.3 miles) one-way. This trail can be busy in summer. Easy.

This picnic area sits beside the Maligne River near where it flows into the Athabasca River. There are no shelters, but it's a favorite with locals because of the scenic location. The Sixth Bridge is part of the Maligne Canyon hike; the hike from the Sixth Bridge to the First Bridge and the trailhead is 3.7 km (2.3 miles) one way.

The most popular backpacking route in Jasper meanders at or above the tree line for 44 km (27 miles) past some of the park's best scenery. Reservations are essential for backcountry campgrounds along the way and they book up quickly. It is the highest trail in Jasper National Park, and weather can be unpredictable at this elevation, so plan accordingly. During poor weather, the 15-km (9-mile) Wabasso Trail can be used as an escape route. Most hikers take 2–3 days to hike this trail. There are two main trailheads—Maligne Trailhead (south) and Signal Trailhead (north). The most popular direction to hike the Skyline Trail is from south to north, since you lose more elevation than you gain. Difficult.