262 Best Sights in Alberta, Canada

The Smith-Dorrien/Spray Trail (Highway 742) connects the Town of Canmore with Peter Lougheed Provincial Park and is the only road through Spray Valley Provincial Park. On the Canmore end, it is also known as Spray Lakes Road. Though this 60-km (37-mile) unpaved road is featured on a dangerous roads website, you don't need a special kind of vehicle to traverse it. The road is dusty in summer and there are potholes, but the views are lovely, especially those of Mount Assiniboine, which is the highest peak in the Southern Continental Ranges of the Canadian Rockies. The pyramidal-shaped mountain has sometimes been called the "Matterhorn of the Rockies." The road's highest point is the Smith-Dorrien Pass, at 1,905 meters (6,250 feet) above sea level.

Considered a sacred place by the Stoney Nakoda First Nation, this is one of the most famous scenic spots in the Canadian Rockies, perhaps because an image of the island, taken by Peter Gales, hung in Kodak’s Colorama showcase in New York City’s Grand Central Terminal in 1960. Since then, images of Spirit Island have been used in many advertisements and displays including Apple's 2014 campaign to launch their new iPad. Spirit Island lies 14 km (8.7 miles) up-lake and can only be reached by canoe or kayak or on a boat cruise that operates several times per day. For most of the year, Spirit Island isn't really an island; it's connected to the shore except in the early spring when water levels are high.

Home of the world-famous Calgary Stampede, the park hosts a number of other events throughout the year. Part of the grounds, the BMO Centre, Big Four Building, and Agriculture Building host trade shows, and Boyce Theatre hosts theatre and small concerts.

This recently renovated, award-winning library is the second-most visited place in Edmonton, in part because of its new multi-story simulation wall in the lobby; made up of 278 screens, it's North America's biggest digital exhibit. Other innovations include a 10,000-square-foot makerspace area with 3D printing facilities, recording studios, robotics, and fabrication tools, and the Gamerspace that includes the latest gaming consoles as well as retro video games. Pîyêsîw wâskâhikan (Thunderbird House) is a dedicated Indigenous gathering space that includes an independent HVAC system, making it the first public space in the city to support unrestricted smudging.

This family-friendly 1.9-km (1.2-mile) loop trail leads to a 10-meter (30-foot) waterfall. There's 86 meters (282 feet) of elevation gain on the trail and it's best used from June through October. In winter, you can hike up the creek with ice cleats and poles for a unique icewalk experience.

This vibrant pedestrians-only shopping area is a National Historic District, and boasts dozens of stores, nightclubs, and restaurants on the ground floors of Calgary's oldest structures. The mostly sandstone buildings were erected after an 1886 fire destroyed most of the older buildings.

This stunning glacier stretches down 914 meters (3,000 feet) of cliff face, forming a set of double icefalls visible from a roadside viewpoint.

The place where the Sulphur River meets the Smoky River was formerly known as Hell's Gate. Lookout platforms at this site offer beautiful views. There is a 15-site campground, two equestrian campgrounds with corrals, and two equestrian day-use sites. This site is the main access to Willmore Wilderness Park.

This well-maintained trail crisscrosses underneath the gondola on Sulphur Mountain and climbs from the parking lot to the summit. You can hike up and take the gondola down, but you should check schedules first. A restaurant and cafeteria are located at the summit along with a viewing platform and interpretive signage. Allow four hours to hike the trail round-trip. Difficult.

The small, stone weather station, a recognized heritage building, sits on top of an exposed ridge at the peak of Sulphur Mountain. It was built in 1902 and Norman Sanson was in charge of the weather station from 1902--1945. He summited the peak more than a thousand times in all seasons and his weather reports were published in the Banff newspaper under the pseudonym "Seer Altitudinous." He was 84 years old when he retired from the job and the peak was renamed Sanson's Peak in his honor in 1948. Nearby is a concrete foundation and a bronze plaque recognizing Sulphur Mountain Cosmic Ray Station National Historic Site. Between 1957 and 1978, geophysicists studied cosmic rays and space particles entering the atmosphere from the station on top of Sulphur Mountain. Today you can hike up as Sanson did, or ride the gondola.

Some of the most beautiful panoramic views in Jasper can be enjoyed on this 8-km (5-mile) trail. From the summit, you can see the Fiddle River Valley, the foothills, the Miette Mountain Range, and the cliffs of Asher Ridge; it's particularly lovely in the autumn. This is a difficult hike with 700 meters (2,297 feet) of elevation gain, and the first 2.2 km (1.4 miles) is a steady climb across an open mountainside to Shuey Pass. Take the right branch when the trail splits and continue up the switchbacks to reach the summit. Along the way, you'll pass a large boulder that is a white quartzite glacial erratic that was moved there during the ice age. Near the top, the trail becomes very rocky and steep. Hiking poles can be helpful going up and coming down the steep sections. A soak in Miette Hot Springs is a great reward after the hike. Moderate.  Miette Road leading to the trailhead is closed from mid-October to mid-May.

This moderate 11.6-km (7.2-mile) hike begins on the north side of Highway 66. After hiking up about 150 meters (492 feet), you merge onto the Elbow Valley Trail. After about 1 km (0.6 mile), you will find the sign for the start of the Sulphur Springs Trail. Follow the Sulphur Springs Trail for about 4 km (2½ miles) and enjoy great views of Prairie Mountain and Nihahi Ridge. As the trail descends, the trail merges with the Elbow River Trail and the Sulphur Springs Trail ends and the Riverview Trail begins. The Riverview Trail follows along the Elbow River and provides great views into the gorges of the river. As you follow the river, the trail will take you to Paddy’s Flat campground. From the campground, you can either walk the roadway or continue along the Elbow River back to the day-use area. This trail has 416 meters (1,365 feet) of elevation gain. Moderate.

It's a beautiful and relatively easy hike along the Sunburst Trail from Assiniboine Lodge to Elizabeth Lake. The Sunburst Trail branches off the Lake Magog Trail just before the campground. The trail goes along the shore of Sunburst Lake past Lizzie Rummel's log cabin to Cerulean Lake and then climbs a ridge where you have the option of turning east to hike 1 km (0.6 mile) up to the Niblet or continuing straight to Elizabeth Lake. The hike is 4.4 km (2.7 miles) one-way to Elizabeth Lake without adding the Niblet and Nublet. You can do it in a loop by continuing on from Elizabeth Lake and turning east along the shore of Cerulean Lake. Easy.

"Sunwapta" is the indigenous Stoney word for "turbulent river." There are two sets of falls at this site, but most people just see the Upper Falls, which are a short walk from the parking area. Though smaller than the Athabasca Falls to the north, they have a drop of about 18½ meters (60 feet) and are prettiest in the late spring when the spring melt is at its peak. The second set of falls is just a 3.2-km (2-mile) hike from the first set.

The Sunwapta Pass marks the boundary between Banff and Jasper National Parks about 108 km (67 miles) southeast of the town of Jasper and 122 km (76 miles) northwest of the Parkway's junction with the Trans-Canada Highway near Lake Louise. The pass is the second highest point on the Icefields Parkway. You'll know you're there when you see the sign marking the boundary between the two parks.

Marking the border between Banff and Jasper National Parks, Sunwapta is the second-highest drivable pass—2,034 meters (6,675 feet)—in the parks. Wildlife is most visible in spring and autumn after a snowfall, when herds of bighorn sheep come to the road to lick up the salt used to melt snow and ice. Be prepared for hairpin turns as you switchback up to the pass summit.

This 4.8-km (3-mile) trail begins with a view of a waterfall on Bow River, leads through meadows and forests and past sheer cliffs, and ends at the hoodoos (spirelike rock formations formed by erosion) in the eastern part of Banff townsite. Easy.

The view from the top of Table Mountain is one of the prettiest scenes in the Canadian Rockies. The hike is 10 km (6.2 miles) round-trip and takes about four hours in total. It’s a moderately difficult trail with a 700-meter (2,300-foot) elevation gain and a lot of scrambling near the top, but the views are well worth the effort. The trail begins in Castle Provincial Park and ends in Castle Wildlands Provincial Park. You'll find the trailhead at Beaver Mines Lake Campground. Difficult.

This beautiful 48-meter (157 foot) tall multi-tiered waterfall lies right off the Icefields Parkway, but it's easy to miss. Look for a small roadside pullout north of the Glacier Skywalk. The waterfalls are across from the parking area.

The first science center built in Canada in 25 years is now a city jewel. It houses a giant dome theater and a 6,500-square-foot digital immersion gallery that allows visitors to follow a storyline as they walk through a digital dream world. There’s also a sensory-rich area for younger children, where they can make music on a bubble piano (among other things).

This 43.1 km (27 miles) horseshoe-shaped trail provides access to the Tonquin Valley, one of the premiere backpacking destinations in the Canadian Rockies with spectacular scenery and an abundance of wildlife including caribou, black bears and grizzly bears. From early spring to mid-summer, the trail is notoriously muddy and mosquitos are abundant. Late summer and early fall are the best times to hike here. There are two trailheads. Starting at the Portal trailhead is generally considered more scenic, but starting at the Astoria trailhead has less elevation gain. There are seven campgrounds and an Alpine Club of Canada hut in Tonquin Valley. Advance reservations are essential. This trail is closed from November 1 through May 15 to protect the Tonquin caribou herd. Difficult.

Located next to the Heritage Fire Hall, staff at the visitor center can provide advice about tours, restaurants, and accommodations. The website also contains a vast amount of information about the park and the businesses and amenities within it. Experiences and accommodations can also be booked on the website. Email to get information and support in advance of your visit.

This short, family-friendly trail goes through an aspen forest and leads to a lovely waterfall. It's popular in both summer and winter and can be reached by hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing, or skiing. It's 1.7 km (1.1 mile) one-way with very little elevation gain. Easy.

On the east side of Banff, Tunnel Mountain Drive makes a scenic 5-km (3-mile) loop. It's closed in winter, but just off the drive, the hoodoos—fingerlike rock formations created by erosion—are accessible year-round (signs on Banff's main street direct you there).

If you want to summit a mountain in the Canadian Rockies, this 4.8-km (3-mile) round-trip hike is a good bet. The trailhead is a short walk from downtown Banff and the hike leads to a low summit with incredible views of the town, the Bow Valley, and surrounding mountains. Moderate.

This 7.4-km (4.6-mile) round-trip hike follows along the ridge of Turtle Mountain to the false and true summits. It's a steep and challenging trail, but the views of Frank Slide and the Crowsnest Valley are worth it. Scrambling is required to reach the second peak known as the south peak. This hike has 936 meters (3071 feet) of elevation gain and hiking poles are recommended.

When Jasper National Park was established in 1907, the Indigenous people who had inhabited the land since time immemorial were forced to leave. Soon after that, a totem pole featuring a Raven was created by Haida carvers and erected for park tourists to enjoy. It stood for 94 years until it was removed and returned to the Haida people who live in an archipelago off British Columbia’s west coast. In 2011, a new totem pole that had been carved by brothers Gwaii and Jaalen Edenshaw replaced the original one. The new totem pole uses imagery of wildlife commonly found in Jasper to tell the story of two brothers who travel from Haidi Gwaii to the Rockies. One of them stays while the other returns home. The totem pole is meant to suggest a connection between the Haida and the Indigenous Peoples of Jasper National Park. It is also intended to be viewed as a gift between Indigenous nations.

It takes two to three hours to complete this family-friendly 4.2-km (2.3-mile) hike. Five small lakes are the highlight of the trip, which takes you through a lodgepole-pine forest, across the Wabasso Creek wetlands, and through a flowery meadow. Watch for birds, beavers, and other wildlife along the way. Turn this into a moderately difficult hike by continuing another 10 km (6.2 miles) to Old Fort Point. Easy.

Off the Trans-Canada Highway close to the town of Banff, this 4.3-km (2.7-mile) roadway passes the tranquil Vermilion Lakes, a network of marshlands and lakes. The lakes have wonderful views of Mount Rundle and Sulphur Mountain and they are a popular spot for picnicking, paddling, relaxing, and reflection photography. It's also common to spot birds and other wildlife in this area. The road is quiet and it's a good place to ride a bike. The 2-km (1.2-mile) Fenland Trail is a lovely walk through the marshlands near the Vermilion Lakes. In some seasons, insect repellent is a must.

Victoria Mountain and Victoria Glacier were named after Queen Victoria; Lake Louise was named after the queen's fourth daughter, Princess Louise Caroline Alberta. The lake is fed by Victoria Glacier which sits near the top of Mount Victoria at the western end of the lake. Glacial rock flour (aka dust) gives the lake its remarkable turquoise color. From the shores of the lake you can see the mountain and glacier.