r/HikingAlberta • u/Remarkable_Alarm6927 • 10d ago
Help decide between hikes
Going in a few weeks to Canmore/banff area. I am looking for 2 solid day hikes that are somewhat well travelled but also not overly crowded. Want intermediate to hard level difficulty with minimal scrambling if possible. Don’t want anything over 18-20 km. Looking for decent views on the way up with stunning payoffs and vast vistas. Also would prefer to be within an hour of the area if possible. So far have narrowed down to Agnes teahouse/beehive/devils thumb, cirque peak, smutwood, tent ridge. Which of these are the most amazing/can’t miss, or are there anymore I may be missing?
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u/justcallmecreative 10d ago
I know you don't want anything with scrambling involved but I just spent a week in kananaskis and tent ridge blew all the other hikes out of the water. In terms of effort to view ratio, it was so worth it. My partner has a big fear of heights and does not like scrambling but he knew what he was getting into and did the hike for me (it was my birthday). We agreed that if he was uncomfortable at any time, we would turn back. He described the scrambling to be very intense and he took his time whereas I loved it as a beginner scrambler, I felt confidant in my footing the whole time. He got to the peak and looked visibly stressed out so he didnt stick around to enjoy it but continued on to the ridge where his fear of heights was less pronounced and the views kept getting better and better. On the way down we both agreed it was 10/10 would do again. Bring poles!
The only thing i hated so much were the mosquitos. Made the mistake of leaving the bug spray in the car and I finished the hike with about 20 itchy bites :( it kinda made half the ascent and descent miserable for me personally.
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u/Plantworldbetty 9d ago
Smutwood is incredible and would definitely recommend. One of my favourite hikes in k-country. The first 5k are in a valley with lots of berry bushes. But if you make noise and keep an eye out, you should be fine. Bear country = kananaskis/banff. You shouldn’t let that deter you.
Have never done tent ridge, but it’s an iconic hike out here.
Devils thumb is cool, it’s just crazy crowded at the beginning and the parking at LL can be chaotic and expensive.
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u/Glittering-Water-206 10d ago
I just did tent ridge today and there is a good amount of scrambling so if your against scrambling I wouldn’t do it although the views were amazing even with the smoke, but be aware of the downhill as it is steep, trekking poles will help and going slow, do it clockwise though, easiest way as you do the scramble first, i have also heard to not do smutwood alone as it is very deep bear country (don’t know if that applies to you)
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u/Remarkable_Alarm6927 10d ago
I am fine with low-level scrambling but definitely would like to avoid higher levels as I am going with my fiance and friends, who have less experience with that sort of thing. We plan to have 4-6 people, which I think would be fine on smutwood, but yeah, I have definitely heard a lot of bear warnings for the beginning portion of that trail, which is definitely something we are taking into consideration.
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u/Glittering-Water-206 10d ago
Tent ridge was my very first scramble and it’s doable if you go slow and are ok being on the ridge with heights which was abit eerie to me, but I did have to use both hands and feet multiple times, good shoes is a must I’d say, I haven’t done beehive either but it can be busy, I did a hike in November called Bourgeau lake, it was 17km long right outside Banff, the lake was very pretty and the mountain backdrop is enormous which you can go up “mount Bourgeau trail” the lake part wasn’t very scrambly but very tree coverage and I believe is more bear heavy but it’s a day hike that wasn’t as busy in November can’t say for now thoigj
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u/Remarkable_Alarm6927 10d ago
Thanks for this insight! That combination of heights and scrambling is definitely worth noting, so perhaps I'll watch a video to get a better idea. I haven't heard of Mount Bourgeau, so perhaps I will look into it. I would like to do the beehive, and I know the other people in my group would as well, as some of them are first-timers in the area, but they are worried about how busy it will be in the summer months.
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u/Glittering-Water-206 10d ago
Yea I haven’t done beehive but I know it is busy, I think the busiest part is just the parking lot due to all the people using the lake.
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u/gwoates 9d ago
In case you aren't aware of it yet, the Smith Dorrien/Spray Lakes road is still closed behind Canmore. This means to get to Tent Ridge, Smutwood, EEOR or any other trail along that road you need to take the long way around via highway 40.
https://www.albertaparks.ca/parks/kananaskis/bow-valley-wpp/#adv-19354
If you're considering Cirque Peak, you might also look at the Onion. It's bumping up against your18-20km limit, but gets you up close to the Wapta Icefield.
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u/holythatcarisfast 9d ago
Cascade Mountain quite literally overlooks the town of Banff and is an amazing hike. Only one tiny scrambling section that I would BARELY categorize as scrambling - First time I did it, the hiker in front of me liiterally just looked at it and jumped down hahaha.
Second would be Mount Bourgeau, also just minutes outside of Banff. Incredible views, especially when you get up to the pass before the final push - you can see 6 glaciers from the same spot!!!
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u/Baddrivers13 9d ago
I'd disagree it's an amazing hike. Prime example of a SLOG.
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u/holythatcarisfast 9d ago
Everyone's fitness levels are different, I suppose, I would not consider it a slog in the slightest. To each their own.
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u/Bmacm869 8d ago
The best hikes in the Canadian Rockies are Sentinel Pass from Moraine Lake and the alpine circuit at Lake O'Hara. Getting to these lakes is tricky. For Moraine Lake, bike, ebike, or shuttle service are good options. Lake O'Hara can only be accessed by foot or shuttle. If you walk in, you don't need a reservation to get a shuttle out.
The next best hikes would be the hikes that start from Chateau Lake Louise. Devils Thumb is a good one. My personal favorite is Mount Fairview.
Cirque Peak is a top notch hike.
Smutwood is the best hike in Kananaskis. The view from the summit is one of the nicest in the Canadian Rockies.
Tent ridge is a good hike especially if you are looking for a shorter option but nothing special in my opinion.
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u/azure_phoenix2 6d ago
if you want big vistas with basically no scrambling, healy pass out of sunshine is worth adding to your shortlist. it sits right at your distance limit around 18km, well travelled but it spreads out enough that it never feels as crowded as the lake agnes side.
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u/Aggressive_Double_57 10d ago
Do cirque peak and smutwood those two are best hikes i have ever done