Hiking is an affordable family activity and there are many trails around Calgary that provide a safe option for year-round outings with young children. Many popular summer trails are wide and straightforward to follow even when they’re snow-covered, and often well-packed down for easy travel.
Below are five toddler-approved trails in Kananaskis my family has grown to love over the years:
This hike is conveniently located near Kananaskis Village and the Nakiska Ski Area (which is perfect if older children are in lessons at the ski hill or your family only skis for half a day). The 4km loop hike follows the Troll Falls and Hay Meadow Trails. These wide multi-use trails permit cross-country skiing, hiking, and biking. Access to the trails is from the Stoney parking lot on your right-hand side as you head up to Nakiska from Highway 40.
In summer, you can extend your hike for a couple more kilometres by going further to the Upper Falls. The hike is fun in winter too for experienced hikers with older children, but it gets very icy and is not recommended by Alberta Parks. Should you choose to follow this trail in winter, you’ll need very good ice cleats (I recommend microspikes). The reward is an opportunity to walk behind Marmot Falls (which you can do in summer too).
Make it fun: Bring a sled for the Troll Falls/Hay Meadow Loop. The loop is relatively flat and it’s lovely with a small Pelican baby sled (for the Upper Falls you’ll need a child carrier). The trail is usually well-packed down and doable with a jogging stroller or Chariot as well year-round.
Note that ice cleats could be necessary for this hike if there has been no fresh snow.
This is another hike near Kananaskis Village, and you’ll find the official parking lot off Ribbon Creek Drive as you head up towards the village. You can hike as far as you want up the creek, returning when little legs have had enough. In winter, you’ll reach the turnaround point after 4.4km, before you reach avalanche terrain. Either enjoy the 9km return hike, crossing many scenic bridges, or complete a loop in winter with the Shinrin and Studless snowshoe trails (approximately the same distance). You’ll see maps at trail junctions to guide you, and the trails are well marked.
In winter, these are designated snowshoe trails and are generally well-packed down, but expect to be breaking trail if there’s been fresh snow, and wear warm winter boots. The trails are also narrower than the Troll Falls trails and not sled or stroller-friendly. You’ll need a child carrier year-round for babies or younger toddlers.
Make it fun: Visit the Kananaskis Lodge afterwards for hot chocolate and cookies from the Market Café. There’s also a playground behind the lodge, along with a skating rink that’s the perfect size for toddlers and preschoolers learning to skate. Older children will have fun at the village sledding hill.
This family favorite is a great hike year-round if you’re prepared with ice cleats for the winter months. It’s blessedly short at 4.2km return and easily located right off the Trans-Canada Highway. There is little elevation gain and children enjoy the bridge crossings over the creek. It’s especially magical in winter when you’ll see frozen waterfalls and you can often hike right up the snowy creek.
This hike is not sled or stroller-friendly so bring a child carrier for babies or toddlers.
Make it fun: Warm, dry children are always happier on a hike, so waterproof clothing is recommended if there’s a chance your toddler or preschooler will be playing around on ice, sliding on their bum, or even playing near open water. I recommend warm layers underneath a rain suit as long as it’s not too cold outside. It’s also a good idea to have dry clothing along with spare socks and shoes in your car for after the hike. Nobody wants to drive home cold and wet.
Winter hikes are also more comfortable if you bring bum pads or something to sit on for snack or lunch breaks. You can find inflatable or foam pads at most camping or outdoor stores.
Watridge Lake is reached via a wide road that’s groomed in winter for easy travel. It’s a shared trail for hiking, skiing, and biking, and perfect for towing littles in sleds. In summer, we enjoy biking the gravel road, and our son loved using his balance bike as a preschooler. You could also use a bike trailer or jogging stroller/Chariot. In winter, you’ll want the ski attachment for your Chariot or you can buy stroller skis from the Polar Skis company.
The trailhead is found at the Mount Shark Day Use Area off the Smith Dorrien Trail (Highway 742) out of Canmore. The hike is approximately 8km return and the elevation gain is very gradual. Extend your outing further on the Karst Spring Trail, where you’ll see water gush out of a rock wall. It’s 0.8km one way to the spring from the lake (and not sled, stroller, or bike-friendly).
Make it fun: Bring friends. Everybody loves hiking with a good friend, and children are no different. Hiking in a group is also safer in case there is a wildlife encounter.
You can also bring snowshoes for this easy trail (especially if there’s been fresh snow and you’re breaking trail before a recent grooming).
This is everybody’s favorite summer family hike, but it’s easily enjoyed year-round if you take the “easy trail” that bypasses the waterfall on a wide gravel road up to the first lake. The trailhead is located outside Canmore on the way to the Nordic Centre and is approximately 4km return. Elevation gain is 244m so make sure you bring ice cleats if hiking in the winter.
Make it fun: The easy trail is jogging stroller/Chariot-friendly and is great with a sled in the snowy months. Stop at a coffee shop in Canmore afterwards for hot chocolate or grab an ice cream in the warm months.
And here’s a pro winter hiking tip: Instead of packing one large lunch, pack several smaller snack items to keep breaks shorter. Long breaks make it hard to stay warm and guarantee children will end up with cold hands and feet.
Remember that a Conservation Pass is required for parking in all areas of Kananaskis. You can purchase a daily pass or an annual pass on the Alberta Parks website.
Visit the Alberta Parks website at albertaparks.ca for current trail reports. You can also stop in at any visitor centre year-round to get more information on family-friendly hikes, pick up a map or trail brochure, or ask for suggestions on recommended trails.
Tanya loves hiking, camping, skiing and all things mountain-related. Tanya is the author of the blog, Family Adventures in the Canadian Rockies, rockiesfamilyadventures.com, and the creator of the Calgary Family Adventure Community on Facebook.
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