Golden, British Columbia
Top Spots in and near Golden
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Improvement District No. 9, Alberta
Hike to Hector Lake
5.03.1 miHector Lake is one of the larger lakes in Banff National Park. It is surrounded by the Waputik Range to the west, and offers pristine views of the mountains. Hector Lake is idyllic and peaceful. Most tourists drive past the trailhead on the parkway, which means the hike is not at all busy. An...Read more -
Improvement District No. 9, Alberta
Bike the Icefields Parkway
The Icefields Parkway is a spectacular highway to ride (you can see the short video here). The shoulders are wide and well paved. Drivers are typically courteous, slowing down and giving you space as they pass, making the ride a great deal more enjoyable. Starting in Jasper you load up your bike,...Read more -
Improvement District No. 9, Alberta
Drive the Icefields Parkway
5.0145.45 mi / 6293 ft gainThe Icefields Parkway has been named One of the World's Most Scenic Drives by National Geographic and with all the scenic hikes, stops, and viewpoints, it's easy to see why. Starting at Lake Louise, a friend and I decided to drive up the Icefields Parkway which goes through Banff National Park i...Read more -
Improvement District No. 9, Alberta
Peyto Lake Overlook and Bow Pass Summit
4.94.22 mi / 863 ft gainPeyto Lake is a scenic location on the Icefields Parkway about 40 km (25 miles) north of the town of Lake Louise. Access to the viewing area for this magnificent area is immediately off the parkway and is well signposted. From the parking lot at Bow Summit, a short paved trail leads to one of th...Read more -
Improvement District No. 9, Alberta
Ski Mt. Hector
8.6 mi / 5275.6 ft gainMt Hector's main route requires a ski mountaineering ascent. It moves through a lot of complex avalanche terrain, across glaciers, and through many terrain traps. Most people will do this route in spring, aiming to be off the mountain before noon. This route should be attempted only by very fit ...Read more -
Improvement District No. 9, Alberta
Climb Achilles Spire
5.0Established in 2012 by Eric Dumerac, Sid Cupido and Chad Casey. This 13-pitch, 300m route of relatively easy climbing provides some decent exposure on a dolomite tower attached to Mount Andromache, Banff National Park. 2 hr approach, expect 8-10 hour day. Approach - Park in the pull out on the ...Read more -
Improvement District No. 9, Alberta
Moraine Lake
4.8Showing up at Moraine Lake before dawn is a must as to avoid the multitude of tours busses. The morning sun is subtle and magical. The lake, being glacially fed, does not reach its crest until mid to late June. When it is full, it reflects a distinct shade of blue. The color is due to the refract...Read more -
Improvement District No. 9, Alberta
Mosquito Creek Backpacking Adventure
18.7 mi / 3822.2 ft gainThe Mosquito creek trailhead is on the east side of the Icefield parkway road just across from the Mosquito Creek Hostel. You park in front of the hostel, and hop across the road to begin the trek.The trail winds up the Mosquito Valley, occasionally popping into a clearing where you get good view...Read more -
Lake Louise, Alberta
Overnight in the Skoki Backcountry
21.1 mi / 3280.8 ft gainThis area is best known for Skoki Lodge, a world class back country destination. Unfortunately Skoki Lodge is quite expensive, and very rarely has rooms available. Luckily you can still enjoy everything the area has to offer if you're on a budget. From Highway 1 take the exit to the Lake Louise S...Read more -
Lake Louise, Alberta
Ski at Lake Louise
Lake Louise has risen to the ranks of a legendary ski resort for more than just its views alone. The massive vertical drop and expert-focused back side make it a mountain to test your mettle. On the front side of the mountain are wide, flowing groomers and sneaky little powder patches in between ...Read more -
East Kootenay G, British Columbia
Backpack the Rockwall Trail
68 mi / 8530 ft gainThe Rockwall trail is a famous 3-5 day trek in Kootenay National Park. We started from the North and camped at Helmet Falls our first night, and then continued south and exited out Floe Lake. I would recommend this direction for a backpack, and the opposite direction for a trail run (it's about ...Read more -
East Kootenay G, British Columbia
Hiking in Marble Canyon
1.2 miMarble Canyon is easily accessible off of the 93S in Kootenay National Park between Banff and Radium.This is a really beautiful area and a nice easy walk for the family with some beautiful scenery to go along with it. Make a visit here in August when the the Fireweed is at its prime, lining the f...Read more -
East Kootenay G, British Columbia
Hike to Cobalt Lake
5.010 mi / 2400 ft gainYou most likely won't find another person hiking this trail the same day as you, and for good reason; the trailhead is at the end of a 55 km gravel road that begins at British Columbia Highway 95, near the remote town of Spillimacheen. There is helicopter transportation if you are staying at the ...Read more -
East Kootenay G, British Columbia
Climb Bugaboo Spire, NE Ridge
6 mi / 2300 ft gainThe adventure of the Bugaboos starts almost at the highway when you turn off at Brisco. A collection of rough and tumble roads that are only recently signed towards the Bugaboo Provincial Parking Lot are exciting enough... 4WD isn't required, but a car with decent clearance will make the drive mu...Read more -
East Kootenay G, British Columbia
Climb the Kain Route on Bugaboo Spire
I'm probably not qualified to give a thorough description of this route having only done it once, but with the guidebook out of print there isn't a ton of information out there. If possible I would encourage you to find the original guidebook, rather than use this post as a source. Banff Library,...Read more -
Improvement District No. 9, Alberta
Hike to Boom Lake
4.06.2 miBoom Lake offers amazing views of Boom Mountain and the ridge separating Alberta and British Columbia. It is not as popular as many other hikes in the area, which means exclusion for anyone willing to explore the lake. The abundant wildlife in the area includes wolves, bears, mountain goats, de...Read more