{"id":17293,"date":"2014-04-15T23:46:00","date_gmt":"2014-04-15T23:46:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com\/stories\/?p=17293"},"modified":"2021-10-28T16:39:56","modified_gmt":"2021-10-28T16:39:56","slug":"hiking-alberta","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com\/stories\/hiking-alberta\/","title":{"rendered":"Hiking Alberta"},"content":{"rendered":"

Standing at a point near the beginning of the International Peace Park hike, I am reminded why <\/span>Alberta\u2019s<\/span><\/a> travel literature uses the statement, \u201cremember to breathe,\u201d so prominently. It\u2019s not only clever marketing; it\u2019s wise advice.<\/span><\/p>\n

In Alberta, the lucky home of the staggering Canadian Rockies, it seems there\u2019s an impossibly beautiful vista at every turn. As full-fledged mountain lovers, we\u2019re not easily impressed by any old rugged landscape. Alberta gets us every time. That\u2019s why we try to return nearly every summer for some trekking.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are a couple of our favorite destinations that are home to our top hikes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Waterton Lakes National Park<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

We\u2019re big fans of this area \u2013 the Crown of the Continent \u2013 that shares space with Glacier National Park, just across the border. The guided International Peace Park hike, a collaborative effort between the two parks, is led by both a park ranger from the United States and an interpreter from Canada. The route takes trekkers nearly nine miles from Canada into the United States.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Viewfinder Tip: If you are an avid hiker, be sure that Alberta is on your list.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Starting with a powerful quote from Eleanor Roosevelt \u00a0(“It isn’t enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn’t enough to believe in it. One must work at it.”), the hike\u2019s purpose is to honor the enduring, peaceful relationship between the two countries. Via a number of fun activities along the hike, participants are inspired to contemplate peace and its importance.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Crypt Lake hike<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

As we\u2019ve done nearly every hike in this corner of the world, it\u2019s tough to select favorites. However, the Crypt Lake hike is another that quickly comes to mind. Trekkers are dropped off at the trailhead by boat before embarking on this 11-mile hike. The journey offers everything – a dense forest, an alpine mountainside, and a final ascent to the namesake lake (perfect for lunch). Particularly memorable is the 100-foot tunnel, the steel ladder, and the cable-assisted cliffside section of the trail. Yes, hikers accomplish a lot before returning to the dock for the short trip back to Waterton townsite. We were happy that <\/span>our hotel<\/span><\/a> was just steps away.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jasper National Park<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

During previous visits to Alberta, we\u2019ve spent time in Banff National Park. On our most recent visit, we were eager to get all the way back up to Jasper National Park to check some more trails off of the list. This time, however, we wanted to experience something new. So on the way up to Jasper, we made a little detour and hung out in Kananaskis Country for a couple of days. While our main focus was introducing ourselves to rock climbing, we did some low-key trekking in the gorgeous mountains surrounding <\/span>our hotel<\/span><\/a>. We\u2019re eager to get back for a closer inspection.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Patricia Lake \/ Pyramid Lake hike<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Our favorite trek in Jasper has to be the short, tough Bald Hills hike. The climax of this 6.5-miler is one of the most jaw-dropping views we\u2019ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing (see the header photo above). Starting near \u2013 and ultimately overlooking \u2013 the sparkling Maligne Lake, you journey through a lodgepole pine forest, a subalpine meadow, and on to a number of lookout points on the peaks above.<\/span><\/p>\n

Our closest wildlife encounter came on a 13-mile trail run we did from our beautiful\u00a0<\/span>lakeside hotel<\/span><\/a> up to Patricia and Pyramid Lake. Just over five miles in, we spotted a young black bear foraging for food. Always following wildlife best practices, we weren\u2019t caught too<\/em> off guard. Thankfully, we noticed the bear at a safe distance, alerted him to our presence, and moved along the trail. Look at this scenery we found waiting at this pair of stunning, green lakes.<\/span><\/p>\n

What are some of your favorite hikes from around the world?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Fantastic trails abound in this hikers\u2019 paradise that is Alberta, Canada<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":12535,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1789,1971,1867,1782,1775,1788,1972,1774],"tags":[706],"authors":[2229],"class_list":["post-17293","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-adventure","category-alberta","category-canada","category-destinations","category-fall","category-interests","category-northern-alberta","category-occasions-and-seasons","tag-large-group","authors-no-vacation-required","entry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHiking Alberta | Expedia<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com\/stories\/hiking-alberta\/\" \/>\n<meta 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