Several months ago, we four friends began to plan a hiking holiday to Kananaskis. Our hiking club had planned one for 2020, we had all signed up for it but of course it was cancelled due to the CoVid lockdown. So in September of 2026 we decided to set out on our own. C, our hike planner had studied up on the wonderful hikes in the area.
Then, as always happens, life got in the way. L had a special event happening in Winnipeg to attend and A suffered a foot injury. Well, we made it work with A accompanying us for the first four days and L joining us on the evening of day 4. It all worked out beautifully (except for A having to miss the adventure).
After an early morning ferry to Tsawwassen and a long but beautiful drive we arrived in Revelstoke in time for dinner. I had driven through Revelstoke a few times but had never stayed there. I was pleasantly surprised at how lovely the town is and how young the population is .. and active, there were bicycles everywhere.
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Sept 17 Revelstoke Mountain Resort
The first destination was Revelstoke Mountain Resort where we enjoyed a scenic gondola ride. We had been told that there was a coffee shop at the top where A could read and rest her foot. That was misleading, the coffee shop was a dinky little place, not one to spend much time in. Thankfully though conditions were warm and sunny so A could wait for us while reading in the sun. Oh but that also was not ideal as the gondola machinery combined with blaring music and noisy construction was very loud.
Then to add more fun to the mix, the power went out, all over Revelstoke we later learned, so no bathrooms. On the positive side, the music stopped blaring.
Oh No, neither of us had bear spray, nor were we interested in carrying it ... plus there were few other hikers... but on we went regardless.
What a wonderful hike Stoke Climb was!
The fireweed seeds were blowing prettily in the slight breeze.
The views were fabulous, the trail was well marked with an easy gradual climb.
These 2 couples from the USA kindly stopped and took our photo, C returned the favour.
As we did not want to leave A for too long we turned back just as the trail reached the chairlift (which was not in operation).
Easy trail
Gorgeous fall colours.
And another walk, this time along the powerful Colombia River.
Revelstoke is made for bicycles and pedestrians. There is a lovely long walk along the river.
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Sept 18 Mt Revelstoke
Day two we drove up Mount Revelstoke, stopping at the many points of interest on the way. Above photo you can see the Columbia River and the three bridges that span it. There is a rail bridge, an old one way bridge with a shared narrow sidewalk for pedestrians and bicycles and the third bridge is the Trans Canada Highway. We were staying at a Sandman Hotel located on the far right of the photo above.
Foliage at a couple of the Point Of Interest Stops
..and the bees are still out well into September and at a high altitude.
C and I left A with her book while we ventured along a short path to Eagle Knoll. We were rewarded with fabulous views and vibrant fall colours.
The happy hikers
We could see the reservoir behind the Columbia River Dam
So Pretty
It was lunch time but I had forgotten all of our lunches back at the hotel room. Oh well, a quick trip back and we headed for this most impressive dam.
We ate our packed lunch in the back yard of the BC Interior Forestry Museum then once again C and I hit the trail. From the museum we walked down to an interpretive trail alongside the river.
It was a hot day, we were happy to walk in the much cooler forest. The colour of the river was so pretty.
Back to A and the Forestry Museum. We had been noticing these unusual (to us) bugs since arriving in Revelstoke. They were attracted to C's white vehicle and were very plentiful. Inside the museum they coated the windows. Staff there had informed A that they are called seed bugs, they do not bite nor eat wood as a termite does but they do get into homes and businesses. It is a full time job to continually vacuum them up which is the recommended way to temporarily get rid of them. What a pain for the locals.
A walk across the one lane bridge.
And the river up close
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Sept 19 Revelstoke to Canmore
As we approached the Rockies we stopped at a Point of Interest at Roger's Pass that outlined the history of the railway construction through this dangerous terrain. In 1910, 70 rail workers were killed in a massive avalanche. Most of them were Japanese. As a result, a very long tunnel was constructed through the mountain, it was opened in 1916, a much safer passage.
Of course currently there is the Trans Canada Highway through the same area. These days cannons are used to fire at the snow for controlled trigger of avalanches.
Photo taken from the rest stop alongside the Trans Canada Hwy.
C and I went on a short walk along the abandoned rail line.
Forget-Me-Not, so appropriate.
Our first view of a beautiful quaking aspen, perfect timing as they had recently turned a brilliant yellow.
Distinctive Mt Rundle, 2949 Meters
We enjoyed a delicious lunch in Golden and a quick visit to the village of Field.
Now we were four, for just one night. We stayed at the Canmore Downtown Hostel, a clean and well run place. We all enjoyed a delicious Indian dinner out just steps away at Roaring Rolls. None of us liked Canmore much, so much traffic and pedestrians, a very popular destination for tourists. Ya I know, we were tourists also but ...
Thankfully we came back a few days later and found the main street that was busy but no cars!
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September 20 Canmore to Kananaskis
We said goodbye to A and made our way out of Canmore. The weather was still perfect!
Just as one turns off The Trans Canada Highway onto Highway 40 there is a busy Kananaskis Tourist Bureau where we were able to purchase the required parking pass for the duration of our stay.
At last, the main destination of the trip, Kananaskis. My first time here and it far surpassed my expectations.
We immediately donned our hiking boots and packs and set out on a trail near to our accommodation, The Kananaskis Wilderness Hostel.
Stunning scenery and well marked trails. C chose a short trail called Kovachs for us to get started on, a steep climb with wonderful views.
Pretty Asters
We checked into the hostel only to discover that the private room for 3 was really only for 2 people with one double bed and a top bunk. Luckily there was one bed available in the dorm room. Cathy, the manager and her assistant Angela were absolutely wonderful, taking time to talk to the guests and to help the guests out at every turn. I really cannot say enough, they were a delight!
I really lucked out in the bed department. The first night I got the double bed, C was in the top bunk. After that first night, I was the only one of our party of three that was comfortable with the top bunk so I was able to sleep there all six nights.
Most nights a fire was lit out in the spacious hostel property. We enjoyed meeting the other guests both in the kitchen and out by the fire. There were many different languages spoken in the hostel, including Russian. There was a large group of hikers who originated from Ukraine an d fromother Russian speaking countries, they currently live and work in the USA. Their visit overlapped with ours for several days so we got to know them well. They were much younger than us and they were serious, hardcore hikers.
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September 21, Hiking Upper Kananaskis Lake
16 kms, 275 m, 5 hours
This made it to my top three lifetime hikes (all led by C!!!)
We drove 40 kms south on Hwy 40 to the trailhead. The morning was cold and clear but there was no wind. The lake was like glass resulting in perfect reflections of the surrounding mountains in the water.
First stop, admire this handsome raven.
Our hike started out very slowly as L and I just had to continually take photos.
the reflections!
and with the quaking aspens.
The first 4 kms were the most scenic.
The trail got interesting as we picked our way through a landslide.
At the "summit" of the landslide, the trail was easy to follow.
The photo above shows from where the rock originated.
I enjoy having variety of terrain on a hike.
back into the forest
Upper Kananaskis Falls at the far north western corner.
Happy Hikers on a well constructed bridge just past the falls.
Beautifully imposing mountains.
Later in the afternoon, still gorgeous!
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September 22 Prairie View Hike
The following day we drove 16 kms north (back towards the Trans Canada Hwy) to Prairie View.
11 kms, 580 m, 3 1/2 hours
We hiked up a steep incline to an outstanding viewpoint, populated by a large group of students and their teachers. There we ate our packed lunches and watched the students tackle the steep path to an even higher viewpoint on a bluff. C talked us into attempting the climb. Slow and steady did it and we received so many kind and encouraging comments from the students as they passed us on their way down. We were rewarded with a great climb and an outstanding view.
The above photo was taken from the upper bluff, you can see the cut below where we ate our lunches.
On top of the world!
The gorgeous fall colours ... golden quaking aspens and the red of blueberry bushes.
We finished our wonderful day by driving back to Canmore for more groceries, exploring a nicer neighbourhood there then treating ourselves to a delicious dinner at Forte Restaurant in Kananaskis Village.
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September 23 Ptarmigan Cirque
I really enjoyed this hike too.
When we checked into the hostel, Cathy the manager, asked us if we were in Kananaskis to see the Larches. Uh, no, what are they? I mean we knew it was a tree but that was all we knew. So ya, it is a thing, only happens for a couple of weeks in September. The larches here are deciduous conifers. I had no idea that such a thing existed. The attraction however is the beautiful yellow colour that the needles turn prior to falling. An added interest, the needles were very soft to the touch. These particular larches only exist at around 2000 m so the conditions are perfect in the Highwood pass area of Hwy 40. This is apparently the highest altitude paved road in Canada and is 45 kms south of the hostel.
Thankfully there were many people hiking here, it is grizzly country and we felt the safety in numbers.
My phone did not quite capture the rich colours of the foliage.
another day of gorgeous views as we climbed
finally we were amongst the larches
The Scenery!
The trail got a bit technical here.
Ptarmigan Cirque
The basin had been created by glacier action.
Many larches
That short hike was not quite enough so we wandered along this board-walked trail ...
.... and stopped to eat our lunch in the sun.
This is Grizzly country, fortunately or unfortunately we did not ever see any bears, grizzly or otherwise. We often did see scat along the trails, occasionally fresh scat. There was a man staying at the hostel whose hobby was to find grizzly bears and video them. The day after we drove this section of highway 40 he came here and videoed a momma grizzly and her two juveniles. So ya, they are around.
We saw goats on the road a few times, this time we really had to slow down to get by them, affording me a photo opportunity.
Next C drove us along Smith-Dorrien Road for a short distance, there we climbed a steep path to access and cross the High Rockies Trail Suspension Bridge.
1.1 km, 46 m (it felt like much more!), 21 minutes
Blackshale Creek Suspension Bridge
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September 24 2026 Centennial Ridge Trail
Such a treat to walk out of the hostel and to not get in the car to go for a hike. The trailhead was at the end of Ribbon Rd, just a 5 minute walk from our accommodation.
I just created the trail on my Outdoor Active App and had not included the return. C & L tracked on their hiking Apps ... Centennial Ridge Trail via Coal Mine Trail stats were 7.8 kms, 450 m, 4 hours. We omitted hiking to the summit as the trail became very sketchy with loose rock underfoot. However, we were well satisfied with what we did accomplish and with the rewarding views.
The above photo was taken from the trailhead. We hiked about 1/2 way up that visible cut.
At this point (above) we are still on the Coal Mine trail portion of our hike. Again, The Aspens!
L & C my hiking companions.
We soaked in the beauty of the trail and marveled at our fortune to be in such a magical place.
Thank you C for all the hours of trail research and planning.
We assumed that rock face is what remains of the Coal Mine.
Sorry, one more aspen shot.
Delightful to see flowers so late in the season.
Back to the hostel, early afternoon, some chillin' time to read in the warm sunshine while listening to the beautiful quaking aspens that surround the hostel.
The fabulous Hostel Manager Cathy!
The cozy lounge in the hostel
That evening we drove the short distance to Kananaskis Village to enjoy an excellent dinner at the Kananaskis Golf Club. L's suggestion, C & I were skeptical at first but the food was good and the price was reasonable.
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Friday September 25 Terrace Trail
Our last day in Kananaskis, it was decided that we would go easy. Again we walked from the hostel to the end of Ribbon Rd, from there we accessed Terrace Trail which led to the village. Our hope was to see if there was a way to walk past the village and down to the golf course ... we wanted to try their lunch. We got as far as an overlook to the Golf course but if there was a path down, it was not apparent. We found adequate food in the village instead.
this is as far as we got.
10 km, 200 m
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Saturday September 26 Kananaskis to Nelson
So thoughtful!
We got an early start and were ready for coffee by the time we arrived in Radium Hot Springs. Just a bit of road construction right at the entrance to the town.
As we came closer to Nelson, some serious black clouds, a short period of rain and THEN
The Most Amazing Rainbow, unfortunately I was not able to capture a photo.
The entire hillside was an expanded rainbow. Magical!!!
We checked into the Savoy Hotel. According to my brother, who lived in Nelson back in his youth, the hotel has been around for a very long time and was not always this nice. The rooms are clean and spacious, my room even had heated bathroom floor and heated towel racks.
We all enjoyed a sunset soak in the rooftop hot tub.
My meat eating brother recommended this vegan restaurant, "Sprout" for dinner. The food was delicious and we had leftovers to enjoy for lunch the next day.
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Sunday September 27 Exploring Nelson
My travel companions got their coffee early the next morning and we were off for a walk in the chilly air. From the Savoy we walked down to the lakefront and walked the entire distance from west to the bridge.
Note this is part of the Trans Canada Trail
A beautiful windless morning, it soon warmed up. I love the perfect reflections.
looking westward
more fall flowers (I think the hill in the background is Pulpit Rock where we hiked later that day.)
What a wonderful idea to have Nelson citizens sponsor the trees in the park.
A great photo of C. (if I don't say so myself)
at the bridge we turned right and walked up up up up ...
... to the Great Northern Rail Trail ...
(which spans the distance between Salmo and Nelson)
.... from where we could admire the lovely town of Nelson.
11.7kms, 280 m, 3 hours 25 mins
After our leftover lunch, which we ate on the sunny hotel rooftop, C drove us to hike Pulpit Rock, just across the water from Nelson.
It was a continuous uphill climb but so worth the effort. The day was perfect, we were mostly hiking in the cool forest and look at that view.
I was feeling so strong from several days of hiking and enjoyed every uphill step.
4.2 km, 369 m, 1 3/4 hours
We enjoyed yet another delicious dinner, this time at Busaba Thai Restaurant which conveniently is attached to the Savoy Hotel.
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L's son recommended this excellent coffee shop, Uso Negro, which roasts ethical and organic coffee beans.
and their muffins are good too.
Lovely architecture, the business is in an old converted house.
A quick stop at Christina Lake and then a pleasant stop to visit the Greenwood Museum where we learned more about the shameful treatment of Canadian citizens of Japanese ancestry during WW2.
I had remembered this viewpoint from years ago ... overlooking Osoyoos.
We arrived at Manning Park in time to enjoy a short walk before dinner. I heard a loon on the lake, which is a big deal for me, I do not recall ever having heard one in the wild ... I had only heard them in the Canadian Heritage Moment advertisements.
The Lodge restaurant was open and we enjoyed a last dinner of pub style food.
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Tuesday September 29 Manning Park to Victoria
The drive back to Victoria was a challenge for C, she had driven the entire time but this last leg was in heavy rain. As we neared Abbotsford and beyond the truck traffic was so busy, spraying water onto the windshield. However she was a trooper and without complaining, even always making the best of the situation, we arrived at Tsawwassen in record time, driving right onto the 11 am ferry.
I cannot thank A, C and L enough for including me on this trip through Beautiful BC and a small but impressive corner of Wild Rose Alberta. Since I dislike driving, I never could have done this without them. They were the best and most considerate travel companions one could wish for. I am so very grateful!!!
Again, I just have to comment on the time and enthusiasm that C invested in researching and planning our hikes. She did an extraordinary job keeping us happy and safe.
