Our Top Hikes of 2025 in the Canadian Rockies (So Far)

We’ve been lucky this year. Between touring with guests and getting out on our own time, we’ve managed to hit some of the best trails in the Canadian Rockies. Some days gave us perfect blue skies and calm lakes, others were reminders that the mountains will always have the last word. Here are the hikes that have stood out most so far.

Mt. Birdwood in all it's glory, as seen from Smutwood.

Smutwood Peak

Smutwood has been the highlight of the year. It’s not as famous as Lake Louise or Moraine Lake, but it deserves the same kind of praise. The trail starts gentle and then opens into one of the most dramatic basins in Kananaskis. From the summit the peaks and glaciers stretch in every direction. It feels remote, wild, and a little overwhelming in the best way. For us, Smutwood takes the top spot so far. This is consistently among our our top hikes each year in the Canadian Rockies, and 2025 is no different!

Tent Ridge

Tent Ridge shows you everything the Rockies are about: huge views, fast-changing weather, and a good dose of humility. Earlier this summer I wrote about the storm that hit us up there. Hail stinging our faces, thunder cracking, and a scramble to get down quick. Not the easiest day out, but one I’ll never forget. On a clear day it’s a different story. The full sweep of the Spray Valley opens up around you and Mount Assiniboine rises in the distance. It is one of those hikes that makes the effort more than worth it.

King Creek Ridge

King Creek doesn’t give you a warm-up. You’re climbing the second you step on the trail and your legs will feel it. The good news is that it doesn’t take long before you’re above the trees. Within an hour you’re looking straight across at Opal Ridge with the valley spilling out below. It’s steep, but it’s short, and the scramble sections add just enough excitement to make it fun without being over the top.

Grassi Knob

Grassi Lakes is packed with people most days, but Grassi Knob, far above, is the opposite. The trail is quieter and the views are even better. It’s a short but sharp climb and then suddenly you’re standing over Canmore with the Three Sisters right behind you. It feels like a bit of a locals secret and we had the trail all to ourselves!

Picklejar Lakes

Picklejar is one of those hikes you always want to do in summer. The trail climbs steadily into an alpine valley where four turquoise lakes sit one after another. Each one feels like its own reward. Picklejar lakes is a mix of forest and alpine with views for day. It's not an easy walk as it starts off with a couple hundred meters of elevation gain, but it’s steady and the payoff is spending the afternoon by a mountain lake.

Ridge walk along Pocaterra ridge with a forest of golden larches in view

Pocaterra Ridge

We caught Pocaterra Ridge right at larch peak this season, and it was every bit as stunning as we remembered. The trail winds through glowing groves before breaking onto the ridgeline, where gold spills down both sides of the valley. We chose the point-to-point route, which takes a bit more planning with a shuttle, but the payoff is a full alpine traverse with nonstop views. Year after year this hike feels fresh, and it’s hard to imagine a better way to spend a fall day in Kananaskis.