Where the Prairies Meet the Sky: High River’s Heritage Inn International Balloon Festival

Okay, so it’s not a hike, and it’s not technically in the Rockies, but every September the skies just east of the mountains fill with colour at the High River Heritage Inn International Balloon Festival. It’s one of those family-friendly outings that’s close enough to make a day trip from Canmore or Calgary, and worth making the trip at least once.

Hot air balloons aglow at High River’s Heritage Inn International Balloon Festival

This year the festival runs from September 24 to 28, 2025, with morning and evening flights planned each day. Dozens of hot air balloons lift off together over the fields and river valley around High River. Morning flights usually launch around 7 am, and evenings just before sunset. Ballooning is entirely at the mercy of the weather, though. We were up early Saturday only to find out flights were cancelled due to wind, which is all part of it. Safety comes first in the ballooning world.

For most people, the highlight is the Balloon Glow on Friday night. The balloons are tethered to the ground, and as the sun sets, pilots fire their burners in unison, lighting the fabric from within. The whole field turns into a garden of giant lanterns that pulse and flicker in the dark. It’s magical, almost otherworldly, and kids stand there with their mouths open while adults scramble to get photos. Admission to watch is free (there’s a small charge for parking), and it has the feel of a true community gathering, with food trucks, live music, and everyone just enjoying being out together under the night sky. Getting there early is highly advised as it can be pretty crowded in the beginning, although the crowds did seem to dissipate as the balloons started inflating.

If you want actually to get in the air, passenger flights are available for about $445 per person plus tax. It’s not cheap, but the chance to float silently over the prairies with the Rockies on the horizon is unforgettable. Just know you might need to be flexible—weather can and does cancel flights.

If you’re visiting the Rockies and looking for something a little different, the festival is a perfect reminder that magic isn’t limited to the mountains. Sometimes it’s just a short drive east, where the prairies meet the sky.