Backpack through Kananaskis Country for 5 days
Have you heard of Banff’s little sister, Kananaskis? This collection of provincial parks and wildlands make up one of the best hiking destinations in Canada. With scenery that’s just as good as the big national parks but comes with fewer people on the trail, this is the ideal place to get backpacking! The Kananaskis Highlands Backpacking Adventure shows you the very best of this special place!
Spend 5 days on the Kananaskis Highlands Backpacking Adventure, hiking deep into the wilderness to discover tightly-packed limestone peaks, beautifully pristine lakes, and miles of wild forest. The mountain panoramas are breathtaking, and each night you’ll be cozied up under these dramatic mountains in your campsites. This is a real adventure and a chance to get away from it all!
Highlights of the Kananaskis Highlands Backpacking Adventure
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Kananaskis Highlands Backpacking Adventure Itinerary
Day 1 Meeting and Hike to Three Isle Lake
Begin the tour with a meeting in Canmore to check everyone’s gear before leaving. Drive along the beautiful Smith-Dorrien Highway to your trailhead, where you’ll hike around the Upper Kananaskis Lakes and along the Kananaskis River.
End your hike at Three Isle Lake, where you’ll camp tonight.
Overnight Location: Camping in Kananaskis
Distance: 10.2km, 525m elevation gain
Meals: Lunch, dinner
Day 2 Day Hike to Northover Ridge
Hike up above the treeline to experience the views from Northover Ridge (2800m). Hike west into the Royal Group and then return to camp for an evening of fishing, stories, and relaxing.
Overnight Location: Camping in Kananaskis
Distance: 10km, 600m elevation gain
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 3 Three Isle to Turbine Canyon
Wake up in paradise, then pack up and head to the Continental Divide through South Kananaskis Pass (2360m), crossing into British Columbia. Pass Beatty Lake and make a big climb to North Kananaskis Pass.
Back in Alberta, enjoy a nice view of Maude Lake before heading down to your campsite at Turbine Canyon.
Overnight Location: Camping in Kananaskis
Distance: 14.2km, 730m elevation gain
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4 Turbine Canyon to Forks Campground
The views you’ll enjoy as you hike out of Turbine Canyon are fantastic! Take your time in this area before leaving en route to Lawson Lake, where you’ll start your descent to Forks Campground.
Overnight Location: Camping in Kananaskis
Distance: 7.8km, 400m elevation loss
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5 Forks Campground to Kananaskis Lakes
After a final breakfast and coffee at camp, begin your return to civilization by hiking through the Upper Kananaskis River Valley to the Upper Kananaskis Lake. Retrace your way back to Canmore, where the group can choose to go out for a celebratory dinner together.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: 7km, 100m elevation loss
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Kananaskis Highlands Backpacking Adventure Price and Dates
This guided backpacking tour in the Canadian Rockies is run as a fixed-departure tour where you’d be joining a group, however, custom private tours can be organized for those willing to travel with their group only (please contact us with your preferred date and the number of people in your group and we will create the itinerary just for you). Please note that due to very high demand and limited availability in campgrounds it is necessary to plan your trip a long time in advance.
Prices below are per person:
Accommodation on the Kananaskis Highlands Backpacking Adventure
This tour is based in campsites. You’ll be in 2-3 person tents with no or limited facilities. Participants should be comfortable with a rustic camping experience.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travellers
There are no single rooms available on this tour as all accommodations are communal. There may be a minimum required group size, so please contact us about joining an existing group if you are a solo traveller.
Hotels on Standard Tour
Camping in Kananaskis Country
Spend each night camping in gorgeous spots in the mountains, enjoying an authentic wilderness experience with your group.
What’s Included in the Kananaskis Highlands Backpacking Adventure?
Meals
4 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 4 dinners are included. If you have special dietary requirements, these may incur an additional fee.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 4 nights are included on this tour. Accommodations before or after the tour are not included but can be booked as a supplement.
Transportation During the Tour
Participants are responsible for their own transportation to Canmore and will be driven from Canmore to the trailhead. We recommend renting a car or booking a shuttle. Canmore is about an hour from Calgary.
Also Included
- Tents
- Guide services
Not Included
- Flights
- Meals, drinks, or snacks
- Travel insurance
- Optional excursions
- Visas if required
- Anything not mentioned as included
- GST (5%)
Optional Extras
- Special dietary requirement meals
Frequently Asked Questions about Kananaskis Highlands Backpacking Adventure
Located in Canmore, Alberta at the gates of Banff National Park, Yamnuska Mountain Adventures is one of Canada’s premier providers of mountaineering, rock & ice climbing, backcountry skiing, hiking, and trekking experiences in the Canadian Rockies. For over 40 years, we have hosted thousands of clients from Canada and all over the world. Our brand is known for quality mountain experiences, safety, and well-organized itineraries. We have some of the best mountain guides and hiking guides in the industry. All Yamnuska Mountain Adventures climbing guides are certified through the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides.
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