DAY 1

After meeting in Canmore, you transfer through lush conifer corridors to your lovely lodge home for the next three nights. The start of the first walk is just outside the lodge door, with a destination of Chester Lake, a beautiful subalpine lake, at a maximum elevation of 7,280 feet. Beginning along a quiet, narrow trail scented with heather and berry bushes, a series of elevation gains are interspersed with flat areas through alpine meadows filled with elephant head, fleabane, and colorful Indian paintbrush. This amazing array of summer alpine flowers transitions to autumn colors, as the larch trees change from green to gold into September. Lake Chester, its surface often punctuated by leaping trout, is encircled by an amphitheater of rock and awe-inspiring peaks—the Fortress, Gusty Peak, Mount Galatea, and Mount Chester. In fact, these mountains are known locally as the Battleship Range because they have been named after either famous battleships or people who were involved in World War I. Initially you return along the same route for a little over a mile, then break off along a different trail to return to the lodge. The region is renowned for grizzly bears, which love to feed on the many glacier lilies; your guides are alert to the signs, however, and keep you close and safe.

At the conclusion of today’s walk, you return to the cozy, welcoming lodge to enjoy a cup of tea or glass of wine on the wrap-around deck overlooking Moose Meadow. A welcome dinner is in the lodge’s restaurant, where an exquisite meal of local mountain specialities awaits.

*Please note: An alternative trail of comparable terrain will be used in the event of trail closing due to wildlife activity.
Mount Engadine Lodge, Canmore

DAY 2

After a bountiful breakfast, a short drive brings you to the start of the Burstall Pass trail in Peter Longheed Provincial Park. The wide trail runs level through light forest where you may hear the drum of a Lewis’s woodpecker in search of insects or perhaps spot a grazing mule deer.

Crossing a creek over a small footbridge, you enter the wide gravel alluvial flats, an area of glacial sediment deposited by streams at the base of Robertson Glacier. Silver wolf willow abounds as you traverse the flats and braided creek channels. A short climb leads to dense alpine forest that opens to a beautiful heather-filled meadow in a hanging valley. A healthy ptarmigan population inhabits the meadow year-round.

Larch trees surround and rim the alpine plateau, as you ascend to a bluff where you encounter Burstall Pass itself. The expansive and impressive view is an amphitheater of mountains; through the pass, you take in Mount Assiniboine—Canada’s Matterhorn—to the south you see Mount Sir Douglas; to the east, Mount Birdwood and an eagle’s-eye view of the valley of Burstall Creek.

Upon your return to the lodge, you can relax and marvel at the mountain view and perhaps spy an eagle soaring overhead. Your day’s adventure is rewarded with another culinary feast that concludes with a decadent homemade dessert, perhaps topped with in-season Saskatoon berries.
Mount Engadine Lodge, Canmore

DAY 3

This morning you embark on a stunning drive along the Smith Dorrien Spray Trail, a scenic gravel road, where elk and big horn sheep often graze along the roadside. The journey takes you to Elbow Sheep Wildland, the north end of Kananaskis Country and the start of the Ptarmigan Cirque, a high mountain bowl between Mount Arethusa and Mount Rae.

You begin climbing up the Highwood pass through a forest of alpine larch, subalpine fir, and Engelmann spruce. Along the way, the wooded path opens and levels out into a breathtaking circular alpine meadow filled with wildflowers, complete with glacial stream. As you bask in the grand views of the meadow and surrounding mountain peaks, you enjoy a trailside snack by the waterfall while keeping an eye out for bighorn sheep.

After descending via the same route, you board your van(s) for the 50-minute drive to the Barrier Look Out trail, again along a road that offers the possibility of spotting more wildlife. The walk begins on a trail skirting the edge of Barrier Lake, eventually intersecting a trail that climbs to another trail with undulating terrain. Over a distance of over 2 miles, and with two large steps in elevation, you make the gradual ascent through a forest, finally reaching Prairie View Lookout and its stunning views of the Kananaskis Valley. A perfect lunch spot at the highest point of 5,812 feet, you return along a shorter route that descends back to the trailhead, closing this loop walk.

Later, you return to the lodge to savor the Rocky Mountain tranquility and view the alpenglow on the peaks looming through the trees. Tonight you dine on regional favorites served at the lodge.
Mount Engadine Lodge, Canmore

DAY 4

Located a short distance from the Icefields Parkway, Bow Lake is the third largest lake in Banff National Park. It is also the headwater of the Bow River. The lake is fed by the meltwater from Bow Glacier, one of six outlet valley glaciers of the Wapta Icefield. Today’s walk follows the lakeshore, eventually reaching an overlook of Bow Glacier. Pioneer outfitter and guide Jimmy Simpson spent the winters of the early 1900s hunting and trapping in the remote country north of Bow Lake.

Your home for the next two nights is a comfortable lodge, a sanctuary in the National Park. Nestled along the glacial Emerald Lake, the Emerald Lake Lodge consists of a series of individual cabins. Each one is perfectly appointed, with down duvets, large outdoor decks, and fireplaces—a true oasis. This evening you enjoy dinner at your leisure.
Emerald Lake Lodge, Field

DAY 5

Today’s walk begins at Whiskey Jack Falls and ascends a slope with excellent views of Takakkaw Falls. You pass 300- to 400-year-old spruce trees, some of the oldest in Yoho National Park. Eventually you reach the Iceline Trail, within sight of Emerald Glacier. The next destination is Yoho Lake, which was discovered in 1897 by Ralph Edwards, the renowned guide. Inspired by the lake’s natural beauty and timbered shoreline, he wrote, “...a marvelously beautiful little lake, not much larger than a little pond, but of an exquisite ultramarine colour.” Continuing over Yoho Pass, the trail descends to Emerald Lake along the Yoho Lake Trail and through the lake’s alluvial fan. The cliffs of the Vice President Range dominate the view at the beginning of the descent. As the grade eases and you get closer to the alluvial fan, the vegetation becomes lush. With luck, you may spot moose, hoary marmots, porcupines, and golden eagles. Common vegetation includes thimble berry, devil’s club, queen’s cup, foam flower, and dwarf dogwood.

The day’s shorter option brings you partly up the Iceline Trail with magnificent views of Takakkaw Falls and Waputik Icefield, looping past Yoho Lake back to the starting point. A final feast is served this evening at the lodge—raise your glass and toast the Canadian wilderness and your new friends.
Emerald Lake Lodge, Field

DAY 6

Early risers walking alongside Emerald Lake may have a final opportunity to hear loons calling and perhaps spot a moose among the supple willows and alders.

After a final breakfast at the lodge, you drive back toward Banff. The morning walk depends largely on the weather and is chosen from the repertoire of highlights along the route. Excellent views of nearby mountains are accompanied by the possibility of elk and deer sightings during a picnic lunch.

You arrive in Banff by late afternoon, where you may choose to extend your adventure amidst the magnificence of Banff National Park or begin your journey home.

Itinerary Changes

Please bear in mind that this is a typical itinerary, and the actual activities, sites, and accommodations may vary due to season, special events, weather, or transportation schedules. We reserve the right to alter the itinerary since tour arrangements are made up to a year in advance, and unforeseen circumstances that mandate change may arise. Itinerary changes are made to improve the tour and your experience.

Nights 1, 2 & 3

Mount Engadine Lodge
Canmore, Alberta, Canada

A comfortable backcountry mountain lodge set in a beautiful alpine meadow at 6,200 feet in the heart of Kananaskis Country, complete with outdoor sauna. The Mount Engadine Lodge is the proud recipient of the coveted ALTO award through Travel Alberta for the category of Sustainable Tourism.

Nights 4 & 5

Emerald Lake Lodge
Field, British Columbia, Canada

A beautifully restored historic lodge with individual town-house style units. On the shores of stunning Emerald Lake with clubhouse and outdoor Jacuzzi. Please note that lake views are not guaranteed.

Please note that this is a sample hotel itinerary for this tour. While these exact hotels are featured on most departures, we occasionally reserve other hotels of similar style and quality. If you are currently booked on a Country Walkers adventure, a hotel itinerary has been sent to you for your exact departure date. Please call Country Walkers at 800.464.9255 if you have any questions about the exact hotels selected for any of our tours.

Brenda Holder

Born and raised in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, Brenda has spent many years exploring the valleys surrounding her home. In addition to holding certifications as a professional interpretive guide, a qualified bear guide, and a nordic ski instructor, Brenda is a traditional Métis guide with excellent tracking skills. Brenda enjoys sharing expertise handed down from her Cree medicine woman grandmothers while guiding our Canadian Rockies walking tours. 

David Holder

Originally a native of England, and trained as a Mountain Expedition leader, Dave moved to the Rocky Mountains and certified as a professional Canadian Guide. In addition to Canada, he has led hiking and climbing groups in Europe, Africa, Belize, the U.S. and the Falkland Islands. He encourages people to fall in love with nature and discover its intricate habitats. When not guiding Dave can be found fly-fishing or painting watercolors.