5 Winter Hikes in Kananaskis for 2025

I’ve been writing about winter hikes for a few years now, but I wanted to create a list of winter hikes I love and recommend for hiking inspiration. These hikes are found in Kananaskis Country, Alberta and range from easy to moderate levels. If you are interested in learning more about a specific winter hike, I will like the full hike description below. Happy trails!

Heart Creek Bunker

Heart Creek Bunker is an out-and-back trail in Kananaskis Country. The trail is 3.8 km with 94 metres of elevation and is directly opposite Lac des Arcs on the other side of Highway 1. Park at Heart Creek Day Use area and use the parking lot directly to the right after exiting the highway. The lot near the outhouses is for Heart Creek Trail, the smaller lot to the right is for the bunker hike. Bring a flashlight or headlamp, as you will need it to explore the bunker at the end of the trail.

Heart Creek Bunker is a piece of Cold War History. It was built in 1969 with the intention of storing important government documents in the case of catastrophic events, but was never completed. Today, the bunker remains an accessible piece of this history that curious hikers can explore. This family-friendly hike can be done in any season, but makes for a great winter trail due to the distance and moderate elevation. I hiked this trail in the late-October snows of 2021.

West Wind Pass

West Wind Pass trail is a 4.7 km out-and-back hike with 356 metres of elevation. If you are looking for winter hikes with more challenge or elevation gain, this is the hike I’d recommend. Once you begin climbing, you gain elevation quickly. Micro-spikes are necessary to do this hike in the winter. The pass climbs between two mountains, the Windtower and the Rimwall. At the top, hikers get a fantastic view of the Spray Lakes Valley. Although it’s a short hike, I would consider this trail to be a moderately difficult hike.

West Wind Pass can be accessed from the Smith-Dorrien Trail. It’s about 1 and 50 minutes from Calgary or a 40-minute drive from Canmore. If you haven’t done West Wind Pass yet, I would highly recommend giving the trail a go. You can find more details about this beautiful winter hike here.

Grotto Canyon

Grotto Canyon is a popular, family-friendly trail close to Canmore, Alberta. It is a crowd favourite in the winter for its frozen waterfalls and walkable creek bed. Because the trail follows (and sometimes becomes) the creek, it is a good idea to bring micro-spikes to keep from slipping on the ice. If you try Grotto Canyon, make sure to keep an eye out for the pictographs which can be seen on the canyon wall just before it opens into a wider space.

Grotto Canyon is a 4.4 km hike with 115 metres of elevation. Similar in difficulty to Heart Creek Bunker, Grotto Canyon is also a family-friendly hike. As always, be respectful of the land and history here. Do not try to touch or scratch the walls or damage the pictographs. If you are interested in learning more about this hike, find my full description here.

Chester Lake

This trail remains one of my favourite winter hikes. Chester Lake is a 9.3 km out-and-back hike with 300 total meters of elevation gain in Kananaskis. The elevation remains relatively gradually throughout the hike, so it is doable in the snow. You may want to bring micro-spikes or hiking crampons for extra grip.

I’ve done this hike in all seasons and weather, including twice in the winter. I highly recommend this trail to anyone looking for a slightly longer winter hike to start out with. It is still an easy-moderate hike, despite the longer distance and elevation. If you are interesting in reading about my experience hiking Chester Lake in the snow, find my full description here.

Grassi Lakes

Finally, I’ve included Grassi Lakes in this list of winter hikes. This popular hike near Canmore, Alberta is a fan favourite because of the lakes clear blue-green waters. The hike to Grassi Lakes is a 3.5 km loop with only 166 metres of elevation. Despite this minimal distance, the hike has stunning views overlooking the town of Canmore and Bow Valley. It is accessible year-round to hikers.

Grassi Lakes is a popular trail due to its accessibility, both in proximity to Canmore and in its difficulty. Though it can be very crowded in the summer, winter offers an opportunity to see the trail in a less busy state. If you are interested in learning more about Grassi Lakes trail, you can find my trail description here.

For those new to hiking, check out these posts for information to keep you safe on the trail:

• Absolute Must-Haves for Hiking in the Rockies
• Winter Hiking Essentials
• The Importance of No-Trace Camping (and Hiking)

Remember to purchase your park pass before heading out to the mountains.

Kananaskis Conservation Pass can be found on the Government of Alberta Website.