Toddler-Friendly Hikes in & around the Bow Valley
When my kids started walking and wanting to hike on their own, I thought we would quickly run out of short hikes we could do in the area. Surprisingly, we’ve found a trove of opportunity around us! Here is a list of toddler-friendly hikes in and around the Bow Valley that we’ve completed, which are mostly short, relatively flat and very fun.
Note: I always bring my carrier in case they need a little help along the way, so I’d highly recommend wearing your hard-structured carrier or slipping your Trail Magik carrier into your backpack just in case.
Grassi Lakes (Canmore)
Distance: 3.4 kilometres out-and-back
Elevation gain: 158 metres
Grotto Canyon (near Exshaw)
Distance: 7.1 kilometres out-and-back
Elevation gain: 342 metres
Jura Creek (near Exshaw)
Distance: 6.8 kilometres out-and-back
Elevation gain: 293 metres
Heart Creek (near Lac des Arcs)
Distance: 4.8 kilometres out-and-back
Elevation gain: 190 metres
Heart Creek Bunker (near Lac des Arcs)
Distance: 4.0 kilometres out-and-back
Elevation gain: 235 metres
Many Springs Interpretive (near Seebee)
Distance: 1.6 kilometre loop
Elevation gain: 33 metres
Middle Lake (near Seebe)
Distance: 2.3 kilometre loop
Elevation gain: 67 metres
Widow Maker/Canoe Meadows (Kananaskis)
Distance: 4.2 kilometres out-and-back or 2.1 kilometres as a thru hike
Elevation gain: 101 metres
Troll Falls (Kananaskis)
Distance: 4.7 kilometres out-and-back
Elevation gain: 227 metres
Ptarmigan Cirque (Kananaskis)
Distance: 3.4 kilometre lollipop
Elevation gain: 241 metres
Pocaterra Cirque (Kananaskis)
Distance: 6.9 kilometre out-and-back
Elevation gain: 434 metres
Arethusa Cirque (Kananaskis)
Distance: 4.5 kilometres lollipop
Elevation gain: 377 metres
Rawson Lake (Kananaskis)
Distance: 6.8 kilometre out-and-back
Elevation gain: 526 metres
Blackshale Suspension Bridge (Kananaskis)
Distance: 1 kilometre loop
Elevation gain: 58 metres
Black Prince Cirque Interpretive (Kananaskis)
Distance: 4.0 kilometres out-and-back
Elevation gain: 159 metres
Chester Lake (Kananaskis)
Distance: 9.5 kilometres out-and-back
Elevation gain: 407 metres
Tryst Lake (Kananaskis)
Distance: 6.9 kilometres out-and-back
Elevation gain: 373 metres
Cascade Falls (Banff)
Distance: 1.3 kilometres out-and-back
Elevation gain: 147 metres
Tunnel Mountain (Banff)
Distance: 4.3 kilometres out-and-back
Elevation gain: 262 metres
Johnson Lake (Banff)
Distance: 2.9 kilometre loop
Elevation gain: 54 metres
Tessa Falls (Banff)
Distance: 2.8 kilometres out-and-back
Elevation gain: 23 metres
Rock Isle Lake (Sunshine Village)
Distance: 3.2 kilometres loop (from the top of the Standish chairlift back to Trappers)
Elevation gain: 50 metres
Johnston Canyon (on the Bow Valley Parkway)
Distance: 2.3 out-and-back to Lower Falls/ 5.5 kilometres out-and-back to Upper Falls
Elevation gain: 143 metres to Lower Falls/274 metres to Upper Falls
Silverton Falls (on the Bow Valley Parkway)
Distance: 1.8 kilometres out-and-back
Elevation gain: 111 metres
Smith Lake (on the 93 South Highway)
Distance: 4.7 kilometres out-and-back
Elevation gain: 226 metres
Vista Lake (on the 93 South Highway)
Distance: 2.7 kilometres out-and-back
Elevation gain: 165 metres
Marble Canyon (on the 93 South Highway)
Distance: 1.4 kilometres out-and-back
Elevation gain: 42 metres
Ross Lake (near Lake Louise)
Distance: 6.8 kilometres out-and-back
Elevation gain: 162 metres
Sherbrooke Lake (near Lake Louise)
Distance: 6.2 kilometres out-and-back
Elevation gain: 226 metres
Peyto Lake (on Icefields Parkway)
Distance: 2.4 kilometres out-and-back
Elevation gain: 108 metres
