Top 14 things to do in Alberta

Johnston Canyon

Banff

By Canada specialist Milly

With landscapes varying from spire-like hoodoos to rolling prairies and dominating white-capped peaks, Alberta can’t be pigeonholed. Nor can the experiences it has to offer, which range from fossil hunting and mountain hiking to birdwatching and rodeo.

Below, I’ve brought together what I think are the all-time best activities you can do in this diverse province. You might rise early to see Moraine Lake bathed in pink, fly over sky-spearing Mount Assiniboine, walk through electric-blue ice caves, or listen to stories of Indigenous heritage while you canoe up a historic trading route.

To find out the best time to do these experiences, you can also check out our Alberta seasonal guide.

1. Hiking quieter trails in Waterton Lakes National Park

Windswept prairies that burst into stately peaks. Crystalline lakes bordered by meadows of tufted beargrass. Hiking trails through striated canyons of red and green rockface. Waterton Lakes might be the smallest — and least frequented — national park in the Canadian Rockies, but as far as I’m concerned, it offers some of the best nature experiences in the province.

As the locals say, this is “where the prairies meet the mountains”, and the optimal way to witness this juxtaposing landscape is along Bear’s Hump Trailhead. Hiking for just over an hour, you’ll start in the open grasslands near the Prince of Wales Hotel before quickly ascending onto steep rocky outcroppings. From the summit, you’re then rewarded with views out onto serene Upper Waterton Lake, with vast wildflower-strewn prairies to the east and the Rockies stretching westward. On clear days, you can even see peaks beyond the US border.

For more contrasting topographies, you might also stop by Red Rock Canyon, a distinctly layered cleft of red argillite rock. Parts of the chasm have morphed into an earthy green hue, which you can inspect up close when the creek dries up during summer.

Blakiston Falls at Red Rock Canyon, Waterton Lake National Park

2. Mount Assiniboine & the Three Sisters by helicopter

With its unusual pyramidal peak that stands solitary amid smaller, less-imposing mountains, Mount Assiniboine rightly earns its moniker as “the Matterhorn of the Canadian Rockies”. The Three Sisters, a conjoined trio of rocky sentinels in the South Banff Ranges, together strike a similarly compelling image. For this reason, I believe they’re best seen together — and the pairing is most attractive of all from above.

In your helicopter, you’ll first soar over subalpine forests to the Three Sisters and serpentine Spray Lake. This leg of the journey feels particularly intrepid, with the helicopter hovering just above the snow-streaked ranges.

You’ll then fly along the Sundance Range of Banff National Park, where the textures turn a bit more gray and green, with dashes of turquoise lake in between. Mount Assiniboine reaches so high that mist is likely at the summit. However, this only adds to the dramatic effect of the mountain, as does the close-up on Gloria Glacier, which tumbles down the side of the mountainside in brilliant blue-white meltwater.

This helicopter trip passes over the Alberta–British Columbia border, departing from the town of Canmore, a short drive from Banff.

Helicopter flight over Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park

4. A scenic drive down Icefields Parkway

Linking two of Alberta’s most popular attractions (Jasper and Lake Louise), Icefields Parkway is ranked among the world’s most visually striking drives. Moving through thick spruce and fir forests, stark moraine vegetation, and glaciated mountains, this is a journey best taken at a leisurely pace.

Along the way, you’ll find many places worthy of a detour. I’m a big fan of the Forefield Trail, which passes through an area that a thousand years ago lay under the Athabasca Glacier. Hiking over a rough moon-like terrain, you’ll eventually hit the Toe of the Athabasca Glacier Trailhead. Walk just a little further and you’ll soon be in the midst of an icy, blue-tinged environment.

Another great stop on the highway is the Athabasca Falls. From the road, you can easily access the various viewpoints that overlook the waterfall — a powerful force of frothing glacial water that rages into the canyon below. It’s also a nice place for a picnic, which you can enjoy under the shade of the surrounding pine-tree forest.

5. A stay at a lakeside lodge

A lingering ache reminds you of yesterday’s long hike exploring deepest green subalpine forests. You’ve slept with only the twinkling stars outside as a light source. Now, it’s sunrise, and you look outside your window to see a mountain-fringed lake that appears turquoise under the morning glow. There’s no one around, except perhaps some elk you think you can see in the distance.

This is the magnetic pull of a lakeside lodge. It’s a way to experience some of Alberta’s finest lakes, without the throngs of crowds that come in the daytime. You have a few options to choose from in the Rockies. Moraine Lake Lodge is a popular option, but for something even more peaceful, I’d opt for The Lodge at Bow Lake.

The only property sitting at the edge of Bow Lake, this lodge is instantly identifiable by its bright red roof and log-cabin façade. Staying the night, you’ll slumber in minimalist modern rooms, while the public areas showcase a traditional exposed-log design.

There’s no Wi-Fi around here, so your main source of entertainment is either hiking or kayaking out on the lake. Although do be sure to stop by Jimmy's Living Room in the lodge for, as whisper’s have it, the most refreshing pisco sour in the Northern Hemisphere.

Deluxe King cabin, Moraine Lake Lodge — Deluxe cabin at Moraine Lake Lodge

6. An eco-friendly walk along the Athabasca Glacier

In my opinion, you can’t visit the Rockies without stopping by Athabasca Glacier. This millennia-old mural of fractured electric-blue meltwater and ice is one of the six significant “toes” of the Columbia Icefield, which itself is one of the largest of its kind outside of the poles.

Thanks to its location on the Icefield Parkway, the glacier is easily accessible from the road. However, I advise you not to take a driving tour onto the mass. Athabasca Glacier is losing height at record levels, and exploring in more eco-friendly ways helps protect the ice.

Instead, I recommend taking a guided hike onto it. You’ll be fitted out with mountain boots, poles, and crampons, so you can reach higher up the glacier. Here, you’ll be able to see and (if safe enough) delve deep into crevasses, ice caves, and draining channels across this constantly changing landscape.

As you walk, you’ll also learn about glacier science and efforts that are being taken to preserve Canada’s ice fields.

7. A wildlife tour with a Métis guide in Jasper National Park

It’s a cliché, but I love Jasper. Its untouched stretches of compact Douglas-fir forest, its snow-capped peaks, and its deep, glassy lakes that reflect the vistas around them… I love it all. But what most captivates me about this section of Alberta is its wildlife.

There’s so much to spot here. I’ve witnessed a moose standing at the shore of a glacial lake at twilight, sipping delicately at the water. Through heavyset binoculars, I’ve seen a black bear lounging in a meadow. And, once, on a journey into town, we had to stop for a few minutes on a busy road while a gang of mountain goats decided whether or not to move out of the way.

That said, even in a place that abounds with so much wildlife, sightings are not guaranteed. (Moose, for example, can only really be seen at dawn or sunset). For your best bet, you should follow an expert, and in my mind, there’s no one quite like Joe, a local Métis guide.

On Joe’s tour, everything is tailored to what you’d like to do. Using his years of knowledge, he takes you to all the prime viewing locations for spotting the animals you want to see. En route, he’ll teach you how to identify the different types of tracks, and you’ll learn about the Métis culture and its history in Jasper, too.

8. A hunt for fossils in the Canadian Badlands

Situated a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Calgary, the Canadian Badlands are a step into a Mars-like terrain unlike anywhere else in Alberta. Here, the lands are dominated by extensive canyons, striped hoodoos, and flat-topped buttes, all in a uniform of russet red and cool gray. These otherworldly landscapes are reason enough to visit, but the main attraction here is actually Dinosaur Provincial Park, one of the most concentrated fossil beds in the world.

Over 150 full dinosaur skeletons have been discovered on these lands, and many of them stand today in Drumheller’s Royal Tyrrell Museum — a must-see for fossil enthusiasts. Among the exhibitions, you’ll find an actual mummified dinosaur, a rare black t-rex skeleton, and a working prep room where they’re busy extracting newly found fossils.

Just make sure you bring sturdy walking boots. After a few hours in the museum, you can head out onto its interactive trail in the Badlands themselves. Or, if you’re looking for something a little longer, you might head over to Horseshoe Canyon for a moderate hour-long hike through prairie-dotted gorges. To this day, people are still finding fossils dating back tens of millions of years.

Flat-topped buttes of the Canadian Badlands

9. Birdwatching in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park

Straddling both Alberta and Saskatchewan, Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park is a territory comprised of prominent forested slopes that interrupt vast prairies. If you’ve already been to the Rockies, it’s another excellent location for hiking, especially where the grasslands melt into towering thickets of prickly lodgepole pine trees.

Both sides of the park have their merits, but I have a soft spot for the more rustic, lesser-trodden trails in Alberta. You can access a number of them from the Cypress Hills Visitor Centre in Elkwater, including the comically named Old Baldy loop. Explore deep enough here, and you might happen upon a cluster of calypso orchids. It’s an increasing rare flower that, if you squint hard enough, looks like the head of magenta-pink pterodactyl.

Equally, Cypress Hill doesn’t disappoint with wildlife. Moose, elk, and white-tailed deer are abundant, as are cougars. However, the highlight of the area is its birds. This, in my opinion, is the birdwatching capital of Canada. Up in the forests, you’ll hear the sonorous “too too too” of the northern saw-whet owl. Down by the lakes, you’ve got gaggles of geese and the aptly named reddish-plumed cinnamon teal. And, in between, there’s all sorts of songbirds, from the hand-sized violet-green swallows to flocks upon flocks of American robins.

10. Moraine Lake & Lake Louise at dawn

Both ultramarine glacial lakes ringed by snow-capped highlands, Moraine Lake and Lake Louise are the crown jewels of the Canadian Rockies. If you’re coming to Alberta for the first time, you’re bound to want to cross one of these off your list. Yet, the reality is so does everyone else, and the crowds here can be large and difficult to navigate.

To witness the lakes at their most tranquil, you could stay overnight at a shoreside lodge (like I mentioned before), or it’s also possible to take an early-bird tour before everyone else gets here. In darkness, you’ll head to Moraine Lake, where, with a hot beverage in hand, you’ll watch the sunrise spill slowly over the larch-filled mountainside and onto the vibrant waters. The road to the lake has been closed to the public since 2023, so apart from the guests at Moraine Lake Lodge, you’ll have the place completely to yourselves.

You can then experience more serenity at Lake Louise, taking the bus to arrive in time for golden hour. While the surrounding peaks are bathed in pink and soft orange, you’ll be able to walk calmly around the lake with little else to interrupt you. This quiet hour is also a good time to rent a canoe and try out the vivid glacial waters for yourself.

11. Rodeo at Calgary Stampede

Action-packed chuck-wagon races, parades of flute-playing cowboys, and plates piled with complimentary pancakes… The world’s largest rodeo, Calgary Stampede, is an immense festival occurring every July that celebrates the very best and boldest of Canadian culture.

I can arrange for you to have prime seats at this ticketed event, with unobstructed views down onto the arena. For a few hours, you’ll watch participants compete in the likes of bareback riding, bull riding, saddle bronc, and steer wrestling. You’re then free to wander the rest of the site, where there’s plenty more to keep you entertained.

You’ll find a Ferris wheel, music stages, and even a plush cocktail bar within the vicinity, as a well a wealth of food stands. Come early enough, and you can indulge in a free pancake breakfast. But, for your dose of weird and wacky, you should try out some of the more adventurous fare on offer. Previous years’ examples have included pickle pizza, bacon churro sundaes, and mac-and-cheese ice-cream, with each year’s offerings being even more outrageous than the last.

You can also drop by the Elbow River Camp, which has over 20 tipis to explore, each representing a First Nations group. I recommend timing your visit for the daily powwow to witness traditional Indigenous Canadian dress and dances beyond a museum context.

12. Stories of Indigenous heritage at Métis Crossing

An hour-and-a-half drive northeast from Edmonton, Métis Crossing is a cultural venue showcasing the history and traditions of the Métis Nation. This distinct Indigenous group arose in the 17th century as a result of relations between First Nations peoples and European settlers. They have a heritage that blends both sides of their ancestry.

At Métis Crossing, you can gain a clearer understanding of this culture in exhibits, workshops, and immersive experiences, all occurring on the grounds of the original Métis river lots. I find most people are particularly fond of the more creative activities on offer. You might choose to make a capote (a long, hooded cloak), braid a traditional rug, or even craft your own pair of moccasin shoes, while you soak up the stories of Métis families past and present.

You could also take part in more active experiences, especially during summer. A popular activity is a canoeing tour down the historic fur-trading route that connected the outpost with nearby Victoria Settlement. Or you might take a guided tour out into the prairies, where you’ll look out for elk, bison, and Percheron horses munching at the long grasses.

13. A gondola ride above Banff National Park

Along with Jasper, Banff is Alberta’s other leading national park. As well as being the home of Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, it’s a canvas of other postcard-worthy sceneries. Imagine glacier-carved valleys brimming with pine and fir forests, rocky slopes crowned with heads of thick snow, and mirror-like waters that sparkle like diamonds under the right light. It’s my belief that these are scenes are best seen from above.

Banff Gondola is a classic experience that enables you to get a bird’s eye view over Spray Valley and six Rocky Mountain ranges. Ascending Sulphur Mountain, you’ll spend around eight minutes in the gondola lift watching the dense forests becoming smaller and smaller beneath you before reaching the Banff Interpretive Centre at the top.

Here, you can find even more photogenic views of the mountains on the various boardwalks and walking trails around the summit. You might even spot some wildlife up here. The mountain goats, especially, seem unaffected by the changes in altitude.

The gondola is also far from just a summer thing. In winter, you can ride up to see the snow-filled valley lit up in gold hues at sunset and stay for more experiences after dark. I particularly like the night tour to Sanson Peak, which is run by the Stoney Nakoda Nation. Alternatively, you could dine out under the glow of moonlight at one of two restaurants.

14. Johnston Canyon ice walking

All of Canada adopts a whole new rhythm in winter, and the Rockies are no different. The valleys become a powdery expanse of white snow, and there’s a plethora of activities to help you explore. I’m a big fan of the ice-walking tour around Johnston Canyon. Donning ice cleats and plenty of thick winter gear, you’re led through a series of frozen waterfalls that in the summertime gush down deep into the gorge.

During the walk, an experienced guide tells you all about the history of the canyon, pointing out the fossil corals in the rocks while you clamber between suspended catwalks and actual ice caves. Of course, the best is left until last, which, in this case, is the Upper Falls. Frozen into blue-tinged spires, they look like stalactites of snow, and if you’re lucky, you might even see a few brave souls trying to climb them. Needless to say, they’re a fantastic spot for a photograph.