With an average of 400,000 people a day visiting Banff National Park, an escape from the crowds may be required. Kananaskis Country – often referred to as Kananaskis or K-Country – is the perfect place to go.
Deciding how to spend one day in Kananaskis can be a challenge. Visitors can hike, fish, paddle, bike, go on scenic drives, picnic, and even visit a suspension bridge. K-Country has mountain beauty, shimmering lakes, and an abundance of wildlife. It’s a large area with lots of activities to do and places to visit all within an hour’s drive of Banff.
I grew up playing in Kananaskis and am still finding places to explore. As an area local I have the time to discover and enjoy this special area. For those who don’t, keep reading to learn the best Kananaskis has to offer in one day.
A Kananaskis Conservation Pass is required to park anywhere in K-Country and the Bow Valley Corridor. This includes the Canmore Nordic Centre and anything past it on the Spray Lakes/Smith-Dorrien Highway. A pass is not required for vehicles travelling through the area without stopping.
Passes can be purchased online or in person at:
The pass is attached to the vehicle license plate number not the number of people in the car and it works through license plate scans, so you will not receive a physical pass.
Passes expire at 11:59 PM on the last day the pass is valid. Free days occur on the first Wednesday of every month as well as selected Canadian holidays.
Cell coverage is limited to select areas in Kananaskis. It’s typically available in the following areas:
Some trailheads and areas are accessed from the road and are not well marked so it’s important to know where to go or stop before you lose cell coverage.
TIP: If you’re unsure of a trailhead location, look for groups of cars parked on the road. It’s either a trailhead or wildlife – in which case grab a camera.
There are few service areas in Kananaskis so have a full tank of gas (or full vehicle charge), water, and food before heading out.
Services can be accessed at:
Bear Spray is a must in Kananaskis, always have it accessible. Please do not approach wild animals, and remain in your car to take wildlife photos.
For a one-day trip in Kananaskis with specific activities, I recommend an out-and-back trip via the entrance closest to your planned adventure.
An out-and-back (total 2-hour drive) allows for larger activities to be done like one longer hike (such as Ha-Ling), golfing, or paddling activities.
If I had one day to spend in Kananaskis I would enter via Highway 40 and use the Kananaskis Village as an activity base. At the village, sporting equipment can be rented, and there’s access to paved cycling paths, and some great hikes like Troll Falls.
An example of One Day in Kananaskis accessing Highway 40 would be:
If the goal is to see as much of Kananaskis as you can in one day, driving the loop is the best option. The downside to driving the loop is some of the best hours of the day are spent in the car and it doesn’t leave time to experience some of the more popular activities.
Driving the loop (3-4 hours driving time) allows for:
An example of a one-day trip to Kananaskis driving the loop:
Guide includes shuttle, bus, and tour options as well as reservation windows
There’s no shortage of things to do in Kananaskis. Mix and match activities to create a perfect day in Kananaskis.
| PLACE | ACTIVITY | LOCATION | TIME | SEASON | RESERVATION |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grassi Lakes | Hiking, Climbing | Spray Lakes | 1-2 hours | All year | No |
| Ha Ling | Hiking | Spray Lakes | 3-5+ hours | All year | No |
| High Rockies Trail | Hiking, mountain biking | Smith Dorrien | 30-60+ min | May-Nov | No |
| Blackshale Suspension Bridge | Hiking | Hwy 742/Hwy 40 | 60+ mins | May – Nov | No |
| Boundary Ranch | Horseback riding, rafting, dog sledding, sleigh rides | Hwy 40 | Half to full-day | All year | Yes |
| Spray Lake | Paddle activities, fishing, skating | Smith Dorrien | 30-60+ min | All year | No |
| Canmore Nordic Centre | 30+ min to all-day | Spray Road | 30+ min to half day | All year | No |
| Nordic Spa | Hydrotherapy, massage | Hwy 40 | 60 mins to full day | All year | Yes |
| Kananaskis Lakes | Mountain biking, cross-country skiing, disc golf, skating, tobogganing | Hwy 40/Hwy 724 | 60+ mins | May-Oct | No |
| Nakiska Ski Resort | Alpine skiing, snowboarding | Hwy 40 | 60+ mins | Nov-April | No |
| Barrier Lake | Hiking, mountain biking, paddling activities, swimming | Hwy 40 | 30+ min | May-Oct | No |
| Galatea Trail | Hiking, swimming (Galatea Lake) | Hwy 40 | 3+ hrs | May – Oct | No |
| Kananaskis Village | Shops, restaurants, hotels, biking and walking paths, cross-country skiing, skating, tennis and basketball courts | Hwy 40 | 3+ hrs | All year | No |
| Kananaskis Golf Course | Golfing | Hwy 40 | Half day | April-Oct | Yes |
| Troll Falls | Hiking | Hwy 40 | 60+ min | All year | No |
| Mount Lorette Ponds | Hiking, fishing, picnicking | Hwy 40 | 30+ min | All year | No |
Kananaskis Village is the largest commercial centre in K-Country, that said it’s not very big. It consists of The Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge, a Nordic Spa, a few restaurants, shops, and equipment rentals.
The village also includes a skating rink, tennis and basketball courts and is surrounded by an amazing network of paved trails perfect for cycling, and cross-country skiing. Next door is the Nakiska Ski Resort and down the road is the Boundary Ranch host to a variety of adventure activities.
Kananaskis Outfitters is where you can rent paddleboards, kayaks, and canoes for use on Barrier Lake, as well as all kinds of bikes. They also offer guided area tours that include canoeing and horseback riding. There’s even a tour that teaches you trail survival.
FUN FACT: The Kananaskis Village was the Olympic village for the 1988 Winter Olympics and host to the 2002 G8 Summit. It will host the G7 Summit in 2025.
Great for water activities, picnics, fishing, and trailheads for hiking and mountain biking. Barrier Lake is a man-made lake used for paddling activities and a staging area for the Jewel Pass and Prairie View trails.
One of the premier public golf courses in Alberta, the Kananaskis golf course consists of two 18-hole courses (Mount Kidd and Mount Lorette) set against a mountain backdrop. Hole #14 on the Mt Kidd course is the most photographed. Stop by the Summit Cafe for a post-play snack or lunch.
Great for family and beginner hikers, this scenic hike leads to waterfalls that turn to ice during the winter (shoe spikes recommended). If the parking is full you can park at the Kananaskis Village and extend the hike through the paved trail network that leads to the falls.
The Boundary Ranch is a great place to explore the Kananaskis landscape. Choose your adventure on horseback, pulled by a dog pack, or river rafting, and throw in a BBQ to finish it off. I’m not a fan of horses but I did enjoy my time hanging out on horseback at this ranch.
Great for picnicking, and fishing, this overlooked stop is an amazing little area that is perfect for a quick stroll along a flat, paved trail around mountain ponds. Wheelchair accessible with washrooms.
One of my favourite out-and-back hikes that has a cool suspension bridge at the start. This non-technical trail with 11 bridge crossings, parallels Galatea Creek as it moderately climbs to Lake Lillian. At the lake, there’s the option to extend the hike to climb to Upper Galatea Lake (great for a cold plunge) and an alpine meadow. This is a more technical and physical climb requiring high stepping and if you continue to the very top, scree.
The High Rockies trail is a multi-use trail that parallels the Smith Dorrien (Hwy 742) highway. It’s great for family hikers, new to intermediate mountain bikers, trail runners, and endurance activities (a shuttle system may be required). It’s accessed from the Goat Creek Day use area and at multiple (but not always marked) entries along the Smith Dorrien/742 highway.
For the most part, the High Rockies is a technically easy, rolling trail with some short punchy climbs. There is a more technical scree section near the Goat Creek end when it first crosses over the highway.
This trail is long so unless you’ve set up a shuttle system, do it as an out and back. Pay attention to how far you go and where you exit and enter the trail – it starts to look the same so it’s easy to lose your bearings and it’s not the best marked.
LOCAL TIP: I love this trail for hiking or trail running when I’m trying to avoid the epic uphill climbs. It’s one of the few trails in the area that traverses a mountain and doesn’t head straight up.
This suspension bridge spans a ravine along the High Rockies Trail. It’s great for families, kids, and people who like the thrill of being suspended over a ravine on a bouncing cable bridge. It can be accessed equally from Hwy 742 or Hwy 40 (but there’s less gravel taking Hwy 40).
There are two ways to access the bridge.
The official route is from the Black Prince parking lot. Cross the road to get to the trailhead, you’re looking for the High Rockies trailhead, not the Black Prince Cirque Hike (family-friendly to Warspite Lake) which is also a hiking option if you have time.
Short route (2 km/ 1.25 mi round trip, 30 mins) from the roadside about 3 km past the Black Prince parking lot. Look for a valley with two dirt paths (they’re distinctive) on the left side of the road. Either path goes to the bridge.
This iconic hike winds up Ha Ling Mountain which overlooks Canmore. Significant trail work was done to make the hike safer. This popular hike is a physically challenging uphill leg-burner. Wear sturdy hiking footwear, and bring lots of water. Hiking poles would be an asset but are not required.
The Kananaskis Lakes are great places to recreate and support activities such as hiking, picnicking, watercraft activities, and fishing. Some people swim in the lakes but be careful as the water is very cold.
Grassi Lakes might not be the best place to escape crowds. This incredibly popular family-friendly hike is a moderate climb to a series of small spectacular turquoise lakes. Trails are a mix of constructed trails, natural wood areas, and rocky outcrops. This trail also accesses a popular climbing area so expect to see people rappelling and climbing the cliffs.
This hike can be accessed by Roam Transit via Canmore Local Route 12. There is an upper and lower parking lot but they fill up fast so arrive early or late in the day.
A legacy site of the 1988 Winter Olympic Games, the Canmore Nordic Centre is designed for hosting sporting events. This is the premier spot for mountain biking, and cross-country skiing but also has a challenging disc golf course, skating rink, and tobogganing.
The only on-site store Trail Sports, offers bike and ski rentals along with lessons in both. The Cornerstone Cafe located in the day lodge offers hot meals.
LOCAL TIP: If you visit on a Thursday evening wander over to the Bill Warren Training Centre for $6 Beer and Pizza.
Bears love to hang out at the Canmore Nordic Centre so have bear spray. This site can be accessed by Roam Transit via Canmore Local Route 12.
The places to visit and things to do in Kananaskis in one day exceed what’s listed here but this will give a great place to start.
Happy exploring a day in K-Country.
Learn: Should You Stay in Banff or Canmore? A Local’s Advice
Kananaskis is accessed by car. However, there are two areas that can be accessed by Roam Transit (Canmore Local Route 12) and that’s the Canmore Nordic Centre and Grassi Lakes Trail and Day Area.
From Banff, Kananaskis is accessed in two ways:
There’s no significant time difference between the two routes.
Don’t miss: Driving in Banff: 10 Things You Should Know
Highway 40
Highway 40 is the most popular way to access Kananaskis and is the entrance I recommend taking. It’s the entrance closest to the most popular attractions. It’s a paved highway with a speed limit of 60-90 km/hr (35-55 mph).
Discover: What is the Best Entry into Banff? Banff’s Four Main Entrances
Spray Lakes Road/Smith-Dorian Highway/Highway 742
Don’t let all the names confuse you; this is one road with name changes. From Canmore follow the signs to the Canmore Nordic Centre, this will take you to Spray Lake Road and into Kananaskis.
The road is paved until a few kilometres past Grassi Lakes then it turns to gravel. Drive with care on this road. Be prepared for; washboard road surface, loose gravel, lots of dust, and in the winter hardpacked snow. Leave room between cars for visibility, and to avoid rock kicking out from the car ahead of you.
No surprise the speed limit ranges from 60-80 km/hr (35-50 mph). Driving this route you won’t hit pavement until you reach the T-junction with signs to Kananaskis Lakes or Highway 40.
Driving Kananaskis
Visiting Kananaskis you can choose to do an out-and-back on either Highway 40 or Highway 742 or as a loop as the two highways connect. Driving the loop will take 3 to 4 hours.
Visiting Kananaskis is a great addition to a Banff National Park vacation!
Most travelers want to visit the most popular sites and still avoid the crowds. We have a detailed itinerary that gives you a step-by-step game plan so you can get to the best places at the right times.
BANFF TRIP PLANNER: To read or watch all of our content about Banff National Park, check out our Banff Homepage
THINGS TO DO: Don’t miss all that Banff has to offer including Lake Louise, Banff Hot Springs, the Cave and Basin Historical Site, and shopping downtown
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Find out how to get to Banff and what reservations
you may need
WATCH: Enjoy videos of gorgeous Banff National Park while learning our best tips for visiting by watching our Banff YouTube Playlist
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