Opal Hills is a green oasis in the middle of the Canadian Rockies near Maligne Lake. This is not a long hike but the trail is steep! When we visited, it was our second hike of the day (after Bald Hills), so my legs were a little tired and I found it pretty tough. Still the gorgeous flower-filled meadows were well worth the effort. If this was our only hike of the day, I would be very tempted to leave…
Bald hills is a moderately challenging hike near Maligne Lake in Jasper, Canada. This hike has some fabulous views, but the thing that made it stand out for us was how it is such a squirrel-filled wonderland! I have never met so many types of friendly (and shouty) rodents on a single hike! We were sworn at by a teeny doulas squirrel in the forest near the start. We hiked through a warren of columbian ground squirrels, and sauntered past…
The Valley of the Five Lakes trail is a super easy, lake-filled hike near Jasper. There are a few different possible routes, but all of them will take you to some beautiful blue, green or turquoise lakes. You can stop for a picnic, a swim or just hike around to take in the views. This is a popular area, so if you prefer quiet trails, this may not be what you’re looking for. However we visited in the afternoon (after…
I flipping LOVED this trail. East Ridge Summit is the name of the peak just above the top viewpoint in Cavell Meadows. It’s a continuation of the incredible views you’ll see from the meadows below, just even better! Most hikers don’t bother to hike beyond the main trail, so we had this summit all to ourselves, even though it is relatively easy to access. The best thing about this trail is the views are constant the whole way to the…