Things to do in Kananaskis this Summer

Kananaskis Country is one big summer playground. In a single trip you could ride horseback through the valley, raft the Kananaskis River, hike to an alpine lake, paddle Barrier Lake, tee off with a mountain backdrop, cast for trout, or fly over the ranges by helicopter. There is easily enough here to fill a long weekend and then some. To keep planning simple, we have grouped it all into guided trips, where a local handles the details, and self-guided days you can set at your own pace. Everything here happens right in Kananaskis.

One thing that trips up a lot of first-timers: almost every vehicle parked in Kananaskis Country and the Bow Valley corridor needs a Kananaskis Conservation Pass. It applies at trailheads, day-use areas, and the lots that serve golf courses, lodges, and outfitters, and it registers the vehicle, not the passengers. Day and annual passes are available, and one pass covers the vehicle with no extra charge for trailers or additional people.

You do not need one if you are just driving through without stopping, or if you arrive on foot, bike, or horseback. Buy online before you arrive, since you have until 11:59 pm on your first day and there are no retroactive purchases, and note the free days on the first Wednesday of each month and on select holidays. The fee funds conservation, public safety and search and rescue, and trail and facility upkeep. Licence plates are scanned and non-compliant vehicles can be fined, so it is worth sorting before you go.

Prefer to let someone else lead the way? These operators run guided trips inside Kananaskis, with the gear, knowledge, and permits sorted.

Horseback Riding

Boundary Ranch in the Kananaskis Valley runs guided trail rides for ages six and up. Options range from the short Buffalo Loop and Valley Vista Trail to the Ridge Ride, with an optional burger or steak lunch, the longer Trail Blazer and Kananaskis Adventure Ride, Pony Rides for little ones, and multi-day Pack Trips. You can also combine a ride with rafting on the Surf and Saddle or Voyageur adventures.

Rafter Six Ranch, on Ranch Road East just east of Canmore in Kananaskis, has been a trail-riding specialist since 1976. Guided rides run from one-hour and two-hour outings (their most popular) to half-day and full-day rides, plus a Saddlebag Supper Ride, pony rides, wagon rides, and riding lessons, open daily from May through October.

Guided Hiking

Kananaskis Outfitters, based in Kananaskis Village, runs private guided hikes for all abilities, a group hike to the reclaimed coal mine on Mt. Allan, and a family survival-skills hike. White Mountain Adventures offers an ATV-assisted ridgeline hike at Fortress Mountain. Get Outside Adventures guides day hikes and multi-day backpacking trips through Kananaskis Country, including the Spray and Peter Lougheed backcountry. Canadian Rockies Experience runs a private guided alpine-lakes hike to Rawson Lake, with a scenic drive through Spray Valley.

Whitewater Rafting

Canadian Rockies Rafting runs half-day trips on the Kananaskis River from a base at Stoney Nakoda Resort. The Kananaskis Whitewater trip is family-friendly and great for first-timers, while the Kananaskis Xtreme trip uses the river features to surf and play for a more adrenaline-filled ride. Chinook Rafting runs a family-friendly Kananaskis River whitewater trip suitable for ages five and up, and Green Tongue Adventures offers family-friendly rafting on the Kananaskis River as well.

Guided Canoeing

Kananaskis Outfitters runs a Big Canoe voyageur tour, paddling a traditional canoe while your guide shares local history and a few laughs. It is a relaxed way onto the water for groups and families.

Indigenous-Led Tours

Buffalo Stone Woman, a Blackfoot-led company, runs year-round Indige-Scape guided hikes on Kananaskis trails such as Troll Falls, Grotto Canyon, and Rawson Lake, weaving Indigenous teachings, stories, and interactive learning into the day. Nature photography outings and guided e-bike (Bikescape) tours are also on offer.

Helicopter Tours

Alpine Helicopters flies from its base at Stoney Nakoda Resort, with tours named in Stoney Nakoda and built around local culture. Choose the 20-minute Warrior Lookout over the Kananaskis River Valley, the 30-minute Spirit Water, the 45-minute Sleeping Warrior (their most popular), or the 60-minute Great Divide over the Kananaskis Ranges.

Guided Fishing

For fly fishing inside Kananaskis, Canmore Fishing Adventures runs guided lake trips, including on Kananaskis lakes such as Upper Kananaskis Lake, targeting trout and Rocky Mountain whitefish. Trips suit first-timers and seasoned anglers alike, with gear and local know-how provided. A valid Alberta fishing licence is required.

Sightseeing and Photography Tours

Canadian Rockies Experience runs private tours with a driver and certified guide. Kananaskis options include the sunrise Images of the Kananaskis photo tour and the Kananaskis Mini Tour, with an easy hike and a charcuterie picnic by the Kananaskis Lakes. Their guided Rawson Lake hike is listed under guided hiking above.

Adaptive Guided Adventures

Rocky Mountain Adaptive, a Canmore-based charity, delivers guided, accessible adventures for guests of all abilities, including summer programming at the accessible William Watson Lodge in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, plus lessons, camps, and guided experiences on trails and water.

Rather set your own pace? Rent the gear, book a tee time, or pick a lake and go. These are the do-it-yourself options in Kananaskis.

Self-Guided Hiking

Kananaskis is laced with trails you can tackle on your own, from easy waterfall walks to all-day ridge climbs. For routes, distances, packing tips, and trail etiquette, see our complete guide to hiking in Canmore and Kananaskis. Always check the Alberta Parks trail report and carry bear spray before you set out.

Golf

Kananaskis Country Golf Course, in Kananaskis Village, has two scenic courses, Mt. Kidd and Mt. Lorette, laid out along the Kananaskis River with over 120 sand bunkers and six tee options, plus a shorter family-golf setup and the Summit Restaurant. Brewster’s Kananaskis Ranch offers another round on the region’s eastern edge.

Paddling

Kananaskis Outfitters runs a boathouse at Barrier Lake, renting canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards by the hour, first-come, first-served. After your paddle, the lake’s sandy shore is a fine spot for an ice cream.

Biking

Kananaskis Outfitters rents e-bikes and mountain bikes, with trails accessible right from the shop, from mellow paved paths for the whole family to single track for those chasing a challenge.

Self-Guided Fishing

If you would rather cast on your own, Kananaskis has plenty of water. Barrier Lake and Upper Kananaskis Lake in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park are popular spots. You will need a valid Alberta fishing licence and a Kananaskis Conservation Pass, and it is worth checking current regulations before you go.

Mount Engadine Lodge

For a true backcountry stay you can still reach by car, Mount Engadine Lodge sits in the heart of Kananaskis, about 38 km south of Canmore along the Smith-Dorrien/Spray Trail. It pulls off a neat trick: all the charm and adventure of a remote wilderness lodge, without giving up hotel-style comfort. Choose from lodge rooms, rustic cabins, glamping tents, or a yurt, with gourmet meals included. The afternoon high tea is a local institution, and the restaurant is open to day visitors for tea and a three-course dinner. Trails for hiking, biking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing run right from the door, and it is pet and family friendly.

Stoney Nakoda Resort & Casino

About 45 minutes west of Calgary, the Stoney Nakoda Resort is a full-service base right on the edge of Kananaskis Country. It has 100 rooms and suites, a pool with a waterslide and hot tub, Alberta’s only casino in the Rocky Mountains, an event centre, and dining at The Ridge and Sidelines Lounge. 

Skyridge Glamping

For luxury under the stars, Skyridge Glamping offers boutique micro-cabins off Highway 40, about an hour from Calgary. The cabins are heated in winter and cooled in summer, with walk-in showers, heated floors, full kitchens, and plush adjustable beds. It makes an easy base for skiing, hiking, golfing, wildlife viewing, and horseback riding nearby. Note that Skyridge caters exclusively to adult travellers.

Kananaskis is wild country, and that is exactly the point. Carry bear spray and know how to use it, keep dogs on leash, and give wildlife plenty of room. Pack out everything you pack in and stick to the trail, following Leave No Trace principles so this place stays as good as you found it. Check the Alberta Parks trail report for current conditions, grab your Kananaskis Conservation Pass, and let someone know your plans if you are heading deep into the backcountry.

Then go. Whether it is your first visit or your fiftieth, Kananaskis has a way of making you want to come back. And the locals will be the first to tell you why.

Plan Your Trip

Ready to turn all this into an actual itinerary? Our Trip Planner makes it easy. It is an interactive tool that pulls together places to stay, things to do, local events, and a few hidden gems in one place, so you can map out your ideal Kananaskis days, save what catches your eye, and arrive with a plan. Add the horseback ride, pencil in a tee time, drop a pin on Barrier Lake, and you are set.

Kananaskis stays wild because the people who love it look after it. Before your trip, take a moment to sign the Pledge to the Peaks, a commitment to explore mindfully, tread lightly, and help protect this landscape and its wildlife for the people and generations who come next.