The trail to Taylor Lake is entirely below treeline, which means it’s relatively lower risk for avalanche. It’s on the Park’s Canada list of difficult snowshoe/winter hiking trails in the Lake Louise area, with a warning of avalanche danger beyond reaching the lake. With over 600 meters elevation gain, this is a relatively challenging winter hike/snowshoe destination.
An easy, half-day winter hike/snowshoe to a narrow mountain lake. Expect to share the trail with skiers, snowshoe hares and spruce grouse.
Highline Trail is a hard-packed trail with multiple route options. Well-used by fat-bike riders, mountain bikers and trail runners, it's also a an easy-to-reach conditioning trail well-suited for winter hiking. Mostly in the woods, there are a few peek-a-boo views into the Bow Valley, including the flood-hardened Cougar Creek.
Below freezing temperatures and slippery conditions make it harder to get out and about at this time of year. But a daily dose of Vitamin N(ature) is one of my priorities, so I make a point of getting out there almost every day. Dressing in layers, taking along in a pair of MICROspikes, NANOspikes or snowshoes and heading out with family or friends are three ways to increase the likelihood of enjoying being outside in mid-winter. Add some fantastic Banff NP scenery to the equation and it's a guaranteed winner!
Despite no new snow since December 23, there's plenty of snow in Kananaskis County, so on New Year's Day we drove south from Canmore along the Smith-Dorrien highway through the scenic Spray Valley to the Chester Lake trailhead parking lot. The Smith-Dorrien is a gravel road, quite narrow as you leave Canmore and then widening …