Try to pronounce Kananaskis. Say it fast three times. Give up? Well don’t let that deter you from going to this stunning area situated in the Alberta Rockies. On the border of Canmore and Banff National Park, Kananaskis Country (Kananaskis or K-Country) lets you get close to the majestic mountains. With an abundance of activities at your disposal, spending three days in one of the most peaceful areas in Alberta will surely have you coming back for more.
Before we headed to our woodsy, semi-glamping stay in nature, we made our first hiking stop at Heart Creek. This moderate ~2.9 mile roundtrip hike allows you to soak in the mountains, lush landscaping, creeks, rock climbers and at the end, you hear the soothing sounds of a waterfall and watch the mist of the falls come through a crevice. This was a great way to start our hiking adventure through K-Country.
Sundance Lodges, located in a forested area in Kananaskis, is a place where you can take camping to another level. They have canvas tipi’s and trapper’s tents set up. If the weather decides to dip at night, they provide heaters inside to make your sleep more comfortable and enjoyable. The peace and serenity in our two day accommodations were just one of the many highlights.
After we were settled, we took a drive to our next hike, Ptarmigan Cirque. On our way we spotted lots of Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep off the side of the road.
In September, the larch trees were turning yellow. In most parts of North America, we are accustomed to seeing a mix of reds, oranges and yellows as the leaves turn, but at Ptarmigan Cirque, it was a bright yellow in almost every direction you looked. The incline towards the top was somewhat steep but oh my, the view at the peak was spectacular of the mountain ranges, bright yellow larches, and waterfalls.
After an active day of hiking, scenery and wildlife, we had dinner at the campsite, relaxed by the fire and watched the sunset. Our next day of outdoor activities consisted of a hike by the lake and a trek to find as many Trolls as we could. Yes, I said Trolls as in the dolls with the crazy hair.
On day two, our first adventure was the Upper Kananaskis Lake Trail which is a moderate, ~9.5 mile hike around the lake. The beauty of this trail is the fact you can see water throughout most of the hike from the lake to waterfalls. Trees stand tall, trail is very easy to navigate on and the views are impressive in every direction. And even though there was a fog like quality in the air stemming from the fires in BC (British Columbia), the lake and its surrounding were still very mysterious and calming.
The last hike of our two days of camping (glamping) in Kananaskis was Troll Falls, a ~2.3 mile hike. What a fun trek this was not only for kids but adults, as well, with waterfalls, rich green landscaping and, of course, TROLLS! My inner child made it my mission to find as many hidden Trolls as I could. Total found was nine of these furry creatures. After the scavenger hunt was completed, we stopped and sat by one of the waterfalls and enjoyed a late lunch. Two solid days and four unbelievable excursions, this was the relaxation we craved and a solid way to wrap up a few days in the wilderness.
The last portion of our three day adventure was time to get pampered. We decided on one night at the Kananaskis Lodge spending half our day at the Nordic Spa. Aside from the amazing treatments offered, the spa has a variety of saunas, steam rooms, whirlpools and exfoliation areas that allow you to immerse yourself in the full alpine spa experience. We finished off our spa day, and our three day getaway, with drinks and an amazing feast at the Blacktail Bar located in the lodge. Refreshing cocktails and unique eats such as the fried halloumi, duck poutine or any Alberta steak (beef or bison), wrapped up our day of rest and relaxation.
In all honestly, I have only scraped the surface of all that Kananaskis Country has to offer. During all four seasons, this unique part of the Rocky Mountain region has a wide range of activities for all fitness levels and all ages. Alberta, in all her glory, has so much to offer and K-Country is yet another wonderful area to explore.
Story & Photography By Alaa Razoky