Have you been to Kananaskis Country this winter? If not, now is the time to go to enjoy the breathtaking winter scenery in Alberta’s Rocky Mountain foothills before spring melts away the snow.
What is Kananaskis Country, you ask? The easiest description is that the provincial parks and recreation areas between Calgary and the BC border make up Kananaskis Country.
The southern half of the Kananaskis Trail (Highway 40), from Highwood Provincial Recreational Area to Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, is closed from December to June for safety.
Access Kananaskis from these roads during the winter:
- The Smith Dorrien Trail south from Canmore
- The Kananaskis Trail south from the Stoney Nakoda Resort & Casino
- Highway AB-66 west from Bragg Creek
This is important to remember as all of the Kananaskis Parks in the area require you to purchase a Conservation Pass. The vehicle entry pass costs $15 per day or $90 per year. Kananaskis Parks are free to visit on the first Wednesday of every month and some special days.
Hike to Frozen Waterfalls
Kananaskis is known for its abundance of beautiful mountain waterfalls. And luckily, some of these waterfalls are still relatively easy to access in the winter months. In terms of winter hikes, the end of the season can often be better in general as the snow is usually more packed down. There may be deeper sections of snow along the paths, so proper boots are still highly recommended. Spikes and polls couldn’t hurt!
- Kananaskis Outfitters have winter tour dates open in March and April for their Frozen Waterfall Fat Biking Tour, along with a series of other tours wrapping up before the end of winter.
- Take a self-guided hike on the easy trail leading to Troll Falls. The round-trip distance is under 4km. Troll Falls trail area will be closed starting March 10 for G7 preparation.
- The path of the Evan-Thomas Creek hike is currently in a packed state. This means the hiking is easier thanks to the harder snow. But the main reason to take this hike in Kananaskis is the waterfall reward at the turnaround point.
- If you’re looking for a shorter outing, Elbow Falls is just the place to go.
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13 Frozen Waterfalls to Visit in and Around Calgary During Winter
Downhill Skiing at Nakiska
The Nakiska Ski Resort’s 2026 season is on until April end. The resort is on the Kananaskis Trail, a short drive north of the Village. Their rental shop has equipment for skiers and snowboarders of all ages. And you can enjoy a whole season’s worth of snow build-up on the mountain. The park has two main chairlifts, and runs for all abilities, including a few black diamonds.
When: open until April 2026
Where: 2 Mt Allan Dr, Kananaskis
Cross-country Skiing on the Trails
The groomed ski trails within Kananaskis are well-set. Take advantage of the last of cross-country skiing season with a trip to some of Alberta’s best and most beautiful trails.
- The Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park is on the north side of Kananaskis and offers world-renowned XC-ski trails and experiences, equipment rentals and other activities.
- The Mount Shark Trail system in Spray Valley Provincial Park offers a backcountry skiing experience with unparalleled views along the trails.
Ice fishing on Mountain Lakes
Many head to Kananaskis in the winter to take advantage of the peaceful ice fishing opportunities. You can venture onto different lakes to try your luck at various kinds of trout, or mountain whitefish.
- The Spray Lakes in Spray Valley Provincial Park and
- The south end of Peter Lougheed Provincial Park is the start to Lower Kananaskis Lake, another popular spot for ice fishing.
Ice Skating in Kananaskis
You can enjoy the thrill of skating in the Rockies in Kananaskis without having to find the frozen surfaces yourself. While wild ice skating is popular in the Rockies, these maintained skating rinks take the stress out of determining ice safety and offer a fun, family friendly way to enjoy Kananaskis.
- Sheep River Provincial Park has a rink at the Sandy McNabb Campground, where there are also XC-country skiing trailheads.
- Kananaskis Village has its own skating rink hidden in the trees near the lodge.
- Ice skating is also open to the public at the Canmore Nordic Centre PP.
Dogsledding in the Spray Valley
Get some of K-Country’s best views, but in the most unique way possible! There are sled dog tour operators in the Spray Valley who can take you on thrilling adventures with their teams of pups. The tours vary in length, with the longer tours including refreshments, and stops for fires.
- Mad Dogs & Englishmen offer tours at a variety of lengths: a Husky Dreamcatcher (1.5hrs), the Mountain Musher (2hrs), or the Mount Nester (1/2 day). Tours are available until the end of March.
- Howling Dog Tours also offer varying trip and tour lengths: Unleash the Musher (2hrs), or Dog Day Afternoon (1/2 day).
Snowmobiling
Kananaskis is made up of provincial park land, as well as public land use zones. The PLUZs of Kananaskis are more remote than the parks around Canmore or the Village, and offer incredible scenery for snowmobile trips and adventures.
- The McLean Creek Off Highway Vehicle Public Land Use Zone has over 200km of snowmobile trails, and winter camping (no services).
- Cataract Creek Snow Vehicle Public Land Use Zone boasts over 100 km of trails, and picnic areas.
- The Sibbald Snow Vehicle Public Land Use Zone has more than 50 km of trails.
Snowshoe
One of the easiest ways to explore Kananaskis while there is a lot of snow is with snowshoes. You can easily find patches of untouched snow within the parks for a snowshoe adventure, with many trails permitting the use of snowshoes.
- The Snowshoe Tours with Kananaskis Outfitters are available for the rest of March, and they’re available every day!
- Canadian Rockies Experience offers March snowshoe tours through to the gorgeous Chester Lake near the Spray Lakes.
- For a self-guided snowshoe excursion, Peter Lougheed Provincial Park offers many options and open day use areas.
Warming up at the Kananaskis Nordic Spa
The Kananaskis Nordic Spa is open year-round. However, the experience is more relaxing in contrast to the cold winter air. The spa facilities, and there are several, are outdoors. The beauty of the snow-covered scenery around you will only add to this Kananaskis bucket-list item.
When: year-round
Where: 1 Centennial Dr, Kananaskis
Credit: Kananaskis Nordic Spa
Après Ski Experiences
The term après ski simply refers to all the fun and activities that can follow a day on the slopes. An après ski session usually involves warm and toasty drinks, open fires, live entertainment, and plenty of socializing.
- The Nakiska Ski Resort is likely where you will be skiing, snowboarding, or snow tubing for the day. Their lodge offers a few ways to enjoy your own après ski event including at the BBQ Pit, the Mid Mountain Lodge, or the Finish Line Lounge.
- The Stoney Nakoda Resort & Casino is only a 20-minute drive from the Nakiska Ski Area. You can book a stay here and create your own après ski experience in their Sidelines Lounge.
- Downtown Canmore is about 45 minutes away but offers several pub and restaurant options for a lovely après experience after skiing at Nakiska. It is especially perfect for those staying in Canmore.
Explore the Caves and Canyons
The natural wonders that lie just beyond Highway 1 are incredible to think about. And we are lucky in Alberta in that we can easily get off of Highway 1 to find these places and spend time exploring. This includes the caves and canyons that surround Canmore and Kananaskis. You can explore some of these areas on your own or book a tour with experienced guides for more immersive experiences.
- You can join for a hike on frozen creek, and explore surreal rock formations and indigenous wall art on a small-group tour through Grotto Canyon.
- The Canmore Cave Tours group offer year-round adventures with availability for March 2025. Choose between either a 4.5hr, or a 6hr tour (with most of your time spent underground, exploring the caves!).
Fat Biking near Canmore
Hiking and skiing through the Kananaskis trails can be a challenging way to explore. You can make this exploration a little easier though with the use of fat tire bikes. There are many trails within K-Country which permit the use of these types of bikes, often called fat bikes. If you want to try it for the first time and don’t own one, there are rentals available in Calgary, Canmore, and Banff.
- The Horseshoe Loop leaves Canmore from the Benchlands Trail and offers nearly 5km of fat biking trails.
- The 7.7km Montane Traverse Trail is connected to the Horseshoe Loop. Combine the two trails to explore parts of the Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park.
- Fat tire bikes are allowed on the 20km Legacy Trail, which leads to Banff.
A Scenic Drive on the Smith-Dorrien Trail
You can explore the northern part of Kananaskis by car on the Smith-Dorrien Trail south of Canmore. It is worth the detour if you’re travelling on Highway 1 in the winter with viewpoints, picnic areas, wildlife, and simple walking trails. This can also be a fun way to explore while staying in Banff, Canmore, or the nearby lodges. The open Day Use Areas in Spray Valley Provincial Park (picnic tables and washrooms, oftentimes trailheads as well) along the route include Goat Creek, Driftwood, Galatea, or Wedge Pond. The drive continues through Bow Valley, where the Mt. Lorette Ponds, the Barrier Dam, and Widow Maker day use areas are open.
Book a Snowy Mountain Cabin
Canmore is a hub of accommodation options for anyone wanting to explore Kananaskis Country. The town offers motels, hotels, vacation rentals, and cabins. But if you prefer to stay away from the business of Canmore, you can go further into Kananaskis Country to find a lot more than camping.
- Mount Engadine Lodge offers several ways to stay including yurts, cabins, lodge rooms, and glamping tents.
- The William Watson Lodge in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park is a unique opportunity for those with accessibility barriers to get the wilderness lodge camping experience! There is eligibility criteria to meet to be able to rent the lodge,