Into The Wild: Exploring Alberta's Great Outdoors

The province of British Columbia is always in the spotlight when it comes to adventure and natural beauty, but what about its neighbour, Alberta? With rocky mountains, glacier lakes, wonderful wildlife and UNESCO listed National Parks, this province offers the visitor a variety of activities and endless opportunities for exploration.

Kananaskis Country

Located about an hour from Calgary, this is a beautiful place to set up camp for the weekend, or longer. At the Peter Lougheed Provincial Park and Upper Lake area you'll find numerous campsite plots set next to a chilly glacier lake, rugged pine forest and towering mountains. Due to the devastating floods of 2013, some of the hiking trails are closed, so make sure to check online before venturing out into the backcountry.

PHOTO: Camping in Kananaskis Country

Wood Buffalo National Park

Straddling the border with Alberta and the Northwest Territories, and with a land area greater than Switzerland, this is the largest national park in Canada and one of the biggest in the world! This UNESCO-listed park was created in 1922 to protect the remaining wood bison in Canada, as well as the endangered whooping crane. Not only is Wood Buffalo National Park filled with outdoor activities and natural phenomenons, it's also home to aboriginal people and there are many cultural experiences to be had.

Johnston Canyon & The Ink Pots

Located in the UNESCO-listed Banff National Park, this is a fantastic summer hike. The walk will take you through a canyon, over bridges and alongside powerful waterfalls. There are two sets of falls here, the lower and the upper, the latter being a 2 hour round trip hike.

Continuing past the upper waterfalls, you'll reach a brilliant set of spring fed, jade coloured pools, or, Ink Pots. It's about a 6km walk to the Ink Pots. Make sure to arrive early in the morning or later in the day to avoid the crowds, this is a popular spot.

PHOTO: A waterfall during the Johnston Canyon hike (Photo By: Tony Hisgett)

Morraine Lake

This famous, picture-perfect glacier lake is one of the top sites not only in Alberta, but in all of Canada. Located just 14kms outside of Lake Louise in the Banff National Park, this is a great place for hiking, canoeing, fishing, or to just enjoy a picnic on the lake shore!

PHOTO: Morraine Lake in the summer. (Photo by: Florian Fuchs)

Lake Louise and Around

Another fantastic area for all levels of hiking. From easy walks around the clear, alpine lake to difficult treks with an increase of 1000m in elevation, there's something to suit everyone's skill-set. If you're not interested in hiking around the Lake Louise area, you can enjoy camping along one of the many nearby lakes, or, take to the water in a canoe or kayak. In the winter, this is a great outdoor skating rink!

PHOTO: Lake Louise with the famous Fairmont Chateau at the far end (Photo By: Dominik92)

Jasper National Park

Located on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, and home to the highest mountain in Alberta, this is a very unique national park. With over 11,000 square kilometers of diverse landscapes, 1,200 kms of hiking trails (both day trips and overnight journeys) and stunning mountain drives, you could spend weeks here and barely scratch the surface. The vast wilderness of Jasper National Park is one of the few remaining places in southern Canada that is home to a full range of carnivores, including grizzly bears, mountain lions and wolves. You'll also find large numbers of elk, mule deer and big horn sheep in the park.

PHOTO: View of Jasper from Whistlers Mountain.

The Hoodoos

You can find these unique sandstone rock formations protruding from the badlands around Banff or the Drumheller Valley. In both of these areas, there are many day hikes to visit these incredible creations, which can tower at five to seven meters tall...but they can easily crumble, so no climbing!

PHOTO: Amazing Hoodoo formations in Drumheller (Photo By: S. Salomons)

If you're planning on visiting Canada this summer, or if you're a Canadian wanting to explore your own backyard, definitely consider a trip to the Sunshine Province. The scenery here is incredible and there are activities suited for all levels of fitness. Give Alberta a try; you won't be disappointed!