Top Alberta Outdoor Activities

Maximize your views of Banff National Park with minimal exertion during this round-trip gondola ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain. Take in views of six different mountain ranges and nearby rivers aboard your state-of-the-art alpine transport, offering large windows and seating for four guests. Enjoy time exploring the ridge line boardwalk before returning back to town.

Take your visit to Jasper National Park to new heights with this ride aboard the area’s famous Jasper SkyTram. Soar above the park’s sub-alpine vegetation, watching for wildlife down below, as you gently climb towards the upper station located at 7,425 feet (2,263m) above sea level. This family-friendly ride on the Jasper SkyTram is the perfect experience for guests of all ages.

Join an animal-spotting bus tour in Banff National Park, observing the park’s amazing wildlife at dusk on this 2-hour, small-group tour that’s perfect for nature enthusiasts. Enjoy Banff’s beautiful landscapes in the evening searching for elk, deer, bears and more because each tour has a 95% success rate of viewing animals in their natural environment. You'll also hear about the park's efforts to protect animals and their habitat from your expert guide.

Saddle up for a journey through the celebrated landscape of Banff National Park on this guided horseback riding adventure. Get out of the car and onto the trails of the Bow River or the Spray River and enjoy the area’s beautiful outdoor environment, largely unchanged from the days of the pioneers. This equine-themed odyssey includes a guide, use of a horse, and all necessary equipment.

Discover Lake Louise and Moraine Lake on this guided tour from Banff. Located inside the Banff National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the lakes are well-known for their distinct turquoise hues. Gain insight into the area’s mountaineering history, admire views of the Valley of Ten Peaks and leave with plenty of frame-worthy photos. Round-trip transportation is included on this small-group tour. Don’t miss this seasonal tour that operates from April to November.

Experience the most incredible sights in Jasper National Park’s Maligne Valley during this guided excursion to the region’s most scenic lakes and majestic canyons. Check out Medicine Lake, Maligne Canyon, and Maligne Lake during your trip, keeping your eyes out for area wildlife and learning about the unique natural history (and more recent human settlement) of the Canadian Rockies. Over the course of the day, you also get to enjoy short walks through the beautiful scenery, and choose between a boat ride or guided hike at Maligne Lake. Your Maligne Valley trip also includes round-trip transport from your Jasper hotel.

In the cool and quiet evening climate, Jasper’s wildlife comes out in force. Experience Jasper National Park at this special time of day on an evening wildlife tour led by an expert guide. Travel around the park with ease and visit seasonal spots inhabited by grizzly bears, mountain goats, pocket-sized squirrels, and more. This small-group tour, limited to 15 people, includes hotel pickup and drop-off.

This fully narrated cruise takes you along Maligne Lake, the largest glacially fed lake in the Canadian Rockies, part of the UNESCO-listed Jasper National Park. Visit Spirit Island, accessible only by boat, and admire views of imposing granite peaks, vibrant blue water, and ancient forests. Keep your camera close and your senses alert as you scan the area for the eagles, bears, and deer that call this area home. Expert and amateur photographers alike will relish in the opportunities to capture the alpine scenery.

See the mountains of Kananaskis Country the way they have been seen for hundreds of years…on horseback. You’ll spend about an hour riding the Lodgepole Loop around Boundary Ranch. Take in the stunning Rocky Mountain scenery on a sturdy horse who knows the trail well. You will love this authentic Western experience.

Explore the historic landmarks and natural wonders near the town of Banff on this half-day, small-group tour. Admire the unparalleled beauty of natural sights including Bow Falls, the surreal Hoodoos rock formation, and beautiful Lake Minnewanka, among others. This guided tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Banff, a professional guide, and light refreshments.

Enjoy this full-day tour from Banff, visiting the Athabasca Glacier and the stunning scenery lining the breathtaking Icefields Parkway. This tour travels halfway along the world-famous Icefields Parkway, recognized as one of the top drives in the world passing numerous Rocky Mountain peaks, glaciers, waterfalls, and emerald lakes. Your tour also includes round-trip transport from Banff, a mountain picnic lunch, Glacier Skywalk, and an all-terrain Ice Explorer tour.

Experience the excitement of a whitewater rafting adventure on this guided, 2-hour excursion. Choose from a morning or afternoon departure time, then ride along Alberta, Canada's Athabasca River in Jasper National Park. This ‘Mile 5’ trip is the river’s most popular, challenging Grade 2 rapids. The driver/guide will be taking photos along the way which will be available for purchase at the end of the trip. All the necessary rafting equipment plus an Alberta hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

Paddle through the dramatic Athabasca Canyon on a half-day whitewater rafting adventure from Jasper that takes on fun, family-friendly Class 2+ rapids. You’ll put in at the base of Athabasca Falls, then paddle a 7.5-mile (12-km) stretch of river with a certified river guide. This 3.5-hour rafting excursion includes all equipment and transport from downtown Jasper, and both morning and afternoon departures are available.

Saddle up and head out on the Rocky Mountain trails in Banff National Park. Explore the area by horseback with your cowboy guide to see the area in a way you can only experience from on the back of a horse. With a guide in the lead and a guide bringing up the rear, your ride will be a safe, fun adventure in the wilderness.  

Jasper National Park is an amazing place to experience nature, and a gentle adventure on the Athabasca River is a great way to do it. This small group float trip takes you down several miles on the Class II rapids—that means you can expect a few splashes along the way, but nothing too scary. Your guide regales you with stories of the area and its inhabitants as you go.

Bring the whole family along on this moderately challenging—yet totally fun—river rafting excursion down the Athabasca Valley in Jasper National Park. Join a guide in an 8-person raft for a multi-rapid run down the Athabasca River Canyon for a trip challenging enough to be counted as an adventure but relaxing enough for you to enjoy the beautiful canyon scenery along the way.

Few places in Alberta offer the postcard beauty of Lake Minnewanka, part of Banff National Park. Admire views of the Canadian Rockies and prairies as you cruise across the turquoise-hued lake and over to Devil’s Gap during this boat tour. Scan the lakeshore for big-horned sheep, deer, bald eagles, and even the occasional bear. Along the way, learn about the indigenous people who used to call the surrounding area their home. A perfect excursion for nature lovers and families alike.

Pursue the elusive Canadian Grizzly Bear on this 10-hour excursion through Banff and Yoho National Parks, perfect for animal- and nature-lovers alike. Head out for a gondola ride up to 7,700 feet for a mountain-top lunch at Canada’s highest restaurant, and then take a chairlift ride up to the world’s largest enclosed and protected grizzly bear habitat to see Boo the resident bear rescued as a cub. This full-day trip also includes round-trip transportation, professional guide, lunch and light refreshments.

Choose from among four of Banff National Park’s most iconic trails on this 7-hour guided hiking tour with packed lunch. Pick the perfect walk for your level of ability and experience, varying from 4.5 miles (7km) to 6.6 miles (10.6km) in length, with spectacular mountain scenery no matter which option you select. The trip’s four options include explorations of Larch Valley, Stanley Glacier, Consolation Lakes or the Plain of Six Glaciers.

Jasper National Park is an amazing place to experience nature in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Let a guide take you through some of the best spots for lake and mountain vistas, beside a waterfall, and on a lakeside hike on a forest path. This tour will take you to Maligne Canyon and its mountain waterfalls, disappearing Medicine Lake, and on an interpretive hike beside Maligne Lake.

Jasper’s Sunwapta River is a stretch of grade III rapids, where challenging twists and turns and spectacular scenery come as standard. On this tour, spin along the Icefields Parkway road and admire sweeping views over the famous Rocky Mountains. Tackle the swirling white-water currents with your guide, and watch the riverbanks for sightings of native wildlife living within the Jasper National Park.

Feel the rush of the open road and the wind on your face as you tour the incredible landscape of Canadian Rockies and Jasper National Park in the sidecar of a Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by a professional driver. Pick from among a range of destinations for your ride, customized to meet your interests, including Medicine Lake, Maligne Canyon, Maligne Lake, Athabasca Falls, Angel Glacier, Miette Hot Springs or Mount Edith Cavell. Along the way, spot local wildlife and listen to insightful commentary from your guide about the area’s history and natural scenery. Your motorcycle ride can accommodate up to two passengers and also includes round-trip transport from your hotel or the train station, and 1-, 2- or 3-hour ride options.

Take on the Class II and Class III white-water rapids of the Sunwapta River with a 4-hour rafting adventure from Jasper, following the dramatic Endless Chain Ridge through Jasper National Park. You’ll paddle alongside an experienced river guide, splashing over an 8-mile (13-km) stretch of fun rapids. This 4-hour whitewater rafting trip includes all necessary equipment and instruction, as well as round-trip transport from a central location in Jasper.

Get a little wet and have a lot of fun on the Athabasca River. Travel with your small group to the put in point and raft the Mile 5 section of the glacier-fed river. This section of river is a great introduction to river rafting as it begins with an approximately 10-minute float before the class II rapids start. Experience the gentle thrill of some bumps and splashes on your roughly two-hour excursion.