Adventure Travel Destinations in Calgary, Canada

Calgary, Canada, Calgary, Destination & Trip Type Pages, Adventure Travel Destinations

Adventure Travel Destinations in Calgary, Canada

1. Banff National Park

Explore the stunning beauty of the Canadian Rockies with hiking trails, hot springs, and wildlife spotting.
  • Natural Wonders: Home to unique geological formations, including glaciers, waterfalls, and limestone caves.
  • Wildlife Encounters: Opportunities to see elk, bighorn sheep, grizzly bears, and even wolves in their natural habitats.
  • Adventure Activities: Offers activities like rock climbing, kayaking, and backcountry skiing for the thrill-seeker.

2. Canmore Nordic Centre

Experience cross-country skiing, mountain biking, and biathlon training facilities in a beautiful alpine setting.
  • Versatile Destination: Transitions smoothly between winter sports and summer activities like hiking and running.
  • Biathlon Opportunities: Provides a unique chance to try biathlon training facilities used in the Olympics.
  • Nordic Culture: Offers cultural events like the Canmore Folk Music Festival and the Nordic Spirit Film Festival.

3. Johnston Canyon Icewalks

Walk through a frozen canyon filled with cascading icefalls and crystal-clear blue pools.
  • Ice Formations: Features magnificent icicles and frozen waterfalls up to 30 meters high.
  • Winter Wonders: A rare opportunity to explore a canyon in its winter glory during the colder months.
  • Photography Opportunities: Ideal location for capturing stunning, otherworldly photographs of ice and water.

4. Kananaskis Country

Discover a vast wilderness area with numerous hiking trails, fishing spots, and backcountry camping opportunities.
  • Wildlife Sanctuary: Home to various wildlife species like moose, elk, and bears.
  • Hiking Diversity: Offers a variety of trails for beginners, intermediate, and advanced hikers.
  • Backcountry Adventures: Allows for overnight camping trips in the wilderness, with backcountry shelters available.

5. Rideau Canal

Experience a historic waterway system that offers canoeing, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding in the summer.
  • Historic Significance: Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • Scenic Beauty: Surrounded by picturesque villages, parks, and farmlands.
  • Seasonal Activities: Offers winter ice-skating from December to March.

6. Dinosaur Provincial Park

Explore a UNESCO World Heritage Site with over 40 different types of dinosaur fossils.
  • Paleontology Paradise: One of the world's richest sources for dinosaur bones and traces.
  • Dino-themed Activities: Offers guided tours, exhibits, and fossil casting workshops.
  • Desert Landscape: Features a unique badlands desert landscape with towering hoodoos and colourful clay cliffs.

7. Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump

Visit a Plains Indian buffalo hunt site with historical interpretive programs and exhibits.
  • Indigenous History: Provides insights into the lives of the Blackfoot people and their hunting practices.
  • Archaeological Site: Features a cliff where herds of buffalo were driven over, leaving behind thousands of bones.
  • Interactive Programs: Offers guided tours and hands-on demonstrations of traditional indigenous skills.

8. Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park

Discover Canada's largest interprovincial park with hiking trails, camping, and birdwatching opportunities.
  • Interprovincial Uniqueness: The only Canadian park that spans two provinces (Saskatchewan and Alberta).
  • Birdwatching Paradise: Home to over 250 bird species, including the rare Ferruginous Hawk.
  • Historic Significance: Boasts the Old West's Fort Walsh National Historic Site and the Teepee Camp Museum.

9. Elk Island National Park

Experience a wildlife sanctuary with bison herds, elk, moose, and over 250 bird species.
  • Wildlife Sanctuary: Home to free-roaming bison herds, the largest in the world outside of North America's Great Plains.
  • Peaceful Atmosphere: A serene escape from city life with over 100 lakes and wetlands.
  • Educational Opportunities: Offers guided tours, educational programs, and opportunities to learn about the local ecosystem.

10. Writing-On-Stone Provincial Park

Explore ancient Indigenous petroglyphs and pictographs carved into the sandstone cliffs.
  • Indigenous Heritage: Features one of North America's largest collections of Indigenous rock carvings.
  • Scenic River Valley: Located along the Milk River, with stunning views and diverse wildlife.
  • Cultural Significance: Provides insights into the Plains Indians' spiritual beliefs and practices.

11. Waterton Lakes National Park

Discover a unique combination of mountain landscapes, prairie grasslands, and glacier-fed lakes.
  • Biosphere Reserve: Part of the Waterton Glacier International Peace Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
  • Pronghorn Migration: Home to one of the world's longest pronghorn migrations, spanning over 150 kilometres.
  • Natural Wonders: Features stunning sights like Red Rock Canyon and Cameron Lake.

12. Drumheller's Royal Tyrrell Museum

Discover Canada's rich dinosaur history at a world-class museum with interactive exhibits.
  • Dinosaur Diversity: Showcases over 40 complete dinosaur skeletons, including the famous Gordo the Dino.
  • Research Facility: Actively involved in dinosaur research and excavation projects.
  • Interactive Experiences: Offers fossil digging activities, virtual reality experiences, and guided tours.

13. Dinosaur Provincial Park Campground

Stay overnight in a dinosaur-themed campground with easy access to fossil sites and trails.
  • Dino-themed Accommodations: Includes dinosaur-shaped tents and camper vans for a fun stay.
  • Access to Fossils: Located near fossil sites, making it easy to explore during the day.
  • Night Sky Observations: Offers clear skies for stargazing and astronomy enthusiasts.

14. Lake Louise Ski Resort

Experience winter sports like skiing and snowboarding in the majestic Canadian Rockies.
  • Ski Variety: Offers a range of runs for all skill levels, including beginner, intermediate, and advanced skiers.
  • Scenic Beauty: Surrounded by stunning mountain vistas and glacier-fed lakes.
  • Luxury Accommodations: Provides upscale lodges, restaurants, and spas for a comfortable stay.

15. Yoho National Park

Explore glaciers, hot springs, and hiking trails in a stunning alpine setting.
  • Scenic Wonders: Features breathtaking sights like the Emerald Lake and the Spiral Tunnels.
  • Hiking Opportunities: Offers trails for all skill levels, including the famous Iceline Trail.
  • Takakkaw Falls: Visit one of Canada's tallest waterfalls, located within the park.