These ten hikes are extraordinary experiences in unique places for those who seek indelible memories and believe lifespan is better spent collecting memories than things.
Emerald pond at Illecillewaet Icefield from Perley Rock in Glacier National Park, Canada
Following are a few hikes considered to be among the very best in North America. Each is a uniquely spectacular experience likely to create an indelible life-long memory.
All are reasonably aggressive and none would be recommended as season openers or for inexperienced hikers. Due diligence and planning is important.
All selections are from posts within this blog. Enjoy!
Click on the red links below to discover more detail about each hike.
1. Twin Falls in Yoho National Park, British Columbia, Canada
Twin Falls in Yoho National Park, British Columbia, Canada
This incredible day hike can become a long day hike but you may choose to enjoy Takakkaw Falls, Angel's Staircase, Point Lace Falls, Laughing Falls and Duchesnay Lake along the way. An extraordinary experience.
Additional world-class hikes worthy of investigation in Yoho National Park are Niles Peak, the Iceline and Lake Oesa. Check out this park. Yoho National Park is a small but incredibly spectacular Canadian National Park inBritish Columbia, Canada.
2. Fairy Falls and Imperial Geyser - Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Imperial Geyser in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA
This day hike in the thermal quadrant of Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA is one of many multi-sense treasures. Colors are vibrant and the intermittent sound of boiling gushers is divided by a short distance on boardwalk through wetlands to a long, beautiful waterfall feeding cool water for wading in refreshing ponds.
3. Mount Allan - Centennial Ridge - Wind Valley, Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada
Pinnacles in the Rock Garden on the hike to the summit of Mount Allan in Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada
The infamous Centennial Trail provides lofty mountain views to special places between Deadman's Flats and Ribbon Creek in Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada. The summit of Mount Allan via Olympic Summit is the south approach from Ribbon Creek. There are two additional blog posts for the Centennial Ridge hike. One is for the North Route and the other is for the entire traverse from Deadman's Flats to Ribbon Creek.
4. Perley Rock - Rogers Pass - Canada's Glacier National Park, British Columbia, Canada
Emerald pond at Illecillewaet Icefield from Perley Rock in Glacier National Park, Canada
This aggressive climb to the edge of the Illecillewaet Icefield in Glacier National Park, British Columbia, Canada, travels through a wide variety of spectacular terrain with commanding long range vistas complementing tiny detail. The hike to Perley Rock and beyond is a sensory extravaganza best achieved in fair weather.
5. Asulkan Valley - Rogers Pass - Canada's Glacier National Park, British Columbia, Canada
View from Asulkan Hut into the Asulkan Valley at Glacier National Park in British Columbia, Canada
The hike from Glacier House Monument, near the Illecillewaet Campground in Canada's Glacier National Park, British Columbia, to Asulkan Hut provides an incredible assortment of breathtaking terrain on a wide variety of hiking trail. From the top there are a number of additional hiking alternatives and excellent views to other hikes in the area. The final approach to Asulkan Hut is up along the long, narrow top of a lateral moraine. The hike is through forest and sub-alpine terrain into rugged alpine opportunities adjacent to glaciers accented with pink algae. An opportunity of a lifetime.
6. Swiftcurrent Pass - Glacier National Park, Montana, USA
An isolated water fall along the route to Swiftcurrent Pass in the Many Glacier section of Glacier National Park, Montana, USA
This hike to Swiftcurrent Pass, and potentially beyond, begins on excellent trail in the Many Glacier area of Glacier National Park in Montana, USA. The trail passes a chain of beautiful lakes before crossing a creek and climbing steeply past a glacier to incredible vistas through the valley before curling up to the large cairn at the pass. A summit is within reasonable reach in fair weather.
7. Grinnell Glacier - Many Glaciers - Glacier National Park, Montana, USA
Grinnell Falls along the hike to Grinnell Glacier in Glacier National Park, Montana, USA
The hike to Grinnell Glacier is arguably the most popular in the Many Glacier area of Glacier National Park, Montana, USA. The trail hosts spectacular features and vistas across Grinnell Valley with it's pristine lakes and waterfalls. Although the glaciers are nearly gone, the terrain and aura of the place is mesmerizing and the hike is more than worthy of the effort.
8. Larch Valley and Sentinel Pass - Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
The iconic view back to Valley of the Ten Peaks from Sentinel Pass in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
Larch Valley is an iconic and world-famous hike from Moraine Lake west and above Lake Louise in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada. The view into Paradise Valley from Sentinel Pass wedged between Pinnacle Mountain and Mount Temple is amazing and forever memorable. This popular hike is commonly busy and very crowded in late September when the larch trees in Larch Valley turn from green to gold.
9. Eiffel Lakes and Wenkchemna Pass - Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
Eiffel Lakes in the Valley of Ten Peaks in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
An alternative above Moraine Lake along the route to Sentinel Pass is a trail branch into Eiffel Lakes and beyond to Wenkchemna Pass. This experience is different but equally spectacular to Larch Valley with a different assortment of incredible features in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada. The golden Larch trees tend to hang on a bit longer here in September than it's Larch Valley counterpart at slightly higher altitude and less protected environment.
10. Turtle Mountain Summit Traverse - Crowsnest Pass, Alberta, Canada
Turtle Mountain is a unique and historical hike at Frank Slide in the Crowsnest Pass, Alberta, Canada
The well-appointed Frank Slide Interpretive Centre in the Crowsnest Pass, Alberta, Canada is a good place to begin for current trail-head location. If there is time at the end of the day, time spent at the Interpretive Centre is well-spent learning about the cataclysmic collapse of Turtle Mountain where the Frank Slide caused the destruction of most of the Town of Frank. The stories are tragic, sobering and heart lifting. The hike can be adjusted from moderate to the first summit, to aggressive for traversing the mountain top. Scenery and features are unique and spectacular. If there is time, Leitch Collieries and Lundbreck Falls are worth a look.
These day hikes in North America are among some of the best on the planet. Collect memories, not things.
Remember to be prepared for fickle mountain weather and carry everything you may need for contingency. Tell someone where you are going and let them know you have returned safely. Have yourself a wonderful day! Stay safe.
