Hiking and paddling through cowboy country

Arrive in Calgary. Free time to explore the city depending on your flight’s arrival time. RDV at the hotel with the rest of the group to meet your guide and hear the tour presentation. Independent dinner. Night at the hotel.

We leave Calgary on our way to Kananaskis, a lesser-known provincial park that is one of the local's favorite. With smaller crowds and great hiking K-country is a place to discover. We start our exploration by tackling Upper Kananaskis Lake trail. Perfect for a firs outing this trail offers varied terrain and incredible views of Kananaskis Lake. Transfer to our wilderness hostel for the next 3 nights.

Hike

Today we explore another section of Kananaskis on the Burstall Pass trail. The trail starts in the lush forest surrounding Burstall Lake. After a few kilometres we cross Burstall creek which may require us to get our feet wet before regaining the cool cover of the forest. The trail steepens and emmerges on to a vast alpine prairie covered in wild flowers. The real climbing to reach the pass starts here and rises some 600m above the valley floor to reward you with great views of the world-famous Mount Assiniboine. Definitely a highlight of the trip. Back to our hostel at the end of the day.

Hike

Today we tackle Guinn's Pass. A 18km out and back trail that takes us along Galatea creek all to way to Lilian Lake. From there the trail picks up as we climb to reach the pass. Offering great view of Ribbon lake bassin and surrounding mountains. Back to our hostel at the end of the day.

Hike

Leaving Kananaskis we head south to reach Waterton NP. Founded in 1895 at the same time as Glacier National Park in the US, it is a symbol of the unity and peace between the two countries. Once we reach the park we’ll go and explore Red rock canyon an ochre red canyon carved out of the ferrous rocks by the flowing streams. Return to Waterton village to set up our campground for the night.

Hike

Ascend one of the parks signature trails. Be ready to experience something completely different than the trails we’ve hiked so far. Walking in an environment reminiscent of Mars or the moon the hike takes us from the shores of Cameron Lake up to Summit, Carthew and Anderson lake before taking us of back to Waterton Village. A truly unique and unforgettable trek. Back to our campground for a well deserve rest and a tasty campfire meal.

Hike

This morning we hop on a boat to cross Waterton Lake and reach the start of the Crypt Lake trail. A 20km loop trail that will take us south towards the US boarder along wide-open ridges with amazing views of the surrounding mountains. Return by boat to Waterton village. Free time to visit the prince of Whales hotel. Night at the campground.

Hike

Leave the foothills of the Rockies and make our way to the rolling Plaines of southern Alberta. We stop in Milk river to experience the rural side of Alberta, with its vast expanses of agricultural and farmland. This will be the starting point of our 3–day paddle on the Milk River on our way to Writing-on-Stone PP. Named after its characteristic color due to the presence of glacial silt, the meandering river carves its way through the surrounding sandstone all the way to the Missouri river in Montana. Night camping.

Canoeing

Full day of paddling down the Milk river. Taking in all the meandering detours of the river as we calmly make our way east through these impressive rock formations. Tonight, we camp like the first explorers did, setting up our tents on the side of the river, enjoying a hearty camp meal under the star lit sky. Night camping.

Caoeing

Last day on the river. We break down camp before making our way to Writing-on-Stone PP. We arrive in the afternoon and begin our exploration of the area that was, according to the people that have lived there for centuries, created by the God Nààpi who was sent by the creator to shape the land in this way. Night camping.

canoeing

Discovery of this incredibly rich cultural site of the Blackfoot people. Accompanied by a first nation’s guide we’ll learn about the significance of the site as well as get to see many of the artefacts and petroglyphs that bear witness to the presence of indigenous people form centuries passed. In the afternoon we cross the river and head out for a hike amongst these giant rock towers and miniature canyons, returning to our campground for our last night camping.

Hike

Today we break camp for the last time and make our way back to Calgary stopping for lunch along the way and to check out the impressive railway bridge in Lethbridge. Arrive in Calgary in the early afternoon for some free time to explore the city or make your way to the airport for your return flight.