Hiking

World-Class Canadian And USA Rocky Mountains Hiking Trails

Stop and drink in the captivating scenery stretching out ahead -- towering mountains, deep canyons, fast-moving rivers, lush valleys. Breathe in the sweet scent of pine or sage. You hear a rustling in the trees nearby. Is it a deer or elk? Anything is possible when you hike the Northern Rockies. Few activities allow you to experience this natural paradise like Rocky Mountain hiking. There are hundreds of miles of trail waiting for you to explore in the National Forests, from short nature trails to long distance wilderness treks. Explore the diverse landscapes of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, acclaimed by Travel & Leisure magazine as one of the world's 10 best islands. Discover the majesty of Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Glacier National Parks – three of North America’s greatest treasures. From relaxed day trips for beginners to hard-core excursions up ascending mountain trails, adventure awaits at every turn in our US and Canadian Rockies hiking regions.

• Alberta
  
• British Columbia
  
• Idaho
  
• Montana
  
• Oregon
  
• Washington
  
• Wyoming

Alberta

• Waterton Lakes National Park – Boasts 120 miles of hiking trails, ranging from easy strolls to strenuous wilderness hikes. Enjoy a variety of shorter trails that can be easily completed in a few hours or a day. www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/Waterton/index_e.asp

• Banff National Park -- Besides glaciers, icefields, and some of the tallest peaks and most beautiful lakes in the Canadian Rockies, Banff National Park has a trail system that covers 1,000 miles. www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/index_E.asp

• Jasper National Park – Hike on Jasper’s many trails and you’ll see elk, bison, bighorn sheep, moose, mountain goats and caribou. www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/jasper/index_e.asp

British Columbia

• Kootenay Rockies – Enjoy great hiking for enthusiasts of all experience and ability levels. Offering spectacular mountain views, lush alpine meadows, old-growth forests, wild rivers, and thunderous waterfalls. www.hellobc.com/en-CA/SightsActivitiesEvents/AirLandActivities/Hiking/KootenayRockies.htm?Lev1=1

Idaho

• Panhandle National Forests -- The Idaho Panhandle National Forests comprise about 2.5 million acres of public lands spanning northern Idaho, extending into eastern Washington and western Montana. Visit www.fs.fed.us/ipnf/rec/activities/trails/index.html for more information.

• Frank Church - River of No Return Wilderness – Designated as a wilderness in 1980, it now has a total of 2.3 million acres. As the second largest wilderness area in Lower 48, it was named for Senator Frank Church, who played a key role in the passage of the Wilderness Act of 1964. www.fs.fed.us/r4/sc/recreation/fcronr/fcronrindex.shtml

• Nez Perce National Forest — 2.2 million acres of beautiful and diverse land. From the dry, rugged canyons of the Salmon River to the moist cedar forests of the Selway drainage, the forest offers something for everyone. This vast, diverse area is managed to provide a variety of goods and services, including breathtaking scenery, wilderness, wildlife, fisheries, timber harvest, livestock grazing, mining, pristine water quality, and a wide array of recreation opportunities. The Forest is best known for its wild character. Nearly half of the Forest is designated wilderness. It also sports two rivers popular with thrill-seeking floaters — the Selway and the Salmon. fs.usda.gov/nezperce

• Clearwater National Forest -- Covers 1.8 million acres from the jagged peaks of the Bitterroot Mountains in the east to the river canyons and the rolling hills of the Palouse Prairie in the west. The North Fork of the Clearwater and Lochsa rivers provide miles of tumbling white water interspersed with quiet pools for migratory and resident fish. The mountains provide habitat for elk, moose, whitetail and mule deer, black bear, gray wolf, cougar, mountain goats, and many smaller mammals. www.fs.fed.us/r1/clearwater/

• Hells Canyon -- The deepest river gorge in North America, this national showcase holds 652,488 acres of beauty and adventure, where you can let your senses run as wild as the landscape. Scenic vistas that rival any on the continent. World-class whitewater boating. Spectacular mountain peaks. Vast reaches of remote wilderness for hiking or horseback riding. Diverse and abundant wildlife. Artifacts from prehistoric tribes and rustic remains of early miners and settlers. Hells Canyon National Recreation Area truly offers something for everyone, and much to remember. We know you will enjoy Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, whether you choose to explore by road, trail, or boat. www.fs.fed.us/hellscanyon/

• Sawtooth National Recreation Area: Hiking and backpacking in the area around Stanley is a dream come true. The Sawtooth Mountains, Whitecloud Range and the Salmon River Valley offer endless opportunities to find amazing off the beaten path destinations with epic views, pristine lakes, and grand peaks. http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/sawtooth/recreation

Montana

• Glacier National Park – Called the “The Crown of the Continent”. Boasts more than 700 miles of maintained trails, backcountry camping, sparkling lakes, alpine glaciers, deep forests, and wildlife, large and small. www.nps.gov/glac/
• Yellowstone National Park – The world’s first national park. Hike or backpack amid steaming hot springs, shooting geysers, roaring waterfalls, and herds of wildlife. www.nps.gov/yell/
• Ten Lakes Scenic Area – East of Eureka in the Whitefish Mountain Range, just below Canada and west of Glacier Park, the Ten Lakes Basin was carved by glaciers leaving alpine mountain lakes sheltered by high, rim-rocked basins connected today by 89 miles of hiking trails. www.fs.fed.us/r1/kootenai/
• Island Lake – Provides spectacular vistas of Island Lake and the Beartooth Mountains. Island Lake is the trailhead for the Beartooth High Lake Trail, an easy hike leading to numerous mountain lakes. www.fs.fed.us/r2/shoshone/recreation/fishing/snf_fish_site/lakes_reservoirs/islandlake.htm
• Beartooth Lake – Great for hiking, biking, fishing, and picnicking. www.byways.org/explore/byways/2281/places/35632/
• Crazy Creek – The Take a 200-yard upstream to see a mountainside full of water splashing over rocks. It’s gorgeous in June, when the streams are at their maximum runoff level. www.visitmt.com/categories/moreinfo.asp?IDRRecordID=6915&siteid=1
• Flathead National Forest -- The Flathead's spectacular, rugged terrain lies south of Canada, adjacent to Glacier National Park and west of the Continental Divide. The vast expanse of the Bob Marshall Wilderness complex offers forest visitors primitive recreational opportunities. The Forest headquarters is located in Kalispell, with offices in Whitefish, Columbia Falls, Hungry Horse, and Spotted Bear. www.montanascenicloop.com/see_and_do/forest/flathead.php
• Helena National Forest -- Located in west-central Montana, the Helena National Forest surrounds Montana’s Capital City and offers close to one million acres of distinctive landscapes. The Forest is administered by District headquarters in Lincoln, Helena, and Townsend, with the Supervisor’s Office located in Helena. www.montanascenicloop.com/see_and_do/forest/helena.php
• Lewis and Clark National Forest -- Located in central and north central Montana within the upper Missouri River system. Landscapes range from broad prairies to rugged ridges and mountain peaks. Beautiful grassy parks and mountain meadows are surrounded by forests of douglas fir and lodgepole pine. www.montanascenicloop.com/see_and_do/forest/lewis.php
• Lolo National Forest -- Created in 1906, the two-million-acre Lolo National Forest in west-central Montana is one of 10 national forests in Montana, geographically surrounding the city of Missoula and bounded by other national forests and the Flathead Indian Reservation. Today, the Lolo National Forest is divided into five "ranger districts," with offices in Missoula, (Forest Headquarters) Ninemile (near Frenchtown), Plains, Seeley Lake, and Superior. www.montanascenicloop.com/see_and_do/forest/lolo.php
• Bob Marshall Wilderness -- You'll find more than 1,000 miles of trails, from well-used maintained trails to primitive trails having less maintenance as you travel deeper into Montana's largest wilderness. Remember this fact: The United States Congress designated the Bob Marshall Wilderness in 1964 and it now has a total of 1,009,356 acres, all in Montana. www.montanascenicloop.com/see_and_do/wilderness/bobmarshall.php
• Great Bear Wilderness -- More than 300 miles of trails provide access to virtually unlimited backpacking and horse-packing, hunting and fishing, backcountry skiing, and mountain climbing, but much of the interior has no trail. Did you know that the United States Congress designated the Great Bear Wilderness in 1978 and it now has a total of 286,700 acres? www.montanascenicloop.com/see_and_do/wilderness/greatbear.php
• Scapegoat Wilderness -- Hundreds of miles of trails are suitable for hiking, backpacking and horse packing, and most of them follow drainages. The Wilderness lies along the Continental Divide and contains a section of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDT), a length of approximately 50 miles. Designated Wilderness in 1972, the Scapegoat has a total of 239,936 acres. www.montanascenicloop.com/see_and_do/wilderness/scapegoat.php
• Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness -- An enormous, rugged expanse whose east side offers high-elevation plateau country speckled with pristine lakes, delicate tundra, and jagged peaks. Complemented on its west side by equally wild and rugged landscapes, covered by thick forests, high mountain meadows, and streams below open rocky ridges. www.fs.fed.us/r1/gallatin/?page=recreation/areas/wilderness
• Cabinet Mountain Wilderness -- Just as beautiful as a national park, but without the foot traffic! The Cabinet Mountains Wilderness offers 94,272 acres of rugged, mountainous terrain in the Kootenai National Forest. More than 20 trails pass through beautiful forested side slopes, huckleberry patches, and alpine meadows dotted with wildflowers. http://www.libbymt.com/areaattractions/cabinetmountains.htm
• A much longer list of Montana hiking opportunities is at www.visitmt.com/experiences/outdoor_activities/hiking_and_backpacking/.

Oregon

• Hells Canyon All-American Road -- Leave the fast pace of life and follow the land into slower times and wilder places. Pass through lush valleys, rimmed by the snow-tipped Wallowa Mountains. Savor the scent of pine on the fresh mountain air. Stand next to the majestic Snake River as it begins its tumbling course through North America's deepest canyon. Your choices are limitless!

Washington

• Colville National Forest -- Spanning 1.1 million acres in northeastern Washington and includes the Kettle River, Selkirk mountain ranges, and the upper reaches of the Columbia River. The forest boasts exciting wildlife such as the grizzly and black bears, cougars, bald eagles, and the last remaining herd of caribou in the U.S. Visit www.fs.fed.us/r6/colville/recreation/trails/trails.shtml for more information.

Wyoming

• Absaroka Lava Flow – See geological history in the making. Can you locate rock formations such as the Old Woman and the Cabin, the Slipper, Chimney Rock, Henry Ford Rock, or Laughing Pig. http://www.nps.gov/yell/naturescience/geohighlights.htm

• Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park -- Yellowstone is the world’s first national park. Hike or backpack amid steaming hot springs, shooting geysers, and roaring waterfalls. The trails in Grand Teton will take you through different biomes, providing up-close views of different animals and birds.

• Bridger-Teton National Forest – A large part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, boasting over 3,000 miles of road and trail. http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/btnf/

• National Elk Refuge – Home to a large amount of elk, the refuge also hosts bison and about 175 species of birds. www.fws.gov/nationalelkrefuge/

• Buffalo Bill Reservoir and State Park – Displays local history and wildlife interpretation. Offers facilities for hiking, camping, picnicking, boating, fishing, and windsurfing. www.wyomingtourism.org/overview/Buffalo-Bill-State-Park/2581

• Absaroka Lava Flow – See geological history in the making. Can you locate rock formations such as the Old Woman and the Cabin, the Slipper, Chimney Rock, Henry Ford Rock, or Laughing Pig?

• Shoshone National Forest – America’s first national forest, set aside in 1891 as part of the Yellowstone Timberland Reserve. www.fs.fed.us/r2/shoshone/

• The Wapiti Valley – Wapiti is an Indian word for elk. Home to 12 guest and dude ranches. Camping, hiking, horseback riding, and winter cross country skiing are popular. Elk, deer, Bighorn sheep, moose, and even bison roam the valley year-round. Look out for grizzlies in the summer and fall. www.wyomingtourism.org/overview/Wapiti-Valley/31498

• Wind River Mountains – The Wind River Range stretches more than 100 miles in western Wyoming and contains 35 named peaks over 13,000 feet in elevation. Take a spectacular virtual tour of Wyoming's pristine Wind River Mountains. More details: http://www.wind-river.org/do.php?cat=outdoorrecreation&keyword=Hiking/Backpacking and www.mountainmancountry.com/attractions/destinations/wind-river-mountians.html

• National Elk Refuge – Home to a large amount of elk, the refuge also hosts bison and about 175 species of birds. www.fws.gov/nationalelkrefuge/

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