12 Scenic Waterfalls Hikes Near Calgary

As an avid day and weekend trekker, I have discovered 12 scenic waterfalls hikes within 2 – 3 hrs of Calgary that are easy to moderate, therefore, are family-friendly.

If you are anything like me you know that water soothes the soul. Every chance I get to head toward the water of any kind I do. Some of hese 12 waterfalls may not be huge falls but beautiful water featured none the less.

Discovering waterfalls can be challenging and a bit dangerous if you venture closer to get that Instagram worthy shot. Slipping and falling can happen to the most cautious seeker.

Recommended items to bring on hikes:

• Good traction footwear (hikers)
• Water
• Packaged snack
• Bear spray
• Whistle
• Bandaid or fist aid kit
• Toilet paper
• Bug spray
• Suntan lotion
• Binoculars
• Towel

#1 Heart Creek Falls Trail

The hike to the falls is a 4.7km return hike on heavily trafficked paths. HWY #1 at Lac Des Arcs overpass into Heart Creek parking lot. 1- hr from Calgary. Click the link above.

Easy

There are 7 bridges that crisscross throughout the hike over the creek which makes the trek interesting. It is a bit tricky finding the right path at the start once you get to the bottom of the hill. Keep left that winds over the creek otherwise you will need to cross a log which some may not feel comfortable with.

Although the hike is easy it does have a steep elevation at the end and the pathway is very uneven with rocks and stumps which is not stroller friendly.

Heart Creek hike to the falls is a really pretty hike although it can be disappointing for many especially young children or the faint of heart-type.

Why is it disappointing?

Although it is scenic with a nice weeping wall falls, creek and pools on the way up, people may be expecting a large waterfall. YES, there is one but you have to be an adventurist and walk on logs around the crevasse to really see it. See photo

Feel adventurist?

Moderate

Heart Creek is a great mountain full of neat gems to see. We always take our hikes to the next level so if you want to see more once reaching the falls I recommend taking the steep pathway to the left of the falls.

Continue right, finding your safest path to the top where you will come to a 3 fork. Take the middle path down under a fallen tree and walk toward creek bed. Once you reach the rock bed go left, continue up to where you will find a rock falls, On a hot day great to take a dip in. It is a bit tricky to get to the top but none the less beautiful to see. See photo. To come back keep to the left of the creek and it will bring you to the top of the original falls and carefully make your way down to the main falls area.

Enjoy watching rock climbers here.

#2 Big Hill Springs

Directions to take HWY 567. approx 36 min from Calgary. Click the link above

Easy

Big hill Springs has always been a favorite of mine. So easy to get to and such a great place to bring friends. Easy hike although a bit of elevation in areas. Walk the many waterfalls up the creek or hike the loop that winds through trees. Push it and hike to the top hill for a scenic view above it all. So many great photo ops throughout the hike. Pack a lunch or cool off in the many creek pools.

#3 Upper Kananaskis Falls

Moderate

Direction off HWY 40 to Upper Kananaskis Lake. Recommend parking between the lakes for easier access to falls. 1-hr from Calgary. Click the link above.

The full hike is 15.3km but I recommend doing a half just to the falls, 9 km return if you take the NW of the lake to start.

Great view of the lake and mountains and the tiny islands. I highly recommend kayaking this lake to the islands. Beautiful trail lakeside through the trees.

#4 Johnston Canyon Falls

Easy

Directions, Off HWY #1 to! A Bowriver Parkway. 1-hr 44 min from Calgary. Click the link above.

At Johnston Canyon there are upper (2.5km) and lower falls (1.2km). If you go to the upper it will take about 2 hrs round trip. Highly recommend it as it is an easy path up the canyon.

The falls at the top are spectacular where you can walk underneath. The lower falls you can view falls through a cave. Great hike up the canyon but during peak season can be very busy, a good time to see Johnston Canyon is in fall.

#5 Elbow Falls

Directions to Elbow falls, take HWY 66 west of Bragg Creek. 55 min from Calgary. Click the link above

Easy

Bragg Creek is another place that I love visiting. Grew up close by but still, love the quaint country atmosphere it has to offer.

Elbow Falls is a short drive from the town, with an easy trail to the falls and paths close by. Pack a lunch or pick one of the great restaurants in town. One of my Fav is The Italian Farmhouse. Enjoy great food while feeling like you at grandma’s house.

Continue down the river at Elbow Falls and you will find another spectacular water feature.

#6 Troll Falls

Directions to Troll Falls follow HWY 40 to Kananaskis Resort. It will be on the right about 1-hour from Calgary. Click the link above.

Easy – Difficult

Troll hike has Upper and Lower Falls with a few in between. The pathway is a slight elevation through the trees on a shale path.

Take the Slogan Trail into the trees, many take the cutline straight up but is hot and boring. It gets a bit confusing on where to go but if you follow the pathway until you reach a Y, keep left to lower falls, go right over the bridge up to a very steep path to upper falls. Not only is it steep but has a couple of tricky obstacles to cross. As difficult as it was for me it was 100% worth the effort. There are so many waterfalls in which you may think you have reached the top however there is a sign at the top that says you are at the top. Whew! Approx add on another hour to do the upper falls

#7 Bow Falls

Easy

Bow Falls sits below the historic Banff Springs Hotel on River Ave. 1- hour 28 min from Calgary. Hike down or drive to the parking lot close by. Click the link above

One of the many sites to see in Banff. Take a drive through the Golf course where Elk frequents the area. Trails are abundant in the area.

#8 Cat Creek Falls

Easy

Cat Creek Falls is just over an hour and a half drive from Calgary. Lovely scenic drive through the Foothills down alongside the Highwood River to Hwy 40.

The Cat Creek Falls hike starts at the far end of the parking lot which crosses hwy 40 and leads up the hill. You may also park on the East side of the creek and walk up from there where trails meet up.

The trail is a bit of a climb at the beginning but soon levels out to a moderate elevation with views of the surrounding open ranges. The hike is roughly 1 hr in total in and out, or if you choose to be an adventurist like us you can cross the creek and follow the old road to discover some great sites or scale the rocks at the waterfall to stand on the top of the falls. Use caution as it is a bit sketchy and dangerous.

Must say, this is one of my favorites because I love the open range and all the extra trails you can discover.

#9 Grotto Falls

Directions to Grotto are west on HWY 1A just past Exshaw. 1 hour from Calgary. Click the link above

Moderate

Grotto Canyon is a great hike. Uneven surface and elevation to the falls and writing on the wall (rock). 4.2 km return. Not the greatest falls, more of a stream from the rocks but also a weeping wall and a nice climb to the top of the falls. Lots of climbing walls. See more about Grotto here

#10 Quarry Lake Falls

Moderate

The falls at Quarry Lake are a bit of a hidden gem. 1-hr 12 min from Calgary. Park at the Quarry lake parking, cross the road, and head down a narrow path that leads you to the hidden falls. Really a pretty walk.

#11 O’Shaughnessy Falls

Moderate

O’Shaughnessy Falls is kind of a blink you miss it along HWY 40 to Kananaskis, between Porcupine creek and Barrier Lake on the East side of hwy. 1-hr drive from Calgary.

It really is a pretty hike up a narrow path through the trees up the creek bed. Again not much of a falls per se but worth the stop alongside the hwy for this one.

#12 Sheep River Falls

Another on my list but a great one to mention. Sheep River Falls is about 1 hr 40 min from Calgary. It is closed over winter due to winter conditions from Sept-May.

It is only a .5 km hike and is good for all skill levels.

More Waterfalls!

Three Sisters Falls

Check out my blog for more info on this hike.

Panther Falls

Located near Lake Louise about 57 minutes from Peyto Lake. The falls are only a short 1.1 km hike to view this wonderful sight. Open all year round where the falls in the winter are just as stunning as the summer months.

It’s a great road trip when you are out exploring some of the famous lakes in the Alberta Rockies.

Windy Ridge Trail

Moderate

Direction to the trailhead is up Pigeon Mountain across from Dead Man’s Flats at Banff Gate Mountain Resort. Click the link above. 1- hr drive from Calgary off of the 546 from Tuner Valley. A spectacular scenic drive to these falls.

Moderate

I think I saved the best for last. It may not be a raging waterfall but the water features are spectacular. Make you feel like you are in another world by the creek.

We hiked up West Wind Trail about 6 km to all the creeks, the trail is mostly flat with slight elevation as well as some rough terrain near the creek. It was a really pretty walk. The round trip to the peak is a 16.7 km hike. Unfortunately, we chickened out as just past the 6km mark we heard a crack in the trees, thinking it may have been a bear. It was getting late so we turned around and headed back.

I highly recommend this walk even if you only make it as far as we did. Next time we want to get to the peak.

Pearce Park

Easy

I included Pearce Park as it is a great place to wander the pathways alongside Harvie passage as well as has some nice water features within the park.

Pearce Park is 21 hectares of land along the bow River down from the Calgary Zoo. The Sam Livingston fish hatchery is there as well as the Harvie Passage on the river. Access from 17A st SE. Click the link above.

A great family area with parks, trails, streams and so much more. The falls are tiny but beautiful nonetheless.

Due to the 2013 flood, some of the water features here are nonexistent. 🙁

Venture to Yoho for these spectacular falls?

Takakkaw Falls, Natural Bridge Falls, and Hamilton Falls. 2020 spring runoff was so high it made for spectacular falls.

These falls are all in the same area of Emerald Lake one of the most beautiful lakes in BC.

Conclusion:

I hope you enjoy at least a few of these Top 12 scenic waterfalls and more near Calgary. I hope I offered some guidance to some great scenic sites you may or may not have been aware of.

You may also like Hiking King Creek Canyon as it has some beautiful water features as well.

Keep hiking, Stay fit and live the life you deserve. Nature is a beautiful thing, don’t take it for granted. The cost of gas and your time is worth every penny for the memories.

UPDATED: You may also like 40 stunning waterfalls in Alberta

Safe travels!!