It’s no secret that in the Canadian Rockies we find one of lower Canada’s largest and unfettered wilderness areas. It’s also right at our fingertips. Outdoor aficionado, Andrew Hardingham, gives us four great reasons to lace up our hiking boots, and his best recommendations for wilderness experiences in Banff National Park.

Hike into Berg Lake with the lofty height of Mt. Robson and tumbling glaciers towering above you, and you’ll be wondering why you’ve never been there before. Mt. Robson Provincial Park is a backcountry hiker’s paradise, with the biggest, wildest and most diverse terrain the Canadian Rockies have to offer. The hiking here is rigorous, but the rewards are as huge as the mountain that makes the region so famous.

The Iceline Circuit is considered by many to be a jewel of Yoho National Park, and for good reason. Not only will you find waterfalls, glaciers and wildflowers around every turn, but this region is rich with the history of Swiss Guides and the CP Rail. Whether you complete the 20-km circuit in a hard-earned day or break it up with a backcountry campground or ACC Hut, there are several ways to enjoy this little slice of Yoho paradise.

With its turquoise waters, towering peaks, hanging valleys and larch forests, Lake O’Hara is beloved by all those who know it. The near-mythic beauty of this pocket of Yoho National Park will bring you to your knees. If that’s not enough to make you plan a trip, you should know that Parks Canada has restricted access to a handful of busloads each day. Plan ahead and you’ll be among the eager beavers enjoying one of the most impressive and crowd-free spots in the Canadian Rockies.

If you’ve ever been to Lake Louise Ski Resort, you may have wondered what lies out of sight just beyond the slopes. Whatever you’re picturing, it’s all that and more. The Skoki Region offers some of Banff’s premier multi-day hiking, backpacking and camping experiences. Trips are easily customized by linking various campgrounds, or tacking on exciting scrambles and side-trips. Don’t forget your camera as the mountain passes and alpine lakes on this trip will have you filling up your memory card in no time.

Traversing three alpine passes, lush forests, lunar scree slopes and heavenly wildflower meadows, the 55-kilometre Rockwall Trail in the Kootenay Valley is a Rockies hiking gem. Along the route, hanging glaciers and waterfalls burst out of the Rockwall itself, a 900-metre-high rampart of limestone and dolomite that looms over the trail for much of its length. Enthusiasts can hike the whole trail in two days, taking an overnight break at Numa Creek Campground (20 km), but a four-day trip gives more time to enjoy the epic scenery.

Some trips are about the destination, others are about the journey. The backcountry trips that stick with us most are the ones that captivate us every step of the way. A hike connecting North Molar Pass, Fish Lakes and Molar Pass (also known as South Molar) is one such unforgettable adventure. Expansive alpine meadows, impressive rock headwalls and encircling peaks will have you spinning round and round in slow-motion 360’s as you soak up the infinite views.

With six national parks and eight provincial parks within just over an hour’s drive, Golden, British Columbia, has rightfully been dubbed the “Heart of the Parks.” But, what’s even closer than a handful of these famous parks – and equally impressive – is the Blaeberry Valley, less than 20 kilometres from downtown Golden and ripe for untamed adventures. Abby Cooper gives us the inside scoop.

Anyone willing to put in some mileage on their hiking boots should consider a multi-day trip into Egypt Lake in Banff National Park. Forested valleys, striking pinnacles, clusters of small lakes, and exciting alpine passes distinguish this area from its other backcountry counterparts. Hit it up in July to enjoy carpets of wildflowers, and warm weather that’ll make you eager to jump into one of the many lakes along the way.