Grassi Lakes Trail: best beginner hike in Canmore, Alberta
Grassi Lakes Trail is located in Canmore, Alberta. It’s a popular trail because it’s a fairly easy hike and doesn’t take long to get to views of a majestic waterfall or the two turquoise glimmering lakes. And in my opinion, this hike is also the perfect solo hike for beginners as well.
What I love about this hike is that it’s also really close to the Town of Canmore. Since the trail is fairly short, you may as well head over to Canmore for part of the day to get some lunch and explore the town.
Because of how accessible this hike is, you will likely find that it can be crowded on the weekends. Despite this, it’s a beautiful hike to do, as you get gorgeous views without needing to put in much effort to get there. I explored this short and sweet trail twice in one summer with new friends.
Distance: 4 km round trip
Duration: 1-2 hours
Elevation: 158 m
Level of difficulty: Easy
Grassi Lakes Trail
- How to get here
- Day trip itinerary
- What to expect on the hike
- Best time to hike
- Wildlife and environmental awareness
- More things to know
How to get to Grassi Lakes
Grassi Lakes Trail is only a 12 minute drive from the Town of Canmore.
Grassi Lakes Day Trip Itinerary
8:00 am – the perfect early morning hike
Take it slow during your walk to enjoy the outdoors, the brilliant forest and the warm summer air. Also bring your camera so that you can take photos along the way. You won’t want to miss the incredible waterfall along this trail!
This is a popular trail to walk, so arrive early if you want to experience a quieter morning stroll. When you arrive later in the day, you’ll find that the parking lot is full by 10:00 am, as this trail gets fairly busy.
Pack a snack for a leisurely picnic when you get to the lake. Depending on the day, you may see rock climbers scaling the cliffside as you peer across the turquoise blue waters.
This is a short hike and can be done in about an hour if you don’t take any stops. But I would highly recommend you take stops along the way to truly experience all of what Grassi Lakes has to offer.
11:00 am – explore the nearby Town of Canmore
Since Grassi Lakes is just a 12 minute drive from the Town of Canmore, after your hike, head over to Main Street (8th Street) in Canmore and explore the local shops.
Most of the local shops open around 11:00 am. There are so many cute shops here to explore. My favourite shops to go are the Stonewaters and the Cafe Books store. I’d also recommend grabbing lunch at the ‘Rocky Mountain Bagel Co’ – one of Canmore’s most popular coffee shops.
If you’re looking for more things to do in Canmore read more on a day trip to canmore and banff. There are also other beautiful hikes in the surrounding area in Kananaskis area to explore as well.
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What to Expect on the Hike
There are two different paths you can choose when getting to the Grassi Lakes – the ‘easy trail’ and ‘slightly harder trail’.
The easy trail
The ‘easy trail’ – starting at the parking lot, simply continue straight ahead on the well maintained gravel path to the lakes. This is the ‘easy route’, as it’s just a straight path the entire way with only slight elevation to get to the two glistening lakes.
This path is completely beginner friendly and great for families and older adults wanting to take is slow. If you take this route, Grassi Lakes Trail is more of a walk than a hike. The views here are not very interesting until you get up to the lakes.
The slightly harder trail
The ‘slightly harder trail’ – About 100 meters from the start of the trail, you’ll see a path you can take to the left. This trail is also easy and beginner friendly. The main difference is that the path is not a flat gravel path, however it is still very well maintained.
I’d recommend taking a left at this fork in the road, as the views are better here. This is where you will be able to catch the waterfall on your way to Grassi Lakes.
There are some stairs near the end of this trail, but overall it is very manageable. If you’re already a seasoned hiker, it will be easy for you. And if you’re a complete beginner, take it slow, wear good shoes and I’d say the views are completely worth the trek!
Best time to hike
The summer months are some of the best times to visit Grassi Lakes, as you’ll get to experience the glowing turquoise blue lakes that are surrounded by mountain peaks. Grassi Lakes is a trail that is open all year around. If you do plan to hike in the wintertime, ensure you are prepared for the changes in conditions and avalanche safety.
Wildlife and Environmental Awareness
In order for everyone to enjoy the outdoors for generations to come, here are a couple things you can do to protect the environment:
- Stay on the designated trails. If it’s a wet season, bring waterproof shoes and walk through the puddles not around
- Pick up your garbage and don’t feed or disturb the animals in the area
- Check the Alberta Parks or All Trails for up to date information of trail closures and bear activity before making your trip. Remember to bring your bear spray.
- Pre-download your hiking map ahead of time incase you lose service and lose your way
More Things to Know
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