Adventure is written in the stars. Find your horoscope below and discover what Alberta activity will awaken your wild side.
You’re a black sheep, yearning to break from the herd and live a little bolder. Consider a snowmobiling escapade in Alberta. As you race through fresh powder and ride deep into the winter wilderness, you’ll know this is the place for your adventurous spirit.
Trip Inspiration
Our province has over 6,500 km (4,040 mi) of groomed snowmobiling trails, from Clearwater County’s southern rolling hills to Fort McMurray’s northern boreal forest. Your first stop will be renting a snowmobile from places like Specialty Motorsports near Edmonton. Or, book a tour with Banff Adventures to learn from the experts.
Crowsnest Pass also has remote backcountry areas for advanced deep-powder riding. Before you head into more extreme regions, check snow conditions and pick up safety tips from Avalanche Canada.
If spring leaves you missing horsepower, try horseback riding. Fireside meals, galloping steeds and far-reaching views will make you feel like a Western film star. Groups like Anchor D Guiding & Outfitting Ltd. and Boundary Ranch will happily show you the ropes, offering multi-day rides or luxury cabin accommodations.
You love creature comforts, but lately you’ve been feeling listless. It’s time to reconnect with nature on a camping trip in Alberta. With luxurious glamping domes and chic furnished tents, you can appreciate the wild in complete comfort—no bull.
Trip Inspiration
Our province offers countless camping escapes. Stay in a geodome or floating treehouse at Glamp Good and admire the boreal forest from their Nordic wood-fired sauna. If you prefer alpine accommodations, Sundance By Basecamp rents out cozy Tipis and tents in Kananaskis.
We also have more remote campgrounds where you can bring a tent or an RV. Rampart Creek has astonishing sites off the Icefields Parkway between Banff and Jasper National Parks. Reserve a spot by the river and fall asleep to nature’s white noise.
You can always try winter camping too, but that’s not the only way to get closer to nature in winter. Snowshoeing tours will show you more of our breathtaking snow-covered terrain. Kananaskis Outfitters shares cookies, hot drinks and knowledge about local wildlife on leisurely 2-hour journeys. Or, rent your own pair for self-guided fun.
You have twice the energy of most, so it’s no surprise your routine is driving you stir-crazy. Remedy your restlessness with a hiking journey through Alberta’s many beautiful landscapes. Navigating endless trails while connecting to your companions will satisfy every side of your dynamic self.
Trip Inspiration
Hiking in Alberta is unlike anywhere else, especially in our many national and provincial parks. Waterton Lakes National Park has trails for all levels, including one of Canada’s most epic hikes. Spanning 17 km (10.6 mi), Crypt Lake Trail’s unbelievable beauty will spur you on as you scale steel ladders and pass powerful waterfalls in the Southern Rockies.
Save some of your energy for late September and early October hiking. Coniferous larch trees turn yellow and paint our mountain faces gold for a few weeks each fall. Don’t worry, we have a guide for experiencing larch season to its fullest.
As hiking winds down in winter, cross-country skiing amps up. Stay at the gorgeous Mount Engadine Lodge in Kananaskis and rent all your gear there. With the wilderness right outside your room, you can basically roll out of your bed and into your skis.
You’ve been feeling a little crabby lately. It’s high time you got on the water and spent time in nature. Paddling Alberta’s stunning mountain lakes and city rivers, free of worry or restraint, is sure to get you out of your shell.
Trip Inspiration
Alberta has no shortage of lakes and rivers and ways to enjoy them. Kayak, canoe or paddleboard in the Rocky Mountains on turquoise waters, like at Pyramid Lake in Jasper National Park. Or, turn up the excitement on a white-water rafting trip with Canadian Rockies Rafting.
If you’re in the mood for an easy float, take a tube down Calgary’s Bow River. And while you’re in one of Canada’s sunniest cities, you might as well stop in for post-float refreshments at one of the many patios along Stephen Avenue.
Come winter, our waters freeze as the landscape becomes an icy wonderland. But Alberta’s knack for raising spirits remain unchanged. You’ll see when you join holiday events like the Banff Christmas Market or winter festivals like Ice Magic in Lake Louise. Festive decorations set evergreens and ice carvings—and hearts—aglow.
When you have the heart of a lion, it’s easy to neglect your own needs. Treat yourself to an ice-skating getaway. Gliding across frozen lakes while taking in a breathtaking winter wonderland (and perhaps joining in a hockey game), will make your me-time a roaring success.
Trip Inspiration
With its ice bubbles and mountain scenery, Abraham Lake is a beautiful stage for a gold-medal-worthy figure skating performance or pickup hockey game. Our cities also have many outdoor rinks to glide around on, such as Bowness Park in Calgary. Here, you can skate along the Bow River on a 1.6 km (1 mi) ice track.
For the ultimate indoor skating experience, visit West Edmonton Mall’s Ice Palace. If you’re tired from twirling the day away, no worries. Reserve a fun themed room at the mall’s Fantasyland Hotel.
When summer swings around, trade in your skates for golf shoes. We have over 300 courses in Alberta with diverse scenery, from mountains to skyscrapers to hoodoos. Perfect your game on the fairways of Silvertip Resort in Canmore, The Links of GlenEagles in Cochrane or Dinosaur Trail Golf & Country Club in Drumheller.
While your natural caution serves you well, sometimes you need to trust the unknown. Through wildlife viewing, you’ll get the chance to explore virgin territory. Alberta may reward you with sightings of a mother bear and her cubs, soaring eagles and other magical creatures.
Trip Inspiration
Our wildlife will keep you company no matter what season you visit or where you go. Spot elk grazing wildflower fields come spring in Waterton Lakes National Park or take winter walks among wolfdogs at the Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary. And if you’re on a summer road trip, keep an eye out for mountain goats, bighorn sheep and bears.
Joining tours in the Rockies will give you a deeper understanding of animals as you observe them in their natural habitats. Discover Banff Tours offers various summer trips, including an evening wildlife safari. In winter, Jasper Tour Company’s Indigenous guides share stories about local fauna on strolls through undisturbed snowy scenes.
Animals like coyotes and deer often walk through our quieter towns, and even our cities sometimes. Always remember not to feed them or get too close. If you’re hiking or camping in more remote areas, brushing up on bear safety is always a good idea.
You’re in desperate need of balance. Making time for wellness would surely take some weight off your mind. With revitalizing outdoor activities, serene alpine spas and luxurious accommodations, Alberta is the perfect place to relax and reset.
Trip Inspiration
Start your wellness retreat at an incredible day spa. Spa by JW at the Edmonton JW Marriott is a lavish escape in the heart of Edmonton, while in Calgary SKA Thermal Spa emphasizes well-being through hydrotherapy. If you’d prefer to rest in the Canadian Rockies, you’ll love the stunning Kananaskis Nordic Spa.
Relax, connect with nature and get a good day of exercise all at once as you explore Alberta’s stunning landscapes. You can enjoy the fresh air in every season, from cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter, to fishing and golfing in the summer.
Between activities, stay somewhere that will rejuvenate your mind, body and spirit. For a luxurious getaway in the mountains, nowhere is quite as iconic as Canada’s “Castle in the Rockies,” the Fairmont Banff Springs. If you prefer to be even more immersed in nature, Elevated Escapes offers upscale camping domes and tents.
You’re feeling the sting of boredom. A ski trip may be just the fix. An exhilarating ride down some of the world’s best slopes, with fresh powder and views of the Canadian Rockies for miles, will reignite your passion for adventure.
Trip Inspiration
You have quite a selection of ski resorts to choose from. In Banff National Park alone, you can ski wicked bowls or the terrain park at Lake Louise, challenge yourself on three different mountains at Sunshine Village or snowboard after dark at Mt. Norquay. Craving a visit to Jasper National Park? Hit iconic yet uncrowded runs at Marmot Basin.
Resorts in Alberta have terrain and lesson packages for all skill levels. You can also warm up for mountain trips on city hills such as Canyon Ski Resort in Red Deer, Rabbit Hill Snow Resort in Edmonton or WinSport in Calgary.
If summer comes and you’re searching for an equally thrilling activity, try mountain biking. Our abundance of biking trails will provide that same exciting rush. For a multi-day ride across the Rockies, join Mountain Madness Tours. They handle accommodation, meals and rentals so you can bask in your summit-filled surroundings.
You seek to broaden your horizons. Alberta’s Dark Sky Preserves will do the trick. When you gaze up at glittering constellations, milky galaxies and a special dance by the northern lights, you’ll be inspired to aim for the stars.
Trip Inspiration
Without light pollution, the universe appears bigger than you’d ever think possible. Luckily, we have multiple Dark Sky Preserves in Alberta, from Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park in the south to Wood Buffalo National Park in the north. We also have tips for chasing the northern lights to help you catch a glimpse of their elusive show.
For an interpretive nighttime experience, consider joining a tour. Evening icewalks in Johnston Canyon with Discover Banff Tours or treks through Waterton Lakes National Park with Dark Sky Guides will turn you into an expert space navigator.
While your chances of catching the northern lights are far better in the winter, summertime brings more opportunities to sleep under the stars. Watch as the moon rises over a peak-filled horizon at Two Jack Lakeside Campground in Banff National Park. Or head to Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park Campground for a weekend of admiring ancient Indigenous rock art and a star-covered sky.
You’re seeking a new skill to master. Rock climbing may come quite naturally to you. When you scale the Canadian Rockies, enjoying unparalleled mountain views in every direction, you’ll quickly aspire to become the GOAT of this elevated activity.
Trip Inspiration
First, get your technique dialled in at a climbing gym like Calgary Climbing Centre or Edmonton’s Vertically Inclined. When you’re ready to reach new heights, join guides in the Rockies. Mt. Norquay’s Via Ferrata is a great place to start. Trek up ladders, across suspension bridges and to the peak for rockin’ panoramic views of Banff National Park.
We have no shortage of more technical scrambles and climbing routes, such as Cascade Mountain and Mount Temple. If you have some major expertise under your harness, check out Fight Club—Canada’s hardest rock-climbing route.
If you’re travelling during winter, you can learn how to ice climb instead. Girth Hitch Guiding hosts beginner-friendly courses in Nordegg. With frozen waterfalls and hidden canyons as your classroom, you won’t want the lesson to end.
You can’t pour from an empty cup. Replenish your spirits on a snowshoeing journey into the wild. As you travel to untouched corners of the winter landscape, you’ll feel your troubles fall away with each step in the sparkling snow.
Trip Inspiration
The best part about snowshoeing? You can do it almost anywhere, anytime. Join Nordegg Adventures in the Canadian Rockies to snowshoe by frozen waterfalls and across ice bubbles. Further north near Fort McMurray, Beyond Adventures will escort you for an evening of snowshoeing under the stars and maybe even the northern lights.
Métis Crossing offers Indigenous experiences, sky-watching dome accommodations and snowshoe tours in Central Alberta. Follow interpretive guides past untamed forests and majestic bison herds before retiring under a blanket of constellations and galaxies.
Summer will call you to Alberta’s less-frequented regions for uncrowded hikes. Trek along coulees and hoodoos in Dinosaur Provincial Park, where prehistorical fossils are often dug up. Lower Rowe Lake trail in Waterton Lakes National Park has more elevation gain, but the extra work gets rewarded with views of mossy forests, babbling creeks and sky-scraping mountains.
You’re a big fish in a small pond, yearning to explore uncharted waters. A fishing adventure in the Canadian Rockies would work swimmingly. With its deep, turquoise lakes, stunning streams and endless fish, Alberta will catch you and set you free.
Trip Inspiration
Calgary’s Bow River is world-renowned for trout fishing, and the city itself is abundant in memorable experiences. Enjoy exceptional stays like the historic Fairmont Palliser or the trendy Hotel Arts. While in town, savour excellent seafood at Rodney’s Oyster House or Shokunin.
Throughout Alberta, you’ll find unforgettable fishing spots like the Athabasca River, Lesser Slave Lake and Crowsnest River. If you feel out of your depth, consider a guided excursion. Alberta Fishing Charters and Canmore Fishing Adventures can turn a day of fishing into a day of catching.
Do you prefer travelling in the winter? Ice fishing in Alberta’s frozen lakes is a unique and cherished local tradition. Set out with Adventure Ice Fishing or Reel Exposure Guiding to experience the season at its best.