No excuses: The best hikes for a lazy day in Alberta

For those of us in Alberta who love hikes, we have to take advantage of the nice weather when we can, even if we aren’t feeling up to it.

Luckily, there are a few hikes in Alberta that are perfect for the days when our stamina bar isn’t at 100%.

So for the days when you aren’t feeling your most adventurous, here are seven Alberta hikes to do when you’re feeling lazy.

Just remember to make sure you have everything you need before you head out.

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In Canmore

Trans Canada Trail

Tami Atkins/All Trails

The 6.1-km portion of the Trans Canada Trail goes from the Three Sisters Mountain Village into the Town of Canmore. It usually takes a little more than an hour and a half to complete with minimal elevation gain.

Policeman’s Creek Boardwalk Trail

Elissa Boyd McGee/All Trails

A scenic, 4.2-km trek that starts from downtown Canmore and follows Policeman’s Creek through forests and alongside ponds. If this wakes up your adventurous side, it connects to 70 km of other walking trails.

Grotto Canyon

Peter Ballin/All Trails

It is a very un-lazy 7.1 km but there are some stunning views along the way that, if you are still not feeling up to it, would make fine endpoints.

In Banff

Johnston Canyon to Upper Falls

Anant Singhal/All Trails

This is technically listed as a moderate hike, but there is a path to bail out about 1.1 km in. You can hike to the lower falls, get a lovely view and be on your way if you so choose. If you’d like to finish the other half of the hike, the views of the falls are worth the effort.

Star Wars Loop

Bobby Couturier/All Trails

If a hike called “Star Wars” doesn’t get you fired up to head onto a path in a galaxy far, far away, it’s a quick, 2.7-km hike that takes about an hour to complete.

In Jasper

Maligne Canyon

Thomas Heather/All Trails

This one may have the best views-to-effort ratio on the list. It is a 4.3-km out-and-back that takes just over an hour to complete. That time depends on how many pictures you take of the sweet views.

Edith Lake

Javier Umbert/All Trails

You are guaranteed great views on this 4.7-km hike. You literally just walk around the lake for the whole hike — minimal elevation gains AND it is gorgeous.