Grassi Lake & Grotto Canyon hiking tour from Canmore
Turquoise lake and frozen canyon in one afternoon
A guided hiking tour from Canmore explores Grassi Lake and Grotto Canyon over six to eight hours, with pickup from Calgary, Canmore or Banff included. You hike to the lake's crystal-clear waters, then walk through a canyon lined with Indigenous pictographs and dramatic rock walls. In winter, the creek freezes into an ice path beneath hanging icicles. In summer, flowing water and stone formations frame the trail.
Options for this experience
3 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Hiking and exploring Kananaskis area
- Hike through Grotto Canyon
- Visit Grassi Lake
- Lunch and explore Banff Town
What’s included
- Pickup and dropoff from Calgary, Canmore or Banff.
- air-conditioned vehicle.
- crampons and hiking poles on request.
- live guide in your chosen language.
- lunch stop in Banff town (meal is your own cost).
Times
- Every day 07:15 08:40 09:00
Before you book
Operated by Banff Journey
Prices and times updated yesterday
Traveler reviews
The experience
You're picked up from your hotel or a fixed meeting point in Calgary, Canmore or Banff and driven to the trailhead. The tour runs six to eight hours total, including travel time, so the day is structured around reaching both sites without rushing. A live guide leads the group (you'll join other travelers on this shared tour), and can speak English, Spanish, French, Chinese or one additional language, so confirm yours when booking.
Grassi Lake sits tucked in forest above Canmore, and the hike there is the first stop. In warmer months the water turns a vivid turquoise, framed by evergreens and mountain peaks. In winter the lake freezes solid and snow blankets the surrounding cliffs, creating a stark, quiet landscape. The trail itself is suitable for all fitness levels, though the terrain varies with the season. Crampons and hiking poles are available on request if you need them for icy or uneven ground.
Grotto Canyon offers a completely different landscape. You walk through towering limestone walls where ancient Indigenous pictographs are still visible on the rock face. In winter, the creek running through the canyon freezes, and you walk across ice beneath hanging icicles and frozen waterfalls. Summer brings flowing water and moss-covered stone, turning the same narrow passage into a lush, cool corridor. The canyon's rock formations and the creek bed are the main features. There's no scrambling or technical climbing involved.
The tour ends with a stop in Banff town, where you can grab lunch on your own before heading back. Pickup and dropoff are included, and the operator sends a reminder the day before. Road conditions and weather can shift the itinerary, so check your email the morning of the tour for any updates.
Is this one for you?Choose the Canmore or Banff pickup if you're staying in the mountain towns and want to skip the longer drive from Calgary. The fixed pickup times mean you'll know exactly when to be ready, and the shared tour format keeps the cost lower than a private guide would be.
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Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English, Spanish, French, Chinese and Cantonese.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
Can I do this hike if I'm not very fit?
The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. The trails to Grassi Lake and through Grotto Canyon are accessible without technical climbing or scrambling, though the terrain changes with the season: snow and ice in winter, forest floor and creek bed in summer. Crampons and hiking poles are available on request if you need extra grip or support.
What's the difference between Grassi Lake in summer and winter?
Grassi Lake's turquoise water is visible in warmer months, surrounded by green forest and dramatic mountain peaks. In winter the lake freezes solid, and snow blankets the trails and cliffs, creating a serene, snow-dusted landscape. Both seasons attract visitors, though the experience is quite different. One is about the color and reflection of the water, the other about the quiet and ice.
What will I see inside Grotto Canyon?
Grotto Canyon features towering limestone cliffs, ancient Indigenous pictographs still visible on the rock walls, and a creek that runs through the narrow passage. In winter the creek freezes into a natural ice path with hanging icicles and frozen waterfalls overhead. In summer the water flows and the stone formations are framed by moss and vegetation.
Do I need special equipment for this tour?
Crampons and hiking poles are available on request and recommended if you're hiking in winter or on icy terrain. Bring your own hiking boots and weather-appropriate clothing. The operator provides the guide and transportation. You bring water, snacks and any personal gear you prefer.
Where does the tour pick me up?
Pickup is available from fixed locations in Calgary, Canmore or Banff, and the operator will send you the exact meeting point and time when you book. All pickup times and locations are fixed, so choose the location closest to where you're staying and confirm the details before the day of the tour.
Grassi Lake & Grotto Canyon hiking tour from Canmore
6h–8h · EN · ES · FR +2 · at your hotel
from CA$ 139 per person
≈ US$ 101 in your currency
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.