Trans Canada Trail in Alberta Blog

Alberta's portion of the Trans Canada Trail (formerly the Great Trail) is over 3,000 km long, offering hikers and cyclists a chance to explore the province from east to west, or to head north from Fort Saskatchewan toward Tuktoyaktuk, NT.  It took Come Walk With Us two months to walk, photograph, bird, and blog the rail trails, pathways, and range roads of the east-west portion of the route.  We began by heading west through beautiful rolling ranch country on Alberta's Iron Horse Trail.  After exploring the forested urban trails of Edmonton we continued to the cultural center of Calgary, Alberta.  Eventually, open prairies gave way to the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, where we marveled at the spectacular scenery along the popular Rocky Mountain Legacy Trail between Canmore to Banff.  Finally, we headed south on the stunning and remote High Rockies Trail to Peter Lougheed Provincial Park and the BC border.

"The mountains are calling and I must go."

                                                    John Muir

This blog documents our #Hike4Birds on the Trans Canada Trail in Alberta, Canada. We invite you to Come Walk With Us by exploring our daily updates, where we share photographs and stories of the birds, natural landscapes, histories, challenges, and highlights we experienced while traveling across Canada on foot.  Happy Trails!  

Hiking the Iron Horse Trail in Eastern Alberta

Hiking Songs for the Trans Canada Trail in Alberta

Heading West Again, Alberta Border to Lea Park  

Welcome to the Iron Horse Trail, Lea Park to Elk Point

Birding the Iron Horse Trail, Elk Point to St. Paul

Recognizing Blessings around Us, St. Paul to Spedden

Pushing West, Spedden to Smoky Lake

The End of the Line, Smoky Lake to Waskatenau

South on the Victoria Trail, Waskatenau to Redwater 

Balance at the Crossroads, Redwater to Fort Saskatchewan

Hiking from Edmonton to Calgary, Alberta

“If you build it, they will come”, Fort Saskatchewan to Sherwood Park

Canada's Great Urban Gem, Hiking Across Edmonton

"This is NOT a Trail', Anthony Henday Ring Road to Devon 

Pace and Perspective, Devon to Leduc

Hiking around the Compass, Leduc to Millet 

Concessions and Canola, Millet to Wetaskiwin 

Humility and Gifts along HWY 2a, Wetaskiwin to Ponoka 

History, Birds, and Murals along the C & E Trail, Ponoka to Lacombe

Stunning Kindness, Birding Ellis Farm, Lacombe AB

Outdoors and Indoors, Lacombe to Blackfalds 

Urban Exploration and Nature, Blackfalds to Red Deer

Back in the Fastlane, Back on HWY 2A, Red Deer to Innisfail

A Sense of Things Past, A Glimpse of Things to Come, Innisfail to Olds 

Hike Eastward to Trek Westward, Olds to Torrington 

Hiking in the Shadow of Malo, Torrington to Linden

Blessings in God’s Green Country, Linden to Irricana 

Not Worth Dying For, Irricana to Airdrie

Neighbourhood Walks, International Connections, Airdrie to Calgary Airport 

Nature in the City, Calgary Airport to Calgary South 

Wisdom and Advice, Calgary South to Calgary West 

7 Lessons from 11,500 km of the Trans Canada Trail

Borders and Transitions, Calgary to Cochrane 

A Short Break from the Trans Canada Trail

Back to Basics and a Return to the Trans Canada Trail

Where in the Canada is ‘Come Walk With Us’? 

Walking the Trails of Kananaskis Country

Déjà Vu, Trans Canada Trail from Calgary to Cochrane Again

Trail Angels in the Foothills, Cochrane to Bragg Creek

Hard Work and Dedication, Bragg Creek to Moose Creek 

Troubles Find us Again 

Ascending Cox Hill, Moose Creek to Lusk Pass

Stunning Vistas, Lusk Pass to Quaite Valley

Kindness and Support, Quaite Valley to Canmore 

The Legacy Trail, Canmore to Banff National Park

Push and Pull, Exploring Banff

Hiking the High Rockies Trail

'On the Menu', Banff to Spray Lake West Campground 

Perfect Day, Spray Lakes West to Buller Mountain

Glaciers and Goats, Buller Mountain to Sawmill 

Savouring the Moment, Sawmill to Peter Lougheed PP

TCT Day 500, Elk Pass into British Columbia

Reflecting on the Trans Canada Trail in Alberta