Small-group guided hiking in the Canadian Rockies
Columbia Wild Guides is a Canmore-based team of ACMG-certified hiking guides, leading small groups and private parties on day hikes in Banff, Yoho and Kootenay National Parks.
- ACMG-certified guides
- Based in Canmore, Alberta
- Small groups and private hikes
- June to September
Choose your Rockies hiking trip
Every trip is led by our ACMG-certified guides, with the route, pace and logistics planned around your group.
8-Day Premium Hiking Tour
A guided week of day hikes in Banff, Yoho and Kootenay, based at Everwild Canmore. Lodging, breakfasts, trail lunches, transfers and permits are taken care of.
2–10 guests · June to September
Private day hikes
One well-planned day on the trail for your own group. We choose the route together to suit your interests, pace and the conditions, with a locally sourced lunch, trailside espresso and group gear included.
Gentle to advanced · up to 8 people
Lake O'Hara guided hikes
A private guided day in one of Yoho's most protected alpine areas, when access allows. Access is limited by Parks Canada and never guaranteed, so we'll talk through dates with you early.
Yoho National Park
Larch season hikes
Private guided hikes through the golden larches in Banff and Kananaskis, paced around your group. Larch Valley is offered subject to Parks Canada permit approval for 2027.
Mid-September to mid-October
Small groups, so the day fits the people on it
On our 8-Day tour, each guide leads up to five guests. Groups of six to ten get a second guide and a second vehicle, so the group can split by pace and no one is rushed or held back. Private day hikes are just your own group.
- Routes chosen for the season, the conditions and your group
- A steady, guided pace with regular breaks for photos, snacks and lunch
- Quieter trails alongside the Rockies’ best-known views
- Transfers, permits and trail lunches handled for you
Guided by people who know these mountains
Columbia Wild Guides was founded by Jacob Downie, an ACMG-certified Hiking Guide and Wilderness First Responder who grew up in the Canadian Rockies and Kootenay Mountains and has been guiding for over a decade.
Today our trips are led by a small team of ACMG-certified guides, including Chris Murray-Schlitt, who share the same focus: safe, well-paced days on trails chosen for the season and the group.
- Plans adjusted to the weather and trail conditions
- Natural history and local stories along the way
- Trailside espresso and locally sourced trail lunches
Hikes graded from gentle to advanced
Every trip is matched to a level, so you know what a day on the trail asks of you before you book.
- Level 1GentleShort walks at a relaxed pace on wide, well-maintained trails with minimal elevation gain.
- Level 2EasyClear trails with gentle climbs, comfortable for beginners with basic fitness.
- Level 3ModerateA solid challenge for most active hikers: noticeable elevation gain, some rocky ground, 3–5 hours on the trail.
- Level 4StrenuousBig mountain days with sustained climbs and full days on the trail, for hikers with high fitness.
- Level 5AdvancedAmbitious alpine hikes for experienced hikers, with significant elevation gain.
What guests say on Google
Ready to go beyond the crowds?
Tell us who’s coming, when you’d like to hike and what you’re hoping to see, and we’ll suggest the right trip.