8-day small-group hiking tour in the Canadian Rockies

You should be comfortable hiking 8–14 km with 500–800 m of elevation gain on several days in a row. Most days are 4–6 hours on the trail at a steady, guided pace with regular breaks for photos, snacks and lunch.

You don’t need to be an endurance athlete or a mountaineer, and prior mountain hiking helps but isn’t required. Groups of 2–5 hike together at a moderate to strenuous pace (levels 3–4). Groups of 6–10 have a second guide and vehicle, so we can split by pace and offer easier options (levels 2–4), with up to five guests per guide.

Yes, if you’re an active hiker. Fitness matters more than age: the trip suits people who can hike 8–14 km with 500–800 m of gain on consecutive days. The pace is steady with regular breaks, the logistics are handled for you, and groups of 6–10 have two guides so the group can split by pace. If you’re unsure, ask Jacob a question and we’ll talk it through.

Our 8-day departures run from June to September, and each month has its own appeal. July and August usually bring the most snow-free high trails and the best wildflowers, while September is cooler and quieter. Snow can linger on high passes in early summer, so your guide adjusts routes to the conditions.

You stay seven nights at Everwild Canmore, a Nordic-inspired hotel and spa, in double-occupancy rooms. Breakfast is served each morning at Rhythm & Howl, Everwild’s own restaurant, and hydrotherapy access at the Everwild Spa is included on three days.

Up to five guests per guide. Groups of 2–5 hike together with one ACMG-certified guide; groups of 6–10 have two guides and two vehicles, so the group can split by pace or itinerary. The trip is capped at 10 guests.

We plan a Lake O’Hara day when access allows, but it is never guaranteed. Bus seats come through Parks Canada’s commercial allocation, which we apply for on April 1, and there are only 5 guest spots per guided day. For groups of 6 or more, we aim for two separate Lake O’Hara days so everyone has a chance to go. If we can’t secure seats, we replace the day with an alpine hike of the same calibre.

A guide takes care of everything except the hiking itself. Your ACMG-certified guide chooses routes for the conditions and your group, watches the weather and wildlife, carries satellite and radio communications and first aid, and handles permits, park fees, transfers and trail lunches. You get the big mountain days without the planning, plus local knowledge of the area’s history, plants and wildlife along the way.

Guiding, seven nights at Everwild Canmore, breakfasts, trail lunches, one group dinner, airport and trailhead transfers, permits, park fees and taxes are included. Most dinners, alcohol, travel insurance and guide gratuities are not. See the full list under What’s included above.

Yes, for an additional fee and subject to availability. Choose the single occupancy add-on at checkout and we’ll confirm the details. A single room supplement is required when an odd number of guests book.

A 30% deposit secures your place, and the balance is due 90 days before your trip starts. If you book within 90 days of departure, full payment is due at booking. There are no booking or platform fees when you book directly with us.

The 30% deposit is non-refundable once paid. From 90 to 61 days before departure, any payments beyond the deposit are fully refundable. From 60 days before departure, all payments are non-refundable. We’re always happy to talk through timing or concerns before you book.

We adjust the plan early and conservatively. Forecasts and conditions are monitored continuously, and that may mean altering a route, changing the order of hikes or choosing a different objective, to keep the week safe and just as good.

Every trip is led by ACMG-certified Hiking Guides from our team, including owner Jacob Downie and Chris Murray-Schlitt. Your guide holds an 80-hour Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification, and we operate under a professional Emergency Response Plan reviewed annually for our national park business licences.

Satellite messaging, a park radio and a full first aid kit on every outing: a Garmin inReach Mini for two-way satellite messaging and 24/7 SOS, a VHF radio programmed with Parks Canada dispatch frequencies, a WFR-level first aid kit, and an emergency shelter.

Proactively. We assess weather, rockfall and wildfire activity daily, and manage wildlife risk through route choice, timing and group management. Every guest gets a safety orientation at the start of the trip, covering wildlife protocols and how to use bear spray.

It isn’t required, but it is strongly recommended. Coverage should include medical expenses, emergency evacuation, trip interruption and cancellation.

Yes. To keep our standing with the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG) and our national park permits, every guest signs a Release of Liability Waiver. You acknowledge it when you book and sign a paper copy in person before we head out. You can read the waiver here at any time.

Your personal hiking gear and clothing for changeable mountain weather: a 20–30 L daypack, hiking footwear, weather layers, sunscreen, sunglasses and a 2 L water bottle or bladder. We send a detailed packing list well before your trip. Group gear and safety equipment, including trekking poles or microspikes when conditions call for them, are provided.