Alberta attractions

Stretching from the Canadian Rockies to Vancouver, the Fraser River is the longest river in British Columbia and is known as one of the most productive salmon fisheries in the world. Throughout its vast basin, outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy a range of recreation activities such as white-water rafting, fishing, wildlife viewing, and hiking.

Heritage Park in Calgary, Alberta, is an open-air historical and learning museum that gives visitors the chance to experience what life was like on the Canadian Prairies from 1860 to 1950. Costumed interpreters and many hands-on, interactive exhibits help you go deeper into your fun-filled encounter with the living past.

Possibly the city’s most popular attraction, the Calgary Zoo has been caring for animals and animal lovers since 1929. Surrounded by botanical gardens with a rain forest and butterfly enclosure, Canada’s second largest zoo is home to more than 1,000 critters representing dozens of species from all corners of the globe.

At Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump—where the Rocky Mountains rise up from the Great Plains in southwestern Alberta—specialized buffalo runners once hunted buffalo by driving them over the cliff. The site’s museum celebrates the traditional indigenous hunting practices through exhibitions and an interpretive walk.

The historic Atlas Coal Mine, located in the Alberta Badlands offers visitors a glimpse into the region's coal mining history. The old wooden structures stand out starkly against the wide blue sky and the red soil of the region, while Atlas Coal Mine are a testament to the industry that once thrived in this area.

Kicking Horse Mountain Resort is a year-round resort situated at the confluence of the Kicking Horse and Columbia rivers—just outside Golden, Alberta. Known best for its world-class ski runs, reliable powder, and easily accessible backcountry terrain, Kicking Horse is a summer resort with epic mountain biking, hiking, and wildlife viewing opportunities. The resort is also home to Boo, the orphaned grizzly bear.

Easily accessible from nearly anywhere in Jasper, the Jasper Discovery Trail is a 5-mile (8-kilometer) loop trail that rises above the mountain town, offering views of the town and the Rocky Mountains. The route is a convenient way to get out into the mountains and can be used to travel from one part of town to another.

Looking out over Lake Louise, you’ll see what’s left of the once mighty Victoria Glacier that created this iconic lake at the end of the last Ice Age. Named after Queen Victoria in 1897, the Victoria Glacier continues to feed into Lake Louise, bringing with it the glacial flour that gives the lake its characteristic turquoise color.

At 75 feet (23 meters) tall, Athabasca Falls may not be the highest waterfall in the Canadian Rockies, but it is one of the most powerful. Originating in the Columbia Icefield, the Athabasca River narrows dramatically before it thunders over the falls and creates a natural wonder.

The Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden is a tranquil piece of Japanese culture set in the Canadian city of Lethbridge. A unique treasure in Southern Alberta, the garden is an oasis where you can take part in cultural events, yoga, and tea ceremonies among flower gardens, lakes, and water features.

Alberta’s stunning Rocky Mountains are one of the biggest attractions in the province. Protected by Banff and Jasper National Parks, the Canadian Rocky Mountains run along the border of British Columbia and Alberta through a landscape of glaciers, snow-capped mountain peaks, hot springs, and turquoise lakes.

Easily accessible year-round from the town of Banff, the Tunnel Mountain Summit Trail is one of the most popular hikes in the area for good reason—in just 1.4 miles (2.3 kilometers) and an elevation gain of 872 feet (266 meters), you can reach the summit and enjoy fantastic views of the Banff area and the Bow Valley.

A major landmark in downtown Edmonton, the Royal Alberta Museum—known as RAM—houses more than five million objects related to human and natural history. Alongside a series of permanent collections, the museum hosts changing exhibitions and boasts an interactive children’s gallery that makes it a firm favorite with families.

Sunshine Meadows is a beautiful natural area not far from Banff in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. As there’s no public road access to the site, people typically hike or take the gondola and chairlift up to the viewing area—or both. There are great views across the Banff National Park, to Mt. Assiniboine, and of flower-filled (and sometimes sunny) meadows in season.

Located in downtown Calgary in front of The Bow building, the Wonderland Sculpture is a 39-foot (12-meter) tall sculpture in the shape of a young girl’s head. Created by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa out of painted stainless steel, the striking statue is meant to represent the hopes and dreams of the youth of the province.

Road-trippers on the Icefields Parkway usually just make a quick stop at roaring Mistaya Canyon, which really packs a punch. A short, steep, and rocky path from the parking lot leads down to a viewpoint across the Mistaya River, whose waters flow from Peyto Lake. There’s a 1.1-mile (1.8-kilometer) hiking loop if you want to stop for longer.

Banff’s Sundance Canyon is a moderate hiking and mountain biking trail within easy reach of town. The first couple of miles, open to both hikers and bikers, follow a paved path beside the Bow River. The biking trail ends at the paved path, but the hiking trail continues for a couple more miles uphill into the canyon.

Nicknamed the “Matterhorn of the Rockies,” Mt. Assiniboine is one of Canada’s most stunning peaks. This 11,870-foot (3,619-meter pyramidal peak towers over its neighbors and is the focal point of Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park. Hikers, photographers, and mountain climbers from all over the world are drawn to the mountain’s beauty and solitude.

In a national park known for its incredible lakes, little Johnson Lake is a local favorite that tends to be overlooked by travelers. However, with an easy, flat hike around its shore, pretty wildflowers in season, and temperatures warm enough to make swimming tempting on a summer’s day, it’s worth adding Johnson Lake to your itinerary.

Located in the city of Edmonton, the Alberta Legislature Building is home to the province’s legislative assembly and is known for its striking architecture, the opportunity to watch live parliamentary debate, and free tours covering Alberta’s political history. The pretty grounds, spread over 57 acres (23 hectares), are reason enough to visit this Canadian landmark.

Banff National Park’s Ink Pots are five natural springs of bubbling, swirling turquoise water in a clearing overshadowed by subalpine forests and the dramatic Rocky Mountains. The only way to reach them is by hiking along a very popular and busy—but spectacular—trail through the Johnston Canyon. Time your hike right for a hustle-free visit.

Most people come to Alberta’s Banff National Park for the Rocky Mountains, but anyone seeking a fascinating slice of local history should check out Bankhead Ghost Town. Bankhead wasn’t always a ghost town: in its heyday it was a thriving coal-mining town. The mine closed in the 1920s and the residents, and many buildings, relocated.

Above the startling turquoise Peyto Lake, Bow Summit offers some of the most spectacular views in Banff National Park. You can hike here from the very popular Peyto Lake Viewpoint or drive along a paved road in summer. The walking trail is easy, so if you have the time it’s worth venturing away from the crowds that flock to the lower viewpoint.

A legacy of the 1988 Winter Games,WinSport, Canada's Olympic Park, has hosted Olympic events in ski jumping, bobsled, and luge. These days, its professional-standard facilities are mostly used for recreational purposes, with visitors flocking here not only to ski, snowboard, and bobsled but also to try other activities, such as ziplining.

Lake Louise Ski Resort offers some of North America’s best skiing—bar none. One of the largest ski resorts on the continent and routinely recognized as Canada’s best, if this impossibly scenic spot overlooking the glacial valley of Lake Louise doesn’t make you want to strap on those skis, nowhere will.

Set in the shadow of the Canadian Rockies, this non-profit sanctuary is home to 20-plus resident wolf dogs—the result of interbreeding between dogs and wolves. Tours of the sanctuary allow the public to learn about, view, and meet these fascinating hybrid creatures, many of whom were abandoned or surrendered by previous owners.

Medalta is a former manufacturing complex turned community center, ceramic art gallery, and museum in Alberta. Where a factory once produced dishes and pottery for decades, today a museum celebrating the craft of stoneware draws visitors with historic exhibits, an artist-in-residency program, educational programming for all ages, and a gift shop.

Inside Banff National Park, Mt. Norquay is the smallest of the area’s three ski resorts, but it still packs a Banff-shaped punch. What this former Olympic and World Cup training ground lacks in vertical runs, it makes up for with the only night skiing in Banff, a fully lit terrain park, snow tubing, and a ski school.

Banff Sunshine Village Ski Resort offers the true Rocky Mountain experience. With 30 feet of snowfall annually and a ski season that lasts from November to May, you’ll be fully immersed in Canada’s iconic natural beauty. The resort boasts over 130 ski runs spread across three mountains for endless exploration, as well as alpine luxury at the Sunshine Mountain Lodge.

Is it a shopping destination or an entertainment venue? The West Edmonton Mall in Alberta, Canada, is both. With hundreds of stores spread over multiple levels, the mall has a store (or 10) for every shopper. In addition to retail therapy, the complex offers many entertainment options, from an ice-skating rink to a movie theater to an indoor water park.