How to reach new peaks in Alberta and B.C. without breaking a sweat

Дата публикации: 05-08-2026 14:00:10

Hiking and backpacking aren't the only ways to summit a mountain or enjoy an incredible view

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On a trip to Banff last August, I stepped off the Sunshine Village Gondola and the Mount Standish Chairlift into a magical alpine landscape where wildflowers blanketed rolling fields and turquoise lakes shimmered beneath ragged mountain peaks. In winter, the resort is overrun with skiers, but in summer it transforms into Sunshine Meadows, one of the most beautiful areas in the Canadian Rockies. 

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The hike up is doable, but it requires a demanding two-and-a-half-hour climb with more than 500 metres of elevation gain before the sightseeing even begins. By taking the gondola, I arrived fresh, energized and ready to explore. 

High alpine landscapes have long been associated with strenuous hikes and backpacking adventures, but they don’t have to be. Whether you’re travelling with young children, have limited mobility, or you simply want to spend your energy exploring rather than climbing, these destinations make Canada’s spectacular mountain scenery accessible to almost everyone. 

Explore Sunshine Meadows  Travellers can take the gondola up to Alberta’s Sunshine Meadows, where pristine lakes and scenic hiking trails await. Photo by Greg Olsen /POSTMEDIA

The Sunshine Village Gondola and the Standish Chairlift bring you to an elevation of more than 2,400 metres (8,000 feet), which is the highest lift-accessed sightseeing point in Banff National Park. It also allows you to visit three pristine lakes and many high alpine hiking trails – including one that crosses the continental divide. The Sunshine Meadows gondola and chairlift run from July 6 to Sept. 20. Canadian resident discount tickets can be purchased at the guest services counter and start at $68 per adult, $59.50 for seniors, $34 for youth ages 13-17 and $17 for children aged 6-12. Children under age 6 ride for free. The upper village also features two restaurants, two coffee shops, an interpretive centre and Sunshine Mountain Lodge for overnight stays. 

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Lunch where Marilyn Monroe once dined   

Mount Norquay’s open-air sightseeing chairlift provides a peaceful ride to nearly 2,130 metres above sea level with great views of the town of Banff, the Bow Valley, Mount Rundle and surrounding peaks in Alberta. At the summit, you can enjoy lunch at the Cliffhouse Bistro, the former tea house Marilyn Monroe visited when filming the River of No Return in the 1950s. There are a few short walkways and a guided via ferrata climbing experience that can also be enjoyed. Adult tickets cost $49.35, children ages 6-15 $30.45 and children 5 years and younger ride for free. There is a discounted rate for families.

See Lake Louise from the sky  

The Lake Louise Sightseeing Gondola allows you to experience one of Canada’s most famous landscapes from a different vantage point and it’s also a great way to watch wildlife safely. Grizzly bears are frequently sighted from the gondola and chairlift. At the summit, walking trails and interpretive displays provide more opportunities to appreciate the alpine environment. Tickets cost $65 per adult, $54 for seniors, $29 for youth ages 13-17 and $16 for children aged 6-12. Children ages 5 years and under as well as season pass holders ride free. 

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Summit a mountain on horseback Horseback tour guide Josh Watson taking in the view from Lion’s Head in Waterton Lakes National Park. Photo by Debbie Olsen /POSTMEDIA

Alpine Stables in Alberta’s Waterton Lakes National Park offers a tour that allows guests to summit Vimy Mountain on horseback. At just over 2,100 metres, guests ride all the way to the upper treeline and only hike the last 150 metres on foot. The hike is a scramble, so you will sweat a bit, but the views are worth it. The ride will take eight hours and cost $313.50 per person. For a less strenuous ride that includes a great view, but no hiking, do the five-hour ride to Lion’s Head for $242.50.  

Try heli hiking in David Thompson Country 

Located near Abraham Lake in Alberta’s David Thompson Country, Rockies Heli Canada offers sightseeing tours, and heli hiking and camping tours that get guests up into the high alpine for a bird’s-eye view of the mountains and scenery. Tours start at $240.45 per person.  

Stay at a luxe backcountry lodge  Reflection Pond near the Purcell Mountain Lodge in B.C. Photo by Debbie Olsen /POSTMEDIA

Accessible only by helicopter, Purcell Mountain Lodge lies deep within B.C.’s Purcell Mountains, surrounded by glaciers and towering peaks. Summer guests spend their days hiking through pristine alpine meadows, photographing wildlife and exploring untouched wilderness before returning to gourmet meals and comfortable lodge accommodations. Summer rates start at $2,400 per person for four days all-inclusive.  

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Drive the Meadows in the Sky Parkway 

Mount Revelstoke National Park is one of the only places in Canada where you can drive to the alpine. The 26-kilometre Meadows in the Sky Parkway in B.C. climbs from valley bottom to subalpine forests and alpine meadows bursting with wildflowers in late summer. From the Balsam Lake parking area, you can hike the remaining kilometre on a paved road to reach the summit where a historic fire tower is located.  

Ride the Sea to Sky Gondola 

Just south of Squamish, B.C., the Sea to Sky Gondola carries visitors to spectacular viewpoints overlooking Howe Sound and the Coast Mountains. At the summit, walking trails, panoramic viewing platforms and the dramatic Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge showcase the surrounding landscape. Adventure seekers can also tackle a guided via ferrata climbing route that combines ladders, fixed cables and breathtaking cliffside traverses. 

Debbie Olsen is an award-winning Métis writer and a national bestselling author. Follow her adventures at wanderwoman.ca.  

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