A few years back, my friends and I started an annual tradition: girls’ trip.
The seven of us are spread across multiple time zones, so this is generally the only time of year we all get to see each other. Because the main purpose of the trip is just to be together (which also usually involves puzzles, board games, and laughing so hard we cry), we’re not overly picky about where these trips take place.
However, it is logistically easier to be near where one of us lives so we have one person who is familiar with the area and can bring their own car. This year, these criteria led us to Calgary, Alberta. And while we did spend quite a bit of time just hanging out at our Airbnb (and we did in fact do a puzzle, play games, and laugh so hard we cried), we also took advantage of our proximity to the mountains to head into the Canadian Rockies for a day for a short hike.
Only two of us are intense hikers, and four of us live at sea level or close to it, so at this elevation, a shorter hike like Grassi Lakes was a perfect fit. It’s definitely uphill and if you take the interpretive trail (which we did on the way up, because it has the best views), the ground is uneven and there are rocky stairs to navigate.
But everyone made it!
From the parking area (or, in our case, the overflow lot at the top of the road, which added maybe 5 minutes to our hike), the trail begins wide and mostly flat. It isn’t until branching off onto the interpretive trail that the terrain becomes more difficult.
It’s absolutely worth taking this route, though, because as the trail climbs, the views grow steadily more expansive. There are multiple viewpoints from which we could look back down at the lake below, the town of Canmore, and the mountains on the opposite side of the valley.
There’s also a viewpoint with a nice view of the waterfall.
As a lover of alpine lakes, I assumed that since Grassi Lakes are not above treeline, these trail views would be the highlight of this hike.
As is so often the case with me and my assumptions, I was very wrong.
The two Grassi Lakes are small and nestled amongst the trees and rocks. It’s a peaceful scene. But what really makes them stand out is the color of the water. Near the shore, the lakes are a shade of lime green I’ve never seen in a mountain lake before, while the center is a deep, clear teal. The color gradient reminded me of Yellowstone’s hot springs, though this water was ice cold.
It was a beautiful day, so we took our time to enjoy the lakes before heading back to the car. We opted for the main trail on the descent, which is wide and graded and much easier to navigate, and we were back to the trailhead in no time.
Right: yellow lady slipper spotted on the descent
By now, it was afternoon and we’d all worked up an appetite, so we headed into Canmore for some (delicious!) food and drinks, and just to wander around the town for a bit before heading back to Calgary.
A few months back, my husband and I were brainstorming ideas for travel in the upcoming years, and I’d thrown out the idea of a Canadian Rockies roadtrip in 2027. Aside from one day in Waterton, he’s never been there. He’s never seen these spectacular mountains in person.
And though I’ve visited the Canadian Rockies multiple times, it’s one of those places where, no matter how often I visit, it will never be enough. The beauty is endless.
After spending the day in Canmore, surrounded once more by these rugged peaks, I’m even more determined to make this trip happen next summer. I’m so ready to be back in the Canadian Rockies.
This is just goodbye for now, Canmore. I’ll see you soon!
The Important Stuff:
- Getting there: Grassi Lakes Trail is located about 2 miles (3.2 km) up Spray Lakes Road in Canmore, Alberta. As of June 2026, Spray Lakes Road is closed beyond this point due to rockfall, but the trailhead is still accessible.
- Fees and passes: Grassi Lakes Trail is outside of Banff National Park, so there is no fee required for this hike.
- Hiking: for the full loop as we hiked it – up the interpretive trail and down the main trail – it was about 2 miles (3.2 km) with 500 feet (155 m) of elevation gain.
- Where to stay: we stayed in Calgary and just drove into Canmore for the day, which was very feasible. Lodging in Canmore is extremely expensive, so definitely if you’re on a budget I’d recommend either camping somewhere nearby or staying in Calgary like we did.
- Other: though the stats for this hike make it look easy-moderate, keep in mind that the elevation (about 5000 feet/1525 m) will make it more difficult if you’re not acclimated.
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