Grotto Canyon, Middle Lake and the Bow River
đĨž Hikesđ Updated October 19, 2026âą 2 min read
Cover: Middle Lake. Photo: Georgialh, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Half a day to a full day by car, with three short walks: a narrow canyon that ends at a waterfall, an easy trail around Middle Lake and a loop along the Bow River. Grotto Canyon and Middle Lake are east of Canmore; the Bow River Loop is back in town. It works well for families and can be done year-round.
The route
Start at Grotto Canyon. Take the Bow Valley Trail (Highway 1A) east of Canmore toward Exshaw, to the Grotto Mountain Pond parking lot. It's 2.1 km each way (4.2 km return), intermediate according to Alberta Parks. After passing an industrial plant, you enter a canyon with vertical walls that ends at a waterfall.
Continue east and enter Bow Valley Provincial Park on Highway 1X. The Middle Lake Interpretive Trail starts at Middle Lake Day Use: an easy 2 km through forest and meadows, skirting Middle Lake. Dogs must be on a leash no longer than 2 m.
In summer you can add the Flowing Water Interpretive Trail, with a lookout over a beaver pond. According to Alberta Parks, the Bow Valley Park Road is closed west of Middle Lake from mid-October to April 30.
Head back to Canmore for the Bow River Loop, a 2 km loop on a wide gravel path on both sides of the Bow River, at the edge of downtown. It crosses several bridges, including the historic Engine Bridge, and passes Riverside Park. It takes 30 minutes to 1 hour. Riverside Park has paid parking and public washrooms.
Season
Alberta Parks lists Grotto Canyon and Middle Lake for hiking in summer and winter. In winter the Grotto Canyon waterfall freezes and the canyon floor is covered in snow and ice: bring microspikes. The Bow River Loop can be walked year-round; with ice or mud, wear shoes with good grip.
Trails in this challenge (today's status)
Mark each stop with â on its page to complete the challenge in your Hediny passport.
Official sources
- Alberta Parks: Grotto Creek Canyon
- Alberta Parks: Middle Lake Interpretive
- Alberta Parks: Annual road closures
- Town of Canmore: Walking trails
- Alberta: Kananaskis Conservation Pass
Community experiences
User experiences, not official information. Always check the official status before you go.
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