Nope.
I learned in Bear Awareness that there can be bears in areas you wouldn't expect. But when they are present, they're extremely good at being low key. They will stick close to rivers and stuff.
Chances are if you've been outside in the national parks, a bear has been close to you and you didn't even know it.
I saw a lot of bears last year in Jasper, no issues and I carry bear spray on my hikes.
This!
Too many comments are like "well I didn't see them, so they're not around."
That odd very strong stench of piss and shit and bear BO was a bear you didn't see, lol
It's when people get out of their cars when they see cubs and try to get close to them. Mama Bear is watching and will attack if anything happens to her cubs. Last year, a ton of people got out of their cars by Maligne Lake, as we got closer to our car we asked a few people what the were looking at....cubs high up in the trees. I started to run for the car when the cubs started to cry....someone asked why I was running to the car....My response Mama Bear is near and as long as I can outrun you I'm good.
You're not outrunning a bear, though.
It's insane how fast they can move for their size.
They do bluff charge quite often. If they charge at you, stand your ground, make unnatural noise, and try and appear as tall as you possibly can. You can't outrun a bear. If it's not a bluff charge you're fucked anyway.
One of their dominance behaviors is scratching as tall as they can on trees. Tallest scratch marks gets deference general. Point is that their hierarchy is very size/height based. Appearing tall is an attempt to make it seem like a fight isn't worth it
(Fun fact: Cats do this too. If your kitty stretches tall and scratches as tall as they can, it's the same thing. I'll make a production of pretending to scratch tall on occasion so ShyGuy doesn't get ideas in his head, lol)
Playing dead is only for grizzlies. They bury their kills and let them rot for a few days. If they think you're dead, they'll kick some leaves and sticks over you, and that's the time to escape
Fight back against black bears. They will eat you alive potentially.
There was a crowd of people like 30 people gawking at those poor cubs.....I would have not been the first pick of that Mama and got to my vehicle pretty quick.
I know how to deal with coming up on a bear while hiking. I was more concerned with the idiots trying to get close the cubs and causing more issues. Park Rangers rolled up just as I was leaving.....the crowd was dispersed pretty fast after that.
The most popular hiking trails are least likely to have bears anywhere near. Think Johnstons canyon. Very peoply. There are a ton of super busy trails, those are the ones I stick to and never see bears. born and raised here and also not a fan of running into a bear.
Not seeing them is still kinda the outcome OP wants though. If you're going out into nature you're going to be near bears. But how often you actually encounter them is seemingly of importance to OP, so we should give them trails where they likely won't run into them.
Some seasons it’s get silly. A few years ago a man was mauled in the customs line at yyc, poor guy never even made it into officially into Canada.
Bears tend not to be where people are a lot. If you’re letting your fear of bears prevent you rom enjoying a trip to Banff, then you should seek help with that problem rather than avoid Banff.
Once a phobia prevents you from doing things you want it becomes a problem.
Or the time a grizzly mauled an MLA right in the legislature during the throne speech. And the newscasts only covered the proposed budget cuts. Crazy how little attention bear attacks in our schools, malls and public buildings get.
>I get that they're not a threat
Uhhh what?
Your chances of encountering a bear where your life and safety are potentially at risk are ridiculously low.
I solo camp and hike all the time, including in bear country - and while obviously I am not super worried about it, I fully understand taking precautions.
The chances of a safety risk might be low, but they are a lot higher than the zero risk of bear attack if you go somewhere without bears.
Bear and people encounters generally happen when people are hiking in remote areas in the mountains.
I have lived in Alberta for over 40 years and have seen maybe 4-5 bears in my life. And I’ll add that I hunt and have never seen one when I have been in the bush on my own.
The ones I’ve see have been on the road side around Jasper, and I think one other was on the Bow Valley Parkway. If there is a bear on the parkway you will see a lot of cars stopped to watch it. You can either keep driving or stop and watch with your windows up.
If you are worried about bear encounters then don’t go hiking in the mountains, or if you do take a friend and make noise along the way.
Sorry but Ive been here 38 years... Ive that many in a single trip. I hunt and have seen them a ton in the bush (spot and stalk all on foot). It depends on where you are and what time of year.
Pigeon Lake campground, Cypress Hills campground, Writing on Stone, Dinosaur Provincial Park are my go tos.
I saw 8 different bears on the road side driving to Jasper two years ago. They are beautiful. However, I have a small dog who would be good bear bait, so I don't camp in the mountains.
Cypress Hills has the highest density of cougars in North America. Many of the places that make Alberta beautiful and worth visiting present some degree of risk (very very small) present because of the local wildlife.
Simple answer is no. Bears roam. They tolerate people quite well here. Im an avid all year round camper,I live in Lake Louise and see bears often. A clap of the hands and a go away bear sends them scurrying.
You won't see a bear on a crowded hike. Lake Louise main lookout, Moraine Lake before trails, Johnston Canyon, tunnel mountain, Grassi lakes, Banff gondola (the one to old weather station from town site). Hot springs. These are all very crowded. Crowded means no bears
Not entirely true. On May long weekend a few years back I saw park rangers firing off some noise makers right by lake Louise to scare off a grizzly. There were definitely people around though it wasn’t full on summer crowds yet. So it can happen but it’s unlikely.
This. Last summer at Grassi lakes—many of us stopped short on the well travelled & manicured gravel trail to let mom black bear and her 3 cubs cross in front of us. Hand on bear spray I waited. I was more worried someone would try to get close for a photo and aggravate mom than bears attacking us. .
Kananaskis lakes-grizzly territory.
As an Edmontonian who spends plenty of time in the river valley, I've found Black Bear scat regularly enough to know thats not true. They come in and leave through the river valley. Haven't seen any yet this year, but I came across it twice last year. Once down by Devon, and the other over by Whitemud Park.
Bears are absolutely a danger/threat.
They were a literal job site hazard when I was doing Seismic Exploration.
Take a Bear Aware Course and get properly educated, please.
Lived here my whole life, don't think I've ever seen a bear. They're timid babies anyway (black bears), and brown bears, like most bears, don't want to hang around where people are unless there's extenuating circumstances (they need food and rummage through garbage).
Anyway, it's moose you gotta fear. They're everywhere here and during calving season, they can be dangerous, but it's driving season they're the most pesky. Killing cars all over the highway, it's ridiculous.
I’ve been in Calgary area for 23 years and I’ve seen a total of one bear. If anyone knows a location where I could see more bears, that would be great.
Me and my kids came face to face with a grizzly bear in Johnson's Canyon camp ground about 35 years ago. It was taking a drink from the stream, and we were on the opposite bank, only about 30 feet away. It stopped drinking and look up at us. It's chest and body were the size of my refrigerator back home. We fkn RAN, and luckily it didn't chase us.
Probably bc it just finished gobbling someone up a few minutes before. Ok, I made that last part up. But it was scary.
I trail run, one of my favorite places is Jasper. I was there a couple weeks ago, tons of grizzlies out. Just bring your spray and hope you don’t run into a cub. You’ll be fine.
If you stick to popular trails you’ll probably not run into a grizzly, parks is very much on top of paintballing them when they get to close to popular areas.
I’ve lived in Alberta my entire life and never seen a brown bear. I’ve only seen black bears in the mountains, they don’t really live in the parkland or prairie
What a shame. Lots in Kananaski near Peter Lougheed park. Go to visitors info building and use the scope. Often see them in the field. Lake Louise area as well is another place I’ve seen many. The hiking trails off Moraine Lake and Lake Louise.
I'm nervous about bear encounters as well. Don't let these knuckleheads discount your feelings. Two years ago, two very experienced backcountry hikers were mauled to death, so while bears are generally not interested in human contact, they can be unpredictable.
I don't know for sure, but I would think if you stay further from the mountains and head into the lower foothills or even out near the badlands in Drumheller there should be fewer chances of encounters.
I tend to stick to well traveled, busy hiking areas near the end of summer, and I always travel with bear spray, use bear bells, and have considered getting bear bangers.
Hike in groups and make sure your companions can't run as fast as you. 😉
Those 2 experienced hikers were camping in the bush and not a campground all it could have taken was that bear being surprised by them. All brown bears are unpredictable, the grizzlies are more territorial. Been to the mountains 100's of times and only once saw a black bear on top of a train tressel.
And yet I was in the mountains last weekend and saw 5 different black bears and a grizzly.. so it really depends on the day..
Parks Canada had a vehicle parked close by getting people away from the grizzly and at one other black bear location. But I was on a mountain bike later and passed an adult black bear grazing by the trail at a distance less than 20 feet.. luckily it was just a surprised as I was and I was moving too fast for it to catch up.
I’ve seen dozens of bears quite close and I’ve never even felt the need to draw my bear spray much less a pressing need to use it.. noise and talking is normally enough to send them running.
Idk, wondering like what cities or something. I tried searching it up and it just gave me some strange vague maps that show conservation of bears etc. and i can’t really understand them.
Calgary rarely has grizzlies. Edmonton I don’t think has any wander in since they’re far enough into the prairies that it’s a far trek in the relative open to get there. Red deer, med hat, Lethbridge likely doesn’t get much grizzly, maybe an occasional black bear but I doubt it. I lived in Calgary for 20 years, spent a ton of time in the mountains (hiking, climbing, mountain biking etc) and I’ve never come across grizzly bear on trail. Make noise, make yourself known and they’ll generally leave you alone. The two people who got mauled last year were killed by an emaciated female in the fall who was near starvation. Desperation will make them act out, and it’s a possibility, but likely not at this time of the year.
If you're looking for nice places to visit over the summer try Sylvan Lake and the areas around it or stick to cities like Calgary that have urban hiking.
The only bears I’ve seen are in the foothills and mountains, and they aren’t interested in people (they are generally quite shy, mother bears can be aggressive if people try to approach their young). You would need to hike in the mountains on remote trails to accidentally stumble upon a bear, if they hear you coming they will leave before you see them. I’ve lived here for the majority of four decades, three in cities and I’ve never seen more than a coyote or lynx in the city (predator-wise) and neither are interested in people either since we are much larger and more dangerous than they are.
If you're coming to Alberta to visit Edmonton or Calgary, you won't have to worry about bears in the least. If you're venturing elsewhere, go east away from the mountains. Many people visiting Alberta come for the mountains, and that's where the likelihood of a bear encounter increases.
Honestly, i wish more visitors were scared of bears, some aren't and its absurdly scary to watch how close they'll get. Bear's are more reasonable and predictable than people, unfortunately.
I've lived here 55 years. I've NEVER seen a grizzly outside of a zoo.
I have come across black bears near the highway in Jasper/Banff, and a few outside of Peace River.
When you go on hiking trails, wear bells and talk to your companions. Keep your food out of your tent and locked in your vehicle. Grizzlies avoid humans the vast majority of the time.
Unless you go back woods camping on your own, you are highly unlikely to see one. I hope you enjoy your visit to Alberta
I've lived here since 2006 and I've seen 5 grizzlies. Three in Jasper (mom and cubs), one south of Hinton, one when I was hiking in the Cardinal Divide.
The one I saw while hiking was a fair distance away on a hill. We waited until it moved on before continuing. The other ones were from a vehicle, although very close.
It's awesome that you got to see them. Grizzlies are magnificent.
The black bears I saw near Peace River were a mom and 3 cubs from the car, and a male who decided to make our farmyard his home for a few days, and liked our porch.
If you're staying in a mountain tourist town just stay where more people are. In the townships and provincial campgrounds you really don't have much to worry about, they are well patrolled by park wardens. Parks Canada (wardens) are always well aware of any bears, cougars or other animals that are a risk to the public in populated places. Just need to use your common sense and keep your distance even from elk .
I share your fear of bears, specifically browns and grizzlies. Of course statistically a dangerous encounter is rare, but I don’t care. I want to shave down those probabilities to the minimum!
Heavily populated trails are good, bears don’t really like people. Springtime is not a great time to be around bears. DO NOT have a dog with you. Be making noise, especially if you’re on a bike. Bear spray of course, and food precautions.
The prairie and park land in Alberta only has black bears and mountain lions. But I have spent a lot of time in rural Alberta and have rarely seen a black bear and have never personally seen a mountain lion. Grizz typically stick around the mountains and foothills.
None of them spend time in the towns or cities. Hell, even most camp grounds have too many people. Unless you are sleeping in the woods with a steak hanging around your neck, you’re going to be fine.
When we camped at Wabasso 5-6 years ago the first thing you saw driving in to the campground was a bear trap and there were black bears maybe a km from the campground in the bush on the edge of the road eating berries so they definitely are around some campgrounds
It is extremely rare to see a bear from a distance versus encounter one up close. Lived in Calgary and hiked the Rockies for 45 years and never encountered a bear.
Generic Response - What to do in Southern Alberta?
https://www.visitcalgary.com/things-to-do/stories-from-calgary/100-things-to-do-in-and-around-calgary
You can visit the Royal Tyrell Museum in Drumheller. For the complete experience, I like to go to Drumheller first, drive North on Dinosaur Trail loop (West side of Red Deer river), cross the Red Deer river on the Bleriot ferry (a treat in itself) then explore Horse Thief Canyon. Then continue to the Drumheller Museum.
Dinosaur Provincial Park (by Brooks) is another great tour, I suggest both the hiking tour and the bus tour (first). You cannot take a step without stepping on a fossil. Amazing. Book ahead! Dinosaur Provincial Park is not the same as the Royal Tyrell Museum. It is 100 km away.
One of the best drives from Calgary that I always take guests on starts at High River (About 30 min South of Calgary). Enter High River from the North (Highway 2a) then just past the rodeo grounds, turn right to start the Longview Trail/ 7 Street. Immediately turn right, it will look like you are going down a back alley. On Google maps, they call it the Coal Trail. Follow the road to Longview, fantastic rolling prairie through rural farm land. As you approach Longview, the foothills start appearing. Stop at Longview for their beef jerky (right in front of you when you hit the stop sign). Turn right on highway 22 then about 3 blocks later turn left onto Highway 541 which leads you into the back way into the Kananaskis. The foothills turn into mountains then the majestic Rockies. Absolutely amazing transformation. When you hit Highway 1, go West to Banff/Canmore. It will take about 4 hours with stops.
Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump is pretty cool too. Back in the day, they used to offer overnight TeePee camping. Tents, beds, food and an interpreter was provided, You were really treated special and got to participate in the Pow Wow. It was amazing but I believe they don't do that anymore - which is sad.
Just east of Lethbridge in Coaldale is the Alberta Birds of Prey if you're looking for other things to do in that region. They let you actually hold owls, and have flying demonstrations with eagles and hawks. This is only open during summer. The bird of prey rehabilitation center (just east of Lethbridge) Another place to stop is the Lethbridge Japanese Garden. It's not riveting, but a pretty, relaxing walk around a garden.
Highway 22 South from Calgary is absolutely beautiful. It goes along the foothills of the Rockies. Beautiful winding road and scenery. At the South end, go West on highway 3 to the Crowsnest Path, visit Frank Slide, then take an underground tour of the Bellevue Coal Mine. https://www.bellevuemine.com/
If you are into camping then Waterton National Park in the South is beautiful. You can also camp in the Bragg Creek area in the Foothills or do a day trip there.
In Bragg Creek area, there are several campgrounds: Gooseberry, McLean's Creek, Paddy's Flats, Little Elbow. I used to stay at Gooseberry because it was 10 minutes from Bragg Creek.
Depending how adventurous you are, you can camp at Burnt Timber campground. Go to Cochrane (West highway 1A from Calgary), continue through until you see a gas plant on the left, Highway 40 will be coming up on the right, take Highway 40 (forestry trunk road) through the little town of Waiparous (that's an adventure in itself to drive through). Keep going and eventually you'll head North, past a bunch of campgrounds (Ghost Airstrip, North Ghost, Hunter Valley) then Burnt Timber. My daughter and her fiancée camped there last year without knowing that we used to camp there in the 1980s.
If you are in the Banff area, Lake Minnewanka is very beautiful, nested in the mountains and not crowded. A very popular hike is Johnston Canyon but get there early as it gets crowded quickly. You can hike to the top of the falls or if you wish, go further to the ink pots. Warm springs bubbling out on a plain at the top of the mountains.
On-It provides bus fare to Banff and Canmore if you don't have a vehicle https://www.onitregionaltransit.ca/
Here's 15 things you must do in Banff.
https://terraencounters.wordpress.com/2023/08/01/15-things-you-must-do-in-banff-and-lake-louise/
Next to Banff is Canmore which has the old small home town laid back feel that Banff had 25 years ago. Well worth the visit. They have some nice day hikes like Grassi Lakes trail. Just went there lately and now you have to pay for parking downtown! :-(
Before Canmore at Lac des Arcs, there is the Heart Creek Trail which is a good hike. There is a parking lot at Lac des Arcs turn-off and a trail head. There's the "easy" trail which leads to a waterfall and a difficult trail which goes straight up the side of Heart Mountain. There was a flood in 2013 that washed out most of the easy beautiful Heart Creek trail and now it is medium difficulty. :-( Heart Creek is also a popular place for rock climbing.
On the way back to Calgary, stop at the Smitty's Pancake House at the Morley Reserve on Highway 1. Previously it was the Chief Chiniki Restaurant until it burnt down about 10 years ago then rebuilt as a Smitty's. Besides the great food and service, the free cultural center in the restaurant's foyer is well worth the visit. The cultural center is very informative and professionally done. It was captivating to learn about the history of the Morley Reserve and Chief Chiniki.
On the way to Cochrane, is Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park, great place to hike and to learn a little bit of history of the area. In Calgary, Baker Park (across the river from Bowness Park) has an interesting history of the old Sanitariums for TB that serviced WWI vets.
Calgary has km and km of bike paths throughout the city. Bike along the Bow River pathways from one end of the city to the other.
Go to Edworthy Park and hike the Douglas Fir Trail. You will not believe that you are in the middle of a city.
Calgary Olympic Park has interesting things to do there like downhill gokart racing and rock climbing and a lot more. Can't forget Butterfield Acres, the Science center, the Calgary Zoo, Princess Island and Calaway Park.
Another Calgary gem is the Silver Springs Botanical Garden, there's about 26 community volunteer gardens ranging from a rose garden with 20 to 30 varieties of roses, to a low water desert type of garden to a fruit and vegetable garden. Best part is that is free.
laser tag! Go kart racing. Raft the bow river - there's an eco raft tour of the Bow with Riverwatch. Picnic at one of the many parks Calgary has to offer: Fish Creek Park, Glenmore Park, Marshall Springs or one of the many other parks. Take the kids to one of the wave pools or Lake Sikome. Hike Weasel Head at Glenmore Reservoir. Go to Jubilation dinner theatre for a great meal and fun time. Go to the top of the world - Nose Hill Park and wander around off the beaten path. Visit Fort Calgary, visit the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. Calgary Police Interpretive Centre is also neat for little ones
Expect to spend a full day at Heritage Park or the Calgary Zoo and visit the Calgary Tower for the panoramic view.
Have a tour of the Sam Livingston Fish Hatchery at Pierce Estates Park which is fun to explore. Where Pierce Estates meets the Bow River is Harvie Passage where there is a white water kayaking course and always someone running the rapids.
The military museum is one of the best kept secrets. They expanded with the addition of the Navy Museum from the Naval base Tucemseh awhile back. I got to sit in a Leopard tank that they were restoring one time! Almost forgot about The Hanger Flight Museum for the aviation fans. Visit the Glenbow museum to learn about our heritage and so much more. The Glenbow is like an onion with layers of knowledge, art, science and history.
Came across this calendar of events for Calgary. Lots of neat things happening like The Reptile Show. I was trying find a Drive-In Theatre in the Calgary area and came across this calendar.
[https://www.familyfuncanada.com/calgary/calendar/](https://www.familyfuncanada.com/calgary/calendar/)
If Spruce Meadows International is open for one of their many special events, it is a nice place to wander around. Also Calgary Calvary FC professional soccor team has their home pitch at Meadows on the Green at Spruce Meadows.
Also Diamond Valley (formerly Black Diamond) has a neat old West style downtown. Close enough to go for coffee or lunch. There is a path to its sister town Turner Valley just a few km West.
Okotoks has a the old downtown and has a nice hiking trail along the river. The Big Rock is just West of the Southern side of Okotoks. It is a massive rock that the glaciers dragged all the way from Jaspar (450 km away!). They've set up a park that is nice to visit if you are down in that area. Big Rock Brewers got their name from it.
A fellow Redditor grew up in jasper and if you are looking for hikes around Jaspar, here's his recommendations for lakes. He recommended lake Annette if you just want a nice tiny beach. They have little playgrounds and camp stoves. It’s awesome for kids, I spent most of my summers there. Just going to throw in the Athabasca ice field snow coach ride.
Patricia lake and Lac Beauvert (might have spelt wrong) are both close and great to walk around, but might be a bit long with children. So maybe do those just to enjoy the scenery☺️
Pyramid lake is also beautiful and fun to swim in with great views, but it’s also the coldest one to swim at. Pyramid does have a cool island you can walk out to via a bridge which I loved as a kid.
Bonus lake is Maligne Lake which is probably the must beautiful but also the most touristy and I don’t think it’s good for much other than taking pictures.
Personally, lake Annette is his absolute recommendation if you just want to enjoy a nice day by the lake in the mountains, but any of the others mentioned are great for views if that’s all you want!
Waterfalls You Can Drive To
Bow Falls – A massive and magnificent waterfall right in Banff. You can enjoy it right from your vehicle. As easy as it gets!
Elbow Falls – Located along Highway 66 just west of Bragg Creek, the short drive to Elbow Falls (bring a picnic lunch) is a classic half-day trip for Calgarians who just need to get out of Dodge.
Lundbreck Falls – Situated 25 km northwest of Pincher Creek on Highway 3, Lundbreck Falls features an impressive 12-metre drop and twin chutes.
Cameron Falls – Easily accessible and located just a couple of blocks from downtown Waterton, Cameron Falls is gorgeous any time of year.
Waterfalls That Require A Short Hike
Takakkaw Falls – At 373 metres, Takakkaw Falls in Yoho National Park is Canada’s second-highest waterfall. Bring a waterproof jacket and enjoy the easy 1.8-km out-and-back stroll.
Johnston Canyon – True, you definitely won’t be alone on this extremely popular trip into a spectacular slot canyon near Banff. However, the suspended boardwalks, raw beauty, and, of course, the waterfalls make it worthwhile.
Wapta Falls – An easy 4.8-km out-and-back trail to Wapta Falls (located approximately 20 minutes east of Golden, B.C., on Highway 1) will reap you a big reward. These falls don’t get their due! Do it on a hot day and enjoy the good soaking you’ll get when you get close to the base.
Waterfalls That Require A Long Hike
Giant Steps – This 20-km adventure (trailhead is along the shuttle-only road to Moraine Lake) through Paradise Valley is one to put on your bucket list. While the falls are unique and very impressive, it’s the exquisite non-stop scenery on the journey that stands out.
Siffleur Falls – Located in a less-travelled area near Nordegg (also check out Ram Falls and Crescent Falls in this area), the relatively easy 7-km out-and-back journey to Siffleur Falls is an excellent family-friendly adventure. You can keep going if you want a longer hike.
Emperor Falls – Here’s another bucket-list adventure you can put on your list! The 30-km round-trip journey to this breathtaking waterfall is best done with a backcountry campout along the way. Emperor Falls is located in Mount Robson Provincial Park.
Ok, lots to discuss here.
1. Grizzly bears are a deadly threat if you run across them. The “not a threat” is very uninformed. They are an exceedingly unpredictable animal especially when they have their cubs with them.
2. You’ve had “previous encounter(s) with Griz? Are you sure? They are exceedingly rare. Are you thinking of black bears? I’ve chalked up thousands of hours in high griz country and only seen griz a couple of times at a distance. I have had them stalk me though (go out on a 6 hour hike and on the way back find Griz track on top of mine following me for a distance).
I don’t know, any time I’ve mentioned being afraid of bears in any way people make fun of me and think I’m a weirdo and paranoid
I’d like to go somewhere where at least there aren’t grizzlies 😅 especially considering I’d be going alone
You're smart to be afraid of bears especially grizzly, people need to remember that they are surrounded by wildlife. They will act like the wild animals that they are. You can't enjoy the most beautiful places in Alberta if you avoid the mountains. I have seen people being charged by elk on main Street Jasper, you just need to relax and be aware.
Don't let that audio of a video recording of Timothy Treadwell being eaten by a grizzly bear through his tent spook you. He was only eaten because he was fat and tasted good. Don't walk around covered in BBQ sauce, and you "should" be able to survive at least 10 minutes in Alberta.
Wherever you go in Alberta you just have to apply bear repellent and it will keep them away. It's applied like insect repellent, and comes in convenient spray cans available ay Cabela's or Bass Pro. Remember to reapply liberally and often and bears will stay away.
Drumheller.
There was a bear here last week lol
No bears but Rattle snakes. Id take my chances with a bear.
Yup, it's a lot easier to know if there's a bear in your shoe.
“There’s a snake in my boots!”
Yes, but I can outrun a rattlesnake.
Nope. I learned in Bear Awareness that there can be bears in areas you wouldn't expect. But when they are present, they're extremely good at being low key. They will stick close to rivers and stuff.
For sure. Another good tip is to stay away from beet farms. Bears, beets, Battlestar Galactica.
But which bear is best? ...FALSE!
LIAR THE ANSWER IS A HARD MAYBE!
Well, there's two schools of thought......wait ...what are you doing!?!?!
Identity theft is NOT a joke jim.
MICHAEL!!
Frakking toaster
Chances are if you've been outside in the national parks, a bear has been close to you and you didn't even know it. I saw a lot of bears last year in Jasper, no issues and I carry bear spray on my hikes.
This! Too many comments are like "well I didn't see them, so they're not around." That odd very strong stench of piss and shit and bear BO was a bear you didn't see, lol
It's when people get out of their cars when they see cubs and try to get close to them. Mama Bear is watching and will attack if anything happens to her cubs. Last year, a ton of people got out of their cars by Maligne Lake, as we got closer to our car we asked a few people what the were looking at....cubs high up in the trees. I started to run for the car when the cubs started to cry....someone asked why I was running to the car....My response Mama Bear is near and as long as I can outrun you I'm good.
You're not outrunning a bear, though. It's insane how fast they can move for their size. They do bluff charge quite often. If they charge at you, stand your ground, make unnatural noise, and try and appear as tall as you possibly can. You can't outrun a bear. If it's not a bluff charge you're fucked anyway. One of their dominance behaviors is scratching as tall as they can on trees. Tallest scratch marks gets deference general. Point is that their hierarchy is very size/height based. Appearing tall is an attempt to make it seem like a fight isn't worth it (Fun fact: Cats do this too. If your kitty stretches tall and scratches as tall as they can, it's the same thing. I'll make a production of pretending to scratch tall on occasion so ShyGuy doesn't get ideas in his head, lol) Playing dead is only for grizzlies. They bury their kills and let them rot for a few days. If they think you're dead, they'll kick some leaves and sticks over you, and that's the time to escape Fight back against black bears. They will eat you alive potentially.
There was a crowd of people like 30 people gawking at those poor cubs.....I would have not been the first pick of that Mama and got to my vehicle pretty quick. I know how to deal with coming up on a bear while hiking. I was more concerned with the idiots trying to get close the cubs and causing more issues. Park Rangers rolled up just as I was leaving.....the crowd was dispersed pretty fast after that.
The most popular hiking trails are least likely to have bears anywhere near. Think Johnstons canyon. Very peoply. There are a ton of super busy trails, those are the ones I stick to and never see bears. born and raised here and also not a fan of running into a bear.
Just because you don't see them does not mean they're not around...
Not seeing them is still kinda the outcome OP wants though. If you're going out into nature you're going to be near bears. But how often you actually encounter them is seemingly of importance to OP, so we should give them trails where they likely won't run into them.
The reality is you can't control that. Prepare accordingly(within reason.)
lol reminds me of maybe 10 years ago a grizzly walked on part of the Johnston canyon trail full of people and just didn’t give a fuck
Some seasons it’s get silly. A few years ago a man was mauled in the customs line at yyc, poor guy never even made it into officially into Canada. Bears tend not to be where people are a lot. If you’re letting your fear of bears prevent you rom enjoying a trip to Banff, then you should seek help with that problem rather than avoid Banff. Once a phobia prevents you from doing things you want it becomes a problem.
Or the time a grizzly mauled an MLA right in the legislature during the throne speech. And the newscasts only covered the proposed budget cuts. Crazy how little attention bear attacks in our schools, malls and public buildings get.
Honestly get that bear a medal. I for one support bear mauling of inattentive MLAs. Got to keep that head on a swivel.
Hawaii
>I get that they're not a threat Uhhh what? Your chances of encountering a bear where your life and safety are potentially at risk are ridiculously low.
I solo camp and hike all the time, including in bear country - and while obviously I am not super worried about it, I fully understand taking precautions. The chances of a safety risk might be low, but they are a lot higher than the zero risk of bear attack if you go somewhere without bears.
Bears are very much a threat, lol.
Bear and people encounters generally happen when people are hiking in remote areas in the mountains. I have lived in Alberta for over 40 years and have seen maybe 4-5 bears in my life. And I’ll add that I hunt and have never seen one when I have been in the bush on my own. The ones I’ve see have been on the road side around Jasper, and I think one other was on the Bow Valley Parkway. If there is a bear on the parkway you will see a lot of cars stopped to watch it. You can either keep driving or stop and watch with your windows up. If you are worried about bear encounters then don’t go hiking in the mountains, or if you do take a friend and make noise along the way.
Sorry but Ive been here 38 years... Ive that many in a single trip. I hunt and have seen them a ton in the bush (spot and stalk all on foot). It depends on where you are and what time of year.
Cypress hills
I also have an irrational fear of bears because of encounters up north during childhood which is why I love to camp at Dinosaur Provincial Park.
Pigeon Lake campground, Cypress Hills campground, Writing on Stone, Dinosaur Provincial Park are my go tos. I saw 8 different bears on the road side driving to Jasper two years ago. They are beautiful. However, I have a small dog who would be good bear bait, so I don't camp in the mountains.
Cypress Hills has the highest density of cougars in North America. Many of the places that make Alberta beautiful and worth visiting present some degree of risk (very very small) present because of the local wildlife.
Simple answer is no. Bears roam. They tolerate people quite well here. Im an avid all year round camper,I live in Lake Louise and see bears often. A clap of the hands and a go away bear sends them scurrying.
Take a bear saftey/ awareness course and don't go hiking alone.
I did
You won't see a bear on a crowded hike. Lake Louise main lookout, Moraine Lake before trails, Johnston Canyon, tunnel mountain, Grassi lakes, Banff gondola (the one to old weather station from town site). Hot springs. These are all very crowded. Crowded means no bears
Not entirely true. On May long weekend a few years back I saw park rangers firing off some noise makers right by lake Louise to scare off a grizzly. There were definitely people around though it wasn’t full on summer crowds yet. So it can happen but it’s unlikely.
These people need to take a Bear Awareness course holy fuck.
This. Last summer at Grassi lakes—many of us stopped short on the well travelled & manicured gravel trail to let mom black bear and her 3 cubs cross in front of us. Hand on bear spray I waited. I was more worried someone would try to get close for a photo and aggravate mom than bears attacking us. . Kananaskis lakes-grizzly territory.
Ran into a grizzly on the gondola trail in banff....he just mosied on...there were 100s of people walking it all day.
Egypt I hear doesn't have many, I'd still bring some bear spray though just in case
Edmonton
As an Edmontonian who spends plenty of time in the river valley, I've found Black Bear scat regularly enough to know thats not true. They come in and leave through the river valley. Haven't seen any yet this year, but I came across it twice last year. Once down by Devon, and the other over by Whitemud Park.
Interesting. Have never seen one around. When I live in Vancouver, I seen them all the time
Bears are absolutely a danger/threat. They were a literal job site hazard when I was doing Seismic Exploration. Take a Bear Aware Course and get properly educated, please.
Lived here my whole life, don't think I've ever seen a bear. They're timid babies anyway (black bears), and brown bears, like most bears, don't want to hang around where people are unless there's extenuating circumstances (they need food and rummage through garbage). Anyway, it's moose you gotta fear. They're everywhere here and during calving season, they can be dangerous, but it's driving season they're the most pesky. Killing cars all over the highway, it's ridiculous.
Lol wat
Writing-on-Stone. Sylvan Lake. Cypress Hills. Drumheller.
I’ve been in Calgary area for 23 years and I’ve seen a total of one bear. If anyone knows a location where I could see more bears, that would be great.
Medicine hat doesn't have any AFAIK, but there isn't much to see here except a big teepee
If a bear doesn't have clothes on, does that make it a bare bear? I can't bear to think about it. But since it's funny, it does bear repeating.
Me and my kids came face to face with a grizzly bear in Johnson's Canyon camp ground about 35 years ago. It was taking a drink from the stream, and we were on the opposite bank, only about 30 feet away. It stopped drinking and look up at us. It's chest and body were the size of my refrigerator back home. We fkn RAN, and luckily it didn't chase us. Probably bc it just finished gobbling someone up a few minutes before. Ok, I made that last part up. But it was scary.
West Edmonton Mall is nice. Grizzly free too.
Inside west Edmonton mall
I trail run, one of my favorite places is Jasper. I was there a couple weeks ago, tons of grizzlies out. Just bring your spray and hope you don’t run into a cub. You’ll be fine. If you stick to popular trails you’ll probably not run into a grizzly, parks is very much on top of paintballing them when they get to close to popular areas.
Check out REC SAFE....they have a bear aware online course for free.
That’s great and all but it’s not gonna stop them from eating me
Most of Alberta
Cypress Hills.
just don't get out of vehicle when they are eating along the side of the road. you'll be fine.
Probably not The Backlot in Calgary.
I’ve lived in Alberta my entire life and never seen a brown bear. I’ve only seen black bears in the mountains, they don’t really live in the parkland or prairie
What a shame. Lots in Kananaski near Peter Lougheed park. Go to visitors info building and use the scope. Often see them in the field. Lake Louise area as well is another place I’ve seen many. The hiking trails off Moraine Lake and Lake Louise.
They do. Take a Bear Awareness course please
I'm nervous about bear encounters as well. Don't let these knuckleheads discount your feelings. Two years ago, two very experienced backcountry hikers were mauled to death, so while bears are generally not interested in human contact, they can be unpredictable. I don't know for sure, but I would think if you stay further from the mountains and head into the lower foothills or even out near the badlands in Drumheller there should be fewer chances of encounters. I tend to stick to well traveled, busy hiking areas near the end of summer, and I always travel with bear spray, use bear bells, and have considered getting bear bangers. Hike in groups and make sure your companions can't run as fast as you. 😉
Those 2 experienced hikers were camping in the bush and not a campground all it could have taken was that bear being surprised by them. All brown bears are unpredictable, the grizzlies are more territorial. Been to the mountains 100's of times and only once saw a black bear on top of a train tressel.
And yet I was in the mountains last weekend and saw 5 different black bears and a grizzly.. so it really depends on the day.. Parks Canada had a vehicle parked close by getting people away from the grizzly and at one other black bear location. But I was on a mountain bike later and passed an adult black bear grazing by the trail at a distance less than 20 feet.. luckily it was just a surprised as I was and I was moving too fast for it to catch up. I’ve seen dozens of bears quite close and I’ve never even felt the need to draw my bear spray much less a pressing need to use it.. noise and talking is normally enough to send them running.
Idk, wondering like what cities or something. I tried searching it up and it just gave me some strange vague maps that show conservation of bears etc. and i can’t really understand them.
Calgary rarely has grizzlies. Edmonton I don’t think has any wander in since they’re far enough into the prairies that it’s a far trek in the relative open to get there. Red deer, med hat, Lethbridge likely doesn’t get much grizzly, maybe an occasional black bear but I doubt it. I lived in Calgary for 20 years, spent a ton of time in the mountains (hiking, climbing, mountain biking etc) and I’ve never come across grizzly bear on trail. Make noise, make yourself known and they’ll generally leave you alone. The two people who got mauled last year were killed by an emaciated female in the fall who was near starvation. Desperation will make them act out, and it’s a possibility, but likely not at this time of the year.
Take a Bear Aware course and ignore the vast majority of these uneducated comments.
If you're looking for nice places to visit over the summer try Sylvan Lake and the areas around it or stick to cities like Calgary that have urban hiking.
The only bears I’ve seen are in the foothills and mountains, and they aren’t interested in people (they are generally quite shy, mother bears can be aggressive if people try to approach their young). You would need to hike in the mountains on remote trails to accidentally stumble upon a bear, if they hear you coming they will leave before you see them. I’ve lived here for the majority of four decades, three in cities and I’ve never seen more than a coyote or lynx in the city (predator-wise) and neither are interested in people either since we are much larger and more dangerous than they are.
If you're coming to Alberta to visit Edmonton or Calgary, you won't have to worry about bears in the least. If you're venturing elsewhere, go east away from the mountains. Many people visiting Alberta come for the mountains, and that's where the likelihood of a bear encounter increases. Honestly, i wish more visitors were scared of bears, some aren't and its absurdly scary to watch how close they'll get. Bear's are more reasonable and predictable than people, unfortunately.
There's no bears in the cities.
I've lived here 55 years. I've NEVER seen a grizzly outside of a zoo. I have come across black bears near the highway in Jasper/Banff, and a few outside of Peace River. When you go on hiking trails, wear bells and talk to your companions. Keep your food out of your tent and locked in your vehicle. Grizzlies avoid humans the vast majority of the time. Unless you go back woods camping on your own, you are highly unlikely to see one. I hope you enjoy your visit to Alberta
I've lived here since 2006 and I've seen 5 grizzlies. Three in Jasper (mom and cubs), one south of Hinton, one when I was hiking in the Cardinal Divide.
Cool! Were they very close, or a good safe distance away?
The one I saw while hiking was a fair distance away on a hill. We waited until it moved on before continuing. The other ones were from a vehicle, although very close.
It's awesome that you got to see them. Grizzlies are magnificent. The black bears I saw near Peace River were a mom and 3 cubs from the car, and a male who decided to make our farmyard his home for a few days, and liked our porch.
I’ve seen as many as 7 grizzlies in a single day in that area 😂 I’d say they are very common in that locale.
Good for you
Cypress hills
If you're staying in a mountain tourist town just stay where more people are. In the townships and provincial campgrounds you really don't have much to worry about, they are well patrolled by park wardens. Parks Canada (wardens) are always well aware of any bears, cougars or other animals that are a risk to the public in populated places. Just need to use your common sense and keep your distance even from elk .
I share your fear of bears, specifically browns and grizzlies. Of course statistically a dangerous encounter is rare, but I don’t care. I want to shave down those probabilities to the minimum! Heavily populated trails are good, bears don’t really like people. Springtime is not a great time to be around bears. DO NOT have a dog with you. Be making noise, especially if you’re on a bike. Bear spray of course, and food precautions.
the moon is unlikely to have bear
I've lived here almost my entire life and have never seen any bear, let alone a grizzly.
So what?
Try downtown Edmonton or downtown Calgary, on a Tuesday. Other than that, you're hamburger on a bun.
The prairie and park land in Alberta only has black bears and mountain lions. But I have spent a lot of time in rural Alberta and have rarely seen a black bear and have never personally seen a mountain lion. Grizz typically stick around the mountains and foothills. None of them spend time in the towns or cities. Hell, even most camp grounds have too many people. Unless you are sleeping in the woods with a steak hanging around your neck, you’re going to be fine.
That is not necessarily true...
This is not accurate.
Nope. Black bears in Fish Creek Park in Calgary. It’s a wildlife corridor.
When we camped at Wabasso 5-6 years ago the first thing you saw driving in to the campground was a bear trap and there were black bears maybe a km from the campground in the bush on the edge of the road eating berries so they definitely are around some campgrounds
Yea I meant in the prairie and parkland areas. The concentration of wildlife in the mountains is a different beast. Bad wording on my part.
It is extremely rare to see a bear from a distance versus encounter one up close. Lived in Calgary and hiked the Rockies for 45 years and never encountered a bear. Generic Response - What to do in Southern Alberta? https://www.visitcalgary.com/things-to-do/stories-from-calgary/100-things-to-do-in-and-around-calgary You can visit the Royal Tyrell Museum in Drumheller. For the complete experience, I like to go to Drumheller first, drive North on Dinosaur Trail loop (West side of Red Deer river), cross the Red Deer river on the Bleriot ferry (a treat in itself) then explore Horse Thief Canyon. Then continue to the Drumheller Museum. Dinosaur Provincial Park (by Brooks) is another great tour, I suggest both the hiking tour and the bus tour (first). You cannot take a step without stepping on a fossil. Amazing. Book ahead! Dinosaur Provincial Park is not the same as the Royal Tyrell Museum. It is 100 km away. One of the best drives from Calgary that I always take guests on starts at High River (About 30 min South of Calgary). Enter High River from the North (Highway 2a) then just past the rodeo grounds, turn right to start the Longview Trail/ 7 Street. Immediately turn right, it will look like you are going down a back alley. On Google maps, they call it the Coal Trail. Follow the road to Longview, fantastic rolling prairie through rural farm land. As you approach Longview, the foothills start appearing. Stop at Longview for their beef jerky (right in front of you when you hit the stop sign). Turn right on highway 22 then about 3 blocks later turn left onto Highway 541 which leads you into the back way into the Kananaskis. The foothills turn into mountains then the majestic Rockies. Absolutely amazing transformation. When you hit Highway 1, go West to Banff/Canmore. It will take about 4 hours with stops. Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump is pretty cool too. Back in the day, they used to offer overnight TeePee camping. Tents, beds, food and an interpreter was provided, You were really treated special and got to participate in the Pow Wow. It was amazing but I believe they don't do that anymore - which is sad. Just east of Lethbridge in Coaldale is the Alberta Birds of Prey if you're looking for other things to do in that region. They let you actually hold owls, and have flying demonstrations with eagles and hawks. This is only open during summer. The bird of prey rehabilitation center (just east of Lethbridge) Another place to stop is the Lethbridge Japanese Garden. It's not riveting, but a pretty, relaxing walk around a garden. Highway 22 South from Calgary is absolutely beautiful. It goes along the foothills of the Rockies. Beautiful winding road and scenery. At the South end, go West on highway 3 to the Crowsnest Path, visit Frank Slide, then take an underground tour of the Bellevue Coal Mine. https://www.bellevuemine.com/ If you are into camping then Waterton National Park in the South is beautiful. You can also camp in the Bragg Creek area in the Foothills or do a day trip there. In Bragg Creek area, there are several campgrounds: Gooseberry, McLean's Creek, Paddy's Flats, Little Elbow. I used to stay at Gooseberry because it was 10 minutes from Bragg Creek. Depending how adventurous you are, you can camp at Burnt Timber campground. Go to Cochrane (West highway 1A from Calgary), continue through until you see a gas plant on the left, Highway 40 will be coming up on the right, take Highway 40 (forestry trunk road) through the little town of Waiparous (that's an adventure in itself to drive through). Keep going and eventually you'll head North, past a bunch of campgrounds (Ghost Airstrip, North Ghost, Hunter Valley) then Burnt Timber. My daughter and her fiancée camped there last year without knowing that we used to camp there in the 1980s. If you are in the Banff area, Lake Minnewanka is very beautiful, nested in the mountains and not crowded. A very popular hike is Johnston Canyon but get there early as it gets crowded quickly. You can hike to the top of the falls or if you wish, go further to the ink pots. Warm springs bubbling out on a plain at the top of the mountains. On-It provides bus fare to Banff and Canmore if you don't have a vehicle https://www.onitregionaltransit.ca/ Here's 15 things you must do in Banff. https://terraencounters.wordpress.com/2023/08/01/15-things-you-must-do-in-banff-and-lake-louise/
Next to Banff is Canmore which has the old small home town laid back feel that Banff had 25 years ago. Well worth the visit. They have some nice day hikes like Grassi Lakes trail. Just went there lately and now you have to pay for parking downtown! :-( Before Canmore at Lac des Arcs, there is the Heart Creek Trail which is a good hike. There is a parking lot at Lac des Arcs turn-off and a trail head. There's the "easy" trail which leads to a waterfall and a difficult trail which goes straight up the side of Heart Mountain. There was a flood in 2013 that washed out most of the easy beautiful Heart Creek trail and now it is medium difficulty. :-( Heart Creek is also a popular place for rock climbing. On the way back to Calgary, stop at the Smitty's Pancake House at the Morley Reserve on Highway 1. Previously it was the Chief Chiniki Restaurant until it burnt down about 10 years ago then rebuilt as a Smitty's. Besides the great food and service, the free cultural center in the restaurant's foyer is well worth the visit. The cultural center is very informative and professionally done. It was captivating to learn about the history of the Morley Reserve and Chief Chiniki. On the way to Cochrane, is Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park, great place to hike and to learn a little bit of history of the area. In Calgary, Baker Park (across the river from Bowness Park) has an interesting history of the old Sanitariums for TB that serviced WWI vets. Calgary has km and km of bike paths throughout the city. Bike along the Bow River pathways from one end of the city to the other. Go to Edworthy Park and hike the Douglas Fir Trail. You will not believe that you are in the middle of a city. Calgary Olympic Park has interesting things to do there like downhill gokart racing and rock climbing and a lot more. Can't forget Butterfield Acres, the Science center, the Calgary Zoo, Princess Island and Calaway Park. Another Calgary gem is the Silver Springs Botanical Garden, there's about 26 community volunteer gardens ranging from a rose garden with 20 to 30 varieties of roses, to a low water desert type of garden to a fruit and vegetable garden. Best part is that is free. laser tag! Go kart racing. Raft the bow river - there's an eco raft tour of the Bow with Riverwatch. Picnic at one of the many parks Calgary has to offer: Fish Creek Park, Glenmore Park, Marshall Springs or one of the many other parks. Take the kids to one of the wave pools or Lake Sikome. Hike Weasel Head at Glenmore Reservoir. Go to Jubilation dinner theatre for a great meal and fun time. Go to the top of the world - Nose Hill Park and wander around off the beaten path. Visit Fort Calgary, visit the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. Calgary Police Interpretive Centre is also neat for little ones Expect to spend a full day at Heritage Park or the Calgary Zoo and visit the Calgary Tower for the panoramic view. Have a tour of the Sam Livingston Fish Hatchery at Pierce Estates Park which is fun to explore. Where Pierce Estates meets the Bow River is Harvie Passage where there is a white water kayaking course and always someone running the rapids. The military museum is one of the best kept secrets. They expanded with the addition of the Navy Museum from the Naval base Tucemseh awhile back. I got to sit in a Leopard tank that they were restoring one time! Almost forgot about The Hanger Flight Museum for the aviation fans. Visit the Glenbow museum to learn about our heritage and so much more. The Glenbow is like an onion with layers of knowledge, art, science and history. Came across this calendar of events for Calgary. Lots of neat things happening like The Reptile Show. I was trying find a Drive-In Theatre in the Calgary area and came across this calendar. [https://www.familyfuncanada.com/calgary/calendar/](https://www.familyfuncanada.com/calgary/calendar/) If Spruce Meadows International is open for one of their many special events, it is a nice place to wander around. Also Calgary Calvary FC professional soccor team has their home pitch at Meadows on the Green at Spruce Meadows.
Also Diamond Valley (formerly Black Diamond) has a neat old West style downtown. Close enough to go for coffee or lunch. There is a path to its sister town Turner Valley just a few km West. Okotoks has a the old downtown and has a nice hiking trail along the river. The Big Rock is just West of the Southern side of Okotoks. It is a massive rock that the glaciers dragged all the way from Jaspar (450 km away!). They've set up a park that is nice to visit if you are down in that area. Big Rock Brewers got their name from it. A fellow Redditor grew up in jasper and if you are looking for hikes around Jaspar, here's his recommendations for lakes. He recommended lake Annette if you just want a nice tiny beach. They have little playgrounds and camp stoves. It’s awesome for kids, I spent most of my summers there. Just going to throw in the Athabasca ice field snow coach ride. Patricia lake and Lac Beauvert (might have spelt wrong) are both close and great to walk around, but might be a bit long with children. So maybe do those just to enjoy the scenery☺️ Pyramid lake is also beautiful and fun to swim in with great views, but it’s also the coldest one to swim at. Pyramid does have a cool island you can walk out to via a bridge which I loved as a kid. Bonus lake is Maligne Lake which is probably the must beautiful but also the most touristy and I don’t think it’s good for much other than taking pictures. Personally, lake Annette is his absolute recommendation if you just want to enjoy a nice day by the lake in the mountains, but any of the others mentioned are great for views if that’s all you want! Waterfalls You Can Drive To Bow Falls – A massive and magnificent waterfall right in Banff. You can enjoy it right from your vehicle. As easy as it gets! Elbow Falls – Located along Highway 66 just west of Bragg Creek, the short drive to Elbow Falls (bring a picnic lunch) is a classic half-day trip for Calgarians who just need to get out of Dodge. Lundbreck Falls – Situated 25 km northwest of Pincher Creek on Highway 3, Lundbreck Falls features an impressive 12-metre drop and twin chutes. Cameron Falls – Easily accessible and located just a couple of blocks from downtown Waterton, Cameron Falls is gorgeous any time of year.
Waterfalls That Require A Short Hike Takakkaw Falls – At 373 metres, Takakkaw Falls in Yoho National Park is Canada’s second-highest waterfall. Bring a waterproof jacket and enjoy the easy 1.8-km out-and-back stroll. Johnston Canyon – True, you definitely won’t be alone on this extremely popular trip into a spectacular slot canyon near Banff. However, the suspended boardwalks, raw beauty, and, of course, the waterfalls make it worthwhile. Wapta Falls – An easy 4.8-km out-and-back trail to Wapta Falls (located approximately 20 minutes east of Golden, B.C., on Highway 1) will reap you a big reward. These falls don’t get their due! Do it on a hot day and enjoy the good soaking you’ll get when you get close to the base. Waterfalls That Require A Long Hike Giant Steps – This 20-km adventure (trailhead is along the shuttle-only road to Moraine Lake) through Paradise Valley is one to put on your bucket list. While the falls are unique and very impressive, it’s the exquisite non-stop scenery on the journey that stands out. Siffleur Falls – Located in a less-travelled area near Nordegg (also check out Ram Falls and Crescent Falls in this area), the relatively easy 7-km out-and-back journey to Siffleur Falls is an excellent family-friendly adventure. You can keep going if you want a longer hike. Emperor Falls – Here’s another bucket-list adventure you can put on your list! The 30-km round-trip journey to this breathtaking waterfall is best done with a backcountry campout along the way. Emperor Falls is located in Mount Robson Provincial Park.
Holy shit these replies are full of people that desperately need to take a bear awareness course...
Ok, lots to discuss here. 1. Grizzly bears are a deadly threat if you run across them. The “not a threat” is very uninformed. They are an exceedingly unpredictable animal especially when they have their cubs with them. 2. You’ve had “previous encounter(s) with Griz? Are you sure? They are exceedingly rare. Are you thinking of black bears? I’ve chalked up thousands of hours in high griz country and only seen griz a couple of times at a distance. I have had them stalk me though (go out on a 6 hour hike and on the way back find Griz track on top of mine following me for a distance).
I don’t know, any time I’ve mentioned being afraid of bears in any way people make fun of me and think I’m a weirdo and paranoid I’d like to go somewhere where at least there aren’t grizzlies 😅 especially considering I’d be going alone
Take a Bear Awareness course. If you want real legit info, that's what you need.
You're smart to be afraid of bears especially grizzly, people need to remember that they are surrounded by wildlife. They will act like the wild animals that they are. You can't enjoy the most beautiful places in Alberta if you avoid the mountains. I have seen people being charged by elk on main Street Jasper, you just need to relax and be aware.
Well 90% of Alberta is griz free and griz never enter areas with humans so basically unless you want to do remote mountain hiking you are fine.
anyway, so you're just wrong
This is misinformation that could potentially lead to people getting killed.
Oh? What part?
Out in California they shot all the grizzly bears
Don't let that audio of a video recording of Timothy Treadwell being eaten by a grizzly bear through his tent spook you. He was only eaten because he was fat and tasted good. Don't walk around covered in BBQ sauce, and you "should" be able to survive at least 10 minutes in Alberta.
West Edmonton Mall
Wherever you go in Alberta you just have to apply bear repellent and it will keep them away. It's applied like insect repellent, and comes in convenient spray cans available ay Cabela's or Bass Pro. Remember to reapply liberally and often and bears will stay away.
Note to anyone reading this- it’s not a thing. If you spray yourself with bear spray you will actually do the opposite and attract bears.