“Since 1971 the most trusted source of Canadian Rockies hiking information”

Canadian Rockies Trail Guide

Maps

Best Canadian Rockies Hiking Maps

This page describes the best Canadian Rockies hiking maps. While the Canadian Rockies Trail Guide provides 37 colour maps with total or partial coverage for most of the trails described, they are only designed to give you a general idea of trail location, course and surrounding topography. These maps are adequate for short walks and most day hikes, but it’s always nice to have a more detailed Canadian Rockies trail map along to identify natural features and to help dispel confusion. A good topographic map also provides an overview of trail systems, which allows you to customize your itinerary. And these maps are a necessity when heading into more remote regions.

 

Gem Trek Maps

The most comprehensive and up-to-date Canadian Rockies hiking maps are produced by Banff-based Gem Trek Maps, which can be ordered through the Gem Trek website or purchased throughout the Canadian Rockies. These are the maps used and recommended by Parks Canada. While the Gem Trek series does not cover more remote areas of Banff and Jasper National Parks, it does include all the popular hiking areas in our hiking books. The scale of these waterproof, relief-coloured topographic maps varies from 1:35,000 to 1:100,000, and contour intervals range from 25 metres to 50 metres. These maps are more accurate than government maps for locations of trails, backcountry campsites, lodges, huts and other cultural features; they also provide point-to-point distances and are up-dated with each printing.

 

National Geographic Maps

For an overview maps of the four contiguous Mountain Parks and Waterton-Glacier National Park. Excellent maps for planning major backpacking trips into the more remote backcountry regions.

 

Canadian Government Topographic Maps

All areas in the Canadian Rockies are covered by National Topographic System (NTS) 1:50,000 scale maps (approximately 2 cm = 1 km). These sheets are printed on water repellant paper and provide a high degree of topographic detail; they are extremely useful for both navigation and the identification of natural features. Unfortunately, it takes over 40 of these maps to cover the mountain parks, and even shorter trails can sometimes run over two or three sheets. Additionally, the  series is not reliable for current trail and backcountry campground locations (most haven’t been updated in a decade or more).