Grotto Canyon Trail

Grotto Canyon Trail is a day hike in Bow Valley Provincial Park near Exshaw, Alberta, built around a short out-and-back canyon walk to a waterfall. The route follows Grotto Creek into a narrow limestone canyon, then turns back after the canyon highlights (most hikers return from the waterfall area).

The hike starts at the Grotto Pond parking lot. Early on it runs close to the highway for a short stretch before dropping down into the dry creek bed and settling into the canyon corridor.

Once you’re in the creek bed, the canyon narrows and the limestone walls rise. Expect the best terrain when the walls steepen—this is the part where the trail funnels through the narrows and feels most enclosed.

A key cultural stop is the Hopi pictographs on the canyon wall, located just before the waterfall area; they’re typically viewed at about eye level. The canyon sections around the pictographs are also where the walls feel tightest.

The trip’s focal point is the in-canyon waterfall area. In warmer months it’s a smaller “weeping” flow, while in winter the creek and waterfalls can freeze solid enough for an ice-walk style experience.

After the waterfall, the route continues briefly for hikers who go beyond the main turnaround, and some people keep going toward the cave area before heading back. Total hiking distance commonly varies by where you choose to turn.

Seasonally, the canyon is popular in summer and also draws winter visitors; in winter, microspikes are commonly recommended because you’ll be walking on frozen canyon bottoms.

More information: The Grotto Canyon Hike in Exshaw, Grotto Canyon Trail - Tourism Canmore Kananaskis, Grotto Canyon Trail - Hiking - Relief Maps