Snowshoe Trails in Calgary

Snowshoeing Trail in Banff: http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/activ/activ21/b.aspx#shoe

Note: Some of the snowshoeing trails listed here intersect with groomed cross-country ski trails. If you decide to follow groomed cross-country ski trails, please travel to one side in order help maintain them for other users.
1) Lake Louise Lakeshore: 4 km return, no elevation gain (map)
Starting in front of the Chateau Lake Louise, this trail features classic views and at lake’s end, a 100 m tall frozen waterfall.

2) Fairview Lookout: 2 km return, 100 m elevation gain (map) This steep trail ends at a viewpoint overlooking historic Chateau Lake Louise. Start by facing the Lake at the World Heritage Site rock. Look left and follow the trail signs for Fairview Lookout. Warning: return via the same path; the loop option is not safe in the winter due to avalanches.
3) Louise Creek: 5.6 km return, 195 m elevation gain (map) This is the best pedestrian option from the village to the lake. From Samson Mall, walk along Lake Louise Drive to the Bow River bridge. Cross and look for the trailhead on the downstream (south) side of the bridge.
4) "Highline" Trail to Paradise Creek: 9 km return, 60 m elevation gain (map) An excellent snowshoeing option. The trailhead is the same as Fairview Lookout, but at the Lookout turnoff, continue for another 40 metres on the main trail, then turn left when you see the horse trail sign. Avalanche risk: rated as Simple Class 1 terrain – at km 1 the trail crosses the runout zone of an avalanche path which rarely runs.
5) Mirror Lake via Lake Agnes hiking trail: 5.4 km return, 295 m elevation gain (map) From the Chateau Lake Louise, follow the main Lake Agnes trail. Avalanche risk: Beyond Mirror Lake, the trail to Lake Agnes is rated as Challenging Class 2 terrain for
avalanche exposure, and travel is not recommended.
6) Taylor Lake: 12.6 km return, 585 m elevation gain (see trail guide)
This challenging trail ends in a scenic hanging valley below Mount Bell. Start at the parking lot 18 km east of Lake Louise or 8 km west of Castle Junction on the Trans-Canada Highway. Warning: Connecting trails to O'Brien Lake or Panorama Ridge take you into avalanche terrain
Trails in the Bow Summit Area on Icefields Parkway #93N
7) Peyto Lake viewpoint: 1.5 km return, 25 m elevation gain (map B)
From the parking lot there are two loops. Start by following either the unplowed upper road or take the official trail from the north end of the parking lot. From the viewpoint, a second loop runs through gladed forest.
8) Bow Lake Meadows: 8 km return, 80 m elevation gain (map B)
Park near Num-Ti-Jah Lodge. From the lot, snowshoe past the lodge for about 150 metres and then turn north on the old horse trail into the meadows. This trail is difficult to find once it's snow covered, so expect to find your own route and break trail.
9) West Bragg Creek Snowshoe Trail: http://www.braggcreek.ca/kananaskis/snowshoe.htm          

There is a new feature on the West Bragg Creek landscape. It is a trail designed and built by the Greater Bragg Creek Trails Association expressly for snowshoers. People on snowshoes now have their very own trail. It starts at the eastern (city) end of the West Bragg Creek Day Use Area parking lot and climbs the hill, crossing the field where the Youth Hostel used to stand (there’s a sign in the middle of the field). The trail continues across the old Hostel Road, about 20 metres east of the Hostel Loop Trail.

The Hostel Loop Trail is a highway compared to this meandering little 5.5 km path that winds its way through the trees and up and down steep slopes. This is pretty cool because snowshoes and skis don’t mix very well as snowshoes can flatten the tracks that help keep skis from slipping and sliding. And skiers go really fast compared to snowshoers so the potential for accidents exists. In fact, snowshoes don’t need trails at all as they are intended to help you walk through deep snow. But the trail will ensure that you don’t get lost wandering around in the woods. This trail is ideal for snowshoes as it is narrow and winds and climbs/descends more aggressively than do ski trails. In fact, skiers won’t enjoy and shouldn’t use this trail – it is made for snowshoes. There are some steep downhills with tight corners at the bottom. The trail skirts a frozen pond created by a beaver dam. There you’ll find some large bird boxes high up in the trees. Due to their proximity to the marsh, they are likely intended for ducks.

I haven’t reached the end of the trail as we used the Hostel Loop Trail to return to the parking load. The two trails nearly join not far from the northern junction with the Telephone Trail. We were on the trail for about an hour. I’d guess that you should devote 2 to 3 hours to follow the trail to its end.
If you don’t have snowshoes you can rent them from the Moose Mountain General Store located in the Village Market Mall in the hamlet of Bragg Creek. They cost about $13/day (2010).They also rent skis for about $15/day. The store hours are: Mon.-Tue 9-6, Wed.-Sat. 9-7 and Sun. 10-6.
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=SsuKD_awXHg
Location: http://www.braggcreek.ca/kananaskis/westbraggmap.htm