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My dog is 80 pounds, three years old, and the best hiking partner I’ve ever had. He has also, on separate occasions, eaten a tube of trail-marker tape, rolled in something I refuse to describe, and refused to walk one more step on a trail he had walked just fine for the previous nine kilometers.
Hiking with a dog is one of the most rewarding things you can do as a dog owner — and one of the easiest to do badly. Bad in the sense of “ruining your own day,” and bad in the sense of “putting your dog in actual danger.”
This guide is what I’ve learned from a few hundred kilometers on trail with mine. It’s specific to the Rockies and Kananaskis, where most of my hiking happens, but the bones apply anywhere.
First question: is your dog actually ready?
Not every dog is built for trail. Even the dogs who are built for it need to work up to it.
Some honest checks before you head out:
- Can your dog walk leashed for 5+ kilometers on a city path without losing it? If no, start there before you take them up a mountain.
- Are their nails trimmed and pads tough? Soft city pads tear easily on rocks and scree.
- Are they up to date on tick prevention and core vaccines? The Rockies have ticks. Yes, even the high alpine.
- Can they recall when off-leash? Doesn’t matter if you’ll keep them leashed (you should, mostly) — recall matters in case of a slip.
- Do they tolerate a backpack/harness? Most dogs need a couple weeks to get used to wearing one.
If you’re uncertain, your dog’s vet is the right person to ask. “Is my dog ready for a 10 km hike with 600 m of elevation gain?” is a normal question. They’ve heard it before.
Where dogs are (and aren’t) allowed
This trips up first-timers all the time. The rules in the Canadian Rockies are surprisingly inconsistent.
- Banff National Park — Dogs allowed on most trails on leash. No exceptions. Off-leash anywhere is a fineable offense and a great way to get gored by an elk.
- Kananaskis Country — Dogs allowed on most trails. Off-leash is sometimes okay in specific zones, but check the signage at the trailhead. When in doubt: leash.
- Provincial wildlife corridors and ecological reserves — Often no dogs at all. Read the signage carefully.
- Lake Louise and Moraine Lake area — Dogs allowed on the trails but generally a bad idea: huge crowds, hot pavement at the parking lots, and lots of wildlife. I leave mine at home for these.
Always check the trail’s official page before you go. AllTrails comments are not the source of truth. Parks Canada and Alberta Parks websites are.
Gear for your dog (the actual short list)
You can spend a fortune on dog hiking gear. You need maybe four things.
The non-negotiables:
- A proper hiking harness — not just a collar. The Ruffwear Front Range or Web Master are the two I rotate. A harness distributes the pull on their chest, not their throat, and gives you a handle to lift them over obstacles.
- A 6-foot lead — ditch the retractable leash. Retractables are dangerous on trail. A simple fixed-length lead is safer for both of you.
- A collapsible water bowl — the Ruffwear Quencher or any silicone one. Dogs need water more often than you do.
- Poop bags + a spare bag for carrying out used ones — yes, you carry it out. The “let nature take it” approach is illegal in national parks, and frankly rude.
Nice-to-haves:
- A dog backpack — let them carry their own water and snacks. Don’t load more than 10–15% of their body weight.
- Booties — for hot rock, rough scree, or cold/snow trips. My dog hates them. Yours might too. Worth trying.
- A tick comb — check them after every hike, especially May–July.
- A LED collar light — for early-morning starts and late returns.
Hydration and feeding on trail
This is where most people underprepare.
A 70-pound dog working hard on a hot day can drink 3–4 liters of water in a single hike. You are responsible for all of it. Don’t assume they’ll drink from streams — sometimes the water has giardia, sometimes it’s ice cold and they refuse.
My rule: I bring my dog’s full day of water in addition to mine. On a 10 km hike with my dog, I’m carrying 4–5 liters total.
For food: a regular hike doesn’t need anything beyond a few high-value treats. Anything over 6 hours, I bring half their normal kibble portion as a mid-hike meal. Active dogs burn through calories faster than you’d think.
Wildlife: the real conversation
The Rockies have bears, cougars, elk, moose, and a lot of small things that look snack-sized to a dog.
A few things I’ve learned the hard way:
- A loose dog can absolutely trigger a bear charge. Bears tolerate humans more than they tolerate dogs. A dog running back to you with a bear behind it is a bad day for everyone.
- Bears can smell dog food from a long way off. Don’t pack open dog food in your tent. Treat it like your own food on overnight trips.
- Elk and moose will defend their young aggressively against dogs. A protective cow moose is the most dangerous animal in the Rockies. Yes, more than a bear.
- If your dog signals — stops, ears up, hackles raised — pay attention. They often sense wildlife before you do. Stop, scan, and back away calmly.
- Carry bear spray. Know how to use it. Practice with the inert can at home before you go.
Trail etiquette with a dog
The unspoken rules:
- Yield uphill hikers right of way — and pull your dog off-trail to let them pass.
- Step aside for horses with your dog leashed close to you.
- No barking encounters with other dogs — if your dog reacts, leash short and step off.
- Pack out poop. All of it. Even the “she went in the bushes off trail” poop. Yes, even there.
- Don’t let your dog approach other people without permission. Some people are afraid of dogs. Most kids especially.
I’ve found that hikers in the Rockies are generally dog-friendly when dogs are well-managed, and quickly dog-unfriendly when one isn’t. Be the first kind of dog owner.
After-hike care
The hike isn’t over when you reach the car. Once you’re home:
- Tick check — full body, between toes, in ears.
- Pad check — looking for cracks, cuts, or stuck stones.
- Brush out their coat — burrs love long-haired dogs.
- Hydrate and let them rest. A long hike is a real workout. They’ll be tired the next day. That’s normal.
If your dog is limping the day after a hike, take it seriously. Strains, soft tissue tweaks, and torn pads are all common. A vet visit beats a worse injury later.
A few of my favourite dog-friendly hikes near Calgary
- Heart Creek Trail (Bow Valley) — short, shaded, lots of water. Great for hot days.
- Grassi Lakes (Canmore) — short and stunning, dogs welcome. Crowded though.
- Chester Lake (Kananaskis) — moderate, beautiful payoff lake at the top, water access.
- Ptarmigan Cirque (Highwood Pass) — alpine without the scrambling, accessible after July.
- Troll Falls (Kananaskis) — easy, family-friendly, dogs love the creek.
I’ll do a full post on each of these over time. For now, these are my “if you have a dog and a free Saturday” defaults.
Final word
Hiking with my dog has changed how I see the trail. The pace is slower. The breaks are more frequent. The rest stops happen at every creek crossing whether you wanted one or not. And there is no better feeling than reaching a quiet alpine lake and watching your dog put their whole face in it for the first time.
Bring water. Bring patience. Bring a leash. And go slowly.
— Medha (and the 80-lb co-pilot)