One Of A Kind
Hiking Photo Adventures
Offered in the Canadian Rockies backcountry
Get in touch with nature & diversify your Canadian Rockies portfolio
These hiking photo adventures offered in Banff, Jasper, Yoho, Kootenay, Assiniboine & other backcountry locations in Canada are designed for you (or you & your group) and are focused on scenically spectacular locations that are worth the extra effort to visit & photograph.
These adventures, different from our private and small group photo tours, are offered a little further off the grid however they are still suitable for most people with a little preparation and our guidance. We encourage you to inquire with us to find a good trip fit for you, whether it be one of the ones listed here or a privately guided hiking photo adventure.
We look forward to being a part of expanding your photography horizons in safe, enjoyable backcountry settings!
Professionally Guided - Year Round
We are certified with two professional guiding associations in Canada, the IGA and the ACMG. This means we've thought through every step of our hike, carry multiple emergency response devices & are trained in both Wilderness & Standard First Aid.
A 'One of a Kind' Experience
Memorable, off the grid & immersive. If you want the inside track to personally rewarding photographs, the backcountry is where its at! Blending jaw dropping photographic opportunities and a well planned itinerary together for you is our passion.
Our Trips
Explore our collection of Hiking Photo Adventures, get off the beaten path & experience the Canadian Rockies with your camera on another level.
Prices are in CAD$ & do not include GST (5%)
MT ASSINIBOINE (Sept 26-28)
Helicopter in & out of a remote alpine basin, staying for 2-3 nights. Spend time photographing the numerous lakes, wide open views, & pristine wilderness. Explore a beautiful trail system, observe wildflowers & wildlife, and if it’s clear, stand in awe of the ‘Matterhorn of the Rockies’, 3618m Mt Assiniboine. There will be many unique photographic opportunities depending on when the trip is – spring, summer or fall. Dates are released early in the new year. This trip may be camping based if the huts are unavailable. Check before booking.
What's Included
- Return Helicopter Flights
- ACMG Hiking Guide
- Photo Instruction
- Accommodation - Hut
- The 6th highest peak in the Canadian Rockies
Highlights
- Lake Magog
- The Niblet / Nublet
- Sunburst Lake
- Wonder Pass
- See more below
Mt Assiniboine
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Max: 7 participants
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We accept all major credit cards, debit cards, PayPal & more
TONQUIN VALLEY
Tonquin Valley in Jasper National Park is a one of a kind hiking photo adventure destination. It is one of our personal top 5 backcountry photography locations in the Canadian Rockies. There are iconic lakeside views of the Rampart mountains which consist of 10 imposing summits, the potential opportunity to see wildlife in it’s natural environment, a 3 night stay at the historical Wates Gibson Hut, and the experience of true wilderness where the photos will be hard earned, less common and personally rewarding. Don’t worry we wait until 99.7% of the notorious Tonquin mosquitoes have packed up and gone home for this trip!
What's Included
- ACMG Hiking Guide
- Photo Instruction
- Accommodation - Hut
- A premier Jasper backcountry experience
Highlights
- The wildlife viewing opportunities
- Amethyst Lake
- The Ramparts
- Eremite Valley
- See more below
Tonquin Valley
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Max: 7 participants
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We accept all major credit cards, debit cards, PayPal & more
LAKE O'HARA
Photograph multi-coloured glacial lakes, pristine wilderness & soaring peaks on these guided day hikes in the Lake O’Hara area of Yoho National Park! It’s a full day. We meet early in the morning at the Lake O’Hara car park ready to catch the bus to Lake O’Hara. We will then spend the day exploring and photographing along the incredible trail system built by the Lake O’Hara Trail Club, Tommy Link, & Lawrence Grassi. This trip may also be offered as an overnight trip staying at the ACC Elizabeth Parker Hut. Check before booking if that option is available.
What's Included
- Lake O'Hara Bus tickets
- ACMG Hiking Guide
- Photo Instruction
- An exclusive trail network
Highlights
- The Opabin Prospect
- Lake MacArthur
- Lake Oesa
- Yukness Ledges
- See more below
Lake O'Hara
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Max: 5 participants
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We accept all major credit cards, debit cards, PayPal & more
FLOE LAKE/KOOTENAY
Camp 2 nights at the base of the towering ‘Rockwall’ and explore the Kootenay National Park backcountry on this one of a kind hiking photo adventure to Floe Lake. This trip could be offered in summer or fall with wildflowers or larches as a focus for our meadow explorations beyond Floe Lake and up to Numa Pass. Floe Lake boasts arguably the best campsite location in the Canadian Rockies so the effort to get there is well worth it!
What's Included
- Camping Reservation
- ACMG Hiking Guide
- Photo Instruction
- The best campsite in the Canadian Rockies
Highlights
- Floe Lake
- Numa Pass
- The Rockwall
- Vast alpine meadows
- See more below
Floe Lake/Kootenay
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Max: 6 participants
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We accept all major credit cards, debit cards, PayPal & more
ICELINE TRAIL/YOHO
Experience glaciated terrain up close with a backdrop of thundering waterfalls, including the mighty Takakkaw. Stay 2 nights in an alpine hut allowing for even further explorations from that base into the Little Yoho Valley. This a classic alpine loop hike in the Canadian Rockies with diverse landscape features and 360 degree views of Yoho National Park. There will be many unique photographic opportunities, high up perspectives, intimate details & plenty of water to work on your long exposures. This trip may be camping based if the hut is unavailable. Check before booking.
What's Included
- ACMG Hiking Guide
- Photo Instruction
- Accommodation - Hut
- Numerous waterfalls
Highlights
- Glacial terrain
- Takakkaw Falls
- The President Range
- Little Yoho Valley
- See more below
Iceline Trail/Yoho
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Max: 7 participants
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We accept all major credit cards, debit cards, PayPal & more
SKOKI/BANFF
Stay at the historical Skoki Lodge for 2 nights fully catered while enjoying the luxury of just carrying your day pack and camera gear throughout. There are numerous lakes, wide open views, & pristine wilderness to capture on your camera. Every time we visit Skoki we come away with landscape photos we love. The combination of wide open terrain and hidden valleys means you will be switching lenses from the tele to the wide constantly, keeping your eyes peeled for the local wildlife & taking in whatever the season has in store for us. This trip may be camping based if the lodge is unavailable. Check before booking.
What's Included
- ACMG Hiking Guide
- Photo Instruction
- Accommodation - Lodge
- All meals
Highlights
- Skoki Lakes
- Merlin Lake
- Baker Lake
- Boulder Pass
- See more below
Skoki/Banff
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Max: 5 participants
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We accept all major credit cards, debit cards, PayPal & more
Frequently Asked Questions
Some common questions relating to our hiking photo adventures are answered below.
Logistics
We will meet at the trailhead or carpool to the trailhead in the AM of the first day. On the last day we often finish just after lunch time back at the trailhead/cars. The exact meeting point and time will be set well in advance of the trip so that you can make arrangements.
The hiking photo adventures all require a moderate level of fitness with some requiring slightly more effort then others. Expect an average of 10km and 250m elevation gain per day with a bit more or less than that possible. Make sure to inquire before booking for more detail on distance and elevation profiles for the trip you are interested in.
Most of the trips just require getting to a base area where we can leave everything except for a daypack with the essentials: camera gear/outerwear/food/water. You will need to prioritize your camera lenses down to between 1-3 lenses (so zooms work well) and just 1 camera body. If the trip is camping based it will mean a bigger backpack is necessary to fit the extra camp items like your tent & sleeping mat. We provide recommended packing lists and pack weight advice for each individual trip.
All! We enjoy taking out complete beginners and teaching them all about their equipment and nature photography just the same as if we have a more experienced photographer who prefers more location guiding, safety considerations & logistics than photo instruction.
Yes, of course! Even if you are a non photographer then these trips are great treated as solely a backcountry hiking experience. Our stops are longer and at times we will have a slower more deliberate pacing in order to be observant. It’s perfect for taking it all in and for those that don’t like hiking at a faster rate.
On Hike
Some examples of what you might learn about while enjoying the Rocky Mountain scenery:
– Working in manual mode and fully understanding the exposure triangle, Aperture, Shutter Speed and ISO
– How to use filters to best effect – why and when to use them.
– Compositional techniques that you can use to create balance, tension and flow in your images.
– How to handle high dynamic range scenes, and preventing flare.
– The qualities of natural light, how it affects colour, and what to look for.
– Working on the tripod as well as off it, and when and how best to do so in both scenarios.
– Understanding depth of field and how to maximize it.
– Better understanding of your own camera gear and recommendations for making it more user friendly for the type of shooting you do.
– Getting creative, having fun and so much more!
Absolutely! You can let us know what works best for you. Often we simply adjust to you without you even knowing. Sometimes it’s just our local knowledge about what we’re seeing in the landscape that is all that’s needed while we keep you on track with an engaging itinerary and occasional tips or ideas for your photos.
On most of our hiking photo adventures you will be required to bring your own food. We will provide the cookware/gas/water filtration and assist with all camp related tasks. We provide food recommendations depending on the trip.
Being comfortable so that you can enjoy the experience is paramount. We will provide recommendations on clothing/outerwear depending on the expected conditions for the trip. At a minimum having sturdy worn in hikers, a waterproof jacket and a warm packable layer regardless of conditions is required.
We carry more than one emergency communication device on our trips, and keep our Wilderness First Aid qualifications current. We also make sure that everyone is well prepared and within their comfort levels throughout our trips and adapt to the best interests of the group as a whole.
Yes, we recommend that each person carries their own bear spray out of an abundance of caution. We will show you how to deploy it in the extremely rare case you may need to. Rentals are available at select locations nearby.
Policies
Yes, we will bring it for you to sign when we meet on the day of the hiking photo adventure. A copy will be provided in advance for viewing.
There are no refunds, however we do consider requests on a case by case basis. See our terms & conditions.
Weather
Our hiking photo adventures will go ahead regardless of weather conditions – but often with a tweak in plans (if those conditions are a little too exciting) to keep us as safe and comfortable as possible. The Canadian Rockies look interesting in all types of weather and some of the most breathtaking and unique photos come from the worst conditions, such as during a clearing storm! Bring weather appropriate clothing.
Accurately gauging weather is a full time job and luckily we are slightly weather nutty as we view it as a key to both a safe trip and great landscape photography. Check out the current weather for Banff below for fun. If you are keeping an eye on it, always use a variety of sources. The localized weather varies greatly in the mountains and our hiking photo adventures always take this into consideration when planning for our time together.
-3°C