If you are looking for GPS maps for hiking in the Canadian Rockies, here’s a few free collections of GPS track maps for Banff National Park, Jasper National Park, Yoho National Park, Kootenay National Park, Kananaskis Country, and lots more.
I compiled this list because I thought it would be cool (but by no means essential except for maybe backcountry hikers) to have trail maps on my handheld GPS device (mine is a Garmin GPSmap 60CSx) alongside printed maps.
The word on the street is that the amount of Canadian Rockies trails on the GPS topo maps is very limited and even non-existent for most hand-held GPS hiking devices. The solution is to use GPS track maps (typically .GPX or .GDB files). Put these files on your GPS to have Canadian Rockies trails at your fingertips.
The following offer free GPS track maps for hiking in Jasper National Park and other areas of the Canadian Rockies.
Calgary Outdoor Club
The Calgary Outdoor Club has lots of GPS tracks maps for Banff, Canmore, Kananaskis and a whole lot more here.
Hike Alberta
Hike Alberta also has a seemingly endless collection here of GPS GPX files for hiking all over Alberta, Canada. Each of the hikes includes a description of the hike and photos.
This is a picture of what the raw data looks like once imported into a mapping program. This shows the Old Fort Point trail in Jasper National Park.
Old Fort Point Trail in Jasper National Park
Southern Alberta Mapping Project
The Southern Alberta Mapping Project has also compiled a cache of trail maps here that includes some trails in the Canadian Rockies national parks.
Thanks to these hiking organizations for compiling and sharing these useful resources.
Know of any others? Do share.
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Mr Wall,
Do you know anything about the Canadian Rockies? You are recommending people use software showing Old Fort Point in Banff Natiuonal Park.
Oops…fixed it. Thanks for pointing the error out. So many trails in the Canadian Rockies it is hard to keep them all straight.
Having owned or used Trimble, Rockwell, Magellen and Garmin…Garmin is the most user friendly. That said, the Canada topo is very good. It downloaded into my 60CS with no blips, bumps or other issues. When I travel from the US to Canada (and vice-versa) it transitions right at the border line. The maps are accurate – roads, rivers and trails are right on.
Garmin Customer Service is superb. They recently performed warranty work on a 7 year old 12CX – no charge and very rapid turnaround (no, I do not work for Garmin – they really are this good).
Hey thanks for the Maps!! I agree with the above comments about Garmin probably having the most top quality products as well as superb customer service. Although the eTrex series is not too shabby at all. Have you seen the new eTrex 30? It’s pretty sharp!