Corbett, Bill. Best of Alberta: Day Trips from Calgary. Vancouver: Whitecap Books, 2006. Multiple books have been written about the things to do and see in Banff, which this book covers, along with dozens of ideas for day-tripping south and north of the famous park and all within a two-hour drive of Calgary.

Corbett, Bill. The 11,000ers. Calgary: Rocky Mountain Books, 2004. A reference to all 54 mountain peaks in the Canadian Rockies that are higher than 11,000 feet. The author discusses the human history of each, as well as access and popular routes.

Daffern, Gillean. Kananaskis Country Trail Guide. Calgary: Rocky Mountain Books, 2002. Two volumes cover all the official and unofficial trails in Kananaskis Country.

Eastcott, Doug. Backcountry Biking in the Canadian Rockies. Calgary: Rocky Mountain Books, 2002. Details more than 220 bicycling routes using simple maps, road logs, and black-and-white photography.

Gadd, Ben. The Canadian Hiker’s and Backpacker’s Handbook. Vancouver: Whitecap Books, 2008. Whether you’re interested in learning the basics or a seasoned traveler, this is the best book for reading up on your backcountry and hiking skills.

Kane, Alan. Scrambles in the Canadian Rockies. Calgary: Rocky Mountain Books, 2002. Routes detailed in this guide lead to summits, without the use of ropes or mountaineering equipment.

Martin, John, and Jon Jones. Sport Climbs in the Canadian Rockies. Calgary: Rocky Mountain Books, 2006. Details 1,600 climbs through the Bow Valley and Banff National Park. Includes maps and photographs.

Mitchell, Barry. Alberta’s Trout Highway. Red Deer: Nomad Creek Books, 2001. “Alberta’s Trout Highway” is the Forestry Trunk Road (Highway 40), which runs the length of the Canadian Rockies, including through the heart of Kananaskis Country. Entertaining and useful descriptions of Mitchell’s favorite fishing holes are accompanied by maps and plenty of background information.

Patton, Brian, and Bart Robinson. Canadian Rockies Trail Guide. Banff: Summerthought Publishing, 2007. First published in 1971 and now in its eighth edition, this book covers 230 hiking trails and 3,400 kilometers (2,100 miles) in the mountain national parks as well as in surrounding provincial parks. At least one full page is devoted to each trail, making it the most comprehensive hiking book available.

Patton, Brian, and Bart Robinson. 50 Walks and Hikes in Banff National Park. Banff: Summerthought Publishing, 2008. The authors of the Canadian Rockies Trail Guide detail their favorite short walks and day trips in this full-color guidebook.

Potter, Mike. Backcountry Banff. Calgary: Luminous Compositions, 2001. This book’s title is a little misleading, for included are many shorter trails that can be enjoyed by everyone. Includes logged distances and readable trail descriptions of over 100 hikes in Banff National Park.

Potter, Mike. Fire Lookouts in the Canadian Rockies. Calgary: Luminous Compositions, 1998. This book specializes in hikes to fire lookouts. Trail descriptions are detailed, and each is accompanied by the history of the lookout.

Scott, Chic. Ski Trails of the Canadian Rockies. Calgary: Rocky Mountain Books, 2005. After reading this book, it quickly becomes apparent that there is a lot more to wintertime than the downhill alpine resorts. Covering both groomed and backcountry trails, you’ll find yourself spoiled for options with this book as reference.

Spring, Vicky, and Tom Kirkendall. Glacier–Waterton International Peace Park. Seattle: Mountaineer Books, 2003. This book concentrates on hiking in the adjacent national parks of Waterton Lakes and Glacier.