What To Do In the Mountains In August

This month you can go paddling in Kananaskis Country during the Kananaskis Whitewater Festival and explore Waterton Lakes National Park on horesback…
Get wet in Kananaskis Country
The Kananaskis Whitewater Festival is an annual gathering for whitewater kayaking enthusiasts. This year it takes place August 5 to 7 at Canoe Meadows in Kananaskis Country. The inclusive weekend is for novice and advanced paddlers, with clinics, demos and friendly competitive events as well as a big party on the Saturday night. Online registration is closed at this point, but you can still register in person at the site.
kanfest.ca or calgarykayakclub.com
Pick all the huckleberries at Castle Mountain Resort
In the winter, Castle Mountain Ski Resort is known for its whisper-light powder and stunning vistas, but in the summertime, it’s all about the berries. The resort’s annual Huckleberry Festival, running August 19 to 21, is a family-friendly weekend where huckleberry hunters can ride the chairlift up to prime picking zones on the mountain. There’s also live music on Friday and Saturday, games and events for kids, and a community pig roast and pancake breakfast (with huckleberry syrup, no doubt).
skicastle.ca
Explore Waterton Lakes National Park on horseback
The Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies is a non-profit club of horse-riding enthusiasts that has been leading excursions for beginner and seasoned riders since 1923. This year, the club is offering a series of multi-day trips in Waterton Lakes National Park during the month of August. The rides leave from a base camp within the park that is set up by club members at the beginning of the summer season and disassembled and removed at the end of August. Riders stay in tents and tee-pees, and are provided with meals, horses and Western tack.
trailridevacations.com
See Pat Benetar, Heart, the Rolling Stones, Aerosmith and Johnny Cash perform at Sun Peaks Resort
Of course, they’re all tribute acts (the fact that Johnny Cash died in 2003 should have tipped you off that this lineup was too good to be true). But even so, Sun Peaks Resort’s 7th Annual Retro Concert weekend, running Friday, August 12 to Sunday, August 14, is all about rocking out to the music you know in a scenic alpine village setting. While you’re there you can take a rip through the lift-accessed mountain bike park and a stroll through the Sun Peaks & Region Farmers’ Market that sets up on Sunday mornings throughout the summer.
sunpeaksresort.com
Have a good morning at Lake Louise
You can get a leg up on the summer crowds that flock to Lake Louise by heading out early and taking advantage of the Ride & Breakfast package at Lake Louise Ski Resort. The package includes a breakfast buffet served from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the Whiskey Jack Lodge at the base of the resort, and a gondola ride lift ticket up to interpretive hiking trails and amazing views.
skilouise.com
Hear the best string quartets in the world in Banff
The BISQC is back, baby. That’s the Banff International String Quartet Competition, a triennial event established in 1983 and presented by the Banff Centre in which string quartets from around the world with members under the age of 35 play their hearts out in the hopes of taking home a piece of the $150,000 purse. The high-calibre performers in the gorgeous alpine setting make this a must-see event for anyone with an interest in classical music. BISQC 2016 kicks off on August 29 with the concert finals on Sunday, September 4.
banffcentre.ca
Enjoy a mountaintop meal at Norquay
This alpine resort’s location just minutes from the town of Banff makes it a convenient option for chairlift-accessed sightseeing. Even better if you’re a season’s passholder (either from last season or for the season ahead) as you can ride for free! Plan your excursion around a meal at the Cliffhouse Bistro, Norquay’s mountain-top restaurant, which offers spectacular views from its perch at 7,000 feet and a menu that includes sharing items like charcuterie platters and a three-cheese fondue.
norquay.com
Meet the artists of the Columbia Basin
The annual Columbia Basin Culture Tour is an initiative to promote the artists and artisans working in the Columbia Basin, an extensive region that reaches as far as Valemount to the north, Fernie to the east and Grand Forks, B.C. to the southwest. This year marks the 8th anniversary of the free and self-guided tour, and features 86 different studios and galleries that will be open to the public August 13 and 14 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (You can find detailed maps along with artist profiles on the Columbia Basin Culture Tour website). It’s a great way to get off the beaten path and find a unique piece of artwork or jewellery.
cbcculturetour.com
Do a GranFondo cycling race through Banff National Park
A granfondo is a mass-participation long-distance cycling race. The RBC GranFondo is one such race that takes place entirely within the borders of Banff National Park. This year’s event is on Saturday, August 20 and features 150- and 90-km distances. The race is open to all riders (you don’t have to be some kind of ranked pro-cyclist to enter). It features rest stops along the course, as well as a finishing party in Banff’s Celebration Plaza with complementary massages. Registration is limited to 1,500 riders with race fees starting at $200.
banfflakelouise.com/rbc-granfondo-banff
Watch bands play in Golden, B.C.
The Golden Sound Festival features a variety of music acts playing in the town of Golden, B.C. over the weekend of Friday August 19 and Saturday, August 20. The schedule includes evening shows in licensed live music venues as well as a free outdoor community show on the Saturday afternoon. This year’s lineup includes Fernie favourites Shred Kelly, Lethbridge’s Leeroy Stagger and Calgary punk/rock foursome The Shiverettes.
goldensoundfestival.com
 
 
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