Canmore and Kananaskis Country

Sandy Campbell is a reference librarian in the Science and Technology Library at the University of Alberta.

This backpack-sized guide features 67 “walks” in the popular
Canmore/Kananaskis recreation area of southwestern Alberta. All of the
trails are 10 kilometres or less (return) and take no more than half a
day to complete. They are suitable for the average person equipped with
not much more than running shoes, a sweater, and an umbrella. For each
trail, numerous points of interest, encompassing both human and natural
history, are noted and briefly described. (For more detailed
information, the reader is referred to other guides, including the
author’s earlier works.)

What the book lacks in detailed description, it makes up for in
illustrations. On every page there are maps, photographs, or
drawings—and sometimes all three. Visually, it is an interesting work,
incorporating a variety of layout techniques. The text is sometimes on a
colored background, sometimes on white, and sometimes superimposed on
pictures. Black-and-white historical and archival photographs are
juxtaposed with current color photographs of the same subject or a
related one. Large images of flowers are often superimposed on landscape
photographs or maps. Generally, the quality of the images is good.

It is refreshing to find a hiking guide that covers easily accessible
trails and is not aimed at the expert hiker. This volume is a good
investment for anyone who wishes to explore the Canmore/Kananaskis area.