Ha Ling Peak is the most accessible serious hike from Canmore: a 6-kilometre round trip that gains about 700 metres to a summit at 2,408 metres, with sweeping views over the Bow Valley, the Three Sisters, and Mount Rundle. The trail starts from the parking lot at the south end of town off Spray Lakes Road, and most fit hikers complete it in three to four hours.
The upper section involves some hands-on scrambling on open scree, so sturdy footwear is necessary. The summit is often windy and can be cold even in summer — bring a layer. The trail is extremely popular on summer weekends and the parking lot fills early; a weekday start or an early morning arrival makes for a far better experience. In winter the trail is used as a ski-mountaineering route.