When it comes to kids and summer hiking, there’s one thing all family-friendly walks need to have: water. Whether babbling brook or calm little lake, the chance to dance up the trail near the cooling draw of this precious liquid can make your trip. Water – it soothes, it distracts, it entices hikers of all ages.

Here are 5 of my favourite watery wanderings found in Alberta’s Bow Valley, west of Calgary:

1. Heart Creek – it’s a classic, troll-stomping good time. Parking in the Heart Creek trailhead parking lot opposite Lac des Arcs, the trail begins a short climb up and over a low ridge before hitting the clear creek running beside Heart Mountain. The trail heads upstream, criss-crossing over a dozen wooden bridges in the 3.0 km return trip – incentive for a squealing fun game of “Billy Goat Gruff”.

2. Grotto Canyon – across the valley, on the old 1A Hwy lies this 2.5 km walk leading to prehistoric pictographs (rock art) in a tiny canyon. Boulder-hopping opportunities abound and dry shoes waiting in the car are not a bad idea!

3. Grassi Lakes – following the Spray Lakes Road up past the Canmore Nordic Centre, dip down the hill for the Grassi Lakes trailhead parking. This easy, 4 km return trip offers shaded wooden benches to rest on before and after a short climb up a set of rock stairs. Happy hikers soon reach two aquamarine jewels lying tucked in beneath towering limestone walls.

4. Many Springs – closer to Calgary, in the heart of Bow Valley Provincial Park lies Many Springs Interpretive trail. This 1.6 km loop leads hikers to a natural, cold-water spring over bridges and along wooden walkways. Wildflowers abound on this popular stroll.

5. Flowing Waters – across the 1X Hwy from the main portion of Bow Valley Provincial Park is another popular camping area (Willow Rock) with a short loop leading through the trees towards the Kananaskis River. The trailhead for Flowing Waters doesn’t offer a lot of parking, but the opportunity to walk down wooden stairs to the cold blue waters of the Kananaskis makes it worth the effort to find a spot for the car. This meandering 2 km loop trail continues up along a ridge before dipping back down to an old beaver pond and across yet another wooden walkway.