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About Lynda

About Lynda

Getting families closer to nature, one step at a time.®

Lynda Pianosi is a professional, multi-certified, interpretive hiking guide known for her bestselling book Take a Hike with Your Children, which pioneered the family hiking guide genre. Currently residing in Canmore, Alberta, Lynda has more than 20 years of experience hiking in the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks with her family and leading guided hikes for clients. She has personally hiked every trail featured in her books, often revisiting them in different seasons. Her mission is Getting families closer to nature, one step at a time®

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The success of her first book prompted Lynda to become a professional, multi-certified, interpretive hiking guide.

Lynda has been leading guided hikes and sharing the magic of the Canadian Rocky Mountains with her guests.   Lynda is often asked whether she gets bored hiking the same trails; her response is always no.  Her joy and satisfaction come from seeing the excitement and awe that her guests experience.

In 2025, she self-published her latest series of hiking guides, Take A Hike With Your Family.

These new books are designed for day hikers of all ages and abilities.

The series shares her experiences as a mom, from early days of hiking with infants to keeping up with energetic teenagers, as well as her experience as a professional interpretive hiking guide.

What makes Lynda’s books stand out from other guidebooks?

  • Lynda wrote the books based on her  20+ years of experience hiking with her own family and as a hiking guide.  
  • She expanded the previous trail rating system to a 1-2-3-4 Mountain Rating system. It still offers difficulty levels from a child’s walking perspective and now covers hikers of all ages and stages.
  • Icons indicate key features of the trail.
  • I See, I Wonder? This insert provides interpretive facts to enhance your hiking experience.
  • Trail and safety tips are strategically placed throughout the book.
  • Lynda has hiked every trail in her book, sometimes more than once, and often in different seasons.

Her mission is “Getting families closer to nature, one step at a time.®”

National Parks Hiked
0 +
Customer Satisfaction Rate
100 %
Experience exploring the Canadian Rockies
0 +
Commitment to eco-conscious hiking practices
60 %
  • I’ve hiked every trail 10km and under in Banff, Jasper, Kootenay, Yoho, and Waterton Lakes National Parks — and many of them more than once. Some I’ve even completed in the winter.
  • Total national park hikes completed? 125.
  • I once wore the same pair of hiking socks for five days straight just to test the wool. The socks passed. My boots did not.
  • How many bears have I seen on the trails in 20 years of hiking? 3.
  • How many have wandered through my backyard in that same time? 6.

If you like, you can read a bit more about me

Growing up in rural Ontario, I spent much time outdoors exploring nature, igniting my curiosity and wonder.

​When I  became a mom, I wanted to share my love of the outdoors with my children.

I quickly discovered that preparing a family with two small children for a hike in the mountains was no simple task:

  • Which trails were in a mix of sun and shade?
  • Were there benches along the trail for snack breaks and diaper changes?
  • Which trails were suitable for all-terrain strollers?
  • Which hikes are suited for younger children, versus older children

The guidebooks I referenced were written for adult hikers, not for young families.

​Through trial and error on many a trail, an idea grew roots: what if my family documented our experiences to help other parents?

​The seeds for my first-of-its-kind Rockies guidebook, “Take a Hike With Your Children,” were planted.

​I hope others find as much enjoyment on the trails as I have.

Questions?

If you have any hiking-related questions or would like to book a guided hike, please feel free to reach out to me at,  Lynda@threemountainfamilyhikes.ca.

Happy Hiking!

Experience:

 

  • Town of Banff, Family Intro to Hiking Program
  • Town of Canmore, Family Intro to Hiking Program 
  • University of Calgary Outdoor Centre, Cross-country Skiing Instructor
  • Canmore Nordic Centre, Cross-country Skiing Instructor
  • Three Mountain Family Hikes
  • Backroads, Professional Interpretive Guide
  • Guide Me Banff, Professional Interpretive Guide
  • Canmore Cave Tours – Professional Interpretive Hiking Guide
  • The Company of Adventures, Professional Interpretive Hiking Guide
  • Road Scholar, Professional Interpretive Hiking Guide
  • Hospitality & Tourism Management, Ryerson University, B.A.A.

Certifications:

 

  • Interpretive Guides Association, Professional Interpretive Guide – Four Season Certification
  • Rocky Mountain Adventure Medicine, Adventure Medic Wilderness First Aid
  • Outdoor Council of Canada, Summer and Winter Field Leader
  • Avalanche Canada, Avalanche Skills Training Level 1
  • Canadian Association of Nordic Ski Instructors, Certification Level 1
  • Urban Poling Instructor

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