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Let’s journey to the Canadian Rockies. Let`s go find emerald waters that became mirrors for the Milky Way’s reflection at nightfall, rows of pine trees that resemble watercolor artworks, wild animals that cross your path along the way, and Northern lights that invite you to dance until dawn.
You are about to embark on the most remarkable trip of your life. You will feel deep emptiness when you bid farewell to the snowy peaks. Western Canada will become part of your identity, and no new place that you explore will fill the void in quite the same manner.
We gathered all necessary information in this post so that your Canadian Rockies road trip could be planned with ease.
This initial article regarding our 15-day excursion through the Canadian Rockies will provide:
Table of Contents
WHY TRAVEL TO THE Canadian Rockies?
The most picturesque location on Earth is a mountain range in the northwestern portion of North America, extending across Canada and the United States. Our 15-day trip focused on the Canadian Rocky Mountains. This area lies between the provinces of British Columbia and Alberta.
It is understandable why the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks were designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984. Its landscape formed by mountain peaks, lakes, waterfalls, glaciers, and canyons is distinctive across the rest of the world.
This in turn brings thousands of visitors annually, many of whom aim to improve their photographic portfolios as photographers. As a result, Canadian Rockies tours arranged by travel agencies have become quite popular.
Other visitors to the Canadian Rockies include tourists with spending power who are drawn to the luxury hotels and lodges found within the mountains. However, do not be concerned, the Rockies welcome all budgets. It is also an ideal journey for backpackers seeking nature and adventure, with many affordable camping sites that can cut your travel costs.
There are four National Parks in the Canadian Rockies: Banff National Park, Yoho National Park, Jasper National Park, and Kootenay National Park.
- The main hotel selection if wanting to view the Northern Lights in Reykjavik is: Grand Hotel Reykjavik.
TOP THINGS TO DO IN THE CANADIAN ROCKIES for 2 weeks
In this section, we will provide you essential sights and activities to enjoy in the three Canadian Rockies parks we visited.
These are:
BANFF NATIONAL PARK
Banff National Park was the original public park we visited. This recreation area is located closest to a commercial airport, in Calgary, which is only about an hour and a half away. The park is situated entirely within Alberta.
We spent a complete of 6 days in Banff, although not consecutively. We returned to Calgary through the park so that we could do and see a few more things that we missed previously.
Of all the parks, Banff National Park has the most attractions to provide visitors. If undertaking a 2-week long road trip in the Canadian Rockies, allocate approximately one week to explore this park.
Banff
Banff is the ideal location to commence your journey through the Canadian Rockies by road. Throughout the two nights we spent in this area, we resided at Two Jack Lakeside Campground. You will instantly form an affection for the perspectives of the lake from this campground.
The smaller Two Jack Lake connects to the larger Lake Minnewanka through a narrow channel. I suggest some of the trails starting from this body of water. We hiked one toward the Stewart Canyon area.
Another activity to undertake in the Canadian Rockies is enjoying sunset views from Lake Vermilion, situated near Banff.
Additionally, remaining in the town of Banff offered a good option to participate in some of the activities we discovered along Bow Valley Parkway.
BOW VALLEY PARKWAY
Bow Valley Parkway is among the most amazing natural areas we’ve ever viewed. Driving through the slender pine trees and tight curves was a unique experience. You can find several Canadian Rockies landmarks here, such as Castle Mountain or Morant’s Curve.
One of the most popular trips in the area is Johnston Canyon, where you can see double-tiered waterfalls.
If you still have vigor after arriving at the upper waterfalls you can continue ascending to the Ink Pots. This was one of our favorite spots in our 15-day Canadian Rockies road trip.
LAKE LOUISE
I recommend dedicating two days in Lake Louise town to explore the area thoroughly.
Lake Louise alone attracts more visitors than any other lake in the Canadian Rockies.
On the off chance that you need to discover a less swamped place, I suggest scaling up to Lake Agnes, yet first going through Mirror Lake. We found it very captivating that they had the option to fabricate a tea house in such a far off spot.
Another mandatory sightseeing along this Western Canada excursion is Moraine Lake. This renowned lake is encircled by 10 peaks and best viewed at dawn.
We personally had a stronger preference for this location over its neighboring lake, Lake Louise.
you should be cautious when hiking through the Lake Louise area, as this place is also home to many Grizzly bears.
Check our Guidance to endure a bear assault in Canada.
ICEFIELDs PARKWAY
The Icefields Parkway connects Banff National Park to Jasper National Park across 232 km of roadway.
It is reputed as one of the most beautiful roadways worldwide, and we got to drive along it twice.
As one could imagine, there are numerous points of interest along this road. We stayed for two nights, one in Banff National Park and another in Jasper National Park, and were able to see some of the most noteworthy natural attractions.
Within Banff, the most scenic lakes that we saw while traversing this road were Bow Lake and Peyto Lake, where we made stops both on the journey there and back.
Another quintessential experience to have in the Canadian Rocky Mountains is visiting Mistaya Canyon, one of the landmarks within Icefields Parkway.
Check our full Guide to Banff National Park
YOHO NATIONAL PARK
Before venturing to Jasper National Park, we spent two days in Yoho National Park. Located within British Columbia, this park is much smaller than the others but no less intriguing.
In this park you will find Emerald Lake, one of our favorite places in the Rockies. Its turquoise colored waters, bordered by green pine trees is simply a magical view to behold.
We also had the best experience of our Canadian Rockies trip here: seeing Aurora Borealis for the initial time.
Many hiking routes start from this lake. We hiked the one that leads to Yoho Lake.
A visit to Yoho National Park would not be complete without seeing the Natural Bridge of the Kicking Horse River, where the astonishingly azure waters are a true sight to behold.
Check our Full Guide to Yoho National Park
JASPER NATIONAL PARK
We then spent five days exploring Jasper National Park. This park is located north of the other two ones, within the province of Alberta.
This national park amazed us with its abundance of wildlife. If you enjoy seeing wild animals in their natural habitat, you should definitely consider visiting this park located in the Canadian Rockies.
You can check a list with all the animals you may observe in the Canadian Rockies here.
ICEFIELDs PARKWAY
We continued along the Icefields Parkway on the way to Jasper from Banff National Park. In this part of Jasper National Park, you should not miss Sunwapta Falls and Athabasca Falls.
Visiting the Athabasca Glacier to see this immense snow and ice block is also highly recommended.
From here, you can also quickly stop to check out Abraham Lake. This artificial lake is not inside the park, however, it may interest you to see these mysterious gas bubbles that appear under the ice during winter time.
Check our Guide to the Icefields Parkway
Jasper
We spent 4 days in Jasper. Near this town, you can find the Valley of the Five Lakes, a highly recommended hike.
To the eastern section of Jasper, we toured Patricia Lake and Pyramid Lake.
If you aim to view wildlife in the Canadian Rockies, make note of the following. Drive the route from strong>Medicine Lake/strong> to strong>Maligne Lake/strong> across strong>Maligne Road,/strong> west of Jasper at dawn or dusk. Each day we took this drive, we saw different species of animals, creating one of the more enjoyable parts of our 15-day trip through the Canadian Rockies.
Finally, there is nothing quite like visiting Miette hot spring to unwind. Even though a little farther north, this location is well worth the journey.
CHECK OUR GUIDE TO JASPER NATIONAL PARK
USEFUL INFORMATION TO ORGANIZE A TRIP TO THE Canadian Rockies
And we did not want to conclude this post without discussing certain things you must do before embarking on a trip to the Canadian Rockies.
VISA FOR CANADA
Canada has an agreement with 52 countries allowing their citizens to enter by air without visa. You can check if your country has a visa exemption from Canada here.
If you are from one of these countries, an electronic authorization allowing travel (eTA) will be sufficient to enter Canada. You are able to process your visa on iVisa.
We completed the application and received our eTA in under 30 minutes.
You will not need a visa or eTA if you belong to one of those 52 countries and arrive in Canada by land or ship from the United States.
Currency
The formal currency utilized in Canada is the Canadian dollar, with an exchange rate of 0.68 € (May 2017).
We did not exchange currency prior to the excursion. As always, we utilized our Evo smart card, allowing us to withdraw cash from anywhere worldwide without commission. Until recently, they did not impose a premium foreign exchange rate. Nonetheless, it seems this policy may have altered since and currency conversion rates seem to vary from market value.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
It is profoundly proposed to buy travel protection for Canada. As per my encounters, Heymondo is one of the best travel insurance organizationsand the one I suggest for your trek to the Canadian Rockies in 15 days.
We currently choose an annual multi-trip coverage plan, since, in addition to travel for leisure, we frequently travel for business and it helps save money.
Best TIME TO go to the canadian rockies ACCORDING TO CLIMATE
The climate in the Canadian Rockies is an element to consider when choosing ideal time of year to visit.
While summer seasons stay mild, winters are rather cold and damp with significant snowfall amounts.
If planning a Canadian Rockies trip in winter months (November – March), be aware that many roadways will be closed and most excursions unavailable. However, it is an option worth considering for those fond of winter sports, snow-covered landscapes or seeking to witness the northern lights in the Canadian Rockies.
If you travel to the Canadian Rockies in the summer months (June – August), the lakes will have thawed with a beautiful emerald-blue hue. However, the most popular points of interest are crowded with visitors during these months. If you wish to get away from the summer crowds, it is best to do some of the more challenging Canadian Rockies hikes for several days.
We believe that the month of September provides the best conditions to explore the Canadian Rockies. During this period, all roadways will still be accessible with lesser numbers of travelers. Regarding the scenery, there is potential to see the Northern Lights reflecting across thawed lakes at night.
May also offers potential based on the past winter`s severity. Our group traveled the Canadian Rockies in a May after a frigid winter. While most attractions were open to the public, some remained closed. Tourism was present but not as prominent as midsummer. We surprisingly viewed the Northern Lights, too.
HOW TO GET TO THE canadian rockies
Many travel through the Canadian Rockies by rail. That option was not considered for this trip because specific locations needed to be visited at certain times like early mornings and nights for different photography projects.
By vehicle, here are two highly recommended options to reach the Canadian Rockies:
- Taking a flight to Calgary followed by a one hour automobile trip.
- Flight to Vancouver + 8 hours by automobile.
As most flights to Calgary had a connection through Vancouver, we decided to invest one day in Vancouver to fulfill a goal on our list:
Killer whale watching tour in vancouver
Seeing an Orca is not guaranteed since the whales are completely free. Fortunately, most companies let you take the identical trip as many times as needed until you meet these giants at no extra cost.
Therefore, we opted to invest two days here instead of one, affording ourselves a second possibility in case we have no fortune on the first attempt.
It`s understandable why numerous Rocky Mountains excursions from Vancouver can be discovered.
DISCOVERY PASS
If you plan to tour several national parks throughout your trip to Western Canada, we advise purchasing a Discovery Pass. This annually valid pass permits entry to all national parks and sites managed by Parks Canada – see the full list here.
A single Discovery Pass grants access for one vehicle containing a maximum of seven occupants to enter the parks. Upon entrance at the parks, you must display the pass by hanging it from the rearview mirror.
We were fortunate that 2017 marked the 150th anniversary of Canadian confederation, as part of the celebrations, the public was granted free access to areas that normally require passes.
You are able to obtain the pass online here. We advise ordering ahead of time because it can take up to a month to arrive through standard mail delivery. You can also purchase it directly at specific establishments mentioned here. The cost is 136 CAD (94€).
The discovery pass is usually included in vacation packages that focus on exploring the wonderful Canadian Rockies region.
places to stay in the canadian rockies
There existed numerous lodging choices. We opted to camp most nights and stayed in a traditionally built wooden cabin lodge for two days. It is a highly recommended luxurious substitute, particularly after so many days camping in the wild wilderness.
While not exactly a budget-friendly choice, having cozy bedding and a crackling fireplace was much welcomed after several days of camping. Thankfully, we were able to find discounts for these lodges as May is not a peak season month. You can find where we stayed during our trip detailed in our itinerary section.
TRANSPORTation
Renting a vehicle proves the most advantageous means of touring the Canadian Rockies. On such a road trip, one witnesses ample wildlife and roads appearing straight from a fairytale amid the scenic splendor.
Keep in mind that you need a credit card (not debit card) to lease a car. Also, check our suggestions to get cheap rental cars.
Indispensables in your baggage
If you plan to travel within the Canadian Rockies, you should prepare for all kinds of weather possibilities. Even in summer, conditions can change from a hot day to a snowstorm in just a few hours.
In addition to satisfactory all-climate clothing and camping equipment, there are other essentials in your bag that you may not want to lack.
To make it straightforward, we developed a listing of necessities to carry in your backpackfor this expedition.
canadian Rockies photography
Traveling to the magnificent Canadian Rockies is a dream come true for a photographer. Equipment preparation and location planning…the work commences well before arrival. For such individuals, Dani has composed five unique posts that you are certain to appreciate if you have an interest in photography
Nik Collection is compatible with Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom, and it provides a versatile assortment of plugins to elevate your photos as described in our examination of Nik Collection 3.
our 2-week Canadian Rockies itinerary + ACCOMMODATIONS
While unlimited possibilities exist, one sample two-week itinerary through the Canadian Rockies is presented here.
Day 1: Orca whale watching excursion from Richmond. Dinner downtown Vancouver – Airbnb in Vancouver
Day 2: Spend the day in Vancouver – Temporary housing in Vancouver
Day 3: Arrival in Calgary with camping planned at Two Jack Lake including a sunset at Vermillion _– Two Jack Lakeside Campground
Day 4: Johnston Canyon Falls and Ink pots – Two Jack Lakeside Campground
Day 5: Stewart Canyon and Bow Valley Parkway – Kicking Horse Campground (There was no open campground in the Lake Louise area at that time)
Day 6: Lake Louise and Lake Agnes + Moraine Lake – Kicking Horse Campground (There were no open campgrounds in the Lake Louise area at that time)
Day 7: Witnessing sunrise at Moraine Lake + Exploring the Natural Bridge of the Kicking Horse River + Visiting Wapta Falls – Emerald Lake Lodge (Considered one of the top lodging options for observing the Northern Lights in Canada)
Day 8: Canoeing at Emerald Lake + Trekking to Yoho Lake + Northern Lights – The few hours we slept were in the car. Accommodation was not reserved for this day.
Day 9: Icefield Parkway + Peyto Lake + Bow Lake + Mistaya Canyon – HI-Mosquito Creek
Day 10: Athabasca Glacier + Sunwapta Falls –Sunwapta Falls Rocky Mountain Lodge
Day 11: Valley of the Five Lakes + Annette Lake + Maligne Lake – Wapiti Campground
And of course, we can find in numerous advertisements or even video games showcasing Monument Valley landscapes, such as in GTA San Andreas or Red Dead Redemption.
Day 13: Taking a dip at the soothing Miette Hot spring, driving along the scenic Icefields Parkway, and catching the stunning sunset at Peyto Lake – Lake Louise Campground
Day 14: Witnessing sunrise at Moraine Lake. Returning to Calgary. A flight to Vancouver – Staying in an Airbnb in Vancouver
Canadian Rockies map
We provide a map of the Canadian Rockies below highlighting the key landmarks. However, keep in mind that in the individual guides of each national park we included a more detailed and downloadable map that will prove very useful during your trip.
