Canadian Rockies, travel advice please

genegri

genegri

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DH and I have about 12 days in early fall later this year to explore the Canadian Rockies. Just the two of us since the kids are too young. I have done some research and have a tentative itinerary. I am hoping to hear advice from all the lovely Canadians and canook wannabes here. :)

I am thinking staying in Jasper for 5 days and Banff for 7. Does it sound like a good split? Or should I change it to 4 days in Jasper and 8 in Banff?

We plan to see Jasper, Banff, Yoho and Canadian Glacier NP (not to be confused with the American one, :p). What do you consider are must sees in each Park? We are more interested in nature than towns and cities, especially love moderate hikes and scenic drives. What are some of the most scenic drives besides the famous Icyfield Parkway?

Any feedback or advice is highly appreciated. Thank you in advance!
 
Jasper is smaller than Banff so a 5/7 split would work, although you might want to spend a night in Canmore or Lake Louise. For sure take the Icefield Parkway - I try and do that drive every summer, it's gorgeous and not to be missed.

I recommend going to Kananaskis, a provincial park between Banff and Calgary. If you like unspoiled wilderness and majestic peaks it is spectacular. Here's a link to some info: http://www.albertaparks.ca/kananaskis-country/
Take the scenic drive on Hwy 40 over Highwood Pass, the highest road pass in Canada.
http://thecanadianrockies.com/kananaskis-country-scenic-drives/

BTW, I'm not sure what your definition of "early fall" is, but in Alberta that's September. The mountains are beautiful any time of the year, but summer is short and evenings can be cool.
 
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Banff will be a zoo all year, you will need reservations. It is just too crowded for my taste. I prefer Lake Louise, Jasper and points in between. You will still need reservations, though. Many resorts close in early September, at least until there is enough snow for ski tours.
Be prepared to encounter bears, elk, goats and sheep. In September, be prepared for snow as well.
Here is a link to a site that lists the best short hikes along the Icefield Parkway. https://icefieldsparkway.com/highlights/best-hikes DH and I did the Parker Ridge trail when we were about 50. It was excellent, and we saw a herd of Dahl sheep above the trail.
Check out the various hot springs accessible from the Parkway, especially Miette.
There are a number of websites that list points of interest along the parkway. I have read them and agree with them all.
 
JasperBoy said:
Banff will be a zoo all year, you will need reservations. It is just too crowded for my taste. I prefer Lake Louise, Jasper and points in between. You will still need reservations, though. Many resorts close in early September, at least until there is enough snow for ski tours.
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ITA. The tourists all flock to Banff, but I've always preferred Jasper. Lake Louise is in a league of its own - love it there.
And, just to add to what JasperBoy said about wildlife, please pay close attention to Park rules and warnings. These animals are wild and can be extremely dangerous.
 
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Lake Louise is beautiful, but Moraine Lake is the most spectacular place I've ever seen. Definitely make time to go there. A few years ago we stayed at Emerald Lake Lodge in Yoho NP and it was gorgeous too.

There are so many hikes in all of those parks, figure out your capacity and then look at a hiking site to plan. We typically did a couple of hikes each day, one in the morning, back to town for lunch, and then another in the afternoon. At the time we were living at sea level so the first few days were a little challenging and then the hikes got easier as we adapted to the altitude.
 
Thank you all so much for your advice!

Yes, it will be in early September and yes, I am already reserving everything! :) I changed the plan a little bit and added Lake Louise (expensive! :eek:) in between and just drew up a tentative itinerary and please let me know if you have any suggestions and changes. Currently everything is booked in a way that it can be changed or canceled.

Day 1 - Land in Calgary around 5pm, pick up rental car, explore a little bit; stay in Calgary
Day 2 - Drive Icefields parkway to Jasper, exploring along the way; stay in Jasper
Day 3 - Maligne canyon, medicine canyon, Maligne lake, Jasper tram; stay in Jasper
Day 4 - Mont Edith Cavell, Angel glacier, Athabasca falls; stay in Jasper
Day 5 - Mt Robson, Yellowhead highway to Prince George and back, stay in Jasper
Day 6 - Drive Icefields parkway southbound, exploring Park Ridge Trail, Bow lake; stay in Lake Louise
Day 7 - Lake Louise, Lake Moraine, lake Agnus; stay in Lake Louise
Day 8 - Glacier NP, explore Golden to Revelstoke; stay in lake Louise
Day 9 - Yoho np, drive to Banff; stay in Banff
Day 10 - Kootenay national park; stay in Banff
Day 11 - Kananaskis Trail; stay in Banff
Day 12 - Sulpher mountain, Bow valley, Johnson Canyon, Lake Minnewanka; stay in Banff
Day 13 - Drive to the "Badlands" and back to Calgary, return rental car and catch the 11:55pm flight.

So now we will stay 1 night around Calgary, 4 nights in Jasper, 3 nights at LL and 4 nights in Banff. What do you think? Any suggestions?

Btw, I understand Canada offers free NP park passes to celebrate 150 years. How does it work? Do I need to print out stuff online?

Thank you in advice! :)
 
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Where are you staying in Lake Louise. I suggest Paradise Lodge. It is very close to the lake but doesn't cost nearly as much as the Chateau. I worked at the Chateau one summer just after the dinosaurs left and that's where everyone's parents stayed when they came to visit. I have stayed there, too. They have quaint cottages that are nestled right in the forest. Or at least they did in 1990
 
I'm so jealous! The Canadian Rockies are spectacular, and where DH and I honeymooned. The Post Hotel had fabulous meals ~20 years ago, with all local foods. Dress in layers, as mornings and nights will be chilly.
 
JasperBoy said:
Where are you staying in Lake Louise. I suggest Paradise Lodge. It is very close to the lake but doesn't cost nearly as much as the Chateau. I worked at the Chateau one summer just after the dinosaurs left and that's where everyone's parents stayed when they came to visit. I have stayed there, too. They have quaint cottages that are nestled right in the forest. Or at least they did in 1990
Click to expand...

I am currently booked at Lake Louise Inn but I do see Pardise Lodge is also available on the same nights. Do you recommend that I switch?

KCC said:
I'm so jealous! The Canadian Rockies are spectacular, and where DH and I honeymooned. The Post Hotel had fabulous meals ~20 years ago, with all local foods. Dress in layers, as mornings and nights will be chilly.
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What a lovely place for the honeymoon!

The Post Hotel is also available, and the Chateau.

Decisions, decisions!
 
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I worked at the Post Hotel over 20 years ago...lol. It has a lovely place, highly regarded. I loved staying in L.Louise that summer... went hiking every day. It is not the rat race that Banff is. Definitely enjoy Moraine lake... it was on the old 20 dollar bills. It is a stunning location, far more gorgeous than Lake Louise, imho. You canNot take a bad photo there. I think it may be one of my favourite places to just sit and gaze upon the surroundings. That time of year some trails may be closed, or signs posted indicating grizzly bears are currently chomping on the trail so be advised that that could happen.

So hoping you will enjoy it....
 
I wouldn't want to suggest you cancel your reservations at LLInn. The photos look fabulous and I love the pieced wood mural above the reception desk. Plus it has great amenities.
Paradise Lodge is considerably more rustic. It is closer to the Lake itself, though. I have not compared the prices.
A hike at Moraine Lake is a must, and also up to the Beehive and Lake Agnes. There is so much to do around there you might be reluctant to leave.
Yes, do be observant about bears. Once the summer tourists leave the bears reclaim the trails. Read and observe all the rules about co-existing in bear country.
 
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made_in_canada said:
Here's the link for the park pass.

I wouldn't bother driving to Prince George. I live there and the drive really isn't that nice once you get farther away from the rockies and it's a solid 5 hours each way. I'd just drive to Mt. Robson especially if it's a nice day. Unless you have another reason to come here, I wouldn't bother.
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ITA, there are nice people in Prince George but it is a long drive & there isn't much for scenery. ;)
And just a word of warning about Mt Robson - if it's a cloudy day you won't see much because it's so high - try to go on a sunny day when you can see all of it. I was just through there on Saturday and we lucked out weather wise - it was spectacular.
 
Looking at your schedule, you've got a lot of driving there - I'd cut back if it were me and give yourself time to see some stuff. If you do both the Banff & Jasper National Parks, and Kananaskis Provincial Park, and then drive to the Badlands on top of that, you won't run out of things to do. These parks are big.
BTW, if you are going to the Badlands, make sure you go to Drumheller and see the Royal Tyrell Museum. It's a world class dinosaur museum and not to be missed. You'll need a day just to see everything so leave Calgary early so you give yourself enough time.
http://www.tyrrellmuseum.com/index.htm
 
Even if you stay somewhere other than Chateau Lake Louise, do go in there and have a look around. Last time I was there, some areas - the ones with the best view of the lake - were marked as Hotel Guests Only, but even the lobby is quite spectacular. You can have lunch or tea there in some of the eating places if you aren't a guest - it won't be cheap, but everything is pricey there because it has to be brought in. You can also go around the back of the hotel and walk by the lake itself.
 
Sounds like a fantastic trip! All the sites you picked are great. I agree with the poster re the amount of driving though.....you may want to rethink that aspect
 
Wow - you have a great itinerary planned! I agree with the others who said you have a lot of driving planned. I would agree on skipping the rive to Prince George and just going as far as Robson - as long as it's a clear day. Kananaskis is beautiful - you might want more than a day there.

You may have already found this out as it sounds like you've done lot of research but the weather is very changeable in the mountains and that area can get snow any month of the year. Be prepared for it. And you will have a good chance of encountering wildlife if you're out and off of the busy trails, especially in the fall when the animals are getting ready for winter. The parks are great about posting warnings and it's always good to pay attention to them. The rangers also give educational talks that are good. One of my good friends hikes in the Rockies often and had a very scary encounter with a grizzly last summer. She credits her escape partly to luck, and partly to knowing what to do because she had been to a presentation.

Some of the other small towns south of Calgary are neat to explore - art galleries, coffee shops and not as insanely busy as Banff and Canmore.

There's a nice walking trail around the side of Lake Louise that starts just behind the Chateau. It's an easy walk - you'll see some women trying it in high heels, which always cracks me up. And do stop in at the Chateau for a look, even if you don't stay there. It's a lovely old hotel.
 
Thank you all so much! :respec:

I have changed my lake Louise stay to Post Hotel. As I am a huge train lover the minute I realized it's very close to the CPR train track I booked right away and requested a room by the train side. :D How I wish I could fit "the Canadian" into the trip!

And I will remove the drive to Prince George on Day 5 and do more hiking around Mt Robson instead. And on the last day 13 instead of driving all the way to the Dinosaur Provincial Park and Drumheller we will stay in Drumheller and visit the Royal Tyrrell museum. Since on that day we won't have access to shower after checking out of the hotel we will have to stay clean, unless we want to be "that couple" on the flight. :D

Anyone has some lunch recommendations in or around Calgary area? Thanks again!
 
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Here's a link for some other things you might want to check out in Drumheller:
http://traveldrumheller.com

If you ever decide to travel on the Canadian let me know. I travel to Vancouver that way quite often from Edmonton :-)
 
I agree with those who suggest that a) going all the way to Prince George on Day 5 is too much for one day and b) pick a sunny day for Mount Robson to get the full view. I also wonder on day 8 if you are stretching too much to go to Revelstoke. The scenery in Glacier NP is pretty but I don't know if you need to go further than the Roger's Pass. Keep in mind the highway through Banff to Golden and on to Revelstoke is a bit of a pinch point with heavy traffic. On the last day going to Drumheller area is also a stretch so you might want to make an early start.

On the Icefields Parkway make sure to stop at the viewpoint at Peyto Lake.
http://www.albertawow.com/hikes/Peyto_Lake_Hike/Peyto_Lake_Hike.htm

I love Lake Moraine Lake. It is also the jumping off point for a hike to Consolation Lakes
http://www.albertawow.com/hikes/Consolation_Lakes/Consolation_Lakes.htm
I believe for this you might have to sign up to join a group (bear safety)

AND, since you are going in early fall, the larch trees may have turned colour and the hike up to Larch Valley also starts at the Moraine Lake parking area. You don't have to go the full distance, but you get some nice views of Moraine lake through the trees.
http://www.albertawow.com/hikes/Sentinel_Pass/Sentinel_Pass.htm

I also recommend the hike up to the tea house at Lake Louise.

Look out the window of the plane when you are landing in Calgary. It's almost flat with the odd hill. Then the next day when you are driving towards Banff watch the gradual changes in the topography and imagine what you might be thinking (Holy S***)if you were an explorer on horseback. (I hope the links work)
 
Loved our trip to the Rockies. Moraine Lake is the most beautiful sight I have ever seen, but go early as parking is somewhat limited.

And the hike up to the teahouse and plain of six glaciers at Lake Louise is great, but be mindful that water feeding the lake goes up in the afternoon and if you come back down later in the day, you will have to walk through an area of icy waters that cover a small patch joining the end of the main lakeside trail and the beginning of the hiking trail. A "fun" surprise we had there.
 
ElizabethAnne said:
I agree with those who suggest that a) going all the way to Prince George on Day 5 is too much for one day and b) pick a sunny day for Mount Robson to get the full view. I also wonder on day 8 if you are stretching too much to go to Revelstoke. The scenery in Glacier NP is pretty but I don't know if you need to go further than the Roger's Pass. Keep in mind the highway through Banff to Golden and on to Revelstoke is a bit of a pinch point with heavy traffic. On the last day going to Drumheller area is also a stretch so you might want to make an early start.

On the Icefields Parkway make sure to stop at the viewpoint at Peyto Lake.
http://www.albertawow.com/hikes/Peyto_Lake_Hike/Peyto_Lake_Hike.htm

I love Lake Moraine Lake. It is also the jumping off point for a hike to Consolation Lakes
http://www.albertawow.com/hikes/Consolation_Lakes/Consolation_Lakes.htm
I believe for this you might have to sign up to join a group (bear safety)

AND, since you are going in early fall, the larch trees may have turned colour and the hike up to Larch Valley also starts at the Moraine Lake parking area. You don't have to go the full distance, but you get some nice views of Moraine lake through the trees.
http://www.albertawow.com/hikes/Sentinel_Pass/Sentinel_Pass.htm

I also recommend the hike up to the tea house at Lake Louise.

Look out the window of the plane when you are landing in Calgary. It's almost flat with the odd hill. Then the next day when you are driving towards Banff watch the gradual changes in the topography and imagine what you might be thinking (Holy S***)if you were an explorer on horseback. (I hope the links work)
Click to expand...

I loved the albertawow.com site as well as alltrails.com. We picked our hiking trails based on their recommendations and loved them all.
 
Hubby, my parents, the kids and I have just returned to Miami. Because of hurricane Irma we had to make a few last minute changes to our travel plan to evacuate the kids and my parents.

We left Miami all six of us together on Sep 1st. My dad, stepmom and my kids got out in Minneapolis and were picked up by my in-laws and they spent 2 weeks together, bonding and enjoying my in-laws' big house and the last of Midwest summer.

Hubby and I continued to Calgary and arrived late in the evening. Over the next two weeks, we had the best time in the Canadian Rockies.

We hiked Opal hills at Malign lake, Kinney lake at Mont Robson, mt Edith Cavell, Sulpher skyline followed by Miette hot springs, Wilcox pass, Plain of six glaciers (beyond the tea house to the waterfall), lake Agnus trail, Moraine lake shore, Larch Valley, the Sentinel pass, Eiffel lake, Castle mountain and Rockround trail. We also did a road trip to Yoho, Glacier and Revelstoke and another road trip to Kootenay after waterrafting in Kickinghorse and bathed in the Hot springs in Radium and a last road trip to Kananaskis country and had a good shower at the Banff hot springs before driving to the airport.

Again we had a layover in MSP and my parents and the kids joined us then and we flew back to Miami together. Our home in Miami doesn't have any damages as far as we can see, not even a broken tree branch, and power and Internet have both been restored. We do see many downed trees as well as road signs on Lyft ride home.

The timing of the trip was extremely bad, or good, depending on your perspective, lol. By the grace of God and help from American Airlines, Air Canada, West Jet, our B&B hosts in Canada as well as my in-laws, the trip/evacuation went very extraordinarily smoothly all things considered.

Praise the kindness of people. And our thoughts and prayers are with hurricane victims.
 
The Canadian Rockies have been on my bucket list for a while. If only I had more time and money......Sigh!

I did visit Banff when I attended the 2006 worlds in Calgary - so long ago!

Enjoy your trip.
 
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