Canadian Rockies | Alberta & BC, Canada
People from all over the world are drawn to the Canadian Rockies every year to explore its craggy mountains, sparkling lakes, and ancient glaciers. A Canadian Rockies road trip is one of the most scenic drives in the world, and with so much to see and do it's important to make the most of your vacation time. Our trip planner has all the information you need to make the most of your visit including when to visit, how to get there, how much time you need, and where to go and what to do.
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Canadian Rockies: Best Sunrise & Sunset Spots
If you’re looking for a mountaintop sunset in the Canadian Rockies without the climb, the Banff Gondola in Banff at 1,281 m (7,486 feet) is the spot for you. Other popular spots include Vermilion Lakes, Lake Louise and Moraine Lake in Banff National Park and Pyramid Lake in Jasper National Park. Our trip planner has all the information you need to find the best places to see sunrises and sunsets.
Canadian Rockies: When To Visit
Late June through early September are the busiest months in the Canadian Rockies. This is when you’ll find the warmest and sunniest weather, and also when most viewpoints and attractions are open. Winter is popular for skiers, and for anyone seeking a real ‘white’ Christmas, while spring and fall have mixed weather with lower rates. Our trip planner has all the information you need to help you pick the best time for your visit.
Canadian Rockies: Packing List
Dress in the Canadian Rockies is casual, and no matter which season you’re visiting in, it’s all about layers. July and August are sunny and warm, but you’ll be surprised how quickly the weather can change during any given day. You'll also want comfortable, sturdy shoes even if you're not hiking, a comfortable daypack, bathing suit, sunscreen and lip balm. Our trip planner has all the information you need for your packing list.
Canadian Rockies: Best Hikes
Johnston Canyon is one of the most popular natural attractions in Banff National Park, and a popular year-round waterfall hike for all ages. The Plain of Six Glaciers is another popular hike that takes you from Lake Louise up close to the glaciers and a log cabin teahouse in the mountains. Our trip planner has all the information that you need to plan the best hikes for your trip.
Canadian Rockies: How To Get Here
The Canadian Rockies spans the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia in Western Canada, encompassing Banff, Jasper and Yoho National Parks. Calgary is known as the gateway city to the Canadian Rockies, and most visitors will arrive in Calgary at the Calgary International Airport (YYC) in Alberta. From here, most visitors drive to Banff National Park on the Trans Canada Highway. Our trip planner has all the information you need to plan the best way here for you.
Canadian Rockies: Entrance Fees
A National Park Pass is required for anyone entering Banff, Jasper or Yoho National Parks. Visitors can purchase day passes which are valid until 4:00pm the following day, and provide entry to each of these three parks, as well as Kootenay, Mount Revelstoke, Glacier, Waterton Lakes and Elk Island National Parks. For longer stays it’s more economical to buy a Discovery Pass. Our trip planner has all the information you need on entrance fees in the Canadian Rockies.
Canadian Rockies: Events
From the famous annual Ice Magic Ice Carving Competition at Lake Louise, to Jasper's Darky Sky Festival to celebrating the national day of Canada with the locals in on July 1, there's always something happening in the Canadian Rockies. Our trip planner has all the information on the best events for you.
Canadian Rockies: Food
When it comes to dining, Banff and Jasper have an incredible variety of cuisine to choose from. You’ll find everything from French bistros, sushi restaurants, and Thai spots to steakhouses and fine dining establishments featuring a wide array of locally-sourced ingredients and Rocky Mountain fare. And despite its small population setting, Lake Louise is known for its fine dining options. Our trip planner has all the information you need to plan the best food experiences in the Canadian Rockies.
Canadian Rockies: Top Travel Tips
You could expect hot sun, rain, cold wind, sleet and even snow any month of the year. Conditions can change rapidly, so pack extra layers in case. And parking at Moraine Lake and Lake Louise is extremely limited in peak summer months so it’s strongly recommended to make a reservation on the Parks Canada shuttles. Our trip planner has all the top travel tips that you need for your visit.
Tips For Exploring The Canadian Rockies
Shift your road trip to the Canadian Rockies into high gear with our narrated audio tour. Listen to sample tour commentary online, and learn about the types of fascinating behind-the-scenes stories on the history, geology, hikes, wildlife and cultural highlights that play automatically as you drive. It's just like having a tour guide in your car.
Canadian Rockies: Where To Stay
Most accommodations in Banff National Park are located within the Town of Banff, with a full budget spectrum of hotel rooms and self-contained options, and a small number of mountain lodges and hostels in Lake Louise. Similarly most accommodation options near Jasper National Park are located in the Town of Jasper, with a full range of budget to luxury stays and private licensed home stays. Our trip planner has all the information you need to help you to pick the best places to stay.
Canadian Rockies: Awesome Experiences
From bears to bighorn sheep, elk to ground squirrels and if you extremely lucky cougar, wolves or moose, seeing wildlife is the often the most thrilling highlight of a visit to the Canadian Rockies. Other awesome experiences include Jasper National Park's Dark Sky Preserve (the second largest in the world) and seeing the iconic 'Castle in the Rockies'. Our trip planner has all the information you need to plan the best awesome experiences.
Canadian Rockies: Getting Around & Shuttles
Having a rental car will give you the most flexibility to travel at your own pace around the Canadian Rockies, and other than a few popular spots with limited parking it’s the easiest way to get around and visit all of the places on your list. The Town of Banff is well serviced by town shuttles and ski shuttles, and there's also shuttles to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. Our trip planner has all the information you need to plan the best way of getting around.
Canadian Rockies: Cultural Experiences
For a small town by population standards, Banff enjoys a surprisingly rich menu of cultural pursuits. Numerous museums provide an amazing insight into the geological and natural history of the Rocky Mountains and a wide range of art galleries feature local artists and mountain culture themes like nowhere else. The Banff Centre is the town’s treasure and features acclaimed festivals. Our trip planner has all the information you need on cultural experiences in the Canadian Rockies.
Canadian Rockies: How Much Time Do You Need
Ideally you’ll want to spend at least one week to truly explore the Canadian Rockies, without having to rush through the attractions. This will give you more time to relax, or to enjoy activities along the way in addition to sightseeing. But if you only have three days it is still possible to squeeze in the main sightseeing viewpoints in Banff and Yoho National Parks. Our trip planner has all the information you need to help plan how much time you need.
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