What's up guys in this video we're going to show you the perfect Canadian Rockies road
trip itinerary. So we actually did two of these road trips ourselves in two different years.
Saw everything from Banff National Park to Yoho and Jasper, and everything in between.
So we're really excited to show you all the best spots in the Canadian Rockies. Enjoy this video.
We are Zac and Ine, full-time digital nomads from the United States and Belgium.
We met while studying abroad in 2018 and have been traveling the world together ever since.
We're here to inspire your next adventure, whether it's hiking in the Canadian Rockies,
a road trip through the US, or backpacking across Africa. On our channel you'll find
unfiltered videos of hiking guides and the best things to do in destinations around the world.
The Canadian Rockies are an immense mountain range. The range reaches all
the way from the American border over the east of British Columbia and the west of Alberta.
The landscape is absolutely breathtaking, making for unforgettable moments and adventures. However,
planning a trip here can be a little overwhelming and time consuming.
That's why we put together this comprehensive two to three week itinerary, including where you
should go and how long you should stay. You can also download a Google Map with all of the stops
and our favorite campgrounds in the description below. Make sure you watch until the end of
this video because we'll also give you three tips on how to prepare for this road trip.
Our Canadian Rockies road trip itinerary starts in Banff. This idyllic mountain town is easily
reachable via Highway 1, from Calgary or western BC. With many highlights nearby in Banff National
Park, it's the perfect place to base yourself for a couple of days. Banff is a UNESCO World
Heritage Site, attracting over 3 million travelers yearly. It gets busy during the summer, but it's
absolutely awe-inspiring. Besides spending time in and around the town, there are a few attractions
in the area that you simply can't miss. These include Banff Hot Springs, Johnston Canyon,
the Vermillion Lakes, Lake Minnewanka, and the scenery along the Bow Valley Parkway.
We just started this hike and we already saw a black bear. It was just chilling
like just 100 meters into the trail, so he was. He was calm, but definitely like
a little bit scary to be so close to him. But he's behind us now so we keep going.
Lake Louise Village is another great base to explore from for a few days.
It's located within Banff National Park at the end of the Bow Valley Parkway.
Lake Louise Village sits right below two of the most impressive lakes in all of Canada:
the shockingly blue Moraine Lake and the icy Lake Louise.
But besides that, it's also a great area for hiking. Our favorite hikes include the
Big Beehive Trail above Lake Louise and the Larch Valley Trail above Moraine Lake. Try to visit them
as early or late in the day as possible since they get extremely crowded during the summer.
The most scenic and popular route in the Canadian Rockies is undoubtedly the Icefields Parkway or
Highway 93. Connecting Banff to Jasper, this epic stretch of road is awe-inspiring with incredible
natural wonders and vistas along the way. This road is 230 kilometers or 140 miles in length,
so it's technically possible to do the drive in about three hours. But in reality,
the road takes about two days to drive if you want to explore the scenery as well as do some hiking.
The main highlights along the road include Bow Lake, Peyto Lake,
the Waterfowl Lakes, Mistaya Canyon, and the Columbia Icefield. One of our favorite
hikes in the Canadian Rockies is the Helen Lake and Cirque Peak Trail near Bow Lake.
Check out our other video all about Banff National Park for more details about the hikes.
We made it to Helen Lake. It's about six kilometers in,
really nice peaks all around us and now we're gonna go up here
to Cirque Peak. It's another two kilometers but really steep gain so this is the hard part.
At the end of the Icefields Parkway you'll end up in the small town of Jasper
in Jasper National Park. This cute town is located in the largest park in the
Canadian Rockies with a surface of 11,000 square kilometers or 4,247 square miles.
This UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to even more wildlife than Banff as well as extensive
hiking trails, sub-alpine forests, and beautiful lakes. You can even book a white-water rafting
tour here, and we'll leave a link for that in the description below. Our favorite stops in
Jasper National Park include Maligne Lake and Canyon, Medicine Lake, the Athabasca Falls,
the Sulphur Skyline Trail, the Valley of the Five Lakes, and finally Mount Edith Cavell
From the town of Jasper, it's only a short drive to Mount Robson Provincial Park.
Home to the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, this is a must-see destination.
The area has some of the most remote valleys, awe-inspiring lakes,
and wildest mountain peaks that you'll find in Canada. Most travelers come here for the
day just to see the main highlight, which is the towering Mount Robson itself. However,
we highly recommend hiking the Berg Lake Trail, which brings you to the base of Mount Robson. We
suggest at least three days to hike all the way to Berg Lake, go camping, and come back. But, if you
just want to go for the day then it's definitely still possible to hike to Kinney Lake and back.
After visiting the beautiful Jasper National Park and Mount Robson Provincial Park,
it's time to turn back on the Icefield Parkway. You can tick off some places you
haven't visited yet, or simply drive the three and a half hours directly to Yoho National Park.
Yoho National Park lies to the west of Lake Louise and the park is home to beautiful
waterfalls as well as outstanding hiking opportunities. From the incredible Takakkaw
Falls, to the mystical Emerald Lake, the hidden Sherbrooke Lake, and the breathtaking Lake O'hara.
Finally, the Canadian Rockies road trip itinerary ends with a visit to Canmore and
Kananaskis Country. Located about one hour to the west of Calgary, it's in the front ranges of the
Canadian Rockies and spans over several provincial parks, including Spray Valley, Peter Lougheed,
and Bow Valley Provincial Park. Known for its wide variety of wildlife, back-country hiking and rock
climbing, this is a true locals' favorite. Main attractions in Kananaskis include the laid-back
town of Canmore, the Grassi Lakes, and Kananaskis Lakes. The area is also a prime location for
moderate to advanced hiking with breathtaking hikes to Sarrail Ridge, Smutwood Peak,
South Poccaterra Ridge, Tent Ridge, Galatea Lakes, and King's Creek Ridge.
Learn all about these hikes and our other Kananaskis hiking video..
Nothing like a good barbecue after a long hike in the Rockies.
As mentioned at the start of this video, we'll now share our top three tips so you
can be prepared for your Canadian Rockies road trip. Tip number one is to book your
campgrounds or accommodation at least three to four months in advance. Spots book up really fast
and there's limited accommodation space in the mountains, so plan your trip early.
Find the links to the official campground reservation systems in the description below.
Second, be prepared for all kinds of weather, including potential snow.
The weather is very unpredictable at times even during the summer. Make sure to pack enough warm
and waterproof clothing. You can download our free packing list in the description below.
Finally, the best time to visit the Canadian Rockies is between mid-June
and the end of September. Because within that time frame,
most of the lakes will be thawed and the roads will be open for driving.
And that's it for our Canadian Rockies road trip itinerary. We hope you enjoyed this video
and we'll catch you on the next adventure.