The Canadian Rockies are one of the best road trip destinations in the world! The scenery is quite simply jaw dropping and the area is so jam packed with amazing things to see, that there are no long stints of pure driving.
If you’re looking to see some of the most glorious mountain views, and lakes so blue they don’t even look real, you’ve picked the right destination. Add in some incredible wildlife watching opportunities and you have the makings of a trip you’ll never forget.
We spent over a month exploring the area and have cherry picked all the best things to do to put together the perfect 7 day Canadian Rockies itinerary.
Prepare to be amazed!
The ultimate itinerary for a Canadian Rockies Road Trip
Here’s an action packed 7 day itinerary you’ll never forget:
Day 1: Canyons, mountain views and dinner at Banff’s best restaurant
Day 2: Bucket list lakes and a historic tea house with a view
Day 3: The icefields Parkway pt.1
Day 4: An epic mountain hike, hot springs and beavers!
Day 5: Jasper - Moose, a stunning hike and boat cruise
Day 6: Icefields Parkway pt.2
Day 7: Banff - Canada’s second highest waterfall and a final lakeside sunset
Day one: Canyons, mountain views and dinner in Banff’s best restaurant
Drive from Calgary to Banff
We’re going to assume that like most travellers you’re probably flying into Calgary and making the 1 hour 40 minute drive to Banff. As you will probably lose the morning we’ve started your 7 day itinerary with a perfect afternoon activity, it’s actually preferable to visit Johnston Canyon in the afternoon as it gets incredibly crowded during the day time.
Johnston Canyon
Drive time from Banff: 30 minutes
Johnston Canyon is an absolute Banff must do and a fantastic place to start your Rockies trip. You’ll walk alongside an electric blue river with the narrow canyon walls towering over you, until you reach a gorgeous waterfall. The walk is just 1.1km along a largely flat and fully paved trail so it’s suitable for everyone to visit.
If you feel like extending the walk you can continue another 1.4km to a second waterfall, this trail is steeper but the falls are even more dramatic and it’s well worth making the effort.
Hiking lovers can go even further to a series of blue and green waterholes known as the Ink Pots. The Ink Pots are surrounded by jagged mountains and it’s an incredible spot to sit and take in the fact that you’ve finally made it to the Canadian Rockies! If you want to know all the nitty gritty details and see more pictures, here’s our indepth Johnston Canyon guide.
If you’re in need of a caffeine fix on your way out, there’s a cafe onsite which does great, albeit very expensive coffee!
Sulphur Mountain Gondola
Drive time Johnston Canyon: 40 minutes (8 minutes from Banff town)
The Sulphur Mountain Gondola is just outside Banff town centre and offers the opportunity to get panoramic mountain views without any effort at all, which is perfect for your first evening!
The gondolas whizz you up to the top of Sulphur Mountain in just 8 minutes and gives you a chance to see the pretty town of Banff from above, the deep blue Bow River looks particularly spectacular from up here.
There is a viewing platform directly where the gondola drops you off, but you can also walk along the boardwalk to the summit of Sulphur Mountain - it’s not far, around 1km return, but there are a few staircases.
We advise heading up later in the afternoon because the price of the gondola drops after 5pm. It’s still pricey at CAD $49 for adults and $25 for children, but you are saving $15!
You can also eat dinner at the restaurant at the top of Sulphur Mountain which of course has exquisite views, but we haven’t tried it ourselves so can’t comment on the food.
Dinner at The Bison Restaurant
Drive time from Sulphur Mountain Gondola: 8 minutes (you might want to drop your car at your hotel if you are walking distance to Banff town, because parking is a nightmare!)
If you want to treat yourself to an incredible meal for the first day of your Canadian Rockies trip then there is nowhere we would recommend more highly than Bison. It was the best dinner we had in all the Rockies!
Bison has a farm to table approach and focuses on local, seasonal ingredients. Everything we tried was amazing. I’m a veggie and Joe a meat eater and it was great for both of us.
The restaurant was buzzing and that was when we visited in September, so I’d definitely recommend making a reservation in high season.
Day 2: The lakes that have to be seen to be believed, plus a historic teahouse and dinner with a view
Moraine Lake
Drive time from Banff: just over an hour
We probably don’t have to tell you just how spectacular Moraine Lake is, no doubt you’ve seen it in a million photographs already! But honestly, so had we, and it still took us aback to see it in real life. Exquisite doesn’t even seem to cover it.
I will never ever forget the stillness of the lake with the perfect reflection of the snow-capped Ten Peak mountains like a mirror image. I didn’t think any lakes could ever come close to those I’d seen on the South Island of New Zealand until I saw Moraine Lake.
So that’s the upside, but alas there is a downside. The car park at Moraine Lake is small. So small in fact that to be guaranteed a spot you have to arrive before sunrise. The car park was full and then closed on our visit by 5.30am. Now we aren’t morning people, but I promise it’s worth it.
You may get in later, but we are suggesting such an early start because it guarantees you’ll get in and because sunrise generally offers the best conditions at the lake. If you only have one shot at seeing this lake you want it to be the best it can be!
Update for 2023: You can no longer drive down Moraine Lake Road. Your only access options are now the Parks Canada shuttle, taxis, a tour or cycling. You can still park at Lake Louise and use the shuttle to reach Moraine Lake from there.
Once you arrive we recommend heading up the Rockpile Walk for the best views of the lake from above, we’ve detailed what to expect from the whole Moraine Lake sunrise experience in this post.
There’s also another reason we recommend going at sunrise, and that’s because it ensures you will have the best experience at stop number two, Lake Agnes.
Lake Agnes
Drive time from Moraine Lake: 20 minutes (to Lake Louise car park)
Arriving so early for Moraine Lakes gives you the best of both worlds: you can get a parking spot at Moraine and then still make it over to Lake Louise before its car park fills up (usually by 8am).
Take a peek at the dazzling Lake Louise before beginning your quest for breakfast, at the historic teahouse at Lake Agnes.
Now it does involve a bit of a hike, which starts from the shore of Lake Louise, but you won’t regret it. Hikers and non-hikers alike take on the 3.5km walking trail to visit the charming teahouse, which opened in 1905.
Little has changed and the teahouse still operates without electricity; hiking or helicoptering in all the ingredients! it’s a tea lovers dream with a huge loose leaf tea menu - we aren’t going to lie, it’s the most expensive tea we’ve ever bought at $14 a pot - but it was such a memorable experience we thought it was worth it!
We went for scones (known as tea biscuits in Canada) and snagged one of the coveted outdoor tables. Queues tend to form at the teahouse from around 9am, so arriving early means you don’t have to wait, and get to sit outside with that killer view!
If you’re a hiking or photography lover we’d highly recommend heading to either Big or Little (or both) Beehives from the teahouse which offer our favourite views of Lake Louise.
Little Beehive is the shorter and shallower trail at 1km each way and Big Beehive is steeper and longer at 1.6km each way. Lots of detail on the hike up to the teahouse and the Beehives can be found in this post.
Lake Louise
After heading down from Lake Agnes Teahouse it’s time to explore Lake Louise, the most famous lake in all of Banff. The milky blue water and glacier backdrop is breathtaking.
We think the best way to experience the lake is to get out on it in a canoe, normally we’d opt to swim, but even in summer this water is ice cold, so canoes it is!
Canoeing on Lake Louise had been on our bucket list for many years and it definitely didn’t disappoint. It is easily the most beautiful water we’ve ever been out on.
Hiring a canoe for the full hour will allow you to get to the end of the lake and back and is what we’d recommend, especially as it’s barely any difference in cost to the half an hour hire price.
The water is really calm so the paddling is easy, even for beginners. I took some videos on the canoe and sometimes I look back on them and still can’t quite believe the water colour!
Canoe hire doesn’t come cheap (does anything in Banff?!) at ($115+GST) for 30 minutes or ($125+GST CAD) for an hour but we felt it was a once in lifetime splurge!
You can also take a pretty magical sunrise canoe trip with the Fairmont Hotel, but with limited time in Banff, we thought sunrise at Moraine Lake plus canoeing at Lake Louise in your own time makes more sense.
Alternative option - if canoeing isn’t your thing you could get some great views of the lake by taking the Lakeshore walk, it’s completely flat and well graded, so it makes for an easy and relaxing stroll.
As you make your way around the lake you get plenty of different perspectives and the water even appears to change colour. The full walk is 2km each way but you don’t have to go that far for some lovely views.
Lunch at the Fairmont Chateau
You can’t miss the Fairmont Chateau which has one of the most enviable views in the world, right on the shore of Lake Louise. It’s huge inside and has several different dining options.
We had lunch at The Fairview Restaurant and couldn’t get over the views - try to get one of the window tables if you can, but even if not most tables offer great views of the lake.
The prices are a little higher than you’ll find in Banff town, but only a little, so we think that when you add in the view it is more than worth it!
If you do eat lunch (or dinner) here then you can also park for free, so if you end up spending longer at Moraine Lake you don’t need to worry about whether the public car park for Lake Louise will be full.
If you are still going strong…
We weren’t going to add anything for the late afternoon as this day starts in the wee hours but if you are somehow still full of energy you could head to Lake Minnewanka and take one of the popular boat cruises.
Lake Minnewanka is gorgeous and the only lake that allows motorised boats, so after a busy day it’s a relaxing way to spend the afternoon.
Another good option is to go spirit (vodka, gin and whiskey) tasting at the Park Distillery in town, the spirits are made with water from the Six Glaciers in Banff which makes it unique!
They run free tours at 3.30pm. We tried the gin and it was definitely a winner!
Day 3: Icefields Parkway - wild Grizzly Bears, glaciers and one of the world’s most exquisite roads
Today is the day you drive one of the most spectacular roads on the planet. I knew it would be pretty, but honestly, I had no idea just how spectacular it was going to be. Mountains tower over you on both sides of the road for almost the entire way and even though for the most part we had atrocious weather it still looked utterly breathtaking. I always said my favourite road on earth was the one leading to Mount Cook in New Zealand but now it has a rival.
There is an awful lot to see along the way, so much in fact, it can be overwhelming, but we’ve picked out the best spots to make your Canadian Rockies itinerary complete.
Watch out for wildlife along the way, you’re likely to see something. If there’s a traffic jam, keep your eyes peeled because it’s almost always a bear, or something else you don’t want to miss!
Lake Louise Gondola
Drive time from Banff: 40 minutes
It’s called the Lake Louise Gondola but it’s in a slightly different place to the lake itself - so don’t set Google Maps for the lake. We wouldn’t usually put two gondolas on an itinerary, but this one has a twist!
It’s known as the best place in Banff to see wild Grizzly Bears, and all from the safety of a gondola.
Seeing a mother Grizzly and her two cubs playing in the meadow was a highlight of our trip to Banff and a moment we’ll never forget!
We recommend opting for the open chairlift above the enclosed gondola, as you feel closer to the bears and there is no glass in-between (although you’re obviously fairly high above them) and it also makes for better photos, without worrying about glare.
As well as the Grizzlies, we also saw an adult Black bear and lots of Ground squirrels - which look more like marmots than squirrels!
Although wildlife sightings are never guaranteed you can check how sightings are going around your dates by using this sightings calendar. Note that the paw print is only a Grizzly Bear when it says Grizzly underneath it.
Although we went up for the bears you do also get a wonderful mountain panorama with a twinkling little Lake Louise view at the top. There’s also a museum outlining the wildlife you can see in the area, although the stuffed animals are a little scary!
There’s also a short walking track but you have to go through the electric gate into Grizzly territory and must have a minimum group of four, we couldn’t find another two people to go with us and maybe that’s for the best, we love walks but definitely wouldn’t like a close Grizzly encounter!
Peyto Lake
Drive time from the Lake Louise Gondola: 35 minutes
Ah Peyto Lake. I know we had a lot of lakes on yesterday’s itinerary, but trust us when we say you absolutely cannot miss Peyto. It is truly magnificent and quite different to those you have seen already.
It’s also the only one you see from above as opposed to at ground level. The turquoise colour is just magical and it often ends up being people’s favourite of all the amazing lakes in the Canadian Rockies.
The walk to the viewpoint is paved and only takes around ten minutes, but be warned it’s a steep ten minutes! It is worth it and more though!
If you want to go a little beyond the main viewpoint and head to a favourite photographer’s spot then you can use the instructions in this post to find the secret Peyto Lake viewpoint.
Columbia Icefield or Toe of Glacier
Drive time from Peyto Lake: 1 hour 15
If you’ve never set foot on a glacier before then you can’t go past the Columbia Icefield on the Icefields Parkway.
The standard tour is probably the easiest tour you could ever take to get on a glacier. First you’ll drive on a special Ice Explorer all terrain vehicle which is an experience in itself, you feel like you’ve gone to Antartica!
You arrive on the Athabasca Glacier itself and there is a small area with no crevasses that you are allowed to walk on. You can walk on the ice without any special equipment but it can get a tiny bit slippery, if that worries you, I would recommend bringing some Yaktrax or similar traction devices to slip on your shoes to make you feel more comfortable.
You only get 20 minutes on the ice, but it is enough time to have a good walk around and admire the scenery. On the Ice Explorer on the way back, look out for the big crevasses which look turquoise blue and are really quite spectacular, if deadly.
You can check out the tour here, we’ve linked to Get Your Guide because that’s who we booked with as it’s actually cheaper than booking direct.
If you are an adventure lover and this sounds too tame for you, then you can also take a guided ice walk which is on a different part of the glacier and is going to be a much more wild experience.
If you’ve ever read any of our blogs before you’ll know that we are not fans of tours, in fact our USP has always been telling you how to do things independently and how to avoid the crowds, however, please don’t walk on the glacier without a guide.
It’s so dangerous as heaps of fresh snow can be covering deep crevasses that you could never spot and people have died this way.
The glacier is riddled with crevasses and the guides know where they are, and how to avoid them, if you were incredibly unlucky and did fall in, they are trained in crevasse rescue. The amount of people we saw ignoring the signs and walking merrily up the glacier was frightening!
The Icefield Skywalk
If you are doing the Columbia Icefield experience you get the Skywalk included in your ticket price. The 400m walkway takes you along the Sunwapta Valley, surrounded by mountains, until you reach the best bit which is a glass walkway.
If we’re entirely honest the view is not really any different than what you get from the road, that’s not to say it’s not spectacular, but we wouldn’t pay extra for this activity (you can buy a separate ticket).
An alternative…
The Toe of the Glacier Trail
If the glacier tour is a bit out of your budget then you’re best alternative is to take the Toe of the Glacier trail. The trail is 0.9km each way with around 60m elevation gain. This will get you right up close to the glacier but don’t cross beyond the ropes.
Wilcox Pass Lookout
Drive time from the Columbia Icefield: 10 minutes
Wilcox Lookout offers an incredible view of the Athabasca Glacier, and who can ever tire of looking at glaciers?!
This was one of our favourite hikes in Jasper, and also easy by Rockies standards. The walk to the lookout is 1.5km each way, and though the first kilometre is predominantly uphill, it’s not overly steep.
You’ll be mainly in a very pretty forest, before breaking the tree line and coming to some world glass mountain and glacier views.
The lookout is marked by two red Parks Canada chairs which we can never resist stopping for a rest in!
You can actually continue past the lookout for a few more kilometres to Wilcox Pass itself. This was our original intention but the weather turned so dire that we had to hotfoot it back to the car! If you make it to the Pass please let us know what it’s like : )
After Wilcox Pass you are then a 1 hour 15 minute drive from the lovely little town of Jasper. We suggest heading there and treating yourself to a nice dinner and a glass of wine!
Day 4: A view worth hiking a mountain for, hot springs and beavers!
Sulphur Skyline hike
Drive time from Jasper: 1 hour
The Sulphur Skyline Trail is 8.8km return and has a lot of uphill climbing, but before non hikers skip over this bit, we can tell you that we met lots of non hikers on this trail! It must be the Rockies that brings it out in people, but it seems to encourage you to push much further than you normally would, I know it did for us.
We’re not going to sugar coat it though, it’s a bit of a slog on the way up - but a total breeze on the way down! It’s steep but not horrendously so and the forest you walk through is gorgeous, you’ll get the occasional view out to the mountains, but nothing prepares you for what you see from the summit!
It’s so good we’re going to print it and put it on our wall! You can see layers of mountains as far as the eye can see and it is simply magical.
We were up there in what felt like gale force winds so we couldn’t stay for as long as we wanted to, but if you get a less gusty day it really is a picnic spot of dreams!
We’ve written a really detailed guide to the trail here.
Miette Hot Springs
There aren’t many hikes we’ve been lucky enough to do that finish at a hot spring, but yes, the Sulphur Skyline Track does.
Now granted they are manicured hot spring pools rather than wild feeling ones, but I guess you can’t have everything!
If all this adventuring has you yearning for thermal waters to relax those tired muscles you really can’t go past them.
Try not to hike on a weekend when the springs are waaaay too busy - our photo is taken on a Sunday! At less than CAD $8 for adults they are super cheap and the view is fab so really we can’t complain!
Beaver spotting
Drive time from Miette Hot Springs: 55 minutes
If you’re not a wildlife lover then you can skip this one because it is a 55 minute drive in the wrong direction from Jasper - but for everyone else read on!
We are also as fanatical about wildlife watching as we are about hiking, so for us the Beaver Boardwalk in Hinton was an absolute treat.
We’ve never seen beavers in the wild before and were thrilled to find that you had a great chance of seeing them in Hinton (which incidentally is a much cheaper base than Jasper if you’re planning this trip on a budget).
You will need to arrive in the very late afternoon, towards dusk, for the best chance of seeing them so you’ll need to plan the rest of your day accordingly. If you find yourself with a big gap, Hinton has quite a few restaurants and coffee shops.
The extensive boardwalk has several lookouts and you can see both their lodge and dams. We went twice and had a 100% success rate of seeing beavers at dusk.
We actually got to watch one at work collecting material for the dam which was pretty exciting, especially when it came right up to the boardwalk we were standing on! Look for the v shape in the water and it will either be a beaver or a Muskrat.
We saw many Muskrats long before we saw a beaver and realised that the Muskrats are much smaller.
We also bumped into a council worker who looks after this area and he said he sees beavers every night (unless the lake is iced over in which case they don’t come out at all) so we feel confident that you will see them too (as long as you come at the right time of day and have patience!).
Day 5: Jasper - Moose, a hike and a boat cruise
For day 5 all three activities start from the same parking area so once you’ve arrived there is no more driving to do. The road from Jasper to Maligne Lake is also a great one for spotting wildlife.
Drive slowly and we’re sure you’ll see something, from bears to Moose to Bighorn sheep. You’ll also pass by some gorgeous lakes which are worth a stop depending on how much time you have.
Moose Lake
Drive time from Jasper: 45 minutes - 1 hour
If you’ve never seen a moose in the wild you are in for a treat. They are just incredible and absolutely ginormous!
Moose Lake is one of the best places in all of Jasper to find one. The loop track to the lake is 2.7km in total but you might get lucky and see them before that like we did! We saw our first one only a few hundred metres into the walk and it was a memorable moment.
The male Moose was massive and though magnificent, we have to admit, a little intimidating. Moose can be dangerous so never get close to them in case they charge.
This one was so close to the edge of the path we actually waited until more people came to move past it - safety in numbers! We saw a further two in the same area, a mother and calf which was very special.
Generally when it comes to wildlife watching dawn and dusk are your best times for sightings, but we found all our moose in the middle of the day so you never know!
Bald Hills Track
This one if for the hikers, but if that’s not you then we’ve included an alternative option below.
If you are up for another trail then this one has yet more fabulous views and allows you to see the stunning Maligne Lake from above.
The hike is 15km return and we’ll be upfront the majority is fire trail and therefore not so exciting. But (and it’s a big but) the views and the ridgeline loop at the summit are spectacular and worth doing the hike for.
You walk along the start of this track to get to Moose Lake too so watch for Moose!
We’ve written an indepth trail guide here so we won’t go into too much detail now, except to say the lake and the snow-capped mountains are incredibly dramatic and the ridgeline was just fantastic - and most people don’t bother with it, so it’s incredibly quiet! Bonus!
It is a fairly hard hike, not in terms of terrain, but just length and elevation, it’s definitely worth it though.
Maligne Lake Cruise
If you’d rather do something relaxing, we’d recommend taking one of the immensely popular boat cruises on Maligne Lake which head out to Spirit Island. They’ve been touted the best boat cruises in Canada as you make your way along the lake surrounded by towering jagged mountains.
There are a couple of different options you can take, neither the standard nor premium tour offer you much time on Spirit Island itself, so if your objective is photography you might want to take the specialist photography tour.
If you prefer to head out under your own steam you can hire kayaks or canoes for a much lower price than at the lakes around Banff (it’s still not cheap but an entire day is $200, versus $125 for an hour at Lake Louise). Unless you are a kayaking champ though you won’t make it to Spirit Island and back in a day.
You can’t camp on the island, but you can camp on nearby islands. These permits sell out way in advance during peak season and we were unable to secure them months ahead of time, so if this sounds like your kind of thing apply early.
There is a cafe beside Maligne Lake and a walking trail along the shore so you could happily spend a whole day at this lake.
Day 6: Icefields Parkway - canyons, waterfalls, glaciers and an emerald lake
Day six will see you visiting Jasper’s most famous canyon before heading back to Banff along the Icefields Parkway, making lots of stops along the way. You’ll want to make an early start if you want to pack in everything we’ve recommended and allow time for a leisurely drive along this absolutely breathtaking stretch of road.
Maligne Canyon
Drive time from Jasper: 15 minutes
Maligne Canyon is a very popular stop in Jasper and for that reason it’s a good idea to come early, it’s also better for photography. Note that our photos are taken at midday which is not ideal at all, which is why we’re recommending you don’t make the same mistake!
It’s the deepest canyon in Jasper National Park and you’ll see water surge through the narrow walls. It’s on our bucket list to come back and experience it in winter when it’s a frozen winter wonderland!
We walked all the way to Bridge 5 and back (the viewpoints are known as bridges) which was 5.8km return, but the best views are from the first three viewpoints and you don’t need to go further unless you’re keen for a longer walk.
Getting to viewpoint 3 is only around 1km return which is better for fitting in all the rest of the stops which we’d recommend much more highly than doing the longer walk here.
Athbasca Waterfall
Drive time from Maligne Canyon: 35 minutes
The first viewpoint for Athabasca Falls is just a few minutes walk from the car park but there are quite a few vantage points, so it’s worth allowing half an hour or so to explore a few more. Our favourite was the one where you can see the water tumble through a narrow gorge.
The volume of water at Athabasca Falls was pretty incredible and we even saw whitewater rafters here, which gives you some idea of the turbulence!
Sunwapta Falls
Drive time from Althabasca Falls: 18 minutes
Sunwapta Falls was so incredibly powerful that you couldn’t help but stare in awe. It’s not a tall waterfall but what it lacks in height it makes up for in sheer power. The word sunwapta means turbulent waters and it’s fair to say it lives up to its name!
To get to the main viewpoint only takes around five minutes from the car park, so it’s an easy one to squeeze into your drive. If you want to get closer to the falls there’s a short path through the forest to get there, just watch out for the rocks if they’re wet as it can get a little slippery.
It’s one of Jasper’s most popular photography spots and we’ve got tips for photographing the falls and other spots on this itinerary in our Jasper photography guide.
Parker Ridge Walk
Drive time from Sunwapta Falls: 45 minutes
If you can only muster the energy for one walk on the Icefields Parkway, make it this one. We hiked Parker Ridge in the pouring rain and driving wind and still found it absolutely spectacular. If you luck out with good conditions you are going to be in for a real treat.
It’s just under 3km each way, and in typical Rockies style, it’s mainly uphill on the way, but it’s another walk that both hikers and non hikers fall in love with.
The view from the ridge line at the top is nothing short of sublime. You can see the Saskatchewan Glacier and of course a glorious mountain panorama. The only tricky bit of the hike is the final ridge which is narrow and has one dubious bit but you don’t need to do this to see the views!
You can read our detailed trail guide here.
Emerald Lake
Drive time from Parker Ridge: 2 hours
Drive time from Emerald Lake to Banff: 1 hour 10
If you’re already feeling tired after Parker Ridge you could skip Emerald Lake because it does add on just over an hour to your journey.
if you can manage just one more stop though, you won’t regret it, because Emerald Lake is an absolute beauty and less visited than Moraine Lake and Lake Louise. Visiting towards the end of the day is also when you’ll get the best light for photographs.
If you just want to snap a few pics and take in the scenery then you only have to walk for a few minutes from the car park. If you are still feeling energetic you can walk around the perimeter of the lake which is just over 5km and fairly flat.
Otherwise just walk for a few minutes and find somewhere to sit and relax, or have one last paddle in one of the most beautiful lakes in the Rockies.
Day 7: Banff - Canada’s second highest waterfall, an epic hike and a final lakeside sunset
We’ve suggested two different options for today. Our number one recommend is Takakkaw Falls and the Iceline Trail but if you can’t face another longish journey, you could head to the much nearer Ha Ling Peak which is still a great walk.
Takakkaw Falls
Distance from Banff: 1 hour 15
Takakkaw Falls in Yoho National Park is the tallest waterfall in the Rockies and the second highest in Canada. It’s an easy 700m (each way) walk to the falls, although you can see it long before you get there. It’s an incredible sight as it cascades over the mountainside.
You can get right up to the base so that it is towering over you, or admire it from afar if you want to walk a little less. Either way it’s a truly spectacular waterfall and well worth seeing even if you have already been to the others on this itinerary.
Note that the road to get there is very steep and narrow in places and we saw a campervan struggle to make it! As with many roads in the Rockies the scenery is gorgeous!
Iceline Trail
This is the first hike we’ve ever seen anyone cry tears of joy on. That should give you some indication as to how awe inspiring the scenery on this walk is.
There are several ways to do the hike, the shortest is a 13km return walk and then there are two circuit versions. The shortest is 17km, which is the one we opted for, so it is a bit of an investment, but then can you resist the walk that brings people to tears?
There’s no beating around the bush when it comes to the start of the walk, it’s the Rockies and you already know that means it’s steep. But after the first rather steep hour walking through the beautiful forest, the gradient gets much easier and the views are to cry for 😂
You’ll see the glorious Takakkaw Falls from above, before arriving right beside a glacier! It is mind blowing, and you can’t wipe the smile off your face!
You’ll spend a lot of time beside the glacier and glacial tarns before either returning the way you came, or finishing the circuit. Here’s everything you need to know about hiking the Iceline Trail.
Or Ha Ling Peak
Distance from Banff: 30 minutes
Ha Ling Peak is a thigh burner, which is probably a fitting way to finish your Rockies trip! It might only be 4km each way, but it is the steepest 4km we’ve ever walked! It used to be a really rough track with a lot of scree, that to be honest, we probably couldn’t have got up.
But it’s since been upgraded and with ladders (although we consider them steep staircases more than ladders) and extra stairs to help you up to the saddle. The final stretch to the peak is still scree but the views from the saddle are fabulous and that was enough for us!
The views were worth all the effort and it’s a good track for meeting locals, as far less tourists go for this one.
Here’s exactly what to expect from the Ha Ling Peak Trail.
Sunset at Vermillion Lakes
Drive time from Banff: 5 minutes
Vermillion Lakes are not as spectacular as many of the other lakes around Banff, but then that’s a tall order. They are still surrounded by mountains and particularly gorgeous at sunset. They are also really quiet and peaceful, this is the lake you are most likely to get to yourself.
There’s a jetty that makes for the perfect spot to sit, relax and watch for wildlife. We saw a lot of birdlife including an Osprey, but no mammals. It’s said to be home to beaver and sometimes you might even spot a bear!
We loved the tranquility of this spot and it’s a great place to go for your final evening when you probably don’t want to drive far. The only negative are the pesky mosquitos - we’d advise wearing long sleeved tops and trousers!
Grizzly House Fondue
The Grizzly House is a fun place to spend your final night in Banff. If mountain towns say fondue to you like they do to us, then it really is a must! You can choose between meat or cheese, and there is also a chocolate option for desert. The decor is quirky and it has a cosy mountains vibe, which we appreciated even in summer as the evenings were always cool. It’s on the main street in Banff so if you’re lucky enough to be staying centrally then it will be walking distance.
Where to stay in Banff and Lake Louise
Over the weeks we spent in Banff, we stayed in both Banff and Canmore, and have written a detailed guide to the pros and cons of both, which you can read here.
Here are a few options on where to stay, which don’t include either place we stayed in Canmore because we don’t rate either of them! If you can, we would recommend staying in Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper. We personally couldn’t get into anywhere in Lake Louise but we’ll be back one day.
Budget - Samesun Hostel
This hostel is a bit of an institution and right in the heart of Banff town. They have both mixed and single sex dorms and a friend of ours said there was a great, friendly vibe.
Check the latest prices on:
Midrange - Ptarmigan Inn
This is where we stayed on our third visit to Banff and we loved the really central location, we could walk everywhere in town. Having previously stayed in Canmore it was a treat to be so much closer to the lakes and other attractions surrounding Banff - when you’re heading to Moraine Lake for sunrise those extra 30 minutes in bed really count!
Our room wasn’t huge but it was big enough and very comfortable, the bed in fact was so comfy that sometimes it was hard to drag ourselves out! The bathroom was also great and I loved the local Rocky Mountain shower products. There is a free underground car park and also a pool and sauna which we sadly never had time to use!
Check the latest prices on:
Luxury - The Fairmont Banff or Lake Louise
Both Fairmont options are grand and luxurious, so where you stay depends on whether you want to be in town or out by Lake Louise (just over 40 minutes drive). If you can, staying in both areas would be great and when we return to the area, we will stay at Lake Louise for at least part of our trip as we loved that whole area so much. The Fairmonts are bucket list hotels when you’re really looking to treat yourself and one day we’d love to stay.
The Fairmont hotels don’t come cheap but if you have the budget they do come highly recommended. Rooms look stunning and a blend between modern and old world style - think marble bathrooms. There are onsite pools and jacuzzi with spectacular views. A major downside of the Fairmont in Banff though is that parking is charged in addition to the room rate which we think is quite tight. That is not the case at Lake Louise.
Check the latest prices at Banff Fairmont on:
Check the latest prices at Lake Louise Fairmont on:
A cheaper option at Lake Louise - Mountaineer Lodge
It’s not cheap, but it is cheaper! The reviews are generally really good and they have high ratings for comfort and cleanliness. They’ve also been recently refurbished. Most booking options include a free brekkie.
Check the latest prices on:
Where to stay in Jasper
We camped in Jasper and then stayed in an Airbnb. The Wabasso Campsite was pretty great and if you’re looking for a campsite we’d highly recommend. It had a decent toilet and shower block and it was a lovely forest setting - some sites do suffer from road noise though!
If you don’t want to camp we’ve picked out a couple of options we tried to book before the Airbnb, but they were full.
Budget - Pine Bungalows
For the Rockies we think this is really well priced and much better value than anything else we found. The bungalows are simple, but quite cute and really clean. It’s very central, although the wifi is bad - just like in the rest of the Rockies!
Check out the latest prices on:
Midrange - Jasper Inn & Suites
Clean, comfy rooms in a great location. There’s also a steam room, sauna and hot tub for when you want to soothe aching muscles after all that hiking!
Check out the latest prices on:
Entrance Fees for the national parks
Lots of the activities on this itinerary are in Banff, Jasper and Yoho National Parks which require passes.
You can buy a day pass for $9.80 CAD for an adult, or $19.60 CAD for a group.
Alternatively you can get the Canada National Parks Annual Pass for $136.40 CAD for a group and get entry to every national park in the country for a year.
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, that we will earn a small commission if you click through and decide to make a purchase. This helps towards the costs of running our website. Thanks for your support.
Like it? Pin it!
Follow us on Social Media
What would you include on your Canadian Rockies itinerary? Think we’ve missed something that should be included? Let us know in the comments below!
