Author & Photographer: George Mitchell
Our recommendations are not influenced by affiliate links – we have none. Our content and advice is derived from our personal experience and knowledge based on living in Alberta for ten years. We are avid hikers, nature lovers and photographers. The Rocky Mountains were our weekend playground as well as vacation destination.
Why You Should Visit the Canadian Rockies
Are the Canadian Rockies that special? Do you want to see snowy sierras, gorgeous glaciers, turquoise lakes, and exciting hikes? Then the Canadian Rocky Mountains are the place to visit.
The natural beauty and spectacular views are preserved in seven adjacent Rocky Mountain parks — Banff, Jasper, Yoho, Kootenay, Humber, Mount Assiniboine, and Mt. Robson. This comprises an area 21% bigger than New Jersey or 56% of Switzerland — but there are only three towns — and only because they existed before the national parks were established.
Are the Canadian Rockies more beautiful than the American Rockies, the Swiss Alps or the NZ Alps? Is Canada more beautiful than other countries? What is the best itinerary for the Canadian Rockies? Are there hidden gems to get away from tourists? Read the questions below to find out our answer.
What Questions Do You Have?
Please send your questions via the Comments box at the bottom of the page. We would be glad to answer them. The following are typical questions asked in web search pages. Click the links in our responses below for more details.
What is unique about the Canadian Rockies?
What is so special about the Canadian Rockies? There are many places with mountains that are equally spectacular. The Canadian Rockies are not even the highest mountains. The highest peak is Mt. Robson at 3,954 m (12,972 ft).
It is the turquoise-green glacial lakes and rivers that make the Canadian Rockies unique. The glaciers falling over the rugged mountains (ice falls) add to the appeal.
There are not many roads in North America (or the world) that are this spectacular for this long a distance with minimal human development and commercialization. The latter part is the clincher. That is what is so special about the Canadian Rockies.
What is the importance of the Canadian Rockies?
Johnston Canyon in Banff NP was once the bottom of a shallow sea. The Rocky Mountains are the result of tectonic (continental) plate uplifting that ended ca. 65 million years ago! Major volcanic eruptions spread ash as far away as Europe.
To the east of the Canadian Rockies is Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta. This once was an ancient coast near a tropical ocean. Imagine, Canada was once tropical! More importantly, it is the world’s richest source of fossils (e.g. Tyrannosaurus, Deinonychus) from the Cretaceous Period (145 to 65 million years ago)! Most of the dinosaur skeletons in museums around the world came from the Red Deer River area. Forget the movie series, Jurassic Park was incorrectly named. There were no giant meat eaters in the Jurassic Era.
The rise of the Canadian Rockies coincides with the Mass Extinction Event ca. 65 million years ago that killed 95% of all species on Earth and ended the Cretaceous Period.
What is the best time to visit the Canadian Rockies?
The best time to visit the Canadian Rockies is from June to September when there is no snow on the hiking trails. October is OK at lower elevations but snow may start to fall in the alpine areas. Autumn is beautiful for golden larch leaves and photogenic views of mountains partially covered with snow. Winter is ideal for winter sports. In spring the days are long as sunset is at 2200 hrs. We used to fit in three short hikes in one day!
What activities can I do in the Canadian Rockies?
The Canadian Rockies offer a wide range of activities. In the summer (Jun to Sep) you can enjoy hiking, glacial green lakes, waterfalls, flowers and wildlife viewing. In the winter you can enjoy skiing and snowboarding on world-class slopes of Sunshine and Lake Louise. Year round you can enjoy scenic drives (roads are plowed in the winter), swimming in the hot springs (Banff and Radium), and gourmet dining in the three towns.
Are the Canadian Rockies more beautiful than Elsewhere?
Is Canada more beautiful than USA, NZ or Switzerland? Personally I do not like this kind of query. First, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Second if you love nature then you enjoy all places of beauty. However, this type of question has been asked several times on Quora. Read my explanation of what each of these countries has to offer.
What are the best places to visit in the Canadian Rockies?
That is the purpose of this portal post with links to related detailed posts, where we also answer the most popular travel question “where can I see hidden gems?”. We have divided the possible itineraries into four posts, each of which needs at least one day if you are solely driving around and probably three to five days if you are exploring and hiking. That is assuming you only go on the limited number of hikes we suggested.
- Best Itinerary for Limited Time – the best places, period
- Banff to Lake Louise Road Trip – over touristed Rockies
- Lake Louise to Jasper Road Trip – Icefield Parkway *****
- Jasper to Mt Robson Road Trip – less visited Rockies
We have identified hidden gems in each of these itineraries. Even the Banff to Lake Louise route has less visited places that you will enjoy. In fact, the more hikes you do, the less tourists you will encounter. Only the trails in the Lake Louise area are over-touristed.
All the places recommended in these posts are pinned on our custom Rocky Mountain Itinerary Map. The place names are appended with the Google Maps Rating (G0 to G5). Anything rated >= 4.0 is very good; >= 4.4 is excellent.
Best Places to See in the Canadian Rockies
1. What is the Best Itinerary for the Canadian Rockies?
Are the Canadian Rockies that special? Yes they are. If you want a quick answer to what are the best places or you do not have time for an extensive visit, you are in luck. We have developed the best itinerary you can possibly drive.
The extra plus is that we have provided add-on alternatives that can change a one week road trip to a multi-week nirvana. This itinerary includes the two best road-accessible sights of Yoho NP in British Columbia: Emerald Lake and Takakkaw Falls. If you have time, from Lake Louise you can include the over-touristed Moraine Lake (bus access only) or the under visited Lake O’Hara area of Yoho NP.
Best Rockies Itinerary Highlights
This itinerary then drives north on the most scenic road in Canada. Forget about Lake Louise! You must drive the Icefield Parkway from Lake Louise to Jasper to see the most spectacular sights and, especially, to hike on the many superb trails. There are lots of pull-offs and viewpoints.
Our favourite must-see turquoise (glacial) lakes along this route are Emerald, Bow, Peyto, and Waterfowl Lakes. Other optional add-on side trips in the Jasper area are provided if you have more time.
This itinerary was broken into three road segments. The distance is short but do not think you can drive this in one day as there are too many spectacular views and hikes so driving time is meaningless.
| Segment | km | Hours | Destinations |
| 1 | 75 | 1:05 | Lake Louise to Emerald Lake and Takakkaw Falls in Yoho NP to Highway AB-93 Junction |
| 2 | 131 | 2:05 | Lake Louise to Wilcox Creek |
| 3 | 224 | 3:35 | Wilcox Creek to Jasper and Mt. Robson |
| TOTAL | 430 | 6:45 | One Way |
For the detailed itinerary read…
2. Banff to Lake Louise Road Trip
Banff (the town) and Lake Louise are beautiful but they have far too many tourists to feel like you are out in nature. People go here due to name recognition; not because these are the best places to see in the Rockies. We do not recommend tourists with cars to go there at all. This itinerary is best for tourists travelling by bus or train. Read the post below for less visited places to see.
Banff to Lake Louise Highlights
- Banff — Banff Upper Hot Springs, Banff Springs Hotel, Minnewanka Road
- Sunshine Meadows Trails — alpine flowers with open views of Mt Assiniboine
- Johnston Canyon Hike — easy hike inside a narrow canyon on a raised boardwalk
- Lake Louise “Tourist Trail” — try to see it off-season or early morning as the glaciated Mt Victoria faces east or go up the ski hill on the opposite side of the valley
- Moraine Lake — one of the best lakes, Rock Pile Walk
- Larch Valley – Sentinel Pass and Eiffel Lake Hikes — two of the best
3. Lake Louise to Jasper Road Trip
The Icefield Parkway from Lake Louise to Jasper is THE must-see in all of Canada. It is the core part of the Discover the Top Sights of the Canadian Rockies Itinerary described above. Going to the Canadian Rockies and missing the Icefield Parkway is like going to Rome and not seeing the Pantheon! Yes, it is that special.
Icefield Parkway Highlights
This itinerary does not include the northernmost part of the Icefield Parkway, which is best see from the Jasper Road Trip rather than commuting from your Lake Louise or Waterfowl Lakes base.
- Bow Lake & Glaciers, Banff NP — excellent pull-off on the lakeside
- Peyto Lake Hike — our favourite OMG turquoise lake after a 20 minute hike
- Waterfowl Lakes — gorgeous turquoise lake with Mt Chephren
- Mistaya Canyon — worth a stop
- Bridal Veil Falls — worth a stop
- Parker Ridge Hike — one of the best, short walks into the alpine area with a spectacular view of the Saskatchewan Glacier, wildlife included
- Wilcox Pass Hike — one of the best views of the Columbia Icefield
- Columbia Icefield — not too many places you can drive to the tip of an icefield
- Sunwapta Canyon Viewpoint — the views keep coming
- Stutfield Glacier Viewpoint — one of the best glacier views
4. Jasper to Mt Robson Road Trip
This is the itinerary with much fewer tourists and much more relaxing atmosphere. Even the town of Jasper is more laid-back. While it may not have name recognition, each of the following places is special.
Jasper to Mt Robson Highlights
- Mount Edith Cavell — one of my favourite mountains and glacial lakes
- Angel Glacier Hike — two of the great hikes
- Athabasca Falls — spectacular
- Mt Robson PP — OMG viewpoint
- Berg Lake Hike — OMG glacial lake
The following are very worthwhile add-on side trips to the Discover the Top Sights of the Canadian Rockies Itinerary.
- Maligne Canyon “Hike” —
- Maligne Lake & Bald Hills Hike— if you are not a hiker, at least walk past the lodge to an open view of the lake
Yoho & Kootenay Awesome Sights
Lake O’Hara in Yoho NP may be the most special place to visit in all of the Rockies. However, you need a bus reservation or a long 11 km walk to get to the lake where many spectacular hikes begin! Not only are the sights awesome but the Aboriginal name Yoho means awe.
Yoho & Kootenay Highlights
- Takkakaw Falls, Yoho NP — one of the highest in Canada
- Emerald Lake, Yoho NP — drop dead gorgeous
- Lake O’Hara, Yoho NP — drop dead gorgeous turquoise lake with many hikes
- Marble Canyon, Kootenay NP
- Radium Hot Springs, just outside Kootenay NP — less crowded than the Banff Hot Springs
Custom Maps and Facts to Plan your Itinerary
Rocky Mountain National and Provincial Parks
NP mean National Park, PP means Provincial Park. All of the following parks together are a UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS). Banff was the third NP to be created in the world, after Yellowstone NP.
| Rocky Mountain World Heritage Site | Area (km2) |
| Banff NP | 6,641 |
| Jasper NP | 10,878 |
| Yoho NP | 1,313 |
| Kootenay NP | 1,406 |
| Mount Assiniboine PP | 390.5 |
| Humber PP | 240 |
| Mt. Robson PP | 2,249 |
| TOTAL | 22,878 |
Parks Canada Passes
Since the Trans-Canada goes through Banff NP, you can transit through the park without any fees. But the minute you park, hike, drive the Icefield Parkway, or do some other activity — you must have a NP pass. The day pass is $10.50. The annual Discovery Pass is $72.25 for all 80 Parks Canada sites. There are no multi-day passes. There are discounts for children and seniors.
Parks Canada Shuttles
The Parks Canada Shuttle runs every 20 mins. from Lake Louise to Moraine Lake is $8. Parking at the Lake Louise/Chateau parking lot has zoomed up to $21. There are shuttle buses from Lake Louise village to Chateau Lake Louise you can check out. There are also buses from Canmore and Banff (town) to Lake Louise.
For more information on prices, routes, schedules and reservations – check out the Banff NP Public Transit Guide and the Visiting Lake Louise and Moraine Lake (Parks Canada) web site.
What to Read about the Rockies
The two books should be available in any bookstore in Alberta and are on Amazon.
- Parkways of the Canadian Rockies (Brian Patton 2008, CAD 24.47) is like bringing a naturalist along to interpret what you should be seeing.
- Canadian Rockies Trail Guide (Brian Patton & Bart Robinson 2022, CAD 29.95) is the best hiking book we have seen or used in all our travels around the world.
- Banff NP Visitor Guide (Parks Canada)
- Banff NP Day Hikes Guide & Map (Parks Canada)
- Visiting Lake Louise and Moraine Lake (Parks Canada web site)
- Icefields Parkway Map (Parks Canada)
- Summer on the Icefields Parkway (Parks Canada)
- Jasper NP Visitor Guide (Parks Canada)
- Jasper NP Points of Interest (Parks Canada)
- Jasper NP Day Hiking Guide (Parks Canada)
- Travel Tips page provides advice that applies to any trip (you can access via the Terra Encounters menu as well).
Remaining Questions
Typical questions like what wildlife or birdlife can I see are discussed within each detailed post. Questions about where to stay and eat are also covered in each post.
Please send your questions via the Comments box at the bottom of the page. We would be glad to answer them.
Terra Encounters 
Thank you for these fabulous pictures and recommendations! My wife and I are headed to the area for four days in July and I was quickly becoming overwhelmed by how much there is to see. My parents took the family on a Griswold-style trip through the American and Canadian Rockies in the 1970s and I remember Banff, Lake Louise, and the icefield in Jasper, but little else. I know we didn’t hike to see anything off the beaten path. My wife and I love to hike, so we plan on getting lots of glacial dust on our boots. Your itinerary will be most helpful as we plan our trip.
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At a minimum do the Peyto Lake. It’s really a 20 min. uphill walk. We always take guests to Parker’s Ridge. Wilcox you can just do the first part to see the Columbia Icefields View. Finally in the longer category would be the Moraine Lake trails like Sentinel Pass. Enjoy.
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I read that Lake O’Hara is accessible only by shuttle and the online reservations go fast. Since we only have four days, would you recommend bypassing it in favor of the must-see lakes on your list, or should we try to get a reservation?
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We really enjoyed our hikes there but you have to plan on spending all day. As I remember there are only shuttles at set hours. This means you need to bring food and water. Plus you said you had limited time. You can see Emerald Lake, Takkakaw Falls do a bit of the Iceline Hike and or see the spiral train tunnels. There is plenty to do.
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Perfect, thank you so much! We will definitely have a full agenda just getting to the must-sees and working in a few great hikes.
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Have fun. Some trails have warnings about bears. I don’t know if they enforce it they just want you to be aware of risks. You can tag along with others at the trailhead.
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I appreciate, cause I found just what I was looking for. You have ended my 4 day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a nice day. Bye cegfdedgdafk
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YES THEY ARE SPECIAL
JOYCE♥️♥️♥️
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