Planning a visit to the Canadian Rockies?
Amazing scenery awaits you.
The Rockies destinations of Jasper, Banff, Lake Louise and Columbia Icefields Parkway offer unforgettable experiences.
Here goes.
ATHABASCA FALLS
With a drop of 80 ft and a width of 60 ft, Jasper national park’s Athabasca falls are considered to be one of the most powerful and picturesque falls in the Canadian Rockies.
There are several marked trails that allow you to feel the spray as these falls thunder into the canyon several meters below. The rocks can be very slippery most of the time. Walk along the interpretive trail along the river or hike along the canyon admiring the lookouts. Cross the bridge and walk down the stairs to see the gorge.
Even when levels of Athabasca river are at their lowest in the autumn, large amounts of water still flow over the falls.
The falls can be viewed and photographed from many platforms and points on the hiking trails around the falls.
MALIGNE LAKE AND SPIRIT ISLAND
Maligne Lake and Spirit Island truly stands out as one of the unique experiences and most photographed places in the Rockies.
Take a boat tour on the stunning Maligne Lake in Jasper National Park.
The island is a spiritual place for the Stoney Nakoda First Nation, who believe mountains are physical representations of their ancestors. The fact that Spirit Island is surrounded on three sides by the same mountain range is not only rare but also makes it significant to the Stoney.
Access to the island is extremely limited due to its geography. It’s located on a remote shore about 14 km from the docks at Home Bay. It’s hard to get to — paddling or rowing on your own can take four hours each way!
The water color at Spirit Island is different from where cruises depart at the Maligne Lake docks. The water gets more emerald colored as you get further south and closer to the glaciers due to the presence of rock flour from the glaciers.
COLUMBIA ICEFIELDS PARKWAY
Icefields Parkway is one of the most awesome drives in the world. This highway travels through the heart of Canadian rockies for 144 miles – that is filled with massive mountain peaks, turquoise lakes, caribou crossings and glaciers.
The area is also home to the Athabasca Glacier. A tour takes the visitors on the glacier surface using a massive vehicle that is specially designed for driving on glaciers.
The Columbia Icefield Skywalk – a glass floored observation platform suspended some 280 odd metres over the glacier valley allows visitors to get a dramatic view of the whole region.
LAKE LOUISE
Lake Louise is the most majestic and beautiful lake in Canada. This alpine lake located in Banff National Park is of a deep turquoise blue color and is fed by glacier melt. It has a backdrop of Mount Victoria and a hanging glacier.
The lake’s brilliant blue color is due to the glacier waters full of rock flour that refracts the light.
What can you do in Lake Louise? Take in the spectacular views, walk along the lake shore, hike, kayak and canoe in the lake.
The lake is frozen for a large part of the year and so ice skating is a popular activity in Winter. A gondola ride is another way to get panoramic Lake Louise views from an elevation of 6850 ft.
Enjoy the changing colors of the lake and the mountains beyond from sunrise to sunset from the top floors of Chateau Lake Louise – a unique Fairmont hotel perched at the water’s edge.
MEDICINE LAKE
This is a must stop en route to Maligne Lake. It is a lovely shallow lake with rocky beach area. It looks beautiful with reflections of the surrounding mountains and a good place for a short trail around the lake.
There are interpretive display boards that explains the geology of the largest inaccessible cave system that lies underneath the lake!
You might spot some wildlife on the way – elks, goats and if you are lucky, a moose!
CROWFOOT GLACIER
This unique glacier is visible from the Icefields Parkway. Make a quick stop to get a good photo. It is nestled between the rocks of Crowfoot Mountain, above Bow Lake.
There used to be three ‘toes’ but one of them broke off in the 1930s and now there are just two.
Due to rapidly changing climate, we do not know how long it will exist in its present form.
PEYTO LAKE
Peyto Lake (pronounced pea-toe) is a glacial fed lake, also called the ‘bluest lake in Canada’. Quite popular with tourists, this lake can be viewed from the top of a viewpoint off the Columbian Icefields parkway.
As with most of the lakes in the Rockies, Peyto Lake also gets its color due to the fine rock particles that comes from the glacier. The sun and the quantity of flour makes this vibrant color change slightly in different seasons of the year.
BANFF NATIONAL PARK
The best way to get a bird’s eye view of this beautiful region is to hop on the Banff Gondola and get 360 degree skyline and forest views on the 8-minute ride up the side of Sulphur mountain. When at the summit, enjoy short boardwalks further to Observation deck, Sanson Peak and weather station.
Drop in at the interpretive center with its informative exhibits and watch a short movie in the theatre.
The Banff town itself is impressive with soaring mountain peaks all around it. The town is popular for its shopping, eclectic restaurants and local art and photography. Banff also provides opportunities for horse riding and various levels of hiking.
Finally, riding the Rocky Mountaineer is an attractive option to explore the Canadian Rockies destinations through a combination of a pleasurable train journey and private coach rides that the tour provides.
Add the Canadian Rockies to your travel bucket list today!
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How beautiful and fun! I would LOVE to visit.
I really haven’t had the opportunity to explore Canada, but as a nature lover, this post just makes me want to visit so badly. I hope to someday soon. These drives look like the perfect family activity.
I went to Lake Louise a few years ago with my family, but we missed seeing the rest of these beautiful spots! I definitely want to go back, especially to see Athabasca Falls.
i have seen many photos of Banff & Lake Louise & the other famous places in the Canadian Rockies, so i am so thrilled to see an article highlight some of the lesser visited places. i hope to see them all one day!
I grew up in Southern Alberta but only visited Lake Louise for the first time a couple of years ago. It was stunning and amazing. I hope to go back and explore more of the area.
Baff and Lake Louise have been on my list for a long time! It all looks so incredibly beautiful.
Just hearing the words Canadian Rockies makes me happy. That has been my dream destination and hopefully I will visit it soon. The lakes and the mountains are dreamy and look stunning. I loved Athabasca falls, looks amazing.
Wonderful post! Every one of your pictures makes me want to go to the Canadian Rockies instantly. I am especially fascinated by the blue lakes, like Lake Louise or Peyto Lake. Kayaking there must be an experience.
We were a bit disappointed to not spend more time in the Canadian Rockies on this road trip across the country. The Covid rates in Alberta were just too high. Sadly Lake Louise parking was all full when we drove past as this was the one stop we wanted to do on our trip through Alberta. We hope to be able to spend more time on our way home – if we don’t get snowed out! We would definitely want to see Athabasca Falls, Maligne Lake and the Peyto Lake since we have not visited on previous trips in this area.
You had an incredible adventure! I love the Canadian Rockies, and I hope to be back there soon. During our 8-month road trip from Alaska to Florida, we visited Jasper, Banff, Lake Louise, Columbia Icefields Parkway, and more of those beauties. I agree that Athabasca is a very photogenic waterfall. It’s a fabulous stop. I also love Maligne Lake. However, my favorite place is Peyto Lake.
Lake Louise caught my attention at first glance. Such a surreal beauty. Each and every picture and the place makes me want to go to the Canadian Rockies right now. I wish I could visit soon the place.
What a gorgeous place this is. To some extent, it got me thinking of Ladakh in India -especially those lakes. Interesting to read about Crowfeet lake -and how the landscape has made it lose a few toes 😉 . I would go crazy taking pictures here. Those blues and hues are just too good.
What a beautiful trip! Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies is probably the most amazing place in British Columbia! We’ve spent a few days there some years ago and explored all these beautiful places, like Lake Louise, Sulphur Mountain, Moraine Lake and the Columbia Icefield. Banff seems to be as beautiful in winter as it is in summer!
Woah! This looks so wonderful like it was straight from a postcard. We would love to visit in the future. Thank you for sharing about the Canadian Rockies. Will definitely take your advice and add this on our bucket list.
Lake Louise has been on my bucket list for some time! This post will come in useful for when I visit Canada 🇨🇦
Banff and Lake Louise are places that I dream of visting. So much beauty in one place.
Looks so beautiful- I really must get my act together and plan to visit some day. The colour of Peyto Lake is incredible.
I went to Banff a few years ago and wish I’d had this post back then! Definitely keeping some of these spots in mind for my next trip — great recommendations!
These photos are BEYOND stunning. What a gorgeous, gorgeous area. I hope to one day visit – but flagging until then. Thanks for this guide!