Lake Louise,
Jasper & Banff

I just returned from an absolutely breathtaking trip through the Canadian Rockies. Living near the Rocky Mountains in the US, I thought it wouldn't feel that different in the Canadian Rockies, but I was wrong. It truly is a beautiful part of the world!

Our mountain adventure began with a beautiful drive from Calgary straight to Lake Louise, where we checked into the majestic Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise for two nights. The Fairmont was a destination in itself! While there, we walked the Lake Louise Lakeshore Trail and hiked to the Fairview Lookout. We also took a marvelous afternoon excursion into Yoho National Park to visit the towering Takakkaw Falls and the serene Emerald Lake. A special treat was our lunch at the Whitehorn Bistro, accessible by the Lake Louise Gondola.

Next, we embraced the full day drive from Lake Louise to Jasper via the Icefields Parkway. This is one of the world's most beautiful drives, and our itinerary ensured we had time for all the must-see stops, including the stunning Peyto Lake Lookout, the Athabasca Glacier at the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre, and Athabasca Falls. Upon arriving in Jasper, we settled into The Fairmont Jasper for two nights. The area around Jasper was really devasted by the wildfires in 2024 but most businesses are open and the town has rebounded. You'll see the devastation as you drive through the area and into Jasper but it's a good reminder of the fragility of life. You come away appreciating the beauty of the area even more.

Our time in Jasper was packed with incredible sights! We explored the Maligne Lake area, making sure to take a wonderful Maligne Lake Cruise to Spirit Island. For our second high-altitude thrill, we rode the Jasper SkyTram up Whistlers Peak to enjoy the panoramic views. I also highly recommend a visit to Pyramid Lake for the golden hour or a sunset walk.

After two wonderful days in Jasper, we headed back towards Calgary, stopping for two additional nights in Banff. We absolutely enjoyed every minute of out stay at the iconic Fairmont Banff Springs. Here, our third and final gondola experience took us up to Sulphur Mountain via the Banff Gondola, complete with a walk along the summit boardwalk. We also explored the surrounding area, making time for a scenic drive to Lake Minnewanka and Two Jack Lake, and dedicated a morning to visiting Kootenay National Park to see natural wonders like the Marble Canyon and the colorful Paint Pots. The walk along the river from the hotel into Banff should be on your list of things to do even if you aren't staying at the hotel. The town has done an amazing job placing artwork along the path. If you walk there in the evening, you might even see a family of moose, like we did. 

We wrapped up our fabulous trip to the Canadian Rockies with a night in Calgary. There we enjoyed exploring the walkable areas like the Stephen Avenue Walk and the Bow River Pathway with it's unique Peace Bridge. We also visited the Calgary Tower just before sunset. We just wished we had spent another couple days in Calgary. It is a wonderfully vibrant city with so much to do. We ran out of time to visit the Hangar Flight Museum, take in more of the craft brewery and food scene, and we certainly would have enjoyed learning more about the history of the city.

If you think you'd like to visit the Canadian Rockies, and have me put together a trip like ours for you, just contact me. I suggest planning early as the area is very popular with travelers from all over the world and hotels book up quickly.