Canada — Banff & Jasper

Canada

Seven days through the Canadian Rockies on the Icefields Parkway. Turquoise lakes, glaciers, grizzlies, and the world's most photogenic stretch of asphalt.

DAYS

STOPS

DISTANCE

1100000 km

OPEN ON DESKTOP TO CLONE THIS TRIP

THE ROUTE · 24 STOPS

DAY 01
DEPART
DEPART
Calgary YYC pickup
2000 Airport Rd NE, Calgary, AB T2E 6W5, Canada
Pick up the rental at YYC. Hit Tim Hortons before the highway.
FOOD
FOOD
Canmore
Canmore, AB, Canada
Mountain town outside the park gate. Lunch at Crazyweed Kitchen.
PHOTO
PHOTO
Banff Townsite
110 Bear St, Banff, AB T1L 0A1, Canada
Browse the avenue, ride the gondola up Sulphur Mountain if the queue is reasonable.
DAY 02
PHOTO
PHOTO
Moraine Lake
Moraine Lake, Improvement District No. 9, AB T0L 1E0, Canada
Personal vehicles banned 2023+ — book the Parks Canada shuttle in advance. Rockpile sunrise is iconic.
PHOTO
PHOTO
Lake Louise & Lakeshore Trail
Lake Louise Lakeshore Trail, Improvement District No. 9, AB T0L 1E0, Canada
Walk to the end of the lake. Add the Plain of Six Glaciers tea-house hike if you've energy.
PHOTO
PHOTO
DAY 03
PHOTO
PHOTO
Bow Lake & Num-Ti-Jah Lodge
Icefields Pkwy, Lake Louise, AB T0L 1E0, Canada
Crowfoot Glacier on the far shore. The lodge does decent coffee.
PHOTO
PHOTO
Peyto Lake Viewpoint
Lake Louise, AB T0L 1E0, Canada
The wolf-head-shaped lake. New viewing platform after the 2022 redesign.
FUEL
FUEL
Saskatchewan River Crossing
DAY 04
PHOTO
PHOTO
Sunwapta Falls
Sunwapta Falls, Improvement District No. 12, AB T0E 0A8, Canada
Y-shaped falls with an island. Two viewing platforms.
PHOTO
PHOTO
Athabasca Falls
Athabasca Falls, Improvement District No. 12, AB T0E 0A8, Canada
Powerful, not tall — but the canyon below is the photogenic part.
PHOTO
PHOTO
Maligne Canyon
DAY 05
PHOTO
PHOTO
Maligne Lake & Spirit Island cruise
Maligne Lake, Jasper National Park Of Canada, Improvement District No. 12, AB T0E 0A8, Canada
90-minute boat cruise to Spirit Island. Reservations essential July/Aug.
PHOTO
PHOTO
Jasper SkyTram
Whistlers Rd, Jasper, AB T0E 0A8, Canada
Up to 2,277 m. Optional summit hike adds another 200 m on a steep loose path.
DAY 06
PHOTO
PHOTO
Mistaya Canyon
Saskatchewan River Crossing, AB T0M 2H0, Canada
Five-minute walk down to a slot canyon. Often skipped — that's why it's quiet.
PHOTO
PHOTO
Johnston Canyon
Bow Valley Pkwy, Improvement District No. 9, AB T1L 1K2, Canada
Catwalks bolted to the canyon wall. Lower and Upper Falls. Busy — go midweek.
SLEEP
SLEEPnext day
DAY 07
PHOTO
PHOTO
Banff Upper Hot Springs
1 Mountain Ave, Banff, AB T1L 1K2, Canada
39 °C mineral pool. Mountain views from the steam.
STOP
STOP
Calgary YYC return
2000 Airport Rd NE, Calgary, AB T2E 6W5, Canada
Drop the rental. Trip done.