The western Canadian province of Alberta is a paradise waiting to be explored, the surreal beauty of this vast arid land has to be seen to be believed.
Set against the backdrop of the mighty Canadian Rockies, you will see verdant greens of the Prairies, foothills of the Rockies and stunning emerald and blue glacial lakes dotting this scenic landscape at every turn.
A road trip through this region will take you on the Trans-Canada Highway connecting Calgary to Banff and onward to Jasper National Park via Icefields Parkway (Highway 93), considered one of the world's most scenic highways in the world!
Ten handy tips for your travel within the national parks in Alberta -
The best time to travel to this rugged mountainous region is summer when the days are sunny and bright and you can expect sunshine till about ten o'clock at night!!
Mountainous weather is unpredictable, so you must carry a light woollen jacket even when travelling in summer. If you plan to visit the Glacier in Columbia Icefields, all the more reason for you to carry warm clothes.
A Parks Canada Pass is required to enter all the national parks. The pass is available online on the official website and you can also buy the same at the counter on the day of travel. I have written in detail about Parks Canada Pass in my memoir about our time in Banff National Park in a separate post on the link pasted below in this post.
An important point to remember is that Parks Canada Pass does not automatically give you free access to all the parking lots inside the national parks. You might have to pay the parking fee at some places, at Lake Louise, for instance. So, please ensure that you check for parking fees wherever required to avoid any penalty later.
We had 5 days at our disposal to see the national parks but I feel that a slightly longer week-long trip would be ideal to soak in the beauty of this region. Plus, keep an extra hour for every road trip you plan in this region because you will be tempted to stop your vehicle at every turn to click pictures of this scenic landscape.
Remember to research what you wish to see during your stay in the national parks because there's so much to do and you will waste a lot of time without a proper plan in place. We, for instance, covered Lake Louise on our way to Canmore and Lake Emerald on our way to Jasper. This helped us save precious time.
There are many ways to access the national parks, you can make a round trip, starting from Calgary to Banff, to Jasper and back to Calgary with overnight stays at Calgary and Banff of 2 to 3 nights each depending on the available time. A lot of people also start from Calgary and close their trip in Edmonton which is slightly closer than Calgary.
Banff, like all touristy places, is more expensive compared to the nearby town of Canmore or the closest city of Calgary. If you're travelling with a family with kids and looking for more spacious and economical accommodation like Airbnb, then your best bet is to stay in the nearby town of Canmore which is closer and equally scenic as Banff. Staying in the bustling city of Calgary is also a great option which is only about an hour and a half drive from Banff.
A drive through these national parks can bring you face-to-face with many wild animals like elks, big horn sheep, moose and even grizzly bears! We came across a huge grizzly bear and its cub slumbering in the woods and some tourists trying to catch its attention by gesticulating, making noise and taking pictures. Remember it can be very dangerous to provoke the animal. Please refrain from doing so and do not step out of your vehicle to click pictures. Also, when going on hikes in the national parks, remember to carry a bear spray can.
Once you cross Banff and hit the road towards the national parks, you will not find any provision stores or eateries on the journey. So, stock up your car with snacks to munch on and enough water. The same should apply to your car's fuel tank too. Fill her up nice and full because you might not see a gas station many miles ahead.
Now let me take you through our 5-day road trip through Alberta with the final leg of the road journey from Jasper to Vancouver BC.
Our 5-day detailed itinerary in Alberta was as follows ..... Day 1 - Calgary to Banff National Park
Idled around the town of Banff
Bow Falls
Surprise View Corner
Johnston Canyon
Lake Minnewanka
We had only 5 days to cover both Banff and Jasper, so instead of spending our first day in Calgary, we headed straight to the famous Bow Falls in Banff. A lot of people do this since Banff has lots of activities to cover.
I have written a separate memoir about Banff, Bow Falls, Surprise View Corner, Johnston Canyon and Lake Minnewanka.
Please click on the link below to read all about it
Day 2 - Half-day Sightseeing in Calgary
Calgary Downtown
Peace Bridge
After the excitement of the previous day, we started our second day in Calgary on a slow note.
Calgary is rated as one of the cleanest cities in the world and a visit to this beautiful city reiterates this claim. One can find an abundance of open vistas and green patches in the city.
We were in Calgary in June but if you happen to be there in July, you should not miss the chance to see the popular annual event called Calgary Stampede.
It's a 10-day festival known for its outdoor rodeo show that has the distinction of being the world's largest outdoor rodeo, plus other events like concerts, parades and exhibitions by First Nations. First Nations refers to the Indigenous people and ethnic groups who first inhabited Canada.
Calgary is not a hot tourist destination per se. Still, its proximity to Banff National Park (around 127 km via the Trans-Canada Highway) prompts many tourists traversing that area to use it as a base for further travel.
We had only 2 days in Calgary. Our outing started with a trip to Downtown Calgary to explore the famous pedestrian hub, Stephen Avenue Walk. The area has many restaurants, shops and boutiques. We spent about an hour and a half and then headed to the Peace Bridge.
Peace Bridge is a conspicuously red-coloured bridge built over the Bow River in Downtown Calgary in Prince's Island Park. You will find tourists and locals alike strolling and biking around the park.
Another famous landmark of the city is the Calgary Tower. Located in the heart of Downtown Calgary, the tower is 190.8 metres tall and is known for its spectacular views of the Rocky Ranges in the distance. We had limited time, so we had to skip climbing the tower.
Another important attraction in Calgary is the Calgary Zoo. If you're travelling with kids, then this should be the top of your itinerary for Calgary. But remember, the zoo is massive and you would need a full day to be able to see it all.
Close to Calgary, about 135 km away, is the town of Drumheller. The town is famous for its striking badlands terrain in the Dinosaur Provincial Park. Again, it's a one-day outing from Calgary, go for it if you have time.
Day 3 - Calgary to Canmore by road via Lake Louise and Fairview Lookout Trail
The next two nights were in Canmore. As I've mentioned earlier, there's lots to do in Banff, so, after a quick trip around Calgary, we headed straight to Lake Louise in Banff.
Besides, the day was bright and sunny and it would have been foolish to miss the opportunity to see the famed lake in all its glory.
Read more about Lake Louise and Fairview Lookout Trail by clicking on the link below
Day 4 - Sightseeing in Canmore
Biking trails
Engine Bridge
We had allocated the second day in Canmore to see Lake Moraine. But we could not get tickets for the tour package.
Please remember that you cannot drive to Lake Moraine in your personal vehicle. The tours to the lake need to be booked well in advance.
We learnt this fact the hard way and had to miss this tour. I have discussed this in the blog link posted above.
So, instead of again driving to Banff, we decided to look up the beautiful town of Canmore. And boy, did we love it!!
Canmore is a dreamy town lying in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies, not as touristy as Banff but every bit as charming. If you can spare a day, then don't miss the chance to explore Canmore.
Read more about Canmore by clicking on the link below
Day 5 - Drove from Canmore to Hinton, Alberta via Lake Emerald and Columbia Ice Fields
Lake Emerald
Tour of Columbia Ice Fields in Jasper National Park
Very close to Canmore, just about 115 km away, lies another stunning water body, Lake Emerald. It lies in the Yoho National Park in British Columbia.
Read more about Lake Emerald by clicking on the link below
We spent half a day at the lake before proceeding to the tour of Columbia Ice Fields.
Read more about our experience at the Columbia Ice Fields by clicking on the link below
Our last destination for this road trip was Vancouver. Jasper to Vancouver is close to 800 km and takes about 8 hours and 30 minutes to cover.
We decided to break the journey and spend a night in Hinton, a small town close to Jasper, about 40 minutes by road.
The town has excellent infrastructure and offers cheaper accommodation than the touristy Jasper.
On Day 6, we drove from Hinton, Alberta to Kamloops, BC and further to Vancouver.
You can read about our Vancouver experience in a separate blog. Link following soon!
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