Heart of the Canadian Rockies Road Trip

Day 1 Calgary to Banff | 115 km/72 mi Leave the Stampede City of Calgary and travel west toward the rising peaks of the Canadian Rockies. As the prairie landscape gives way to foothills and mountain views, continue into Banff National Park and the resort town of Banff, one of Canada’s most iconic alpine destinations. Surrounded by dramatic peaks, forested valleys and glacier-fed rivers, Banff offers a spectacular introduction to the natural beauty and wildlife of the Rockies.

Day 2 Banff | Freedom of Choice - Choose 1 of 7 Excursions Today you can tailor your day by selecting one of seven Banff experiences. Option 1. Banff Gondola Ride the Banff Gondola to the summit of Sulphur Mountain for sweeping views over Banff, the Bow Valley and the surrounding peaks of Banff National Park. At the top, enjoy viewing platforms, interpretive exhibits and time to take in one of the most impressive panoramas in the Canadian Rockies. Option 2. Lake Minnewanka Cruise Cruise across the turquoise waters of Lake Minnewanka, surrounded by mountain peaks, forested shoreline and open alpine scenery. As you travel toward Devil’s Gap, enjoy a relaxed and scenic perspective of one of Banff National Park’s most beautiful glacier-fed lakes. Option 3. River Explorer Canoe Tour Enjoy a gentle guided canoe tour along the Bow River, where calm waters, mountain views and riverside scenery create a peaceful way to experience Banff National Park. This fun and interactive excursion is ideal for families, with no paddling experience necessary. Option 4. Bow River Horseback Adventure Saddle up for a guided horseback ride through the celebrated landscapes of Banff National Park. Follow scenic riverside trails, take in mountain views and experience the Rockies in a classic western style. Option 5. Banff Townsite E-Bike Tour Explore Banff on a relaxed guided e-bike ride to some of the town’s most scenic highlights, including Bow Falls, Surprise Corner, downtown Banff and the Cave and Basin National Historic Site. Enjoy mountain views, local history and an easy-paced ride suitable for beginners and families. Option 6. Upgrade Option: Moraine Lake & Lake Louise Sunset Wildlife Adventure with Picnic Dinner Experience the beauty of Lake Louise and Moraine Lake during the soft glow of golden hour. Travel through the mountain landscapes of Banff National Park as the evening light brings out the colour of the turquoise lakes, surrounding peaks and forested valleys. Along the way, watch for wildlife such as elk and deer, enjoy scenic shoreline walks and savour a picnic dinner in one of the Canadian Rockies’ most iconic settings. Option 7. Upgrade Option: Continental Divide Helicopter Tour Take to the skies on a spectacular helicopter flight over the Canadian Rockies and the Continental Divide. From above, admire a dramatic landscape of jagged peaks, alpine valleys, glaciers, hidden lakes and remote wilderness that few visitors ever see from the ground. This upgraded experience offers an unforgettable aerial perspective of the scale and beauty of the Rockies.

Day 3 Banff to Emerald Lake | 93 km/60 mi Depart Banff and travel west through the heart of the Canadian Rockies toward Yoho National Park. In summer, travellers may enjoy either the Bow Valley Parkway, known for its quieter pace, forested scenery and wildlife viewing opportunities (subject to seasonal closures), or the Trans-Canada Highway, which offers a faster route with sweeping mountain vistas. Along the way, Johnston Canyon is a popular highlight, where a paved trail follows the canyon walls to rushing waterfalls, turquoise pools and dramatic limestone scenery. Continue through mountain passes into Yoho National Park, whose name is a Cree expression of awe. This spectacular park is known for gem-coloured glacial lakes, waterfalls, snow-covered peaks, dense cedar and hemlock forests, historic railways, spiral tunnels and steep rock faces where mountain goats may be seen. Arrive at Emerald Lake Lodge, set beside one of the most beautiful alpine lakes in the Canadian Rockies.

Day 4 Emerald Lake to Jasper | Ice Explorer + Skywalk | 263 km/164 mi Depart Emerald Lake Lodge and travel east through the dramatic mountain scenery of Yoho National Park before continuing into Banff National Park and north along the Icefields Parkway, one of the most spectacular mountain drives in the world. This unforgettable route follows the spine of the Canadian Rockies, passing glacier-fed lakes, sweeping valleys, waterfalls and towering peaks. At the Columbia Icefield, step aboard the Ice Explorer for a journey onto ancient glacier ice, then continue to the Glacier Skywalk, where a glass-floored platform extends high above the Sunwapta Valley. These included experiences offer a powerful perspective on the scale, beauty and geology of this treasured region before you continue to Jasper.

Day 5 Jasper | Freedom of Choice - Choose 1 of 3 Excursions Today you can tailor your day by selecting one of three Jasper experiences. Option 1. Maligne Lake Cruise | Operating season is weather dependent Cruise across Maligne Lake, one of Jasper National Park’s most photographed settings. Surrounded by mountain peaks, forested shoreline and brilliant alpine water, the journey includes views toward Spirit Island, one of the Canadian Rockies’ most iconic natural landmarks. Option 2. Jasper River Float Enjoy a gentle rafting experience on the Athabasca River, offering a relaxed and scenic perspective of Jasper National Park. Drift through a wide mountain valley with views of forests, peaks and wildlife habitat while your guide shares stories of the area’s natural and human history. Option 3. Jasper Nature Walk Explore Jasper National Park on a guided nature walk through a landscape of rolling hills, jagged peaks, forests, meadows, marshes, streams and glacial lakes. Along the way, learn more about the plants, wildlife and mountain ecology that make this region so remarkable.

Day 6 Jasper to Lake Louise | 208 km/129 mi Depart Jasper and travel south once more along the Icefields Parkway, where the return journey reveals the Canadian Rockies from a new perspective. Towering peaks, glacier-carved valleys, rushing rivers and alpine forests frame the route as the scenery shifts with each bend in the road. Time permitting, pause at scenic viewpoints such as Athabasca Falls, Sunwapta Falls, Bow Lake or Peyto Lake, where turquoise waters, mountain reflections and sweeping valley views showcase the scale and beauty of this remarkable corridor. Continue toward Lake Louise, often called the “Jewel of the Rockies.” Set 1,730 metres above sea level and surrounded by soaring peaks, this famous glacier-fed lake is renowned for its vivid turquoise colour and breathtaking alpine setting. Spend time walking one of the nearby trails, paddling across the lake by canoe, or simply taking in one of the most iconic views in the Canadian Rockies.

Day 7 Lake Louise to Calgary | 177 km/110 mi Say goodbye to the turquoise waters and soaring peaks of Lake Louise as you travel east through Banff National Park toward Calgary. The route follows the Trans-Canada Highway past glacier-carved valleys, forested slopes and dramatic mountain scenery before the Rockies gradually give way to rolling foothills and wide-open prairie landscapes. If time permits, consider a scenic detour to Cochrane, a western foothills town set above the Bow River, where ranching heritage, river pathways and views back toward the mountains make a relaxed final stop. Continue to Calgary, where your journey ends after one last look back at the skyline of the Canadian Rockies.