Majestic views and outdoor sports make a vacation to the Canadian Rockies an excellent choice for thrills and adventure or peace and serenity. Visit seven national and provincial parks that are so beautiful they’ve been identified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Banff is both Canada’s first national park and a town center within the park. Look for an arch on the lengthy Great Divide Trail separating Alberta and British Columbia along the continental divide. Ski on mountains famous for excellent conditions, including Norquay, Lake Louise and Sunshine Village. Enjoy sulfur hot springs at one of the area’s luxury resorts or spas. A hike or drive along the Bow River offers views of rushing water.
Bring your camera to Moraine Lake where mountain peaks reflect in the blue-green glacial lake. This image appeared on the back of the 1970s Canadian 20-dollar bill. South of Banff, the Canmore Nordic Centre was built for the 1988 Winter Olympics. Today enjoy winter cross-country skiing and summer mountain biking. Tour Canmore Caves or learn to rock climb, ice climb or mountaineer.
Follow the Icefields Parkway north past the Columbia Icefield for views of glaciers. Step onto the frozen ice mass or look through the glass-bottomed Glacier Skywalk at a glacial ravine hundreds of feet below. Continue along this drive within Jasper National Park where you can enjoy backcountry hiking in the wilderness. The park’s natural delights include Athabasca Falls and Maligne Canyon. Look for elk, moose, caribou and grizzly bears. Swim, kayak, waterski, fish and scuba dive in the alpine lakes of Waterton Lakes National Park.
The Canadian Rockies offer year-round beauty and adventure. Try heli-skiing in winter, photograph mountain wildflowers in spring, go whitewater rafting in summer and view colorful foliage and purple mountains reflected in still lakes in fall.
Travel by plane, train or car to nearby Calgary or Edmonton to begin your journey. Find your favorite Canadian Rockies mountain, glacier or lake to explore now and remember for a lifetime.
