Canadian Rocky Mountains Tourist Guide with Maps, Scenic Views & Activities

The Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks, which consists of four national parks and three provincial parks, is where you can enjoy the magnificent and beautiful scenery of the Canadian Rockies. The rugged mountains and the untouched natural beauty that remains in the surrounding areas are also registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Let's take a look at the highlights of the fascinating Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks, divided into areas for each park.

Illustration: Tin tree

[What are the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks?] A treasure trove of beautiful scenery

The Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks are made up of seven parks:
・Banff National Park
・Jasper National Park
・Yoho National Park
・Kootenay National Park
・Mt. Robson Provincial Park
・Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park
・Humber State Park

The natural beauty of the area, including glaciers, lakes, waterfalls, and valleys, and mountains up to 3,000 meters above sea level, was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.
Many tourists from all over the world visit the country not only to enjoy the beautiful scenery, but also to enjoy mountain climbing and hiking in the mountains, boating on the lakes, glacier tours, and hot springs.

[Weather and best season] The tourist season in the Canadian Rockies is summer. Skiing is popular in winter.

The recommended tourist season for the Canadian Rockies is from the end of June to around August. This is the time when you can fully enjoy the magnificent natural scenery after the frozen lakes melt in winter until summer.

In addition, the winter season, which begins in mid-October when snow falls, is a busy time for skiing. In November, the whole area is covered in snow, creating a winter landscape that offers a different natural beauty to that seen in summer.

The mountain climate of the Canadian Rockies is characterized by large daily temperature changes throughout the year.

In summer, there are days when the temperature exceeds 30 degrees, but if the weather is bad, it can snow, so be careful. In autumn, you can enjoy the autumn leaves, but it can also get as cold as midwinter, so warm clothes are essential.

Since the altitude is high, it is a good idea to bring a hat or other protective gear to prevent sunstroke.

[How to get there] Banff and Jasper are the bases for sightseeing in the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

You can get to the Canadian Rocky Mountain National Parks by train or rental car. The two towns where the national parks are located, Banff and Jasper, are the bases for sightseeing. It's a good idea to start from there.

By train, go from Vancouver to Banff or Jasper.
If you're driving, the most common route is from Calgary to Banff and then from Edmonton to Jasper.

To see the highlights of the Canadian Rocky Mountain National Parks, we recommend staying at a hotel in Banff or Jasper and using a tour bus or rental car to explore the surrounding areas. There are also tours with Japanese guides that Japanese people can participate in with peace of mind.

In Canada, to protect the precious natural environment, it is compulsory to pay an entrance fee to national parks. In national parks, there are also prohibitions on littering, collecting plants and stones, damaging trees, feeding animals, and approaching large animals, so please be careful during your stay.

From here, we will introduce some recommended scenic spots for each park.

[Banff National Park highlights] Turquoise lakes and majestic mountains

Banff National Park was Canada's first national park, designated in 1887. It covers an area of 6,641 km2, and the length of the roads that run through the park exceeds 1,600 km. Within the park, you will find beautiful lakes, including the turquoise Moraine Lake, valleys, and dynamic mountains.

Moraine Lake

Moraine Lake (map number: 1) is a glacial lake located near Lake Louise, a small town about 60 km west of Banff, about an hour's drive away. The lake is a very beautiful lake, with the sediment from the mountains eroded by the glaciers mixing with the lake water, turning it a vivid turquoise blue in summer. The Ten Peaks mountain range, with its 10 peaks, towers behind the lake, and there is a beginner-friendly walking trail called the Rockpile Trail around the lake, making it a very popular photo spot.

In addition to Moraine Lake, Peyto Lake (map number: 2) and Bow Lake (map number: 3), which have similar turquoise water, are also popular spots in Banff National Park. Many tourists visit these mysterious lakes, whose colors change depending on the season and time, to catch a glimpse of their beautiful appearance. You can enjoy canoeing on each lake, so it's also nice to leisurely enjoy the scenery while floating on the vividly colored lakes.

Castle Mountain

Castle Mountain (map number: 4), located about 40 km and 30 minutes by car from Banff towards Lake Louise, is a majestic rock mountain with an altitude of 2,766 m that, as its name suggests, resembles a Western castle.

It is located right next to the Trans-Canada Highway, so you can easily see it from inside your car. The mountain looks very rugged from the highway, but you can also enjoy hiking from the backside.

[Highlights of Jasper National Park] Untamed wilderness inhabited by many wild animals

Jasper National Park is the largest of the Canadian Rocky Mountain parks, boasting an area of approximately 11,000 km2. In the south is the magnificent glaciers of the Columbia Icefield, and in the north is a vast area of untouched nature, home to many wild animals.

Athabasca Glacier

Athabasca Glacier (map number: 5) is one of the glaciers that flow out of the Columbia Icefield, and is located near the border between Jasper National Park and Banff National Park. It is also known as the "toe of the Columbia Icefield." It is currently about 6 km long, and the ice is said to be about 300 m thick in its thickest spots.
*In recent years, the area has been shrinking at a rate of 2 to 3 meters per year.

It is located right next to the Icefields Parkway that connects Lake Louise and Jasper, so it is easy to visit and there are many activities to enjoy. Popular activities include the "Glacier Adventure," where you can ride a snowmobile to the top of the glacier and walk on the glacier, and the "Glacier Skywalk," where you can walk on a glass-bottom observation deck jutting out from the cliffs of the Sunwapta Valley.

Stargazing

One of the attractions of Jasper National Park is the fantastic starry sky.

As a Dark Sky Preserve certified by the Canadian Astronomical Society, efforts are being made to minimize lighting in the town at night, and it is also famous as a stargazing spot where you can see a sky full of stars in the pitch black night sky.

If you're lucky, you may be able to see the aurora during the cold season from autumn to spring (September to mid-May).
Every year in mid-October, the Jasper Dark Sky Festival is held, an event where visitors can enjoy the fantastic starry sky.

[Highlights of Yoho National Park] Beautiful emerald lake and Takakkaw Falls with its spectacular water spray

Yoho National Park is named after the indigenous word "Yoho," which means "awe."

Total area: 1,310 km2
Although it is the smallest of all the national parks, it has 28 peaks over 3,000 meters high, and its rugged mountains are home to deep natural beauty that has not been developed into tourist destinations.

Emerald Lake

The most popular tourist spot in Yoho National Park is Emerald Lake (map number: 6), with its emerald green waters. It is located about 30 km west of Lake Louise on the Trans-Canada Highway, and then about 10 km further north.

The beautiful scenery of nearby Michael Peak and the surrounding coniferous forest reflected on the lake's surface is a must-see. The approximately 5km trail where you can enjoy this picturesque scenery is also popular as a hiking course.

You can go canoeing at the canoe launch point right next to the parking lot, so it's also recommended to enjoy the surrounding natural scenery from the lake.

Takakkaw Falls

Takakkaw Falls (map number: 7), named after the aboriginal word "Takakkaw" meaning "wonderful", is a spectacular spot located on a tributary of the Yoho River that flows from a glacier. This waterfall has a higher drop than Niagara Falls, and the sight of a large amount of water falling and the roaring sound are very impressive.

As the glaciers and snow melt, the water volume increases, making the waterfall even more dynamic, so the best season to visit is summer. Near the basin where the waterfall shoots out a spectacular splash, a rainbow can sometimes appear. You will get wet if you get too close, so you should wear clothes that you don't mind getting wet, or bring rain gear.

[Highlights of Kootenay National Park] The landscape of Marble Canyon created by the flow of the river

Kootenay National Park, which spreads out to the southwest of Banff National Park, is a national park where the Kootenay River, which originates in the Canadian Rockies, flows.

Its main attractions are the turquoise blue river flowing from the glacier, the beautiful scenery created by river erosion, and the hot spring facilities where you can relax and unwind from your travels while taking in the spectacular views.

Marble Valley

Marble Canyon (map number: 8), where beautifully colored rapids flow through steep rock walls.

The river water, a beautiful turquoise color caused by glaciers carving away the bedrock, is characterized by its strong erosive power due to the large amount of solid matter it contains. This Marble Canyon was also carved out by the power of water. The marbled strata are colorful.

There is also a trail that runs along the valley, where you can enjoy hiking while looking at the rapids flowing below.

Radium Hot Springs

Radium Hot Springs (map number 9), the largest hot spring facility in Canada, is located right next to the National Park Gate, the western entrance to Kootenay National Park.

It has a long history and has been loved by many people since it was discovered in 1841. The source is a 44 degree hot spring containing trace amounts of radon, and in addition to the hot water pool kept at 39 degrees, there is also a cold water pool at 29 degrees.

They also rent out swimsuits and towels, making this a great place to relax and unwind after a long day of travel.

Highlights of the three state parks

Mount Robson Provincial Park

Mount Robson, which the park is named after, is the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies at 3,954 meters above sea level. Mount Robson and the surrounding area make up Mount Robson Provincial Park.

Robson Glacier is located on the northeast side of the majestic Mt. Robson, and the Robson River, which originates from the meltwater of the glacier, and its tributary, the Fraser River, run through the park. The Fraser River is also famous as a spot where you can see schools of salmon during the spawning season in August.

Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park

Mount Assiniboine, named after the shape of the tent of the indigenous Assiniboine people, is a steep rocky mountain with an elevation of 3,618 meters. Mount Assiniboine and the rich nature surrounding it are a state park.

For the best views, head to Assiniboine Lodge at the base of Mount Assiniboine, where you can hike up the mountain or take a helicopter ride up.

Fortress Lake

The highlight of Humber Provincial Park, which spreads out to the southwest of Jasper National Park, is Fortress Lake, with its impressive, beautiful water surface.

There are no paved roads to get there, so the only way to get there is by hiking the 22 kilometres from the car park at Sunwapta Falls in Jasper National Park, or by skiing in winter.

However, there are fewer tourists, which means you can have the beautiful scenery all to yourself. It's a hidden gem that's well worth the effort.

Activities to enjoy in the Canadian Rockies

If you want to fully enjoy the natural wonders of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks, why not try out some of the many activities available.

Mountain climbing and trekking

The most popular activities in the Canadian Rockies, which are home to many mountains, are mountain climbing and trekking. We recommend the trails in Banff National Park, where you can enjoy a variety of trails, from beginner trekking trails along gentle mountain paths lined with wildflowers, to advanced mountain climbing trails up steep rocky mountains.

However, there are courses that are only accessible during the summer, and there is a risk of encountering wild animals such as grizzly bears, so it is very dangerous to attempt this without proper knowledge. It is important to do thorough research beforehand and enjoy courses at a level that suits you, such as by tackling them with experienced people who have knowledge, or by taking advantage of tours organized in Japan or locally.

cycling

To visit the scenic spots, you will need to rent a car or other means of transportation, but another way to enjoy the area is to use a mountain bike or other vehicle to enjoy the experience as an activity.

Bicycle rentals are available in the towns of Banff and Jasper, and the park management authorities publish cycling maps that you can use as a reference.

Two railways for an elegant journey

The two railways, the Rocky Mountaineer and the VIA Rail Canadian, can be considered a form of leisurely activity, offering long, two-day or three-day journeys while taking in the spectacular scenery of the Canadian Rockies.

The Rocky Mountaineer Railroad is a tourist train that operates only in the summer on three routes:

- Leave Vancouver, stay overnight at a hotel in Kamloops, then head to Jasper
- Kamloops to Lake Louise to Banff
- From Vancouver to Jasper, spending the night in Whistler or Quesnel

Both tickets can be booked online. You can choose the train class and the type of hotel you will stay at, and the cheapest plan is CA$1,710 for one adult one-way.

Rocky Mountaineer Railroad

The VIA Rail Canadian is a transcontinental train that travels 4,466 km from Vancouver, the westernmost city in Canada, to Toronto, the easternmost city. It takes four nights and five days to ride the entire journey, but it is possible to get on and off along the way.

The section from Vancouver to Jasper is very popular because it allows you to enjoy the natural beauty of the Canadian Rockies. It operates from around June when the snow melts to around September, and you can also make reservations online. For more information on how to use the service, such as the carriages, seat classes, estimated fares, and how to make reservations, please check the VIA Rail official Japanese website.

VIA Trans-Canada Railroad Japanese Official Website

The charm of the Canadian Rockies is that you can enjoy the magnificent scenery of nature along with a variety of activities. You will surely have the experience of being immersed in the spectacular scenery.

Originally posted on March 8, 2018