Alberta
3
Day Itinerary •
Canada
Three days in Alberta's Banff and Jasper national parks reveal the most extraordinary mountain landscape in North America, its extraordinary turquoise glacier lakes at Moraine and Louise, the finest scenic drive in the world on the Icefields Parkway, the Columbia Icefield and Athabasca Glacier, the wildlife-rich Jasper valley with elk on the streets and Spirit Island on Maligne Lake, and the hot springs and canyon trails of Banff all within a single Rocky Mountain circuit. This route drives the Icefields Parkway from south to north before looping back through Banff, covering the finest 232km of mountain scenery on earth and combining the most photographed lakes in Canada with glacier walks, canyon hikes and the finest mountain town in North America.
Best Time To Visit
June to October
Getting There
Fly into Calgary (YYC), 1.5 hours to Banff
Getting Around
Car essential, shuttle for Moraine Lake
Budget Per Day
Approx 250 to 745 CAD per person per day
Difficulity
Moderate, mountain hiking
DAY 1
THE ICEFIELDS PARKWAY
MORNING
LAKE LOUISE AND MORAINE LAKE, THE TWO FINEST GLACIER LAKES IN CANADA
Lake Louise is the most extraordinary glacier lake in Canada, its extraordinary emerald water fed by the Victoria Glacier at the lake head, the Chateau Lake Louise hotel on its shore and the Plain of Six Glaciers tea house trail above giving the finest Alpine scenery in North America. Moraine Lake 14km away in the Valley of the Ten Peaks is the most photographed lake in Canada, its extraordinary turquoise water and the rockpile viewpoint above giving the finest single view in the Canadian Rockies. Park pass required approx 22 CAD. Drive/Travel: 1.5 hours drive
MIDDAY
THE ICEFIELDS PARKWAY, THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY MOUNTAIN ROAD IN THE WORLD
drive The Icefields Parkway from Lake Louise to Jasper is the most extraordinary scenic drive in the world, its 232km through the heart of the Canadian Rockies passing the Crowfoot Glacier, Bow Lake, the Weeping Wall, the Columbia Icefield and the Athabasca Falls in the finest continuous mountain scenery on earth. The Columbia Icefield Skywalk glass platform at 280 metres above the Sunwapta Valley is extraordinary. Drive time without stops approx 3 hours. Drive/Travel: Drive
AFTERNOON
THE COLUMBIA ICEFIELD AND THE ATHABASCA GLACIER
The Columbia Icefield is the largest icefield in the Rocky Mountains south of Alaska, its extraordinary Athabasca Glacier accessible on foot to the marked safety boundary or by Ice Explorer vehicle onto the glacier surface. The glacier has retreated 1.5km since 1890 and the retreat markers are extraordinary. The Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre gives the finest account of glacial science in Canada. Ice Explorer approx 60 CAD.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Consolation Lakes trail from Moraine Lake, a 3km return hike through extraordinary boulder fields and subalpine forest, reaches two hidden lakes with the finest unrestricted view of the Ten Peaks above. Almost entirely unknown compared to the Moraine rockpile viewpoint directly above. Entirely free with park pass.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Chateau Lake Louise dining room Outstanding mountain breakfast facing the glacier. The lake turns emerald as the sun hits it at 8am. | Lunch: Num-Ti-Jah Lodge, Bow Lake Outstanding Canadian wilderness lunch at the finest historic lodge on the Icefields Parkway. | Dinner: Maligne Canyon Wilderness Kitchen, Jasper Outstanding Alberta dinner at the end of the Parkway drive. Local elk and bison are extraordinary.
DAY 2
JASPER NATIONAL PARK
MORNING
JASPER NATIONAL PARK AND THE MALIGNE VALLEY
Jasper is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies at 10,878 square kilometres and the finest for wildlife viewing, its extraordinary Maligne Valley containing Maligne Lake, the largest natural lake in the Canadian Rockies, Spirit Island in the lake photographed more than any other Canadian landscape and the extraordinary Maligne Canyon with its 50-metre walls. The Medicine Lake which drains underground through the world's largest known cave system is remarkable. Cruise approx 65 CAD. Drive/Travel: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
THE JASPER WILDLIFE CIRCUIT AND ELK ISLAND
The Jasper townsite valley is the finest wildlife viewing area in the Canadian Rockies, elk walking the town streets at dawn and dusk, black bear and grizzly bear active in the Maligne Valley in spring and bighorn sheep on the Pyramid Mountain road year-round. The Whistlers Mountain gondola gives the finest panorama of the Jasper valley and the Columbia Icefield range beyond. Gondola approx 55 CAD. Drive/Travel: 20 min drive
AFTERNOON
THE ATHABASCA FALLS AND THE SUNWAPTA FALLS
The Athabasca Falls below Jasper is the most powerful waterfall in the Canadian Rockies, its extraordinary volume of glacial meltwater forced through a 23-metre wide quartzite canyon creating extraordinary standing waves and whirlpools. The Sunwapta Falls 55km south on the Icefields Parkway is the finest double waterfall in Alberta. Both are accessible from short walks. Entry included in park pass.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Pyramid Island causeway walk on Pyramid Lake above Jasper at dusk is the finest hidden evening walk in the park. The island at sunset with the Pyramid Mountain reflection in the lake and elk frequently visible on the lakeshore is extraordinary. Entirely free. Best late August to October.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Coco's Cafe, Jasper The finest independent cafe in Jasper. Outstanding locally roasted coffee and Canadian breakfast. | Lunch: Maligne Lake Chalet Outstanding lake chalet lunch above the most photographed lake in Canada. Local Alberta trout. | Dinner: Fiddle River Restaurant, Jasper The finest restaurant in Jasper. Outstanding Rocky Mountain cuisine with local bison and elk.
DAY 3
BANFF
MORNING
BANFF TOWNSITE AND THE BANFF UPPER HOT SPRINGS
Banff is the most extraordinary mountain resort town in North America, its extraordinary location inside a national park, the remarkable Cave and Basin National Historic Site where the park was created in 1885, the Banff Upper Hot Springs pool at 39 degrees on the mountainside and the extraordinary Banff Avenue boutiques and galleries making it the finest mountain town in Canada. The Bow Falls below the Banff Springs Hotel are extraordinary. Hot Springs approx 10 CAD. Drive/Travel: 45 min drive
MIDDAY
THE BANFF GONDOLA AND SULPHUR MOUNTAIN SUMMIT
The Banff Gondola to the Sulphur Mountain summit at 2,281 metres gives the finest panoramic view in the Canadian Rockies, its extraordinary 360-degree panorama of six mountain ranges, the Banff townsite far below and the extraordinary Sanson Peak weather observatory at the summit where Norman Sanson made 1,000 consecutive weekly weather observations. Gondola approx 65 CAD. The boardwalk to Sanson Peak is extraordinary. Drive/Travel: 20 min walk
AFTERNOON
JOHNSTON CANYON AND THE INK POTS HIDDEN SPRINGS
Johnston Canyon is the most extraordinary slot canyon in Alberta, its extraordinary suspended iron walkways bolted into the canyon walls above the torrent, the Lower Falls at 30 metres and the Upper Falls at 40 metres both accessible and the extraordinary Ink Pots, seven cold mineral springs bubbling into turquoise pools 6km from the canyon entrance, making it the finest canyon hike in the Canadian Rockies. Entry free with park pass.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Plain of Six Glaciers tea house above Lake Louise, reached by a 14km return trail, serves the finest remote high-altitude tea and scones in Canada at 2,135 metres with extraordinary views of the Victoria Glacier. Operating since 1924. Cash only. No reservations. Arrive before 2pm. Entirely free to access
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Whitebark Cafe, Banff Outstanding Banff breakfast at the finest independent cafe. Local mountain honey and Canadian back bacon. | Lunch: Tooloulou's, Banff Outstanding Cajun-Canadian lunch at the most characterful restaurant in Banff. The gumbo is extraordinary. | Dinner: The Bison Restaurant, Banff The finest restaurant in Banff. Outstanding Alberta bison and wild mushroom menu. Book ahead.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
Lake Louise, Night 1 Chateau Lake Louise or Post Hotel. Approx 400 to 900 CAD per night. Jasper, Night 2 Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge or Crimson Jasper. Approx 250 to 600 CAD per night. Banff, Night 3 Fairmont Banff Springs or Moose Hotel. Approx 300 to 700 CAD per night.
Top Tips
1. Moraine Lake: park at Lake Louise and take the Parks Canada shuttle. Cars turned away after 6am in summer.
2. Icefields Parkway: drive north to south (Jasper to Lake Louise) for the finest views from the driver side.
3. Banff gondola: go at sunset. The alpenglow on the six mountain ranges from Sulphur Mountain is extraordinary.
4. Johnston Canyon: arrive before 8am. The canyon path in morning light before crowds is extraordinary.
5. Elk in Banff townsite: most active at dawn and dusk on Banff Avenue and around the Bow River bridge.
6. National parks pass: buy the annual Discovery Pass at 75 CAD per vehicle. Covers all Canadian national parks.
Total Budget
250 to 740 CAD/day