5 Best Things To Do in the Canadian Rockies


Things To Do in the Canadian Rockies
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The Canadian Rockies are a beacon for wild adventures. A trip to the Canadian Rockies usually equates to a hike atop peaks to revel in valleys below, paddle glistening lakes, admire roaring waterfalls, or camp in the thick of trees. This iconic Canadian mountain range brims with exploration opportunities, making it tough to narrow down your to-do and to-see list. Hopefully, our list of the five best things to do in the Canadian Rockies will help you decide what to do when you get here.

Go hiking

Floe Lake 1
Floe Lake

Hiking is one of the more obvious things to do in the Canadian Rockies, but there are so many trails to choose from, so we felt it necessary to discuss. The Canadian Rockies span Banff National Park, Jasper National, Yoho National Park, Kootenay National Park, and Kananaskis, to name a few places. Consider hiking one of the following incredible trails, depending on which area you visit:

  • Mount St. Piran Hike in Banff National Park (12.5km, 970m elevation gain)
  • Cavell Meadows Hike in Jasper National Park (6km, 400m elevation gain)
  • Lake O’Hara All Souls Route Hike in Yoho National Park (9.5km, 794m elevation gain)
  • Floe Lake Hike in Kootenay National Park (22.9km, 794m elevation gain)
  • Sarrail Ridge via Rawson Lake Hike in Kananaskis (11.5km, 670m)

Book an adventure tour

Planning a trip can be tedious and frustrating, especially for somewhere as popular (and incredible) as the national parks and towns in the mountains. On an adventure tour in the Canadian Rockies, your tour guide or itinerary will lead you to secret gems tucked into the mountain slopes. You can go mountain biking, hiking, camping, or skiing trips! Some even include thrilling rafting adventures.

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Drive Icefields Parkway

Peyto Lake 1
Payto Lake

The Icefields Parkway links Lake Louise and Jasper and ranks as one of the most scenic roads in the world. Leave a lot of time to meander this road as there are a crazy number of highlights en route. Remarkable must-see destinations include Peyto Lake, Bow Lake, Athabasca Glacier, Sunwapta Falls, and Athabasca Falls. Also, look out for bears and other wildlife roaming the land on either side of the road.

Set up camp

One of the best ways to bask in the fresh mountain air is to camp—set up your tent below canopies of trees and listen to the howls of wildlife in the backdrop. You can find a range of campgrounds sprawled across the Canadian Rockies, but be sure to book your spot once reservations open up. When booking national parks, you’ll need to go through the Parks Canada website! Most places tend to fill up super fast. However, a few campgrounds allow for first-come, first-serve overnighters. Some great places to reserve are:

  • Two Jack Lakeside Campground in Banff National Park
  • Lake Louise Campground in Lake Louise
  • Rampart Creek Campground along the Icefields Parkway
  • Whistlers Campground in Jasper
  • Kicking Horse Campground in Yoho National Park
  • Redstreak Campground in Kootenay National Park

Paddle a lake or river

Nothing says “serene” like paddling on a lake or a calm river when morning dew paints the ground and the sun peaks above mountain peaks. Of course, it’s still magical to explore and revel in the surroundings throughout the day and into the evening. You’ve come to the right place if you’re an avid paddler or looking to spend a day on a paddleboard, kayak, or canoe. The Canadian Rockies cradle or back a range of glistening lakes, some deep in the wild and others accessible by car. Check out some of the best lakes and rivers to SUP, canoe, or kayak:

  • Bow River in Banff National Park
  • Vermilion Lakes in Banff National Park
  • Johnson Lake in Banff National Park
  • Two Jack Lake in Banff National Park
  • Herbert Lake along Icefields Parkway
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Winter activities in the Canadian Rockies

Most of this list considers the best things to do in the Canadian Rockies when BBQ smells swirl the air and summer heat drives people to the cooler air in the trees. So what about some winter activities in the Canadian Rockies? One of the best, most Canadian things you can do is lace up your skates and go wild skating. Two Jack Lake is a popular spot for this! Just make sure the ice is frozen deep before you go.

Other winter activities people like to do are snowshoeing, skiing, snowboarding, and ice climbing. If you don’t want to ice climb, put on crampons or snowshoes and hike through the snow to some remarkable frozen waterfalls that will have you feeling like Elsa and Anna from Disney’s Frozen.

You’ll find numerous ski resorts around the Canadian Rockies; some notable ones are Lake Louise Ski Resort, Sunshine Village Ski Resort, and Fernie Alpine Resort.

Check out Johnston Canyon, Troll Falls, or Grotto Canyon for frozen waterfall hikes! And some incredible snowshoe routes in the Canadian Rockies are Rawson Lake Trail, Chester Lake, and Rummel Lake.

Which activity do you want to try in the Canadian Rockies?


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Maria