COUNTRY
Canada
WHEN TO GO
June through October
NUMBER OF NIGHTS
5 to 10
You look up in absolute awe at one of the most spectacularly beautiful landscapes you’ve ever laid your eyes on. Rugged peaks and stunning glaciers tower over the brilliant turquoise waters of the Canadian Rockies’ world-famous glacial lakes. Under most circumstances, finding such incredible scenery requires a rather grueling hike just to reach it. But here, you just have to pull your car over in one of the many turnoffs along the main highway. It’s hard to believe, but it is in fact that easy.
Welcome to Alberta’s Rocky Mountains. They’re home to some of the most iconic sights not just in Canada, but in the world. No matter which direction you look, the scenery is just eye candy all around. Best of all, it’s the perfect destination for solo travelers of all experience levels. And as you’ll see, the Canadian Rockies experience stretches far beyond just your Banff and Jasper itinerary.
Maligne Lake – Jasper National Park
Banff and Jasper Itinerary at a Glance
For the complete Banff and Jasper experience, we recommend a 1-week itinerary. You can do it in as few as 3 nights, but things will feel rushed. Take full advantage of the long summer days, as sunset in Jasper is after 10:30 PM into late July. You can completely customize your adventure to fit your interests and timelines.
Day 1: Arrival
Arrive by air into Calgary to clear customs and immigration
Drive to hotel in or near Banff National Park
Overnight in the hotel
Day 2: Banff National Park
Tunnel Mountain Scenic Drive
Visit Vermillion Lakes
Drive Up Mt. Norquay
Drive the Bow Valley Parkway
Hike Several Waterfalls along the Bow Valley Parkway
Photograph Trains at Morant’s Curve
Hike Takkakaw Falls in Yoho National Park
Go Canoeing on Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park
Overnight in the hotel
Day 3: Banff National Park
Watch the sunrise at Lake Louise or Moraine Lake
Hike and Explore Lake Louise or Moraine Lake
Take a cruise or go canoeing on Lake Minnewanka
Take a Ride on the Banff Gondola
Free Time to Explore Banff How You Want
Overnight in the hotel
Day 4: The Icefields Parkway
Check out of Banff hotel
Visit any remaining sites in Banff you didn’t get on Days 2 or 3
Drive 230 km from Banff to Jasper
Stop at the many lakes, glaciers, and river crossings
Hike, explore, and photograph canyons and waterfalls
Sneak preview of Jasper National Park
Check into and overnight at Jasper hotel
Day 5: Jasper National Park
Ride the Jasper Skytram up Whistler’s Mountain
Hike 1 km from tram station to Whistler’s Mountain Summit
Free time at the summit of Whistler’s Mountain
Tour lakes near the town of Jasper
Overnight in the hotel
Day 6: Jasper National Park
Relax and take a cruise on Maligne Lake
Visit Medicine Lake
Hike Maligne Canyon
Free time to explore Jasper on your own
Overnight in the hotel
Day 7: Departure
Check out of Jasper hotel
Drive to Edmonton or Return to Calgary
Optional Overnight in Hotel near the Airport
Depart by air from Edmonton or Calgary
Visualize Your Canadian Rockies Adventure
Banff National Park: Area Overview
Established in 1885, Banff is Canada’s first and most well-known National Park. Home to majestic snow-capped peaks, brilliant turquoise lakes, and stunning glaciers, Banff National Park is the ultimate adventurer’s paradise. From its famous summer hiking and canoeing to its skiing and winter sports, you’ll find outdoor adventures in Banff year-round. There’s even a natural hot springs in the park.
But Banff’s breathtaking scenery is only half of the equation. Spanning over 6,600 square kilometers of pristine alpine wilderness, it’s not uncommon to spot grizzly bears and elk on the side of the road. If you’re patient, keep your eye out for cougars, wolves, and moose as well. While you’ll likely be in complete awe of Banff’s natural beauty, it’s all just another day in the life at Canada’s most iconic National Park.
Jasper National Park: Area Overview
Rugged, more raw, and less touristy than its neighbor Banff, Jasper National Park is the largest and one of the most pristine national parks in the Canadian Rockies. Embark on breathtaking glacier hikes through breathtaking mountain scenery, cruises on Jasper’s stunning turquoise lakes, and some of the most scenic drives in the world. If you’re looking for something new, try your hand at astrophotography. Jasper National Park is the second largest dark sky reserve in the world.
Jasper remains rustic enough that you’ll still find bears wandering along the highway and elk grazing in town. You’ll stay in cabins and campsites instead of 5-star resorts. If you’re feeling particularly adventuresome, give Jasper’s white water rafting a try. The water in the river was in the glacier less than 8 hours earlier. While the water temperature rarely exceeds 1°C/35°F in the summer, jump in the freezing river at the end of your rafting adventure for the ultimate Jasper rite of passage.
Icefields Parkway: The Most Scenic Drive in the World
Spanning 232 kilometers between the towns of Lake Louise and Jasper, the Icefields Parkway is a landscape photographer’s paradise. Stop at roadside pulloffs and stare in awe at towering glacier-capped mountains that provide a stunning backdrop to the parkway’s breathtaking turquoise lakes. Book a tour to walk out on the signature glacier that gives the Icefields Parkway its name. Hike to beautiful canyons and majestic waterfalls in both Banff and Jasper National Parks.
No matter what direction you look, you’ll find Mother Nature showing off at her finest. It’s no secret why the Icefields Parkway is the most scenic drive in the world.
Yoho National Park: Area Overview
Located across the Continental Divide from Banff, you’ll find towering rock walls, majestic waterfalls, and spectacular glacial lakes at Yoho National Park. The smallest national park in the Canadian Rockies, Yoho leaves no shortage of beautiful alpine scenery and diverse wildlife. The fact that Banff and Jasper overshadow Yoho makes the experience that much more special. Yoho’s vibe is laid back, set by the quaint mountain hospitality of Field, British Columbia.
Regardless of whether you’re visiting Banff, Jasper, or both on your itinerary, you don’t want to miss out on Yoho either. It’s one of the most beautiful settings in the world, with fewer tourists than its more well-known neighbors.
Stay Safe While Hiking in the Canadian Rockies
Both Banff and Jasper National Parks are home to both black bears and grizzly bears, as well as cougars and wolves. Under no circumstance should you embark on a hike without bear spray. And never, ever hike solo in bear country. To keep both hikers and wildlife safe, Parks Canada often requires that you hike in groups of at least two or four during the summer.
While wildlife goes into hibernation in the winter, many hiking trails in the Rockies face serious avalanche risk. If you’re hiking in the winter, make sure you follow all safety protocols for hiking in both avalanche zones and extreme winter conditions.
Please check with Parks Canada for all hiking restrictions and advisories prior to departing for the trailhead.
Banff and Jasper Accommodations
You’ll find accommodations that fit budgets of all sizes at both Banff and Jasper. As you would expect, lodging within each park can be really expensive, especially during the peak summer season. That being said, we recommend staying at the much more affordable accommodations a short drive from the entrance to each park. To maximize the value of your stay, we recommend staying in one of the following towns.
BANFF
Cochrane, Alberta
Golden, British Columbia
Canmore, Alberta
Calgary, Alberta
JASPER
Hinton, Alberta
Edson, Alberta
Valemount, British Colmbia
Tête Jaune Cache, British Columbia
Also, be aware that the provincial line that separates Alberta and British Columbia is also the time zone line that separates the Mountain and Pacific Time Zones. In other words, BC is 1 hour behind Alberta.
Explore Beyond Your Banff and Jasper Itinerary
The backbone of the Rocky Mountains stretches for nearly 5,000 kilometers from northern Canada to the southwestern United States. Visiting Banff, Jasper, and Yoho National Parks doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of the complete Rocky Mountain experience. In just Alberta and British Columbia alone, you’ll find countless national and provincial parks that are just as stunningly beautiful as Banff and Jasper to add to your itinerary.
Cross the border into the United States to open up even more Rocky Mountain adventures. Some of the most famous American National Parks are located within a day’s drive of the US-Canada border. And don’t forget to look north, either. Alaska, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories are raw, pristine, and untouched alpine wilderness, prime for your next adventure.
CANADA
Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta
Kootenay National Park, British Columbia
Glacier National Park, British Columbia
Alberta Provincial Parks
British Columbia Provincial Parks
UNITED STATES
Glacier National Park, Montana
North Cascades National Park, Washington
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
The Fine Print: Costs
When planned correctly, a visit to Banff and Jasper can be very affordable, even at the peak of the summer season. You can easily see both parks without needing to book a guided tour. In fact, we actually recommend not going through a tour group. That way, you’ll be able to see what you want on your schedule. The costs below cover the 7-day adventure outlined in the itinerary above, assuming you stay in hotels. Camping can reduce the cost even more.
7-DAY SELF-GUIDED BANFF-JASPER ADVENTURE
$3,000 to $9,000
The Cost Includes
Airfare originating in either Canada or the United States
Hotels and Lodging
Meals and Snacks
Non-Alcoholic Beverages
Rental Cars and Fuel
Park Entrance Fees
The Cost Does Not Include
International flights from outside Canada and the United States
Visa and/or Entry Fees to Canada
Souvenirs and Personal Items
Alcoholic Beverages
Gratuities