Everything you need to know about Visiting Banff National Park and the Canadian Rockies
The Canadian Rockies comprise the Canadian segment of the North American Rocky Mountains range. Geographically, the Canadian Rockies extend from the Interior Plains of Alberta to the Rocky Mountain Trench of British Columbia, and southern end from the border of the USA to northern British Columbia.
Did you know?
– Highest peak. Mt. Robson (12,972 ft., 3,954 m)
– Five national parks are located within the Canadian Rockies, four of which interlock and make up the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks UNESCO World Heritage site. (Banff, Jasper, Kootenay and Yoho National Parks)
– The Canadian Rockies have over 1,000 glaciers.
Getting here
Getting to the Canadian Rockies is very easy from nearly anywhere in the world. International airports to the east of the Canadian Rockies are found in Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta.
Flying into Vancouver, British Columbia would leave approximately a 10 hour drive to get here.
Driving north from the United States bordering states of Montana, Idaho and Washington would leave anywhere from 3 to 5 hours to reach Banff National Park in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, depending on your travel route.
Things to Do
Whatever the season, there are a host of activities to enjoy during your visit to in the Canadian Rockies. Among the most popular are Horseback Riding, Whitewater and Family Rafting trips, Zipline and ATV adventures, Hiking and Mountaineering along with some great options for road and mountain biking. In the winter, Downhill and Cross County skiing, Sled Dog tours, Snowmobile tours and Horse-drawn Sleighrides are the favourites.
Things to See
There are so many things to see in the Canadian Rockies, it’s virtually impossible to list them all. But, you’ll want to take in as many of the turquoise glacial lakes, scenic viewpoints, spectacular drives and rejuvenating hikes as time will allow during your visit.
Places to Stay
There are a host of accommodation options, from large to small, from nationally recognized “chain” hotels to intimately managed, cozy and comfortable “Mom and Pop” properties. Inside of Banff National Park, Banff and Lake Louise are the most popular places to stay. Jasper is the largest town and offers the most options in Jasper National Park. Many choose to stay outside the National Parks with the most popular choices being Canmore, Alberta, and Golden or Radium in British Columbia.