RoggowPhotography

We just got back from a wonderful vacation to Alberta, Canada, where we visited Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper & more. We spent 3 nights at Johnston Canyon Cabins (Banff area), 2 nights at the Alpine Village in Jasper (FABULOUS accommodations!!), and 2 nights at the Paradise Bungalow cabins just down the road from Lake Louise.
Of course, there is spectacular scenery everywhere including Play-Dough blue lakes and shimmering green streams but the area is also filled with waterfalls, glaciers, and wildlife.
Almost all the wildlife we saw was in the Japer area. We saw herds of elk, bighorn sheep, a beaver, coyotes, deer, and a moose.
We also took some time to drive through Kootenay National Park (British Columbia) where we were drawn to the beauty and wonder of Marble Canyon. Another day, we drove into Yoho National Park (British Columbia) but it failed in comparison to Banff, Lake Louise, and Jasper.
We were up before sunrise every day to make the most of our time and to also get photos of the sun as it first touched the mountain tops.
If I were to do it over again, I’d still go to Banff and Lake Louise but I’d spend the majority of the time in Jasper! The Icefields Parkway is spectacular with glacier after glacier and the wildlife viewing opportunities are abundant.
Here’s a direct link to my photos from this trip:
http://www.http://thompsontravel.smu...61348994_Kpvck

eenusa

Enjoyed your photos; thanks for sharing ... brought back wonderful memories of our visits to the CRockies ... most recently, a week in Jasper at the end of August. We also stayed at Alpine Village - and loved every minute of our stay.

pathayes

beautiful photography! We're planning a trip next summer -- we are most interested in wildlife and scenery but costs matter too --- mid June looks like the timeframe. Do you think camping will be too cold at that time? I've also seen one campsite with no reservations - do you just go early in the morning for a slot? thank you. Pat

ckramer

Please tellme you did some photoshop magic because the pictures are stunning.
How was the weather ? I'm visiting Banff & LL this weekend and it says showers.So I'm thinking my trip may be ruined

RoggowPhotography

Thanks to everyone for the nice compliments on my photos. I don't use photoshop. Some of the more unusual looking lake photos were shot in HDR. That is, taking 5 shots of the same exact thing but exposing differently in each shot...then combining all 5 photos to make one.
We were there Sept. 16-24 so I'm not sure if it would be too cold to camp mid-June. I would think it could be very chilly that time of year but at least it would be before the mobs of tourits arrive. The Fall time was nice because it is low season and there weren't a huge amount of people.
-Julie Roggow

rpbuttery

Hi, Julie. Great trip report.

I will have eight nights to allocate between Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper September, 2010 (I'll be in Glacier National Park [Montana] five nights).

Since I can remember--more years than I care to admit--I have wanted to stay at the "calendar/postcard" hotels and lodges in the Canadian Rockies; namely, the Fairmont Banff Springs, the Fairmont Lake Louise and the Fairmont Jasper Park.

Terrible question to ask someone else, but... I know that everyone has to make up their own mind on travel cost/value relationships, but having been there, can you give me any information that might help me reach a decision on whether they are going to be worth the additional cost.
Thanks.

eenusa

Let me pipe in re: Fairmont Jasper -- we did not stay there, but visited it one afternoon ... much preferred the location of our own accommodations at Alpine Village that were more centrally located just outside the townsite. Easy access not just to town, but also to the Icefields Parkway and many of the places of interest.

Here's my blog link to the Alpine Village -- http://2totravel.blogspot.com/2009/0...from-home.html

rpbuttery

Thanks, eenusa.

I enjoyed your blog, and have added it to favorites for later use.