Frank

We are attempting to plan a two week vacation that focuses on the best of the Canadian National Parks. We will be flying into Calgary and would like to visit Jasper, Banff, Yoho and Waterton/Glacier National Parks. Our primary interests included day hiking and nature (birding) viewing. We would appreciate input on moderate priced places to stay, recommended length of stay in each location, and suggestions for sites/day hikes.

Bob Brown

Let me tackle places to stay first. <BR>Motels and hotels within the boundaries of the parks tend to be expensive. <BR>A word like moderate can mean many things to many people. For example, <BR>would you consider $150 Canadian to be moderate for a routine 3 star motel at Lake Louise Village? <BR>Some people pay upwards of $350 a night at Chateau Lake Louise. <BR>For the Banff area, I suggest investigating Bed and Breakfast in Canmore. It is close and there are quite a few B and B's advertised in the Alberta Accommodations guide. <BR>Around Lake Louise and Yoho, I suggest finding a "parks approved" accommodations in Field, which is within the bounds of Yoho. <BR>For Jasper, same deal. There is a list of private homes that offer rental rooms to travelers. <BR>For Waterton, I suggest staying in Cardston or Pincher Creek. Motels in Waterton Townsite are not cheap at all. <BR> <BR>As for hikes and what not, let me suggest that you acquire a copy of The Canadian Rockies Trail Guide by Brian Patton and Bart Robinson. This is the best hiking guide in the English language in my opinion, even better than Key Reynolds hiking guides for Switzerland. It is available from The Adverturerous Traveler Bookstore, which has a web site. <BR>If you study it, you will find there are more hikes than you could do in 5 years of steady vacationing in that areas. <BR>Although I have been out there quite a few times, I have by no means even walked a reasonable sample of the trails. <BR>My favorite of them all is the Whaleback Trail in Yoho. Close behind is the Iceline trail in the same park. <BR>I also like the Plain of Six Glaciers trail that departs from the north shore of Lake Louise and goes to the mountain wall that forms the back drop for the lake. <BR>Along the Icefields Parkway there are a large number of short hikes such as Parker Ridge, Panther Falls, the Falls of Beauty Creek, etc. There are not sometimes obvious, so you need the book to guide you. <BR>How long you stay in any one place is a functon of how many trails you find to pursue. <BR>Also, don't exclude Mt. Robson from your plans. It is the highest point in the Canadian Rockies and on a clear day you can see the top of it some 8,000 vertical feet directly above the little lake on the south flank of the mountain. <BR>I think you could spend a couple of days around Canmore - Banff, 4 to 5 days in the Field - Lake Louise area, and two full days along the Icefields Parkway, <BR>perhaps 3 days in Jasper. <BR> <BR>We stayed overnight along the Icefields Parkway at a stop called The Crossing. It is located where the David Thompson Highway connects to Red Deer. There is a motel. Near the Icefields Center there is a relatively new facility that has overnight accommodations. If you are interested, you can take the ice buggy from the Icefields Center onto the glacier. We did it once, enjoyed it, but we have not been tempted to take it again. <BR> <BR>There is a 4th and 5th park that you did not mention: Kootenay and Glacier. <BR>Kootenay touches on Banff and offers some interesting features. Glacier is famous for its steep trails. It is located west of Golden on the Trans Canada. The road goes right by the visitor center. So if you run shy of things to do, you will have something else to attract you. <BR>Around Jasper, my favorite place is Mount Edith Cavell because of the Angel Glacier that comes over the side. It has been retreating steadily the last few years, so I doubt if much of it visible any longer. But it is worth a trip to see what is left. <BR>Athabasca Falls is interesting. And I have seen boat loads of happy people floating down the Athabasca River in Jasper.

kaori

I pretty much agree with the above... but to stay in Field? Honestly.. that is the most decrepit, depressing town ever. I'd MUCH rather stay at the Mountaineer Lodge in Lake Louise Village. ($150 CAD and up)... or Even at the Alpine Hostel... (It's a 5 star hostel... $26 CAD per person. Love it there...)

Bob Brown

I guess people can spend their money as they choose. But after a long day on the trails, I am usually ready for doing nothing. So after something to eat and a shower, what difference does it make? <BR>If I want to socialize, Lake Louise is 20- 25 minutes away. <BR>

Island Girl

There's a really cozy little cafe/restaurant in Field but for the life of me I can't remember the name of it. I think the name is something really quirky. We spent a rainy evening there away from our damp campsite last July and it was very nice. We had dessert and coffee but others were having supper and it looked delicious.

Bob Brown

For Island Girl. I bet the place was the Truffle Pig's Cafe and the Siding General Store. I have eaten there, too. <BR>The people who live in Field are a hearty breed.