kasperlie

Unfortunately, we only have 3 full days (arrive late Thursday afternoon and leave on Monday) to spend in the Lake Louise area. This will be towards the end of July. We will be staying either at Post, Paradise or Bakers Chalets. We're leaning towards Bakers, since there is quite a price difference.

My question. . . what would be the best use of our time with only three days? We enjoy the wilderness and sightseeing. We don't care about nightlife or being "entertained". Of course we would love to really see the Canadian Rockies. We also enjoy horseback riding and river rafting, but not sure how much we can squeeze in. Suggestions????

Thanks.

poss

Not at all to dampen anything-- but I was relieved when I found out abt the train noise at various places, so I thought I'd return the favor here. We'd been planning a stay at Post or Beckers, but then I began to read about train noise at those places. Those hotels are very popular, so obviously not everyone is bothered. We happen to be very light sleepers, so lovely as the places might be in other respects, they'd be out for us. Just wanted to give you a heads up in case such detail is impt to you. Have a great trip!

Judy_in_Calgary

Hello kasperlie,

Here are some ideas:

Friday - Drive to Golden, BC and go white water rafting on the Kicking Horse River. On your way back to your Lake Louise base, try to make detours to Emerald Lake and Takakkaw Falls in Yoho National Park.

Saturday - Drive to Moraine Lake, 9 miles from Lake Louise. Go their first, because its parking lot fills up. Climb the pile of rocks at the north end of the lake, then walk the lakeshore path.

Go to Lake Louise, hook up with Brewsters Stables, and go on one of their rides, e.g., the one to Lake Agnes Teahouse.

Sunday - Drive up the Icefields Parkway (Hwy #93) as if you're going to Jasper. Stop at Peyto Lake Lookout. Stop at the Columbia Icefields, and ride the Snocoach onto the Athabasca Glacier. Continue to Sunwapta Falls. I don't know how far you'll get before you need to turn around and go back to your Lake Louise base. You should get to Sunwapta Falls at a minimum. You might be able to get to Athabasca Falls and perhaps even as far as Jasper townsite. Don't push yourselves unduly. Just do what you reasonably can.

You don't have to do the activities on those specific days. The weather in the mountains can change from hour to hour, so it may be difficult to arrange your activities according to the weather. However, if the weather forecast tells you that you are going to have a rainy day, try to go rafting on that day. Rafting is a wet activity anyway. Try to see Moraine Lake in sunshine if possible.

I don't know from which direction you will have approached Lake Louise and in which direction you'll be departing from it.

If time permits, you might be able to visit Johnston Canyon on your way to or from Lake Louise. Johnston Canyon is on the Bow Valley Parkway (Hwy #1A) between Banff townsite and Lake Louise. It would be nice if you could spend the hour that it would take to walk to the Lower Falls and back to the parking lot.

Another thing that would be nice to do if you had the time on the way to or from Lake Louise is pop into Banff townsite. Drive up the main street, which is Banff Avenue. Cross the Bow River. Immediately fter crossing the river, you'll come to a T-junction. Turn left at the T-junction and go around to the parking lot behind the national parks administration building. Walk to the gardens in front of the building, and look across Banff townsite towards Mount Norquay straight ahead of you and towards Mount Rundle to your right. This is the classic postcard shot of Banff.

Hope that helps.

Molly2

Hi poss!

I'm not sure I agree with the characterization of LL as a "zoo". Specific popular areas draw crowds, Lake Louise itself, for example, and I hear, Johnson Canyon, but it's quite easy to escape people by hiking a bit on any number of spectacular trails.

I agree - the Kicking Horse River is great for rafting.

We were kept awake at night by train noise; we were staying at the LL hostel. For us, though, the benefits far outweighed this and other irritations.

Molly2

Hit "post" too soon - I was going to add that both Judy and kchili's itineraries sound wonderful. I've done a lot of Judy's excellent suggestions. Next visit I'd like to stay closer to Yoho, which indeed is spectacular.