My family is considering heading up to the Canadian Rockies after spending time in Glacier (the American one)/Waterton. We'd probably spend a night at the Prince of Wales Hotel in Waterton and then head up to Banff.
I need more details from my dad, but I'm assuming we'd spend about two days in the area. If that's the case, what's the best way to spend two days? Is it best to just stay in Banff National Park since it's a short amount of time, or would visiting Jasper, Yoho, or Kootenay be a good idea?
What are some things that are must-see or must-do? No long, less-frequented trails because my dad freaks out about bears and refuses to allow it. Any shorter and more popular trails that we should take?
Anything worth our time in Calgary?
Sorry for all the questions. I'm pretty much researching this myself, and there is so much information to sort through.
Two days in the Canadian Rockies
Recent Activity
View all Canada activity »
- 1 Road Trip from Montreal to PEI to Cape Breton
- 2 Reservations needed for BC ferries between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay?
- 3 Canadian Rodeo in early to mid July --- somewhere near Montreal or Ontario?
- 4 Vancouver sightseeing - transportation tips
- 5 Itinery: Ottawa to Newfoundland
- 6 First time trip to Montreal for senior couple (late sixties)
- 7 Nova Scotia in June
- 8 Free National Geographic Travel Map of Newfoundland
- 9 Nova Scotia in 10 days - Roundtrip from Bangor, ME
- 10 Montreal-NB-PEI by car for a 7 day trip
- 11 Huge British Columbia roadtrip
- 12 Calgary - Things to Do
- 13 Transportation from Toronto to Niagara Falls
- 14 Need help, can't decide
- 15 Accommodation in Kelowna area
- 16 Canadian SIM card options (in Nova Scotia)?
- 17 NIAGARA FALLS TO RAPID CITY MOST SCENIC ROUTE PLEASE
- 18 Two weeks in Quebec with kids.
- 19 Preclearing US customs in Canada
- 20 Vancouver + Vancouver Island August Trip
- 21 Hike/Trail recommendations in Banff?
- 22 Parksville Or Nanaimo
- 23 Info about Visiting Yoho's Lake O'Hara, please!
- 24 2 weeks in vancouver with small baby
- 25 How similar are the Tofino area of B.C. and the San Juan Islands of WA state?
With only 2 days, just do Banff. Jasper is a day's drive all by itself, and several days to visit. You could visit Banff one day and Lake Louise the next (walk around the lake, no bear worries but lots of wjhiskey jacks will be fluttering in looking for handouts). Stay in one spot in Banff.
Just make sure that if/when you go to Lake Louise you allow time for Moraine Lake. More beautiful than L.L. easily.
When you get out of your car in the parking lot go to the left and you'll the Rock Pile. Walk up and around the back. There are rock stairs and you'll come around to several viewpoints.
This view is what was on the old Canadian one dollar bill. Amazing
Moraine Lake is beautiful indeed and a must see. It was on the 20 Dollar bill in the Canadian Scenes series which was current throughout the 1970's and 80's.
Yep - Moraine Lake - and it really will not take up all day. If you do nothing else, that is a "must see."
Two days isn't a lot of time, and exploring Banff plus visiting Lake Louise and/or Moraine Lake could easily more than fill this. However an alternative worth considering if you're up for a full day-trip drive is to travel partway up the Icefields Parkway, which is a spectacular drive. You could go as far as the amazing Athabasca Glacier of the Columbia Icefields - see http://www.icefieldsparkway.ca/ . You can walk to the edge of the glacier, or take a tour on a special Ice Explorer vehicle http://www.explorerockies.com/columbia-icefield/ .