Jasper or Banff
 

My family and I are planning a trip to the rockies in early July but we only have time for either Jasper or Banff. Which would you recommend. We like wildlife, hiking and are looking forward to admiring scenery. We will not be skiing but hope to row a boat or canoe on a lake. We are so torn and undecided.

www.fairmont.com/BanffSprings

Light years prettier than Jasper

Bow River there is beautiful green

Gorp.com for hiking infi there also

Lake Louise not far emerald green and

truly amazing.

Jasper just a flat little valley town not torusitic for me.

Just a railway hub really....

http://www.otel.com/hotels/the_rimro...tm?s_kwcid=msn

Rimrock nice if Fairmont is too much cash back

discounts 10% through Facebook booking Otel.com for me

Getting super deals currently with them.

Also betterbidding.com Priceline.com excellent value.

If you are flying to Calgary, Banff/Lake Louise is where you want to go. If you can't afford the Fairmont, There is a HI Hostel in the area: http://www.hihostels.com/dba/hostels...-011028.en.htm

Since I am a rail nut, I've been to Jasper several times by ViaRail. Try to make it to Maligne Canyon for a hike.

Devote one day to driving up to Jasper and returning same day to Banff, Lake Louise or Canmore.

How long are you visiting? If you are staying a week, I would stay at least 2 nights in Jasper--that area is beautiful and the drive from Lake Louise to Jasper on the Icefields Parkway is a must do, in my opinion.

The Jsper area is less crowded but you are going pretty early in the season so you shouldn't have all the Banff crowds that people complain about.

I made a mistake--you will be visiting during the peak of the summer season. Banff will be crowded. If that would bother you, you could stay outside the town at Baker Creek, Cathedral Mountain, Emerald Lake, or in Lake Louise. If you enjoy walking around a town in the evening, you should consider Banff.

We do love visiting both these towns when we are in the area. We usually stay in Lake Louise, instead of Banff because it is closer to the hikes we enjoy. It does not really have a town though--it is more a collection of hotels. We visit in Sept. so have never been there peak season.

The whole area is a hiker's paradise. The Bob Brown Canadian Rockies Trail Guide is a great hiking guide. We picked it up at the Visitors Center on our first trip.

A lot depends on where you are flying into . If you are flying into Calgary then Banff makes sense. But as others have said, I'd take the time to drive up the Icefield Parkway, even if you dont stay in Jasper . Or stay 1 night and return to Banff. The drive
alone is spectacular

This is fantastic. Really useful information. Thank you so much.