MUST SEES Jasper, Lake Louise, Banff
 

Heading to Canadian Rockies mid August. Will be spending 2 days in each location.
What places should be MUST SEES? I don't want to miss any of the best places or scenery...
Thanks!

Hello Gail,

Here are my suggestions.

BANFF

Day 1 - Johnston Canyon, Lake Minnewanka, gondola up Sulphur Mountain, stroll around Banff townsite

Day 2 - Kananaskis Country, east of Banff National Park, along Hwy #40, at least as far south as Highwood Pass

LAKE LOUISE

Day 1 - Moraine Lake, Lake Louise and a hike to Larch Valley from Moraine Lake or a hike to Lake Agnes teahouse from Lake Louise

Day 2 - Yoho National Park : Takakkaw Falls and Emerald Lake (you would have time to do an extensive version of the lakeshore walk)

JASPER

Day 1 - Icefields Parkway en route to Jasper : Peyto Lake, Snocoach ride on the Athabasca Glacier at the Columbia Icefields, Sunwapta Falls, Athabasca Falls (and, if you like, a hike from Bow Lake to Bow Glacier Falls)

Day 2 - Tramway up Whistler Mountain, Angel Glacier / Cavell Meadows hike, Maligne Canyon

All of the above assumes ideal conditions (fine weather, preferred hiking trails not having been closed off because of the presence of bears, etc.). You may get those ideal conditions, but you may not. If not, you need to be prepared to turn to Plan B or Plan C. "The Mountain Guide" that they'll give you when you enter the national parks, and also the local people, can give you ideas if one of your preferred activities is not possible for some reason.

Oh yes, the Visitor Information Centres also are good places to get literature and tips. They are located at:

* 224 Banff Avenue in Banff

* Next to Samson Mall in Lake Louise

* 500 Connaught Drive in Jasper

Thanks for your great suggestions! We're always hoping for "IDEAL " weather, but will have to prepare a plan B (and C) just in case.

We recently came back from the Rockies. We wish we had not done the Lake Minnewanka boat tour and waited for the one at Maligne Lake instead. both are expensive ($30 - $35/adult) and we were not as thrilled with the trip as we expected to be given the price tag. It is a good thing to do once on your trip, so save it for Maligne Lake.

Emerald Lake is a must see - it was the highlight of our trip, we went back 3 times over the course of 10 days we loved it so much.

Regarding weather, do plan for everything. It would rain hard for 10-15 minutes and then brighten up like there had never been rain that day. Those of us who brought proper (waterproof) rain jackets were happier with the sudden changes.

Judy has hit all of the higlights of a trip to the Rockies. We skipped the Snocoach - I did it a number of years ago and given that I am from Toronto it was no big deal to walk on ice. I found it more interesting to view the glaciers from a few different points along #93.

Judy in Calgary-Just back from Canadian Rockies trip and I just wanted to thank you so much for your advice on MUST SEES! Your list was great and we did everything you mentioned! We were so lucky that the weather was sunny almost every day. It was a little bit hot and hazy in Jasper so we couldn't get great pictures from the Jasper Tramway, but the whole experience was just great! What a beautiful place the Canadian Rockies are, and the scenery just can't be captured in a picture (although I tried!!!). Thanks again!!

For anyone interested, I just read that Banff will be part of The Amazing Race's finale this Tuesday night.

Thanks April for that info. My husband will be thrilled to hear that as we just came back from BANFF and we are definitely AMAZING RACE Fans!

Another thank you! Course it will only make us want to return to Banff and the area even more:)

ttt