A Couple of Days in Banff & Jasper (yes, I know they're in Canada)
 

I posted the following on the Canada (Alberta) Forum but I suspect I may get more responses here from people who've visited.

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Returning home (one to Toronto and the other to South Florida) from Calgary after a trip to Glacier National Park in Montana.

I was in Banff a couple of years ago so I've pretty much got that covered.

If we leave Glacier by 9AM we could be in Banff Townsite by 2PM. That will give us about 2 1/2 days as we've got to be in Calgary to sleep over and catch morning flights. So we could probably leave from the area near the town of Banff by 7PM and allow for some time to have a bite in Calgary and return the rental car. We're staying at the Delta in the airport so no issues there as I've done that before.

The interests are photography: Scenery, waterfalls, wildlife. Relatively short hikes are fine but not enough time for lengthy hikes.

We have reservations for one night in the town of Banff and another in Jasper.

For Banff: Lake Minnewanka (bighorn), Mt Norquay early and late for black bears, Johnston Canyon (hike) for both waterfalls, Moraine Lake and Peyto Lake. We'll probably stop by Lake Louise since we're right there but in my opinion doesn't come close to Moraine Lake.

Jasper.
Drive up the Icefields Parkway and make short stops at most/all viewpoints. Some of the viewpoints also have short hikes attached with waterfalls (Sunwapta, more?)

Stop at Bow Summit (see above) for Peyto Lake.

And now the main question. I've read about Maligne Road and Cavell Road. Both seem to be prime areas for wildlife viewing and have short hikes along them.

Since they are both quite close to the town of Jasper where we are staying, we may be able to stop at one on the way north and the other on the way south. I may be too optimistic here but it does get dark late and wildlife viewing at dusk is good.

If we have to make a choice of one or the other, which should we choose and why.

Thanks in advance.

I enjoyed the hike down the Maligne Canyon. If there are two or more of you, the driver drops the others off at the top and then drives down to the parking lot at the bottom. The driver goes across the foot bridge and then hikes up to meet the others coming down. I did this trip with my DW.
There is a place with hot springs not too far from Jasper if that interests you.
I did see some goats and other wildlife near Maligne.
I also saw quite a bit of Elk poop in downtown Jasper.
My usual mode of transport to Jasper is on the ViaRail Canadian.

I guess if you leave Many Glaciers at 9:00 a.m. you could make it to Banff by 2:00 p.m. but you would have to rush past beautiful Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta--just north of Glacier.

HTtY

While in Jasper, take time to make the short, easy hike to Angel Glacier. You are "up close and personal" with this magnificent glacier (shaped like an angel), and the lake, caves and icebergs at its base. I've been to the Canadian Rockies several times and this is one of the most spectacular sights I've seen.

happytrailstoyou,
Last summer I took my daughter to Glacier NP and on the way back to Calgary (flew in and out of Calgary) we stopped in Waterton Lakes long enough to photograph the hotel from afar, go inside the hotel for a while, visit the waterfalls and photograph them and hike the infamous Bears Hump trail to the top.

azure,
The hike to Angel Glacier is actually the Path of the Glacier trail I had it marked down as part of the Cavell Road activities. Thanks for reinforcing it.

Apparently Ghost Glacier not far from there collapsed last summer causing a lot of trail closings in the area.

If you have time on the way to Banff, don't miss Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump.

edjim,
Thanks for the "heads up". We're driving right thru Fort MacLeod but I doubt if we'll detour over there.