Going to the Canadian Rockies for a week to camp. We're interested in day-hiking and avoiding the crowds. Any suggestions on which parks to concentrate on?

Hi Karen. I believe there were some related postings on Banff, etc. under the heading about Lake Louise vs. Banff Springs hotels. Nancy

Try the Icefields, they're awesome.

I found another post that refers to something near Calgary: Author: P. Everitt([email protected])
Date: 4/19/1997 12:40 am

Message: Calgary is a must visit. Lots of Nova Scotians here already. Great camping/hiking in Kananaskis parks only an hour from Calgary. See our Heritage Park village museum and visit world class zoo. Go horseback riding, white water rafting etc. in nearby Banff park.

Hope that helps. Good luck! Nancy

The Icefields are awesome! There are several small campgrounds in the area - prepare to be chilly at night though. We just finished a trip and camped on the David Thompson highway at Thompson Creek, just about 30 minutes drive from the Icefields, and just outside Banff Park gates. It is a nice campground, very quiet, and is very close to day hikes in Banff and Jasper. Be sure to try Parker's Ridge and don't miss WILCOX PASS. Wilcox is a fantastic hike, with glorious views of the Athabasca Glacier. Don't do it on a wet day though, on a clear day you feel like you are walking on top of the world. If camping in Banff and you want to get away from the crowds, try the Johnston's Canyon campground. It is about 30 km from Banff, and has such nice touches as showers. In Jasper, our favorite camping spot is at Pocohontas. This is quite a long drive from Jasper town, maybe 40 minutes, but it is on the road to Miette Hotsprings, and the soak at the end of a day hiking is great. There is also some very spectacular scenery around Maligne Lake, with several hikes in the area. Maligne is about a 45 minute drive from Jasper. Great for XC skiing if you want to visit in the winter. In Yoho try Marble Canyon for camping.