Western Canada Itinerary Ideas - Banff, Jasper, Glacier, Waterton

We had a Bible quiz tournament in Three Hills, Alberta.  We spent 4 nights in Linden & then headed north to Hinton.  Lodging was so expensive in Banff & Jasper so we stayed outside the towns.

Calgary

Linden - 4 nights

Hinton – 2 nights

Golden – 2 nights

Cardston – 2 nights

Calgary

 


Drumheller – Horsethief Canyon, Horseshoe Canyon, Hoodoos, World’s Largest Dinosaur, Dinosaur Museum

 3 Hills – Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park


 Hinton – We only did the disc golf

Beaver Boardwalk 3 km

William Switzer Provincial Park – Kelley’s Bathtub

Solomon Lookout - Brule

 

Mount Robson

Rearguard Falls - short

Overlander Falls - short

Conifer Creek Falls – roadside 

Jasper

Maligne Lake – pretty drive back to the Lake

Medicine Lake

Maligne Canyon – waterfall (Closed when we were there)

Pyramid Lake – Pyramid Island

 

Valley of 5 Lakes – 2.8 mi hike (we didn’t do)

 

Icefield Parkway – connects Banff & Jasper – 3 ½ hour each way


  • Athabasca Falls – .8 km out-and-back hiking trail to the waterfall is easy
  • Goat & Glacier –There is a small lot with a short path that takes you to the lookout
  • Sunwapta Falls - The upper falls are a short walk from the parking lot, making this an easy add-on stop leading to an extraordinary waterfall. There is a one-mile trail leading to the lower falls, however, the upper falls are far more dramatic.

·       Stutfield Glacier - viewpoint

·       Tangle Creek Falls

·       Toe of the Glacier - dirt parking area for the Toe of the Athabasca Glacier hike directly across from the Discovery Centre less than 1 mile (RR at Centre)

  • Wilcox Pass – long hike

·       Parker Ridge – 2.5 km hike

·       Big Ben, Weeping Walls – Pull offs

·       Saskatchewan River – viewpoint right after junction with HWY 11

  • Mistaya Canyon short 0.3-mile trail from the Mistaya Canyon parking lot.
  • Waterfowl Lakes – viewpoint from parking lot – great reflection
  • Peyto Lake - Peyto Lake Upper Viewpoint paved, 0.4-mile path leading you to the main viewpoint from the parking lot. continue 0.3 miles to the southern viewpoint.
  • Bow Lake - If the parking lot closest to the highway is full, just head further up the road. There is a big parking lot at Simpson’s Num-Ti-Jah Lodge, and it affords you a completely different view of the lake. The lot also has several pit toilets and garbage cans.

·       Crow Foot glacier - viewpoint

  • Herbert Lake – view from parking

Yoho NP

Emerald Lake

Natural Bridge

Wapta Falls (don’t use google address)– 3 miles, fairly easy (we didn’t do)

Takakkow Falls – high, short walk (10 min) 13 km off main road

 

Kootenoy NP – we didn’t go

Marble Canyon – easy 1.6 km – can be combined with Paint Pots -2 km

Numa Falls – 300 meters

 

Banff

Johnston Canyon – get there early.  Lot nearly full at 10 am on a summer weekday. 1.5 mi each way.  Past lower falls 1.5 km on an uphill trail until you arrive at two viewpoints for Upper Falls. hiking about 3 km further to Ink Pots. Ink Pots are five blue-green bubbling pools that are cold mineral pools. 

Tunnel Mountain – hoodoo viewpoints near campground

Castle Mountain viewpoint – trans Canada highway

Bow Falls  - closer to downtown

Surprise Corner view - hotel

Lake Louise – tea house hike 4 miles.  We did a shorter hike to an overlook of the lodge & lake.  We booked the Canada Parks shuttle on the day it opened in April.  Need to be in the queue 30 min before it opens.

Morraine Lake – Shuttle early, top of rock pile best view – go there first, valley of 10 peaks

Bow Valley Parkway – wildlife, Morant’s Curve

Lake Minnewanka – can take a shuttle

Cascade Ponds (great views), Vermilion (great views), 2 Jack Lake - morning

Sign – by train station

Cascade Falls

Mount Norquay Lookout – chair lift cheaper than gondola

 

 

Waterton

Waterton Lake

Drive the Red Rock Parkway and explore Red Rock Canyon on foot - It’s an easy 0.7 km loop trail.

Blakiston Falls trail to the overlook for 1.5 mi RT

Bear’s Hump: A short hike with sweeping views over the townsite and Upper Waterton Lake  1.8 mi round trip (we didn’t do)

Cameron Falls: An easy drive to waterfall stop in the townsite

Berta Falls, Lower Falls – 3 mi RT

Head out of Waterton to the Bison Paddock

 

Glacier

Lake Sherburne

Grinnell Lake Trail – this is a fairly easy 7.1 mile loop.  The elevation gain is around 350 feet. 

Alternatively, you can take a boat tour that departs from the Many Glacier Hotel and crosses Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine. Once on the opposite shore of the lake, walk for 1.1 miles to Grinnell Lake.

start your hike on Swiftcurrent Lake Nature Trail, which goes for 0.8 miles on the side of Swiftcurrent Lake, and right from the start, you will be in awe of the stunning views! Next, for about 1.3 miles the trail meanders along Lake Josephine. And, the views at this section of the trail are stunning! At 2.1 miles from the trailhead, you will get to the end of Lake Josephine and this is where you will start climbing. As you gain elevation, the views of both Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine will get better.

Swiftcurrent Falls

Fishercap Lake for moose – park at Swiftcurrent Motor Inn & .3 mi hike to the lake

Red Rock Falls- Bullhead Lake trail

Apikuni Falls is a perfect hike to end the day in the Many Glacier region 1.6 mi rt. The 100-foot waterfall is located 1 mile away from the Apikuni parking area, east of the Many Glacier Hotel.

2 Medicine Lake

Aster Falls – 2.4 mi rt

little hike to Running Eagle Falls 0.6 mi