INSPIRATION & EXPERT ADVICE FOR INDEPENDENT TRAVELLERS
INSPIRATION & EXPERT ADVICE FOR INDEPENDENT TRAVELLERS
A trip to Alberta wouldn’t be complete without doing a road trip in the Canadian Rockies. The drive from Calgary to Jasper is one of the finest road trips in Canada, a route that passes by Alberta’s most inspiring scenery as it makes its way through the mountains and into the heart of Banff and...
Albertans love to complain about our long winters, but rather than dreading Canada’s coldest season, we think it’s the perfect time to have a romantic weekend away. Covered in a blanket of white, Alberta’s landscapes couldn’t be more romantic. There’s a peacefulness to the surroundings. It feels as though each place, each moment exists just...
Jasper National Park is a great place to visit year round, but it can be especially fun in the winter. Active travellers and outdoor adventurers will find plenty of activities to enjoy during a winter trip to Jasper. Things to Do in Jasper in Winter- Our Favourite Winter Activities in Jasper National Park We’ve made...
It was a beautiful day in May. Warm, sunny, a clear blue sky above and fresh mountain air to awaken the senses. It was the perfect weather for a casual hike in Jasper! I decided I wanted to see somewhere in Jasper I haven’t been before, so Mike suggested we do the Valley of the...
Whenever I’m in the mood to see cute wildlife, Mike and I make a trip to Jasper National Park. Well, not every time because then we’d never be home! Jasper is, by far, the best place in the Canadian Rocky Mountains to see wildlife. In one weekend alone we saw nine bears, three moose, and...
Long, cold, and dreary. Those are all words that we Albertans tend to use when describing our winters. I can agree with the long and, most of the time, cold, but dreary not so much. A winter trip to Jasper will have you rethinking the way you describe Alberta’s longest season. Jasper’s gorgeous scenery, draped...
As a huge animal lover, I am always on the lookout for wildlife when I travel. While I don’t always have the best of luck in some destinations, I never fail to see wildlife in Jasper National Park. This is probably one of the cutest animal moments I have witnessed- a mother Mule deer grooming...
Peering over the edge of a snow covered bridge, I have to catch my breath when I think about how far down the canyon below is. Fifty-one meters- the same height as Niagara Falls. There’s no water rushing through curves of Maligne Canyon today. Its floor is frozen, the limestone walls partially concealed by a...
When people see pictures of Jasper, or hear about the fantastic opportunities for outdoor adventure, they don’t need much convincing to pay a visit. Jasper’s natural beauty sells itself! Once our Canadian winter settles in though, it’s quite tempting to stay home and hibernate on the couch! In case you needed a little convincing, we’re...
When I signed us up to go on a snowshoeing excursion in Jasper National Park, both Mike and I didn’t know what to expect. In all honesty, we were kind of skeptical whether we would like snowshoeing at all. “It seems kind of silly to strap on big shoes just to walk around in the...
Jasper National Park is a great place to visit all year round, but is especially enjoyable in October when the sky takes centre stage for Dark Sky Month. What is the Jasper Dark Sky Festival? In 2011, Jasper National Park was officially designated as a Dark Sky Preserve by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada....
Ahh…Jasper. Every time I visit I don’t want to return to my city life. Sparkling blue lakes reflecting postcard-perfect Rocky Mountain views, leave me feeling calm and serene every time. Just visit Pyramid and Patricia Lakes and you’ll know what I mean! Visiting Pyramid and Patricia Lakes- Jasper National Park As part of the Canadian...
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the cape on the cornergorgeous! this is definitely on my list. thanks for the detailed route!
bMay 29, 2018 – 1:19 pm
Janice & George, Sand In My SuitcaseWe used to live in Calgary — and we’ve done this road trip; spectacular! Maligne Canyon is gorgeous to hike. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.May 31, 2018 – 2:11 pm
KristieCan you comment on doing this trip the end of October/beginning of November? I wasn’t sure if the weather would still be good for driving. I live in the very humid South in the US, so not accustomed to snow or cooler weather, lol!October 3, 2018 – 4:28 am
Rhonda KrauseThat really depends on the year. Sometimes we have snow that sticks around by October, but sometimes not. In general, weather in the mountains can be unpredictable, especially on the Icefields Parkway. I would make sure I come prepared with blankets, food etc. just in case. I think if road conditions get really bad they close the highway but I’ve never seen that in October/early November.November 18, 2018 – 5:54 pm
ShelleyVery helpful! We’re planning our trip through the Rockies in September. Will definitely make reference to this ….nothing like getting a locals insight. Thanks for the tips! 🙏🙏June 2, 2019 – 6:13 am
DianeGreat information! Thank youJuly 1, 2019 – 11:07 am
KelleyHello! You’re article has inspired me to take this trip and try out your itinerary. I am curious if you have any thoughts on doing it by Campervan. We did the Ring Rd in Iceland by camper last year and really enjoyed it but I don’t see it as widely recommended for Banff and Jasper. Thoughts?August 8, 2019 – 7:21 pm
Rhonda KrauseYou can definitely do Banff and Jasper with a camper van. My family did this all the time when I was a kid. Nowadays though you’d have to have your trip planned well in advance (if visiting in July or August) because campsites book up months ahead of time.August 11, 2019 – 2:56 pm
AmanHey guys. First of all, thank you for creating this blog. It has helped me tremendously in planning and organizing our first trip to Canada. I had saved this blog in my bookmarks last year and just last month, I and my wife did a ditto road trip to the Canadian Rockies. The only difference was, we did a 7-day trip but we loved it. We did Calgary – Canmore – Banff – Lake Louise – Icefield Parkways – Jasper and flew back to San Francisco from Calgary. Thank you again for the great work on this blog and for inspiring me to visit Canada. August 29, 2019 – 10:56 am
Rhonda KrauseHi Aman! This is just the type of note I love to receive. Glad I could inspire your trip to Canada and help you plan your adventure. Sounds like you had a wonderful trip!September 18, 2019 – 1:12 pm
JoThanks for the great article! Doing a round-trip visit to Calgary shortly, and this really helped quickly structure a timetable for day hikes and lodging. Cheers!September 7, 2019 – 4:20 pm
ioHi! Awesome plan! Thinking about doing it next year. Do you think this route can be done in middle May? Thanks!! 😊December 4, 2019 – 2:29 am
Rhonda KrauseYes, you can do this trip in the middle of May. Be aware though that the Moraine Lake road may still be closed for the season. It usually opens around mid-late May, but depends on the amount of snow. There might also still be some snow on the trails at higher elevations (if you plan on doing some hikes) and the glacier lakes could also still be frozen. But the best part of visiting during shoulder season is that the parks won’t be so crowded with tourists!December 5, 2019 – 12:10 pm