Travel to the Canadian Rockies and expect to be blown away by their natural beauty.
Ever since we moved to Canada back in 2009, it had always been on my to-do list to travel to the Canadian Rockies. Somehow, I had never made my way there until now.
It’s funny how while I was flipping through my Lonely Planet from back then, that I had already highlighted all the points of interests.
If you are a budget traveler, this might not be the right destination for you. Even though there are ways to save money, the Canadian Rockies remain an expensive destination to travel to.
That being said, this is an absolutely wonderful place to discover with and without kids. The best part is that you can even travel to the Canadian Rockies with your dog!
The Canadian Rockies is comprised of two major National Parks: Banff and Jasper. These are the ones we will focus on.
GETTING THERE (FROM MONTREAL)
The Canadian Rockies are located in the Western part of Canada.
By Air
The closest airport to Banff, a popular destination in the Canadian Rockies is located in Calgary.
Despite the airfare being cheaper than traveling from Montreal to Vancouver, it’s still a good chunk of money. For the same price, I could pretty much travel to Europe!
However, I did find a ‘decent’ price ($500) through Skyscanner, only 3 months before our trip! OMG.
If you’ve read some of my other articles, you’ll know that I usually plan things way in advance. Three months is like last minute to me.
The best time to go
You might think that I’m a little cray-cray but in all honesty, if you plan to travel to the Canadian Rockies in July or August, you’ll have to plan ahead.
The Summer months is peak season in the Canadian Rockies and prices double or even triple during that time. The reason is because that’s when the region is basically snow-free and all the trails are supposed to be open.
By train
Another way of getting to the Canadian Rockies from Montreal is by train (ViaRail). You’ll have to take another train or bus from Calgary to Banff or rent a car.
I believe it is a 3-day journey from Montreal with not the most scenic view.
By car
Are you nuts? The drive from Montreal to Calgary is 37 hours! Euh…NO thank you!
Since we only had 8 days to spend in the Canadian Rockies, this was absolutely not an option. People do do it though.
They buy a crappy car, drive it across the country and dump it somewhere in Vancouver and then fly back to Montreal.
Had we had a good month of traveling and exploring to do, I probably would have considered that option (not the car dumping part). That way, we would have brought our newfie Nouki along with us!
Another travel option
There is the option of flying into Vancouver, exploring the area and then taking the train from there to Banff and then Calgary.
You can have a halt in Banff, explore the area, and then fly out from Calgary to Montreal. A much nicer train ride from what I’ve heard.
From what I’ve read, you cannot rent a car in Vancouver and drop it off in Calgary as they are in two different provinces.
GETTING AROUND
The easiest way to get around the Canadian Rockies is by car. That way, you don’t have to rely on a shuttle or bus schedules and can travel at your own pace.
Not having your own vehicle does limit you to what you can see. You won’t be able to explore off the beaten paths places without a car.
Rent a car
Car rental is at least double what you might normally pay outside the peak period. It’s cheaper to get your car in Calgary then at Calgary airport.
However, we got it at the airport because our outbound flight was really late. We didn’t want to have to grab a cab late at night nor waste time etc…
Calgary is not the safest town and it doesn’t score points on the beauty aspect either.
Since we were traveling with Blondie Bear, the airport pick up and drop off was the best option for us. It cost us around $520 for an 8-day rental (small car) with Hertz.
Finally, picking up your car at the airport is super easy. We landed early in the morning around 9:30 and were already in our car by 10:30, which actually ended up being a pickup truck. That was a first for everyone. It was fun, but it totally exploded our gas budget.
Big Boss had never driven one so it took a while to get adjusted to the driving. We should have said no to it because the cost of filling it up was outrageous but at least we had better views in it than in a car.
Rent an RV
Another rental option is, of course, an RV.
For a small one for a week, it costs around $1,500 before taxes and you can only do pick up on Mondays and drop off on Sundays or something like that. However, this could be a fun option.
It didn’t work with our travel dates so that’s why I didn’t look further into it. Throughout our exploring, we saw a lot of these badass campervans on the road. I don’t know the cost but here is their link.
Don’t forget the gas
In your expenses, if you opt for the car rental, make sure to budget a good chunk for gas. You’ll be doing a lot of driving and contrary to popular belief gas isn’t necessarily less expensive in Alberta.
If you can, gas up outside the national parks. You can save some money that way.
National Park Pass
You need a Park Pass to visit. Order it online a good 2 weeks before leaving if you can to make sure you get it on time. Otherwise, you can buy it at the gate but it will make you lose a bit of time.
If you are going to be going to National parks for a good 4-6 days, it’s better to get the annual pass. You can save money that way.
They have family passes as well which are a good bargain.
The annual cost is $136.40 for a family or group of up to 7 people in a vehicle. If you have to lodge outside the parks you’ll be able to go in and out as much as you want.
All the National Parks in the Canadian Rockies have great brochures with maps and distances etc.
I recommend getting or printing one before your arrival. There isn’t much cell phone reception between Lake Louise and Jasper. Therefore, they are great to have just in case. Also, you can always burn it at your campsite later on if you have one, pay it forward, or recycle it.
WHAT TO PACK
You’ll be doing a lot of walking in the Canadian Rockies surrounded by nature.
During the summer, the higher up you’ll go the colder it might get. However, you’re not going to Antartica either. A long-sleeved T-shirt, 2-in-1 pants that also make shorts, a fleece, a rain jacket, hiking socks should do the trick. It is better to dress in several layers so that you can take them off than to dress too warmly and suffocate.
Here are some useful items that you should consider packing, either for your own comfort or that are eco-friendly.
Hiking shoes
As I said, you’ll be walking and hiking a lot. Wear very comfortable and durable shoes. We got our hiking shoes at MEC.
Travel towel
Whether you are swimming or camping, you’ll need a towel. Bring a travel towel as it’s more compact and doesn’t take much space in your luggage. Also, they dry super fast.
Bathing suit
A bathing suit will come in handy if you decide to take a dip in one of the many rivers or lakes. Also, you can enjoy yourself in hot springs in either Banff or Jasper.
Portable charger
If you’re like myself, you tend to take loads of pictures with your phone. You’ll need a portale charger to be able to carry on until you get back to your lodging at the end of the day.
Pots and bowls
Since we were planning on doing some camping, we did bring some of our camping cooking gear. They are compact and don’t take too much space in the luggage. We got ours from MEC (again).
Reusable sandwich bags
They can be used for different purposes. You can store your travel documents, cables and yes food in them. This is perfect when you go hiking and don’t want to leave waste behind. Store your sandwich or dry food inside them.
Baby carrier
You can’t hike with a stroller. You’ll need a baby carrier in order to explore more remote places.
Insect repellant scarf
Keep the bugs away with a scarf that does just that.
Mosquitoe repellant
Summer months means hello mosquitoes and other insects. Don’t forget your bug spray that you can buy once there and some after bite. I read that lavender oil helps ease the pain of the bites.
Whistle
To keep the bears away, use a whistle. This is not necessary, if you make enough noise, the bears will stay clear of you. This is the only time when you can encourage your kids to be loud.
WHERE TO SLEEP
Lodging in the National Parks of Banff and Jasper is super expensive. The closer you get to booking your lodging for a stay during the peak months, the pricier it gets.
Lodging price doubles or triples during the summer months because that’s when the parks are the most accessible. Some trails have snow until June and start having snow again in September.
However, you might be able to find lodging that fall within your budget if you book in advance or before peak season starts or after it ends. If you absolutely want to stay inside the parks it’s never too early to book, even if you don’t have your plane ticket! A rental or hotel room for 2 adults and 1 child is anywhere between 250-400$ a night and a dorm in a hostel in the low 100s. Yikes! Just so you know, Airbnb is as expensive as a hotel room.
There are a few hostels that you can find within the parks that are worth checking out. Even if you are traveling with kids, it’s possible to stay in hostels with them. We did so when we traveled to Peru and my brother did that with his wife and 3 children when they traveled around the world for 14 months.
Hostels are always a great option when you are traveling on a budget and often offer either private rooms or dorm rooms of 4. At least, don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.
Camping in the Canadian Rockies
At the time of our planning, this was not an option for us. We didn’t want to have to bring our camping gear on the plane and have to pay for extra luggage.
You can camp in the parks but most of the campgrounds are on a first come first serve basis. This means that you can’t book them ahead of time. However, I later read that there are plenty of them to go around for everybody. So not finding a spot shouldn’t be an issue. One night of camping costs less than 30$.
There are some camp grounds where you can book beforehand but they sell out quick. Again, plan in advance.
If I had had more time to plan, maybe I would have looked more into this option. Did you know that you can rent camping gear? Who knew?
I found the company Rent-a-Tent based in Calgary and Vancouver. There is a supplement if you pick up and drop off the gear at a different location. Other than that, they offer a complete camping package, minus the sleeping bag which you can bring with you on the plane.
Teepees
Finally, another way in saving money is to sleep outside the national parks which we did. It did mean more time in the car and gas, but we stayed in some beautiful locations. We don’t feel like we missed out on anything. Since we are early risers anyways, we were always ahead of the game on the sites, except Moraine Lake. Somehow, that lake just eluded us for a while.
We ended up sleeping in Teepees, 1 hr outside the Banff and Jasper National Parks. They came with mattresses and you could rent sleeping gear. We had brought Blondie Bear’s sleeping bag so as to not have to pay extra for him.
We had slept in a teepee before when we traveled to Gaspésie. If you’ve never slept in one, you should try it. Kids love it!
PLACES TO VISIT IN THE CANADIAN ROCKIES
As we only had 8 days out West, we did try to make the most of it. Even though we saw a lot, I’m ready to head back out there and see more. Below are ideas of what you can visit and the number of days you should consider spending in that area. Technically, we only spent 6 days in the Canadian Rockies as the 2 other days were spent in the Calgary area. However, we did see all the places listed below.
Banff (3 to 4 days)
What’s great about Banff is the traffic. You’ll feel right at home if you live in the city.
In all fairness, we didn’t spend much time in Banff as we only stopped there for a meal and to visit the very first canadian national park. Otherwise, we were busy exploring everything around the city. It’s a good place to use as a base camp if you only have a few days.
Also, there are plenty of boutiques and fancy restaurants there that you won’t find anywhere else around.
You can learn more about Banff and things to do there right HERE.
Kananaski and Canmore (1 day or 2)
Canmore is the last town before you access Banff National Park. It has really expended in the last few years as the lodging there is much cheaper than within Banff. Also, it’s about 30 minutes away from Banff.
Don’t forget to get your gas there before entering the park.
About half hour away from Canmore is the Kananaski area. It’s actually where we slept in a teepee. It’s quiet, you can go horse back riding and spot some grizzlis!!
If you want to find out more about our stay there, you can read it HERE.
Jasper (2 to 3 days)
We found the town of Jasper to be a lot quieter and less touristy than Banff. It was nice to walk around the town and it felt more authentic. There are some beautiful sites to visit around the town. I wouldn’t be able to choose between Banff and Jasper, but everyone tends to go to Banff and skip Jasper.
Jasper is located at the end of the Icefield’s Parkway and is about a 4-5 hour drive with stops from Banff or 288km.
Read about our trip and what to see HERE.
Ice Fields Parkway (1 to 2 days)
Visiting glaciers in the middle of Summer in Canada, yes it’s possible. The first time I had seen a glacier was during our trip to Iceland. I was happily surprised and impressed to see more during this trip. We didn’t go and walk on it as it required booking ahead. Also, we didn’t have enough time nor the budget for it.
Along the Icefields Parkway, you’ll come across more lakes and waterfalls. It’s a must-see when you travel to the Canadian Rockies.
Yoho National Park (1 day)
The Yoho National Park is located in British Colombia, only 20 minutes away from Lake Louise. It’s often overlooked which is great if you don’t want to be bothered by busloads of tourists. The Emerald Lake and the Sunwapta Falls are worth a look, right HERE.
So now that you have gotten a taste of what it takes to travel to the Canadian Rockies, where will you go?
