Banff

There are mountain people, and there are beach people. For the mountain lovers, you’re in for a treat. Banff is about as big as mountains get, and as remote and pristine you’ll ever find one. The the natural wonders of the Canadian Rockies are at their best here, with Jasper and Yoho National Park and much closer reminder of the Ice Age glaciers responsible for this entire landscape at the Athabasca glacier + falls.

It’s here, where it’s undeniable that the Canadian Rockies are considerably bigger than the American ones. It’s not the elevation, those are measured from sea level. It’s the distance between the mountain top, and its lower surroundings.

And that translate into the mountain scenery. Everywhere you look. Just drive on the one highway passing through Banff, and up to Jasper. Most of the journey, will be in the middle of a national park. The conditions for much of the year is unforgiving. All that means nature. Wildlife, unbroken forests, and clear spring-fed lakes…so many lakes.

Spirit Island in Marigny Lake © The Real Destinations 2023

The Good:

Nature + Mountains (and lakes!) at their best.
Weather is great in the summertime.
You’ll probably see wildlife. The parks cover a huge area, and there’s not much of a human presence anyway outside the parks, once you get up into the mountains.
Much cheaper than Colorado, and without the terrible traffic of I-70 as your one and only artery connecting Denver and the resort towns.

The Bad:

The winters can, and will, get COLD. Like it can freeze your antifreeze and/or kill the battery, hence the plugs you see everywhere. Factor that into your skiing plans.
There’s not a lot of human presence in general, so you better enjoy nature. However, the town of Jasper is charming and is big enough cater to all your needs if you start to miss civilization.
Some of the higher elevation lakes may not thaw out until June, so factor that into your plans.

the Summary:

This is THE mountain destination. And Jasper is an iconic mountain town. There’s a saying somewhere that you need valleys to appreciate the mountains. Well here, you have clear, breathtakingly blue lakes.

There are two major gateways to this corner of Canada: Calgary or Edmonton. Calgary has the larger airport so you can fly in/out of there. But in the winter, the scenic Ice Fields Parkway to Jasper is, well, covered in ice, and the less scenic drive from Edmonton is your only option.

Calgary is similar to Denver in that it sits on the flat plains, east of the mountains, with only one highway leading west up into the Rockies. Unlike I-70 these days, it won’t be clogged full of traffic. Past the iconic Lake Louise and the ski resorts, you continue up the scenic Ice Fields parkway and into the wilderness. Here, it’s all national park land, with few (if any) gas stations, etc. on the way. Don’t forget to stuck (and fuel/charge) up!

Eventually, after a long 5+ hour drive, you’ll end up in the town of Jasper. Surrounded by towering peaks and pristine wilderness, Jasper is unique in that it’s a major tourist town sitting far inside the national park. Check out the quaint streets lined with cozy cafes, boutique shops and soak in the warm and relaxed vibe of the town. It’s actually got a nice art & food scene.

From Jasper, there’s an endless list of options for hiking trails, crystal-clear lakes for kayaking and fishing, wildlife sightings and other outdoor activities. Unwind in the soothing embrace of the hot springs nearby after a long day, and grab a beer at their longstanding local brewery.