The Rocky Mountains, commonly known as the Rockies, are a major mountain range and the largest mountain system in North America. They stretch for about 4,800 km from the northernmost part of the province of British Columbia in Canada, passing through Alberta, and continuing south through six U.S.  states. If you’ve ever wondered what they look like or what can you see in this part of Canada, come join us on this journey.

There are three categories of places we have visited so far. The first category includes places we have been to, were not very impressed with and would never go back; the second category includes places we liked and would probably want to go back to if we happen to be in the area again. The third category includes places we fell in love with at first sight and where we would love to return again and again. Yes, the Canadian Rockies are such a place! It’s been 10 years since I have been thinking about going back to these mountains, and this summer the time has come 😊

We began our trip overall in Calgary, and as soon as we picked up our car, we hit the road at once. Overwhelmed at the beginning by the size of the RV we rented, we decided to avoid the city streets, taking the highway and heading straight to the Lake Louise campground, which was our base for nine days in the Rockies.

After buying some groceries, we soon left Calgary and found ourselves driving through sweeping pastures dotted with hundreds of cattle. The open prairies offer stunning pastoral scenery and we were quite taken aback as we couldn’t see any mountains in any direction… but where are the Rockies? We checked the GPS again to see if we were heading in the right direction. The size of the plains and the number of grazing cattle we saw along our way took us by surprise, but we kept driving.

Interesting fact: Alberta is Canada’s largest cattle-producing province, home to around 4.5 to 5 million head of cattle and produces roughly 40% of Canada’s beef.

The Rockies are generally categorized into four broad groups: The Canadian Rockies, widely known for their stunning turquoise glacial lakes, jagged peaks, and countless glaciers; the Northern & Middle Rockies spanning in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and Utah, home to spectacular alpine plateaus and world-famous destinations like Yellowstone National Park; and the Southern Rockies, located primarily in Colorado and New Mexico and containing the highest overall elevations.

The Rockies formed 55 to 80 million years ago, when a number of plates began sliding atop one another and underneath the North American plate. These thrust-fault mountains are now the Front Ranges of the Rocky Mountains, and the first one we noticed and the most striking one is Mt Rundle, in Banff. Much later, vast amounts of glacier ice filled the spaces between the mountains, so deep that some of the summits were buried. For thousands of years, ice and snow ruled. About 15,000 years ago, the ice began to melt back to where it is today. Newborn rivers washed raw deposits of gravel and silt down those wide glacial valleys.

Interesting fact: Columbia Icefield is the largest mass of ice in the Canadian Rockies. It acts as a “mother of rivers” and not only lies along the Continental Divide, but its meltwater feeds three different oceans: the Pacific, Arctic and Atlantic.

There are three ways of arriving to Banff National Park. Ten years ago, we came from Vancouver, through Kelowna, but you can also come from Edmonton, from north, through Jasper. We decided to fly to Calgary and drive through Canmore this time.

Before the grazing cattle disappeared from our view, we started to see the foothills of the Rockies already. The picturesque Bow Valley, which follows the river of the same name, is one of Alberta’s best-kept secrets, an area of outstanding natural beauty, flanked on either side with rugged, snow-capped peaks.

Interesting fact: With a total of 44 wildlife crossing structures (6 overpasses and 38 underpasses) and 82 km of highway fencing, Banff National Park has the most wildlife crossing structures and highway enclosure fencing in a single location on the planet.

The Bow River is a 587-km long glacial river that originates from the Bow Glacier and Bow Lake at an elevation of 1,960 m in Banff National Park. One of Alberta’s the most stunning rivers, Bow River mesmerized me with its colours ten years ago and it did it so again this summer. The main glacial stream coming straight from the source never fails to display a special turquoise colour, caused by the silt suspension in the rushing waters of the river.

Canmore is a cute, touristy town near the southeastern edge of Banff National Park. The downtown is filled with beautiful patios and attractive restaurants, but the best thing about the town is still the surrounding mountains, if you ask me! Famous for Three Sisters Rocky Mountains, Canmore is quite affordable and has a variety of options if you want to come and visit the Rockies.

Half an hour further away along Trans-Canada Hwy is Banff. The area was named Banff in 1884 by George Stephen, president of the Canadian Pacific Railway, recalling his birthplace near Banff, Scotland.

The town was established after the transcontinental railway was built through the Bow Valley, and shortly after the discovery of natural hot springs on the slopes of Sulphur Mountain, the Rocky Mountains Park was established in 1885, which was Canada’s first national park. This is the most popular town in the park and the closest to most attractions. It has a convenient public transit system and very few parking spaces in town. With a diverse range of activities available in every season, Banff has earned its fame for a reason.

Named after the nearby iconic lake (which was named after Queen Victoria’s fourth daughter), the village of Lake Louise is smaller than Banff. While you can find a few restaurants and lodging options, it’s best not to rely on them. Tucked away in the heart of nature, the Lake Louise area has long been a mecca for adventure and nature lovers, featuring incredible hiking and skiing just outside the village.

The Canadian Rockies feature 5 national parks: Banff, Jasper, Yoho, Kootenay and Mount Revelstoke.

If you ask anyone which one is the prettiest National Park in Canada, most people will choose Banff National Park, in Alberta. Known as the crown jewel of the Canadian Rockies, it boasts turquoise glacial lakes like Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Peyto Lake, soaring peaks, beautiful rivers, waterfall and numerous hiking opportunities. It offers the quintessential, postcard-perfect Canadian mountain experience, either during the summer time or in the winter.

Interesting fact: The contiguous national parks of Banff, Jasper, Kootenay and Yoho, as well as 3 provincial parks in the area are designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Burgess Shale is one of the most significant fossil areas in the world, known for hard and especially soft-tissue preservation and mid-Cambrian marine life, formed roughly 500 million years ago.

One of the most scenic drives in Canada and the world, the Icefields Parkway is a spectacular 232 km mountain highway that links Lake Louise to Jasper. What few people know is the number of the lakes along this highway, and their unique shades of blue, green and turquoise. My favourite lake for 10 years was Peyto Lake (pronounced Pee-toe, after Bill Peyto, one of the first park wardens).

But I think Lake Louise won the title this year. I could have stared into the depths of these lakes for hours until my eyes would hurt if it weren’t for our friends who woke me up from my reverie.

Once you pass Lake Louise heading north, you won’t have phone reception for 230 km, so make sure you have a full tank of gas as fuel stops are few and far between. Get your camera ready as the attractions line up quickly on both sides of the road, and be prepared to stop frequently, as the numerous roadside pullouts offer great views, including Athabasca Falls, the River and the Glacier.

The Icefields Parkway can be easily traveled in 3 to 4 hr, however to truly enjoy all the stops and views along the way, it’s best to do it in a full day and allow yourself as much time as you can, to experience every kind of feeling at each stop or lookout point, whether marked or unmarked. A valid Parks Canada pass is normally required to drive through Banff, Jasper and all National Parks, however The Canada Strong Pass is back for the summer of 2026, as the Government of Canada is offering free admission and a 25% discount on fees for camping and overnight stays from June 19 to September 7, 2026.

Tip(s) of the day:

*Summer is the busiest season. Some parking lots can be full by 7 am like Lake Louise, or by 9-10 am at other popular places such as Johnson Canyon, Stanley Glacier. Parking is very limited at all major attractions, so plan ahead and have an early start of the day;

*If you want to visit these parks, you need to plan ahead, including lodging, car rentals, camping, or any other services or reservations you might need;

*For a first-time trip, plan for a minimum 7-day road trip between the National Parks. Maps of the major attractions along the Icefields Parkway can be obtain from any visitor centre or the entrance of the park;

*Respect the wildlife and remember this is the bear country; bear spray is highly recommended if you plan to hike in the wilderness. Proper disposal (dropping it at a fire station) is required if you leave the area and not using it.

~visited in July 2026