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Canadian Rockies Spring Awakening
This is a classic 12-day loop through the heart of the Rockies. Since you're traveling in May, we're focusing on the valleys and lower elevations where the ice is melting and the wildlife is waking up. Note that Moraine Lake Road and the road to Takakkaw Falls are seasonally closed until June, so I've pivoted to incredible lakeside and canyon alternatives that are fully accessible by car in May.
12days
35stops
1526km
Day 1: Calgary → Canmore → Bow Valley Provincial Park
1h 46min · 128km3 stops
Calgary
10:00
1h 12min · 104km
Canmore
14:00
34min · 23km
Bow Valley Provincial Park
16:30
Day 2: Lake Minnewanka → Two Jack Lake → Cascade of Time Garden
20min · 13km3 stops
Lake Minnewanka
09:30
20min · 13km
Two Jack Lake
13:00
Cascade of Time Garden
15:30
Day 3: Cave and Basin National Histo… → Johnston Canyon → Vermilion Lakes
43min · 42km3 stops
Cave and Basin National Historic Site
09:00
5min · 1.8km
Johnston Canyon
13:00
38min · 41km
Vermilion Lakes
16:00
Day 4: Lake Louise → Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
37min · 57km2 stops
Lake Louise
09:00
37min · 57km
Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
13:00
Day 5: Spiral Tunnels Lookout → Natural Bridge → Emerald Lake
32min · 35km3 stops
Spiral Tunnels Lookout
10:00
22min · 23km
Natural Bridge
12:00
10min · 11km
Emerald Lake
15:00
Day 6: Wapta Falls → Faeder Lake → Great Divide Exhibition
1h 21min · 83km3 stops
Wapta Falls
10:00
45min · 45km
Faeder Lake
14:00
36min · 38km
Great Divide Exhibition
16:30
Day 7: Bow Lake → Peyto Lake → Mistaya Canyon
37min · 47km3 stops
Bow Lake
09:30
32min · 41km
Peyto Lake
13:00
5min · 6.7km
Mistaya Canyon
15:30
Day 8: Columbia Icefield → Sunwapta Falls → Athabasca Falls
1h 28min · 108km3 stops
Columbia Icefield
10:00
47min · 57km
Sunwapta Falls
13:30
41min · 51km
Athabasca Falls
16:00
Day 9: Maligne Canyon → Medicine Lake → Maligne Lake
35min · 32km3 stops
Maligne Canyon
09:30
19min · 17km
Medicine Lake
13:00
16min · 15km
Maligne Lake
15:30
Day 10: Pyramid Lake → Patricia Lake → Old Fort Point
1h 8min · 55km3 stops
Pyramid Lake
09:30
1h 2min · 53km
Patricia Lake
13:00
6min · 2.3km
Old Fort Point
15:30
Day 11: Tangle Creek Falls → Weeping Wall → Waterfowl Lakes
8h 21min · 573km3 stops
Tangle Creek Falls
10:00
4h 22min · 240km
Weeping Wall
13:00
3h 59min · 333km
Waterfowl Lakes
16:00
Day 12: Abraham Lake → Cochrane → Calgary
3h 44min · 352km3 stops
Abraham Lake
09:00
43min · 69km
Cochrane
13:00
3h 1min · 283km
Calgary
16:00
Heads Up
- 1. Some high-altitude trails will still have snow; bring waterproof boots and layers.
- 2. Wildlife is very active near the roads this time of year—keep your distance!
- 3. Day 11: 8h 44m driving — plan rest stops