Rockies Loop
A relaxed 7-day driving loop through Banff, Lake Louise, the Icefields Parkway, Jasper, and back south to Canmore.
Calgary → Banff Avenue → Bow Falls → Banff Gondola → Lake Minnewanka → Two Jack Lake → Johnston Canyon → Lake Louise → Moraine Lake → Lake Louise Village → Peyto Lake → Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre → Athabasca Falls → Jasper → Maligne Canyon → Medicine Lake → Maligne Lake → Sunwapta Falls → Saskatchewan River Crossing → Canmore → Grassi Lakes → Canmore Nordic Centre → Three Sisters Viewpoint
Ease into Banff
Ease into Banff (130km, 1.5h drive)
Depart Calgary
Pick up supplies, coffee, and a warm layer before heading west; the mountains start showing up quickly once you pass the foothills.
Banff Avenue
Dragon Fli Empire is a Canadian hip hop duo formed in 2002 from Calgary, comprising Tarik Robinson, also known as Teekay (MC/producer), and Adam Hicks, also known as DJ Cosm (DJ/producer).
Bow Falls
Bow Falls is a major waterfall on the Bow River, Alberta just before the junction of it and the Spray River. They are located near the Banff Springs Hotel and golf course on the left-hand side of River Road.
Banff Gondola
Ride up Sulphur Mountain and take the boardwalk along the ridge if the weather is clear. Sunset light can be gorgeous up here, but bring a jacket even in summer because it gets breezy fast.
Banff Lakes & Meadows
Start early so you’re ahead of the parking pinch near the classic lake stops.
Depart Banff
Start early so you’re ahead of the parking pinch near the classic lake stops.
Lake Minnewanka
Lake Minnewanka is a glacial lake in the eastern area of Banff National Park in Canada, about five kilometres northeast of the Banff townsite. The lake is 21 km (13 mi) long and 142 m (466 ft) deep, making it the 2nd longest lake in the mountain parks of the Canadian Rockies.
Two Jack Lake
Lake Minnewanka is a glacial lake in the eastern area of Banff National Park in Canada, about five kilometres northeast of the Banff townsite. The lake is 21 km (13 mi) long and 142 m (466 ft) deep, making it the 2nd longest lake in the mountain parks of the Canadian Rockies.
Johnston Canyon
Johnston Creek is a tributary of the Bow River in Canada's Rocky Mountains. The creek is located in Banff National Park.
Lake Louise Icons
Drive the Bow Valley Parkway if conditions and closures allow; it’s slower, but it feels more like a Rockies road trip than the main highway.
Depart Banff
Drive the Bow Valley Parkway if conditions and closures allow; it’s slower, but it feels more like a Rockies road trip than the main highway.
Lake Louise
Lake Louise is a beautiful mountain lake in the middle of Banff National Park in the Alberta Rockies region of Alberta. The lake is surrounded by snow-capped peaks, and at the far end is a large glacier. The lake is quite isolated, but provides a magnificent setting for a luxury resort, the Château Lake Louise, and a conference wing on the 'inland' side of the hotel.
Moraine Lake
Moraine Lake is a snow and glacially fed alpine lake in Banff National Park, 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) outside the village of Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada. It is situated in the Valley of the Ten Peaks, at an elevation of approximately 1,884 metres (6,181 ft). The lake has a surface area of 50 hectares.
Lake Louise Village
Refuel, pick up snacks for the Icefields Parkway, and keep the evening simple. Tomorrow is one of the best driving days in Canada, so it’s worth being rested.
Icefields Parkway North
235km, 3.5h drive
Depart Lake Louise
Fill the tank before leaving; services are limited along the Parkway and you’ll want freedom to stop whenever the road opens into another giant view.
Peyto Lake
Banff National Park is in the Alberta Rockies region of Alberta. Together with six other national parks it makes up the UNESCO World Heritage site "Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks". Established in 1885, it is the world's third oldest national park, after Yellowstone National Park in the United States, and Royal National Park in Australia.
Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre
Pause for lunch, mountain views, and a close look toward Athabasca Glacier. If you book an icefield experience, keep the rest of the day loose because weather and timing matter up here.
Athabasca Falls
Athabasca Falls is a waterfall in Jasper National Park on the upper Athabasca River, approximately 30 kilometres (19 mi) south of the townsite of Jasper, Alberta, Canada, and just west of the Icefields Parkway.
Jasper Wild Water
Keep breakfast easy and get out before the day-tripper rhythm kicks in.
Depart Jasper
Keep breakfast easy and get out before the day-tripper rhythm kicks in.
Maligne Canyon
Maligne Canyon is a slot canyon located in the Jasper National Park near Jasper, Alberta, Canada. Eroded out of the Palliser Formation, the canyon measures over 50 metres (160 ft) deep. Popular for sightseeing and exploration, the area contains waterfalls, underground stream outlets, birds and plant life.
Medicine Lake
Stop for the strange, quiet beauty of this disappearing lake system. Some seasons it looks broad and glassy; other times you really notice how much water drains away underground.
Maligne Lake
Maligne Lake is a lake in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada. The lake is famed for the colour of its azure water, the surrounding peaks, the three glaciers visible from the lake, and Spirit Island, a frequently and very famously photographed islet. The lake is located 44 km (27 mi) south of Jasper town, and is accessible by motor vehicle, including shuttle buses from Jasper.
Jasper to Canmore
This is the longest driving day, but it’s a beautiful repeat of the Parkway in reverse, so treat it like a rolling scenic day rather than a transfer.
Depart Jasper
This is the longest driving day, but it’s a beautiful repeat of the Parkway in reverse, so treat it like a rolling scenic day rather than a transfer.
Sunwapta Falls
Sunwapta Falls is a pair of waterfalls of the Sunwapta River in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada.
Saskatchewan River Crossing
Saskatchewan River Crossing is a locality in western Alberta, Canada. It is located within Banff National Park at the junction of Highway 93 and Highway 11. It is administered by Improvement District No. 9.
Canmore
Arrive with time for a gentle stroll downtown or along Policeman’s Creek Boardwalk. After Banff and Jasper, Canmore feels a little more local and lived-in, with great mountain views right from town.
Canmore Finale
Keep the final day close by so you’re not ending the trip exhausted.
Depart Canmore
Keep the final day close by so you’re not ending the trip exhausted.
Grassi Lakes
The Upper and Lower Grassi Lakes lie at an elevation of about 1,525 m (5,003 ft) in the southern Canadian Rockies overlooking the town of Canmore, Alberta. They receive their water from the Spray Lakes Reservoir on the Spray River. The land is part of the Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park, which is part of the Kananaskis Country park system.
Canmore Nordic Centre
Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park is a provincial park in Alberta, Canada, located immediately west of Canmore, 105 km (65 mi) west of Calgary.
Three Sisters Viewpoint
Finish with the classic Canmore skyline. The peaks are especially lovely in late-day light, and it’s a satisfying last look before dinner in town or the drive onward.
- You’ll need a valid Parks Canada pass for Banff and Jasper.
- Book seasonal shuttles for Moraine Lake early, keep fuel topped up before the Icefields Parkway, and pack picnic lunches because food stops between Lake Louise and Jasper are limited and pricey.