NEW TRIP
Explore Hidden Trails in Five National Parks—Banff, Yoho, Glacier, and More
Hiking the Canadian Rockies
Overview
Our Canadian Rockies adventure keeps you far from the crowds, WT style, as you savor the alpine wonder of the five best national parks in Canada. We’ll hike beautiful yet less-frequented trails, explore alpine meadows and turquoise mountain lakes, walk in old-growth hemlock and spruce forests, and surround ourselves with alpine splendor. And we discover a new national park in the Canadian Rockies almost every day! We’ll also make an essential photo stop to take in views of Lake Louise, one of the most photographed lakes in the world. We plan our trip for the ideal hiking season, when temperatures are mild and the larch forests blaze with vibrant shades of gold. Hotels and lodges keep us comfy at night.
Arrive: Banff, Canada
Depart: Banff, Canada
Highlights
- Hike in five of Canada’s best national parks: Yoho, Glacier, Mount Revelstoke, Banff, and Kootenay—in just one week!
- Avoid the busiest trails and take spectacular hikes on stunning, less visited routes in the heart of the Canadian Rockies
- Enjoy surreal views of turquoise Moraine Lake in the dramatic Valley of the Ten Peaks
- Explore alpine meadows, old-growth forests, and sparkling lakes, and hike with panoramic vistas across glaciers and snow-capped peaks
Itinerary
From Banff, our first hike brings us up to Paget Lookout in Yoho National Park for stupendous mountain panoramas. In the hiker’s paradise of Glacier National Park, we follow trails into the steep Asulkan Valley, a realm of waterfalls in a rugged corner of Glacier National Park. A beautiful drive on the Meadows-in-the-Sky Parkway brings us right to our trailhead at 6,000 feet in Mount Revelstoke National Park for a hiketo two turquoise alpine lakes, Miller Lake and Eva Lake, with Revelstoke (6,500’) reflected in the waters. Overnights are in the mountain town of Revelstoke.
On our way to Lake Louise, we hike Glacier National Park trails to the massive Illecillewaet Glacier, the park’s largest, for unmatched views of Mount Sir Donald (10,774’). We’ll see Moraine Lake in the early morning before the crowds arrive, then hike in the fragrant forests of the remote Paradise Valley. Our last hike is in Kootenay National Park, halfway between Lake Louise and Banff, where our trail brings us to wildflower meadows, a hanging glacier, and right to the Stanley Glacier itself. Depart on Day 7 via Banff. Trip level 3+ Moderate to strenuous hikes, 4-6 hours a day, some steep and rocky sections
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated a Level 3+, Moderate to Strenuous. You will need to be comfortable hiking around 7 miles a day and being on your feet for 4-6 hours a day. Trail conditions, weather, and the group’s level of fitness can affect hiking times and pacing. You will also need to be able to keep up with the moderate but steady pace of the group as there are no alternative hiking options available.
Average Hiking Day
- 7 miles
- 4-5 hours
- 1,700 feet gain/loss
The trails are usually packed dirt, but many sections are not “groomed” and follow the natural contours of the land, which can make them uneven. Due to the steepness of some descents and the rocky surface in some sections of the trails, this trip should not be attempted by anyone who has serious balance or joint problems.
We strongly urge you to train for your trip, as your enjoyment will be highly dependent on your level of fitness. The best training for a hike is to hike, especially over hills or rough terrain. Next best are running, swimming, bicycling, or other cardiovascular exercises. Stair-climbing machines are excellent preparation for hiking uphill. Your feet should also be well prepared—make sure your hiking boots are sturdy, comfortable, and thoroughly broken-in. Altitude is generally not a problem on this trip.
September is a great time to visit the Canadian Rockies, with mild weather (although chilly in the evenings), stunning fall colors, and fewer travelers compared to the peak summer months. Daytime temperatures average about 64F, with evenings dropping as low as 4F. On any day, there's a 30% chance of brief rain showers or even a dusting of snow, so bring layers.
The hotels we use on this trip are the best available accommodations, chosen for their location and ambiance. The rooms are not always of uniform or international size. Our leaders do their rooms in a fair way so that all participants experience an equal advantage throughout the trip as a whole. Single rooms can be requested but are not always available, due to the limited space in the hotels. If you prefer a single room, please make your request as early as possible.
The cuisine of the Canadian Rockies is known for its use of local ingredients, including game meats like bison, elk, and venison. Fish, such as trout from the local rivers, is often on the menu, as well as the famed Alberta-raised beef and foraged items such as mushrooms, Saskatoon berries, and herbs. Over the last century, alpine mountain guides from Europe have brought with them their local cuisine, so dishes often have a German or European alpine influence. The Canadian Rockies also has a cottage industry of independent craft breweries and trendy distilleries incorporating native botanicals. We do our best to secure early reservations for our groups, but most often, the evening meal will be at 7:30 pm.
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Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult.