Canadian Rockies Road & Camping Trip: From Banff To Jasper National Park & Back

Arrived in Calgary, picked up our Vehicle thru Turo and headed north towards Banff. On our way, we stopped at Save on Food supermarket to buy food and ice for the cooler. We got into Banff early evening and stopped for dinner at Shoku Izakaya Restaurant for some delicious sushi. We highly recommend the Shoku Roll. Then we drove to our camp site, Tunnel Mountain Village 1 and setup camp.

Woke early, broke camp, headed into Banff and had breakfast at El Toro Restaurant. We recommend the salmon eggs benedict. Then onwards onto Icefields Parkway, this highway is a must-visit for anyone exploring the Canadian Rockies. Taking this route is a fantastic choice for immersing yourself in the natural beauty of the area. We stopped to take in the beautiful views of Bow Lake and Crowfoot Glacier, offering picturesque scenes of turquoise lakes and majestic glaciers. Don't forget to take some photos! Then to the granddaddy of glaciers, Athabasca Glacier! Definitely take the ice explorer tour and get on the glacier, not just look at it from the visitors center. Don't forget your micro spikes for your shoes; it's very slippery up there. Dress warmer; it's a few degrees colder on the glacier than in the visitors center area.

Finishing the day by driving out to Wapiti campsite in Jasper National Park. For the 2nd night of our Candian Rockies camping trip.

After a campsite breakfast, visit Athabasca Falls for some stunning photo opportunities. Then we drove out to Edith Cavell Glacier (can't get enough of them). The hike to the glacier is an easy trek and you can always refill your water bottle from the glacier melt that is very refreshing. Be on the lookout, as your driving back to your campsite, you might encounter wildlife on the side of the road like elks. This majestic animal is a must-see, so stop the car and go and admire and take photos/videos (always safety first). End the day at the campsite with a camp-cooked meal and some Canadian Whiskey and a great camp firepit for a warm, cozy evening under the stars and the silhouette of the mountains in the background. Because of the below-freezing overnight temperatures, we opted to stay at the Athabasca Hotel for the night (see our trip report).

After check-out from Athabasca Hotel, we went for breakfast at O'Shea's restaurant. We recommend the West Coast Eggs Benedict. It's a great way to start your morning with a great hike at Maligne Canyon. For an exceptional panoramic view, go to Maligne Lookout. Look for Old Man Mountain/Nanabusho. It really looks like a face looking up to the heavens. To make sure we saw the most variety of wildlife, we booked a wildlife tour with Sundog Tours.

For a quick lunch, we went to the wicked cup for a bowl of chili. We got really close to the elk, and were able to take some great photos & videos. Also saw big horn sheep and Mama Bear with her cub. After a great day of hiking and touring, we checked in at The Mount Robson Inn. Their outdoor Jacuzzi is a great way to relax after an active day.

Dinner at Montana's restaurant is as exiting as it is tasty, let's explain. Starting with The Texas BBQ Caesar, a tequila-based drink rimmed with steak seasoning and a baby pork rib garnish right on top. You don't drink it. You've got to sink your teeth into it. Consider this part of the appetizer. The ribs were great as well as the chicken wings.

We started breakfast at Wicked Cup. We loved their pancakes with Canadian bacon and Canadian maple syrup and the Canuck Classic sausage and eggs with toast and potatoes. They make make some great lattes as well. Afterwards, we took a drive to Maligne Lake. The morning fog over the lake is a sight to see; you can book a cruise over the lake or canoe your way around.

On the way back to Medicine Lake, which is almost dry at that time of year (late September), we were able to spot and photograph a Moose. We decided to book a tour to go white-water rafting down the Athabasca River, a beautiful, mild ride to end our day.

For local well-crafted beers, head to Jasper Brewing Company. We had the Sampler Core Beers, 6 glasses of 4oz beers, a great-tasting starter, followed by some tasty fish tacos.

From there we drove from Jasper back to Banff on the Icefields Parkway making a stop at Sunwapta Falls. Finishing our Canadian Rockies road trip with an overnight stay at Tunnel Mountain Village 1 campsite.

After having a campsite breakfast of eggs & sausage with salmon bits, we drove north to Peyto Lake. The turquoise waters with part of the lake shaped as a wolfs head made for some great photos. We did a hike to Bow Lake Summit. Good idea to bring some ponchos if it is overcast because there was some light rain. After returning to Banff, we stopped at an IGA supermarket for food and a much-needed Duralog. This kept our pit fire going, whereas before it would fizzle out too quickly. So highly recommend Duralog for campfires. With that consistent burning flame, we ended the night roasting chicken kebab, washing it down with Crown Royal to a star-filled moonlit sky.

After a sausage & egg campsite breakfast, we headed to downtown Banff for some shopping. Had a great pizza for lunch at Bear Street Tavern

Then headed to the Banff Gondola that took us to the top of Sulphur Mountain. There is a 2km. hike on a boardwalk to the cosmic ray station. You can dine at the renowned Sky Bistro or have a grab & go hot cocoa & pastry from Castle Mountain Coffee Co. The 360-degree view is something not to be missed!

We ended up at our campsite and got treated to a family of deer grazing right around our tent. We started preparing dinner & they were still grazing right next to us. A great finish to our Canadian Rockies camping trip.

A very early morning wakeup call to head out to Lake Louise, we parked our car at the Lake Louise Ski Lodge because you cannot drive to Lake Moraine or park near Lake Louise. So there is a Parks Canada Shuttle you book in advance that takes you there in 30 minutes time. They run every 20 min. The price for adults is $ 8.00 CA. You can take a shuttle from Lake Moraine to Lake Louise if you want. We found the Parks Canada option the most affordable & flexible option.

We recommend going to Moraine Lake early to see the clear sapphire blue lake reflect the snow-capped mountain peaks that surround it like a mirror. So beautiful. If it is early fall, we highly recommend hiking the Larch Valley Trail. The yellow, golden pine needles can only be seen for a few weeks this time of year. At the end of the trail is a majestic view of the Ten Peaks. Such a beautiful, one-of-a-kind experience you will truly remember. The Larch Valley hike took us 4 hr. Roundtrip, so be sure to bring snacks, sandwiches, and water.

From there, we took the connecting shuttle bus to Lake Louise. We were fortunate canoe rentals were still available, as they had closed for the season at Lake Moraine. You can rent your own canoe or join a group of between 8-10. What a joy it was to paddle in the emerald-colored waters after a long day of hiking. Afterwards, it was back to Banff and check in at the Douglas Fir Resort. The onsite indoor water slides and outdoor hot tub was a great way to unwind after a long, active day.

Then a mouth-watering dinner at the Grizzly House (see trip report) in downtown Banff.

After cooking breakfast at our Villa, we headed to Brewster Stables at Lake Louise for a 3 hr. horse ride. There was a chance of rain, so we brought our ponchos, but our guide said we could not use them because they flap and can spook the horses. So if your planning to ride when rain is likely, make sure you bring a rain coat!

Instead of hiking up to the St. Agnes Tea House, the trail we chose took us there, where parts of the horse trail intersect & combine with the hikers trail. Hikers have to give the right of way to the horses. How cool is that :) Such a great, relaxing way to enjoy the view as you ride up and down the mountain. You get 30 min to visit St. Agnes Tea House for tea, hot cocoa and a photo op. Afterward, it was back to Banff for a relaxing home-cooked dinner at our villa enjoyed by the fire place.

Check out from Douglas Fir and early check-in at The Caribou Lodge & Spa before returning our SUV to Calgary. We used the Brewster Express Shuttle to travel back to Banff, $59/person.

Overnight stay at Caribou Lodge & Spa before our departure to Vancouver aboard the The Rocky Mountaineer Train.