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ABOUT CANADA
Canada is one of those destinations that keeps surprising you. One moment you're driving through towering mountain ranges, the next you're watching a bear wander through a meadow or standing in front of a turquoise glacier lake. During our road trip through British Columbia and Alberta we explored some of the most beautiful national parks in the Canadian Rockies, travelling by campervan and waking up to a different view every single day.
OUR ROUTE THROUGH BRITISH COLUMBIA & ALBERTA
We rented our campervan through Fraserway RV, picked it up near Vancouver and started one of the most beautiful road trips we've ever done. Travelling by camper gave us complete freedom. Instead of rushing from hotel to hotel, we could stay close to nature, cook with mountain views and wake up surrounded by wildlife.
Our route took us through two of Canada's most beautiful provinces.
Our itinerary
Vancouver
Wells Gray Provincial Park
Jasper National Park
Icefields Parkway
Banff National Park
Yoho National Park
Whistler
Vancouver
Although many travellers focus only on Banff and Jasper, we highly recommend adding British Columbia to your itinerary as well. Some of our favourite waterfalls, viewpoints and campsites were actually found outside the national parks.
BANFF NATIONAL PARK
Banff National Park is probably Canada's most famous national park, and for good reason. Snow-covered mountain peaks, turquoise lakes, glaciers and endless hiking trails make this one of the most beautiful places we've ever visited.
Although Banff attracts visitors from all over the world, it's surprisingly easy to escape the crowds. By waking up early and exploring beyond the main viewpoints, we found ourselves completely alone in places that looked straight out of a postcard.
If you only have a few days in the Canadian Rockies, Banff should absolutely be on your itinerary.
LAKE LOUISE
Lake Louise is probably the most photographed lake in Canada. Fed by glaciers, its bright turquoise water is surrounded by towering mountains and the iconic Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.
The best advice we can give is simple: arrive early.
During summer the parking lot often fills before sunrise and shuttle buses quickly become busy. We arrived before sunrise and watched the first light slowly hit the mountains while the lake was still completely calm. It was one of those moments that made getting up at 4:30 AM completely worth it.
If you have more time, don't just stop at the viewpoint. Rent a canoe, hike to the Lake Agnes Tea House or continue towards the Plain of Six Glaciers trail for incredible mountain views.
DRIVING THROUGH THE CANADIAN ROCKIES
One of the things we loved most about Canada wasn't a specific destination, but simply the journey itself. Every single drive felt like part of the adventure. Instead of rushing from one viewpoint to another, we found ourselves stopping every half hour because yet another incredible landscape appeared around the corner.
Some roads take you through dense pine forests, while others suddenly open up to glacier-covered mountain ranges, turquoise rivers and endless valleys. Wildlife crossings are common too, so don't be surprised if you have to slow down for a herd of elk or spot a black bear grazing along the roadside.
Unlike many trips where the destination is the highlight, in Western Canada the drive itself often became our favourite part of the day.
Another thing we quickly learned is to leave plenty of room in your planning. Google Maps may tell you a drive takes three hours, but in reality it often takes five. Not because of traffic, but because you'll constantly pull over for viewpoints, lakes, waterfalls or wildlife.
Some of our favourite moments weren't planned at all. A random lake we stumbled upon, a quiet picnic spot next to a river or simply sitting in our camper while watching the clouds move over the mountains. Canada has a way of slowing you down, and honestly, that's exactly how it should be experienced.
ICEFIELDS PARKWAY
If there's one road you absolutely shouldn't rush, it's the Icefields Parkway.
Stretching over 230 kilometres between Jasper and Banff National Park, this scenic highway is often considered one of the most beautiful drives in the world. And after driving it ourselves, we completely understand why.
Almost every few kilometres you'll find another viewpoint overlooking glaciers, turquoise lakes, waterfalls or dramatic mountain peaks. It's impossible to drive this road without stopping over and over again.
Some of our favourite stops along the Icefields Parkway were Bow Lake, Peyto Lake, the Columbia Icefield, Athabasca Falls and Sunwapta Falls, but honestly, the viewpoints in between were just as impressive. We often found ourselves pulling over at places without a name, simply because the scenery looked unreal.
Take your time for this drive. Pack lunch, fill up your fuel tank beforehand and expect to spend the entire day exploring. It's one of those roads you'll remember long after the trip is over.
TWO JACK LAKE
Although Lake Louise and Moraine Lake attract most visitors, we actually found ourselves spending more time at the quieter lakes around Banff.
Two Jack Lake is one of those places where you can simply sit down, enjoy the view and escape the crowds. On a calm day the surrounding mountains reflect perfectly in the water, creating one of the most peaceful scenes we experienced during our trip.
It's an ideal place for a short walk, a picnic or simply to slow down for a while before continuing your road trip.
HELMCKEN FALLS
Helmcken Falls completely surprised us.
Located in Wells Gray Provincial Park, this 141-metre waterfall is one of the highest in Canada and one of the most impressive waterfalls we've ever seen. Unlike many waterfalls where you have to hike for hours, Helmcken Falls can be reached within minutes from the parking area.
The amount of water crashing into the canyon below creates an enormous cloud of mist that constantly changes with the wind. We ended up staying much longer than expected, simply watching the power of the waterfall from different viewpoints.
If you're driving through British Columbia, don't skip Wells Gray Provincial Park. While many travellers head straight towards Banff or Jasper, this area ended up being one of the biggest surprises of our entire road trip.
EMERALD LAKE
Although Lake Louise and Moraine Lake often steal the spotlight, Emerald Lake quietly became one of our favourite places in the Canadian Rockies.
True to its name, the lake glows with an incredible emerald-green colour, surrounded by dense pine forests and towering mountain peaks. Compared to some of the more famous lakes, Emerald Lake felt much more relaxed. We found ourselves slowing down here, taking in the views without feeling rushed by crowds.
A walking trail circles the entire lake in about two hours and offers beautiful viewpoints from every angle. If you're looking for a quieter experience, we highly recommend renting a canoe or simply enjoying a coffee while overlooking the water. It's one of those places where time seems to stand still.
OUR FINAL THOUGHTS
Our road trip through British Columbia and Alberta easily became one of our favourite adventures so far. From waking up in the middle of the mountains to driving one of the world's most scenic roads, every day brought something new. Whether it was spotting wildlife along the roadside, hiking to glacier lakes or watching waterfalls disappear into deep canyons, Canada constantly reminded us how incredibly wild and untouched nature can still be.
If you're considering a road trip through the Canadian Rockies, we can only encourage you to take your time. Stay an extra night, stop at the viewpoints that don't have a name and don't be afraid to take the longer route. Some of our favourite memories came from the places we never planned to visit.
We hope this guide helps you plan your own adventure through Western Canada. And if there's one piece of advice we'd like to leave you with, it's this: don't rush Canada. It's a destination that's best experienced slowly, one mountain pass, one glacier lake and one campfire at a time.
