Road trip to Banff and Jasper national parks at the skirts of Rocky Mountains goes definitely at the top among all places I have visited. Only New Zealand can rival with Alberta when it comes to sceneries.

Why we chose Banff and Jasper as our destination?

Our friend had their wedding in New York on September 2019. When we were going to North America anyway, we decided to explore the most interesting nature places of the continent. Banff and Jasper were chosen due to their breath taking sceneries. Also the remoteness was a plus.

Calgary in the map of North America.
Calgary in the map of North America.
The route roughly on the map: Calgary-Banff-Jasper-Edmonton-Calgary.
The route roughly on the map: Calgary-Banff-Jasper-Edmonton-Calgary.

Arriving to Calgary - Picking up the rental car

We took a bus from Calgary airport to our Air BnB apartment. On the morning The Rocky Mountains were spreading on the window at the background of 1.2 million inhabitant Calgary.

Rocky Mountains at the edge of Calgary. View from our Air BnB apartment.
Rocky Mountains at the edge of Calgary. View from our Air BnB apartment.

We ate toasts, bacon, panckes and maple syrup as breakfast at the city center of Calgary.

Then we took a bus to Wicked Campers car rental. The company was the same that we trusted in New Zealand and Australia. The van had some storage space, sleeping plane and a shelf for kitchen equipment. Rental price for 12 days around 1200 euros, which would not have differed from a regular camper.

We stocked the car by groceries at a local Canadian SuperStore market and headed towards Banff national park.

Banff and Canmore - Hiking and hot springs

Banff is a national park, but also a village name. We spent the first two nights at the village of Canmore, 20 kilometers away from the Banff center. The nearby grocery store and library helped a lot to maintain ourselves.

The first day at the close proximity of Rocky Mountains started at the info center of Banff. We interviewed a staff member about the nature attractions and hiking trails. We also purchased a bear spray for possible encounters.

Technically bear spray is same content than the bouncers have at the night club doors.
Technically bear spray is same content than the bouncers have at the night club doors.

It was already midday, so we went for a shot walk at Stewart canyon next to lake Minnewaka.

Stewart canyon at lake Minnewanka. Banff national park at Alberta.
Stewart canyon at lake Minnewanka. Banff national park at Alberta.

We saw the first warnings about bears.

During summer time bear spray and groups of 4 or more are recommended. Banff national park, Alberta, Canada.
During summer time bear spray and groups of 4 or more are recommended. Banff national park, Alberta, Canada.

Later on the afternoon we cooked in spectacular views.

Cooking at a rest place of Minnewanka lake. Banff national park, Alberta, Canada.
Cooking at a rest place of Minnewanka lake. Banff national park, Alberta, Canada.

At the evening we circled at the Banff village. We saw goats, saw the waterfall going through the village center and the castle on the hill.

The destination for the next day was the Harvey Pass hiking trail. The route to one direction was 10 kilometers (20 km total). Ascending was 1 km.

The 1km/10km profile is my standard for a physically demanding day hike. This time it took 7.5 hours to complete the hike.

The beginning of Harvey Pass hiking trail was uphill in the woods.
The beginning of Harvey Pass hiking trail was uphill in the woods.
Views to down from the end of Harvey Pass hike. Banff national park, Alberta, Canada.
Views to down from the end of Harvey Pass hike. Banff national park, Alberta, Canada.
Views from the top of Harvey Pass. Banff national park, Alberta, Canada.
Views from the top of Harvey Pass. Banff national park, Alberta, Canada.

After the heavy hike we relaxed in a hot pool at Banff. The water was naturally 40 degrees celcius when it comes from underground, even though the pool was manmade and water cleaned.

Lake Louise area and Yoho - Beautiful lakes

We spent the next three nights in a campground. Shuttle buses took as directly to nature attractions at Lake Louse area.

Lake Louise on September - Photo from the end of the lake.
Lake Louise on September - Photo from the end of the lake.

The first destination was Lake Louise itself. Hiking trails headed up to mountain hills from the lake shore.

Hiking trail to mountain hills from Lake Louise. The lake is visible at the background.
Hiking trail to mountain hills from Lake Louise. The lake is visible at the background.

The 7 km stint with 550 m ascending ended at a glacier pushing out from a mountain pass.

Views to the glacier from the end of Lake Louise hike.
Views to the glacier from the end of Lake Louise hike.

After coming back from the hike, we jumped to a bus and headed to Lake Moraine.

Views from the rock pile of Lake Morainen is probably the most iconic photo spot in the area.
Views from the rock pile of Lake Morainen is probably the most iconic photo spot in the area.

The next day at Lake Louise area we drove west Yoho national park. Watching canyons and waterfalls nice recovery after yeasterday’s hikes. Especially Wapta falls were memorable as there was nobody else at the down stream.

Wapta falls on September at Yoho national park.
Wapta falls on September at Yoho national park.

Icefields Parkway - Chilly hiking

Before the journey moved on to north we had one recommended hike from the tourist info center left. This became quite a day.

The trail name was Dolomite Pass. It passes Lake Helen. One way distance should be 9 km with 500 m ascending. Altitude from sea level should be 2500 m at the highest point.

Clouds moving temporarily on Dolomite Pass hiking trail. Weather was changing rapidly throughout the day.
Clouds moving temporarily on Dolomite Pass hiking trail. Weather was changing rapidly throughout the day.

Weather was changing unbelievably fast. Snow storms were taking turns with happy sun shine every 30 minutes. We needed to adjust clothing according to these cycles. Mountain shape was heavily affecting the winds even during the sunnier periods. Sometimes there was so much snow that we needed seriously consider turning back.

In the end all was good and we tuned back down.

Going down from Dolomite pass provided marvellous views.
Going down from Dolomite pass provided marvellous views.

The physical stress was intense and I started to feel sick when we were back at the car. Head ache and vomiting kind of feeling. After some rest my condition got better. I’m was not sure what exactly caused reaction this strong.

Our loyal rental car on Icefields Parkway section, halfway between Banff and Jasper.
Our loyal rental car on Icefields Parkway section, halfway between Banff and Jasper.

The campground surrounded by huge mountains was the most memorable during the trip. It really felt being in the middle of nature, far from everything.

Campground at the side of Icefields Parkway. I felt small and helpless in the darkness, middle of mountains.
Campground at the side of Icefields Parkway. I felt small and helpless in the darkness, middle of mountains.

Jasper - The mysterious campground beast

The direction was towards Jasper village city center in Jasper national park. While visiting more waterfalls and canyons we felt that the landscape starts to repeat itself. Even though, it would be dismissing to say anyone can get bored to such spectacular sceneries!

We heard loud and low sound from a distance during the first night at a campground in Jasper. The noise was like opening a heavy metal gate. Or maybe a dinosaur from Jurassic Park.

Soon a giant moose was almost like floating above the bush line. It was a spooky but striking moment.

The moose is barely visible above the car wind shield as mystical creature.
The moose is barely visible above the car wind shield as mystical creature.

You can’t imagine how scary it was to walk to the toilet building on the evening. The forest was full of moose and bears!

Edmonton - Indoor shopping

The leg from Edmonton to Jasper went well regardless of the snow blizzard. After 4 hours of driving we met our university friend where spent the next two nights.

Mountains covered in thick fog between Jasper and Edmonton.
Mountains covered in thick fog between Jasper and Edmonton.

The first words in Edmonton were Finnish from a random dude: “Damn, the Finnish even park the car!”

We visited in one the Edmontons markethalls and in the largest shopiing mall in the North America .

West Edmonton Mall had even a pirate park.
West Edmonton Mall had even a pirate park.

We tried to spot bisons on the last day in Edmonton on the nearby Elk Island natural park. We had no luck.

The road trip ends to Calgary

Snowing got heavy between Edmonton and Calgary. The ground was white until evening. The 1850 km trip ended to a Calgarian Wall Mart at the evening before car return. I bought new sneakers.

Camping at the Calgary's Wall Mart for the last night in Alberta.
Camping at the Calgary's Wall Mart for the last night in Alberta.

Our flight from Canada landed happily to Finland through New York, USA and Amsterdam, Netherlands.