Calgary to Canmore

You’ll start your journey in Calgary, the best city to access the Canadian Rockies from. One of our FarOut team members will show you the ins and the outs of the vehicle before you head west on the iconic Trans-Canada Highway, or Highway 1, to the mountains

On day one, exploring Kananaskis and the Nakiska Ski Area can make for a great mini adventure. This ski resort hosted the 1988 Winter Olympics, so it’s a great place to snap an early photo of your trip by the Olympic arches. There are several beautiful hikes in the surrounding area

You’ll wrap up night one in Canmore! Many travelers jet by Canmore to get straight to Banff, but make sure to spend a night here. It’s a great mountain town, and has more easily accessible camping options than the park.

Banff National Park

If you’re jet lagged and waking up early, take advantage of it and catch a sunrise at Moraine Lake your first day. This is probably the most beautiful place in Western Canada, and the most must-see spot on the trip. It’s popular, and you can only get there through a shuttle service, which our FarOut team can help you plan.

Why limit yourself to one beautiful lake a day? Continue on to Lake Louise and catch a view of it at sunset. Parking can fill up quickly, but you should have a chance to sneak in a visit to the park towards the end of the day in the fall.

To camp in Banff, you’ll need to secure reservations early. We recommend travelling in the fall when crowds thin out. If you’re here in peak summer, drive west to Golden, a cute mountain town outside the park with lots of camping options.

Yoho National Park

After an amazing day in Banff, you’ll explore the next stunning park in the Canadian Rockies, Yoho. As with Banff, you could spend a week in this national park and never run out of breathtaking places to see, but we’ll give you some tips for how to make the most of one day.

Start with Takakkaw Falls, a towering thousand-foot waterfall that’s an easy and rewarding stop. Then head to Emerald Lake, perfect for hiking, paddleboarding, canoeing, or simply enjoying a scenic picnic.

After exploring Yoho, you’ll spend the next night in Golden, even if you snagged a camping spot in Banff! Enjoy a pint at Whitetooth Brewing before settling down for the night.

Glacier National Park

Load up with a big breakfast at Big Bend Cafe before continuing west on Highway 1.  Today’s destination is Glacier National Park. This area is very popular as a backcountry ski destination, known as Rogers Pass, but it’s probably even more spectacular in late summer.

As the name might suggest, this park has 131 different glaciers on the towering peaks around it. The Abbot Ridge hike is the most iconic option to see these amazing views, but you’ll have to be ready to climb more than 1,000 meters (3,500 ft) up from the valley below.

After getting your sweat on at Glacier, you’ll continue west to Revelstoke. Find a nice camp site by the lake, and hit the Last Drop in the town for some late night fun.

Revelstoke

The fourth national park of your trip will be Revelstoke National Park. This beautiful and accessible park offers several short hikes with beautiful wildflowers and stunning mountain vistas.

If you’re looking to visit the park in the morning, make sure you get there right when it opens. Limited parking can lead to traffic jams to get into Revelstoke National Park if you’re rolling up any later than 9AM. Another option is to visit in the afternoon. By 3PM, the morning visitors have typically cleared out, so you’ll be able to roll right into the park.

Spend the rest of your day relaxing in the valley below. The beautiful Columbia River flows through Revelstoke, so enjoy a walk on the water or an afternoon in the town.

Nelson

After a few days in iconic National Parks, you’ll spend the next few days of your trip off the beaten path, exploring BC’s stunning Selkirk Mountain ranges.

The trip from Revelstoke to Nelson is one of this trip’s highlights. A short drive south of Revy takes you to the Upper Arrow Lake Ferry, a scenic 20-minute ride that breaks up the drive to Nelson nicely. You’ll journey alongside a few stunning lakes in BC’s interior, driving through quiet country roads. A roadside bear sighting is almost guaranteed.

Once you arrive in Nelson, enjoy an afternoon sunbathing on the beach by the BOB (Big Orange Bridge) in Nelson. It’s a historic BC landmark, replacing an old and overcrowded ferry route in 1957.

Fernie

If you’re liking Nelson and need a break from a few adventure-heavy days, tack on another night there before making the four hour drive to Fernie.

Fernie, popular for it’s winter ski resort, is an awesome stop for a summer road trip as well. A short (but steep) hike up Mt Fernie gives you amazing views of the rugged surrounding mountains. If you’re looking for a more relaxed option, take a scenic chairlift ride at Fernie Alpine resort. You’ll be treated to similar views, but with cold beers readily available.

Spend the evening enjoying some of the town’s excellent restaurants, cracking open a pint at Fernie Brewing, or simply enjoying quiet campsites along Elk River.

Radium Hot Springs

One of the highlights of the Canadian Rockies are the natural hot springs. You’ll pass by several spots on your trip, but we recommend planning a day around visiting Radium.

Radium Hot Springs is beautifully tucked away in the Kootenay mountains. It has a big warm pool, with temperatures hovering around 38C (~100F), and a regular cool swimming pool, perfect for families practicing their cannon balls. Be sure to take a dip in the plunge pool, it’s either 43C (110F) water directly from the springs, or freezing water sourced from a nearby creek.

The town of Radium is a great spot for afternoon ice cream or patio beers. Enjoy some food in town before finding a campsite in the area for the night.

Kootenay National Park

National Parks have been this trip’s theme, so it’s only fitting that you spend your last day visiting one more! It’s a quick drive to the park in the morning after you’ve spent a relaxing evening in the hot springs.

Make your way up the 10km round-trip trail to the Stanley Glacier. This hike is not only a great chance to get up close to the Glacier, but you’ll also walk through Geologic history, seeing prehistoric fossils lodged within the stunning shale slopes.

After finishing up your hike, it’s time to head back to Calgary! Wave goodbye to Banff as you drive through the iconic Highway 1 pass one more on your way back to the airport.

BONUS: Jasper National Park

The largest national park in Canada was left out of this trip, and that’s Jasper, about three hours’ drive north of Banff National Park.

As you’ve probably read, the area was affected by a wildfire in July 2024, which burned about half of the town and many of the surrounding forests.

In spite of the well-documented wildfires from last summer, Jasper is still well worth a visit. Many visitors this year are expected to make “empathy” visits to the area, supporting the town’s affected economy, and to generally show solidarity and support. Jasper’s towering peaks, massive glaciers, blue lakes, are all still stunning and worth a visit after the wildfires.

A visit to Jasper would be a fantastic way to cap off an outstanding trip to the Canadian Rockies!