After writing my Canada Road Trip 2 Week Guide, I realised there was so much more depth to share from this journey. Western Canada is packed with must-see places, scenic drives, mountain hikes, wildlife encounters and unforgettable experiences, and no photo can fully capture how dramatic the landscapes feel in real life.
This Canadian Rockies Trip quickly became one of my favourite travel experiences to date. From the turquoise lakes of Banff and the glaciers of Jasper to the coastal forests of Vancouver Island and the city views in Vancouver, every day offered something completely different. Canada has easily become one of my favourite countries to visit, especially as someone who loves mountains, hiking and wild landscapes.
If my previous guide focused on planning the ultimate Canada Road trip Itinerary, this post gives a more detailed day-by-day breakdown of what the trip actually felt like. I’ll cover where we stayed, what we did each day, the drives between stops, the hikes we completed, and the lessons we learned along the way.
Whether you are planning a Canadian Rockies Road trip, a wider western Canada adventure, or your first Canadian Rockies Trip, this day-by-day guide should help you understand how the route flows and what to expect from each destination.
Canadian Rockies Trip: Planned Route
For our Canadian Rockies Trip Itinerary, we drove from Calgary through the amazing Canadian Rockies, staying in Banff and Jasper. Then we left Alberta and drove across to British Columbia (BC) and stayed in Whistler. Next, we hopped over to Vancouver Island & Victoria before finishing in Vancouver. The Canadian Rockies Trip route was provided by Canadian Affair with several modifications to the itinerary.
To see our Canadian Rockies Trip itinerary overview and tips for reservations and planning, check out the Canada Road Trip Guide.
Canadian Rockies Trip: Packing Lists & Tips
Our Canadian Rockies Trip meant we used a combination of the Hostelling and Hiking Kit Lists in the Kit Room Section. We were mainly focusing on outdoor adventures, so we balanced day hiking gear and casual wear for the urban areas. We each took a large Osprey bag and a daypack for our road trip. The weather was varied, so we had many warm layers and waterproofs to be prepared for the mountain weather.
Our packing cubes helped us keep our clothes organised and separate, plus sped up the packing process when checking out. We didn’t plan to do any climbing or camping, so we didn’t need any specific gear. We also took basic cooking items such as a knife, spray oil and spices to save buying out there. The only equipment we needed to buy in Canada was the Bear Spray, which wasn’t required to use.
Canada Road Trip Essentials
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Canadian Rockies Trip Day 1:
London to Calgary
To start our Canadian Rockies trip, we had a long flight from Heathrow to Calgary. We arrived excited and pretty tired after minimal sleep. We went through passport control and activated our eTA’s, then collected the big Red Osprey Atmos 50L. The next stop was to find the Avis car rental desk, where we used a credit card to collect our Toyota Corolla. This Toyota would be a reliable companion on our Canadian Rockies trip. Roisin had the fun of driving into Calgary to the Sandman Signature Hotel and learning about the tricky one-way grids. We liked the nature reserve by the river and the Peace Bridge, but felt Calgary lacked character.
To be honest, I did not love Calgary, and this was partly due to feeling unsafe. We did not find many appealing places for a quick dinner while jetlagged, so we settled on a disappointing McDonald’s. I was hoping for a veggie burger but got a bun inside a bun…. We did not have time to visit the famous Calgary Tower or visit the Stampede Area, unfortunately, so there is potential for redemption.
Canadian Rockies Trip Day 2:
Calgary to Banff
We used Calgary to stock up on groceries at Safeway before heading to Banff to start our Canadian Rockies Road trip. We popped into MEC to buy Bear Spray as well as eye-up Canadian Outdoor equipment. I was anxious about driving an automatic left-hand drive car on the right side of the road. However, the highways are very wide and well signposted, which helps get up to speed (no pun intended).
You’ll get used to the right-hand turns on red lights and traffic lights on the highways. Exiting Calgary to start our Canadian Rockies Trip was easy, as you head towards the Rocky Mountains past Cochrane. You’ll be amazed as you transition from the plains to the foothills and then suddenly to tall peaks.
Canmore
Canmore is only an hour away from Calgary along the highway and is the gateway to any incredible Canadian Rockies Trip. We parked up at the Safeway and walked into the old western-style town along a pleasant river walk. The town has a charming feel and is not overly crowded. There are some free toilets in the centre for reference and plenty of shops to explore. We stopped for lunch at the popular Communitea Cafe for wraps with popcorn, which was tasty. We only spent an hour in Canmore as we were excited to arrive in Banff, but we would love to spend a week hiking and doing outdoor activities.
Banff
Half an hour down the road is the world-famous town of Banff. The hub of Banff National Park and the most popular base to explore the National Park and the Lake Louise area. There is an abundance of shops, restaurants and bars throughout the town to keep you entertained. In hindsight, Banff was my favourite destination on our Canadian Rockies Road Trip.
We stayed in the Caribou Lodge, a traditional mountain lodge on Banff Avenue. It’s a 3* hotel with large rooms and a sauna, spa and restaurant all on-site and only 10 mins from town. On the first day, we got our bearings around town and found the IGA supermarket. After a successful first day, we visited Block Bar & Kitchen for delicious cocktails in the sun while people-watching. For dinner, we had no plans but had scouted out Nourish Bistro, which is a popular vegetarian spot. We enjoyed tapas-style dishes, including Poutine, Bowls and Salads, which were worth the short wait.
Canadian Rockies Trip Day 3: Lake Louise
Lake Louise Sunrise
One of our most eagerly anticipated days of the Canadian Rockies Trip was the day exploring around Lake Louise. We did not have a reservation for the shuttle bus and decided against public transport or a private tour. Instead, we woke at 4:30 to drive along a pitch-black highway to get to the First-Come First Served Car-Park next to Lake Louise. It was one of our favourite moments of the trip, watching the sunrise over Lake Louise. Remember to wrap up warm as it’s rather cold even in the Summer months.
Mount St Piran
After sunrise, we planned to make the most of our parking and do a rather long day hike. Originally, we planned to hike Sentinel Pass via Larch Valley, but this was restricted to a minimum group of 4 required due to bear activity. Instead, we had a pretty special backup hike planned of climbing Mount St. Piran from Lake Louise.
Lake Louise Hiking Loop
We had some breakfast back in the warm car and got ready to hike around 8 am. We went around the lake before climbing through the trees up to Mirror Lake, which reflects the Big Beehive. Higher up at Lake Agnes, we could see most of the crowds waiting for refreshments at the teahouse. After Lake Agnes, I started enjoying the hike more once away from the crowds. A surprise viewpoint was from Little Beehive, where we took amazing photos of Lake Louise.
To ascend to Mount St. Piran, there is a small path off the Little Beehive track into the trees, which will climb up the steep scree slope, but it is not clear, so it’s worth using GPS to find it. At the summit, you get an amazing 360-degree view and the best of the Canadian Rockies Trip.
Plain of 6 Glaciers
We looped to the top of Lake Agnes but were unaware that we would be carefully descending a very steep, loose slope. We picked a nice lunch spot at the top end of Lake Agnes, where we decided to head towards the Plain of 6 Glaciers. A fun trail skirting above Lake Louise gave us an appreciation for the icy blue colour. The path up to the Teahouse was a slog in 25°C, but the views are stunning.
What we didn’t know was that the actual Plain was another 20 minutes further from the teahouse. We hiked up the moraine to the top glacial viewpoint before the long descent down to Lake Louise. After 23 km and 7.5 hours of hot hiking, we finished where we started for sunrise among even more day visitors.
Banff
Our plan was to enjoy happy-hour cocktails and Pizza at Lupo but the long hike meant we missed it. We hit the town in search of an early dinner as we had built up an appetite understandably. We were a little indecisive at first given the range of cuisines and took a gamble which paid off. Usually we don’t eat at Indian restaurants after hikes but Zyka is one of the best Indian restaurants I’ve been to!! We had a window view of the mountains and were amazed by the authentic flavour and value.
Canadian Rockies Trip Day 4:
Edith & Corey Pass
The pattern of early morning walks and Day 4 of the Canadian Rockies Trip was one of my favourites due to the reflection of Mount Rundle in Vermillion Lake. It took us around 35 mins to walk from the Caribou Lodge, and it was not the most inspiring route, but the reward and photos were worth it. On the walk back, we popped into Good Earth Coffee and got some coffee for breakfast. It was our first experience of being asked for tips for coffee, which felt weird compared to the UK.
Edith & Corey
We wanted a day hike not far from Banff, and several blogs recommended Cory & Edith Pass as one of the best hikes in the National Park. The trailhead is only a 15min drive away from the town, and I would suggest getting there before 10am as there is limited parking. We decided to ascend the Edith valley and descend Cory, which means a challenging climb to start. There are great views of the Bow Valley as you zigzag up the relentless 5km climb with 1000m of climbing. The heat and sun were tiring as we ascended, so many stops were needed while in the treeline. Roisin had some Garmin watch tracking issues, which meant water stops for me.
Cory Pass Loop
The trail was relatively quiet and only got busy as we approached the Gargoyle Valley. We decided not to climb to the top of Mount Edith up steep scree and chose lunch with an incredible view instead. As you turn the corner, you’ll be amazed by Mount Louis sheer rock face overlooking the narrow valley. The path down is loose, so be wary and try to keep your eyes on it instead of Mount Louis.
At the end of the valley, the view opens up towards Mount Norquay and Mount Brewster. The descent is pretty fast with some undulating sections through ferns. Then the path enters the woods, which is eerily quiet and serene with the fallen pine trees. Finally, the path joins up along the flat path to cross the stream carefully (no Bridge) and then to the car park. A challenging but worthwhile hike on our Canadian Rockies trip.
Banff
The advantage of not driving far to hike was that we got back into town in time for happy hour! Lupo is an Italian restaurant with a terrace where we enjoyed cocktails and pizza with a view of Mount Rundel. We were impressed by the quality of the pizza, given how cheap ($16) and got delicious Italian-inspired cocktails for $7 each. After a lovely meal, we shopped in the outdoor shops such as the North Face, Lululemon, Patagonia and Monod Sports. I was gifted a Banff North Face T-Shirt and gave Roisin a small, cuddly black bear called Bow (after the valley). The Banff National Park Administration Building is Scottish-inspired and has fantastic views back across town.
Canadian Rockies Trip Day 5:
Icefields Parkway
Tunnel Mountain Sunrise Hike
On our last morning in Banff, we got up again in darkness to do a sunrise hike up Tunnel Mountain. The weather was not in our favour, unfortunately, with low cloud which blocked out the sunrise. The walk from town up the pine forests was easy and only took 50 mins to the top. There are nice views of Banff and Cascade Mountain on the 7km hike with over 300m of climbing. It’s a popular family-friendly day hike and was not technical. The best bit was the up close views of Mount Rundle seen below.
Moraine Lake
The Trans-Canada Highway is the best road I’ve ever driven! The number of amazing must-see places is why it takes 8-9 hours to drive to Jasper as part of the most scenic drive in the Canadian Rockies Trip. The drive from Banff to Lake Louise is very picturesque, and the shuttle takes you to Moraine Lake or Lake Louise. Having visited Lake Louise already, it was Moraine Lake’s turn, and I was excited no matter the weather or crowds. We had a moody, gloomy day, which contrasted with Lake Louise on Day 3.
There are plenty of viewpoints from the Rockpile, but be patient with everyone wanting pics. We walked along the shoreline for an hour to the top end of the lake were rewarded with spectacular views of the mountain range up close. The Rockpile is an iconic spot and definitely worth visiting (if you have a shuttle reservation).
For more info on planning your Lake Louise trip, visit Parks Canada. Moraine Lake has limited accessibility, with the only option from 2023 being the shuttle bus (no early morning car park like Lake Louise).
Peyto and Bow Lake
After turning off Highway 1 onto Highway 93, the real fun begins on the Canadian Rockies Trip. A quick pull-in is all that is required for Bow Lake, which is vast and has parking along the highway. The next stop is Peyto Lake, which attracts huge crowds due to the easily accessible viewpoint. Be patient for pictures as everyone is apparently a model on a photoshoot. The next section of the road trip north is unworldly, where you’ll pass peaks, rivers and numerous lakes.
After passing the only petrol station on Icefields Parkways at the Saskaten River crossing, you’ll quickly return and test your driving on the big bend. Shortly afterwards, there was a traffic jam caused by people abandoning their cars. for a bear photo. We got much closer to a bear later on in the trip!
Athabasca Glacier & Sunwapta Falls
Athabasca Glacier is worth stopping at, especially to see the vast ice field between the mountains. Oddly, there were off-road school buses taking people onto the Glacier itself. The last top before Jasper was the Sunwapta Falls, which is another recognisable attraction of a waterfall with an island. There were a few places that we missed out on, with the main hike being Wilcox Pass for a glacier approach.
Jasper
We arrived late after a long day driving and were very much looking forward to exploring Jasper. We were staying at the Lobstick lodge, which was a 10min walk into the centre of the small mountain town. Upon entry into Jasper, we were welcomed with smoke from the wildfires in the area, which hid the surrounding mountains.
The hotel was fairly basic in looks, but we had a rather spacious room with everything we needed for a good night’s sleep. For dinner, we went to Jasper Pizza, which was not the best Pizza I’ve had as it had too much Feta and we were pretty cold sitting outside. Jasper itself was much smaller and residential than Banff, but also felt more natural and connected to the wildlife.
Canadian Rockies Trip Day 6:
Jasper Maligne Lake
We woke up to torrential rain, which delayed our morning neighbourhood stroll, and it was not as exciting as the previous 2 days. The biggest surprise was seeing a small Black Bear around the houses (see pic below). Bear sightings are common in Jasper, so be careful when walking around for wildlife. When Circle K opened, we popped in to collect some bits and stopped at the Bear’s Paw Bakery for a breakfast treat.
Once I figured out how to operate a drip coffee machine, we had breakfast in our room and packed for a hike. On the drive to Maligne Lake, we saw the remains of forest fires which had destroyed the landscape around Medicine Lake. Given the very low cloud and poor visibility, we weren’t surprised to see the car park very quiet. It would make for the worst weather of our Canadian Rockies Trip so far.
Maligne Lake Out & Back
Most people come to the Maligne to rent canoes and paddle over to Spirit Island. We would love to visit Spirit Island on another trip with better weather. However, we decided to hike the Opal Hills in the hope of seeing Maligne Lake and went clockwise to avoid the steep section. It was eerily quiet, and we were conscious of potential bear sightings, so we talked loudly and clapped to alert our approach.
The hike was through trees until we entered the valley and saw several Moose on the slopes. In total, we saw only 5 people all day, so we enjoyed the route to ourselves. When the clouds broke, we got some summits but no Lake view, unfortunately. On the descent, a Moose was blocking our path, so we went off-piste and didn’t realise until later not to get within 100m…. We were closer to 15m away!
The drive back to Jasper was along a lovely road, and we skipped Maligne Canyon to get back faster. We popped into town to check out some shops, such as Pure Outdoors, where Roisin brought a Hydration Bladder. For our last Jasper dinner, we chose to eat at The Raven Bistro and were lucky to get a table outside because we were early. We enjoyed a bottle of Riesling that accompanied us back to the hotel to finish, and the main meals (Salmon for Roisin and Curry tart) were delicious.
I would highly recommend the Raven for its flavour and creative choices. It was one of the best restaurants on our Canadian Rockies trip, and we have since returned! We ran back to the hotel to finish our washing, then walked back to town for ice cream in the rain. Jasper has good eating options and is cheaper than other places, plus plenty of accommodation!
Canadian Rockies Trip Day 7:
Jasper to Clearwater
Whilst in Jasper, we decided to walk to the Old Fort Point for a Jasper viewpoint. We went through town and crossed the railway near Shell before following the trail to the trailhead. It has a short climb up wooden stairs and then an easy last section to the viewpoint to grab some pics. We extended the walk further before looping back and retracing our steps to town. After another trip to the Bear’s Paw Bakery to try a cinnamon pastry, we packed up, ready to hit the road.
Once we checked out, the weather really opened up, giving teasing views of Pyramid Mountain and Whistler Mountain. We only had a full day in Jasper, so we would love to come back for more hiking and outdoor activities. Check out the Ultimate Canada Road Trip Post to find out exactly what’s on the bucket list in Jasper National Park
Mount Robson National Park
The first of 2 days driving to get to Whistler in the Canadian Rockies Trip was thoroughly enjoyable as we worked our way through the mountains and lakes. Our first stop was at Mount Robson visitor centre to see the second-highest mountain in BC and learn about the history of the National Park.
Ideally, we would have left enough time to walk to Kinney Lake, but this trail was not open, and we did not have the time to hike 13km. We jumped back in the car and continued the drive along Highway 16 until we turned off to Highway 5. We found a nice lunch spot at Blue River along Eleanor Lake with a beach and sun to make it feel like summer.
Clearwater
Our night stop was at Clearwater, which was nothing special, as it’s a small transitional town that makes for a practical stopover. We stayed at Wells Gray Inn, which surprised us with the comfort of the room and the small outside seating. Dutch Lake is worth a walk and a swim if the weather permits. There are very limited restaurant options, and we decided to eat at the Gateway Grill, which forced me to break my vegetarianism, but the burger and poutine were well worth it at least.
The best thing for us was doing a big grocery shop at Buy Low Food, which offered a great variety of produce (and veggie substitutes) for a great total cost. This saved us from buying food when in Whistler and on Vancouver Island. There is also a Shell garage, which we used to fill up on Diesel before driving to Whistler onwards on our Canadian Rockies Trip.
Canadian Rockies Trip Day 8:
Clearwater to Whistler
One of the longest driving days of our Canadian Rockies Trip gave us 2 options: going via Kamloops (Highway 5) or going along Highway 24 and Highway 97 to stay in the mountains a little longer. We choose the scenic route with our first stop at Bridge Lake Ice Caves Trail to stretch our legs after a lovely hilly drive. The roads were much quieter than the highways, even if we got stuck behind caravans, but the Corolla overtook with ease during the Canadian Rockies trip.
Once on Highway 97, we cruised along straight highways, soaking up the Canadian countryside with our trusted Spotify playlist keeping us singing along. Our lunch spot was at Chasm, which is an impressive pine-filled ravine that spans for miles. After we drove to Lillooet to do a driver swap (we averaged 2 hours each to share the driving load), I had fun driving up the twisty mountain road on Highway 99.
Whistler
After filling up with fuel in Pemberton, I had the pleasure of driving into the chaos that is Whistler. I was not expecting so many people roaming around or for our hotel to be in the centre. We stayed at the Whistler Hotel and Suites, which was a lovely accommodation with an amazing location, an outdoor hot tub and pool. The underground parking was handy but expensive, unfortunately. Our room was a Studio apartment with a good kitchen, balcony, dining table, sofa and Murphy bed. We were very happy with our set-up, and it made for an ideal base to cook and explore the area on the Canadian Rockies trip.
Whistler itself is an affluent and extremely popular resort famed for its skiing and mountain biking. We were not there for either as we eyed up hiking Garibaldi Lake and visiting Squamish (Canada’s Climbing Capital). The centre is pedestrianised with restaurants covering every cuisine and plenty of bars to keep you going late into the night. The main thing to note is that Whistler is expensive, and generally, we found British Columbia more pricey than Alberta on our Canadian Rockies Trip.
Canadian Rockies Trip Day 9: Squamish
To keep to our morning routine, we walked over to Lost Lake on the outskirts of Whistler to stretch our legs before getting ready for a day trip to Squamish. Lost Lake is a 30min 3km walk from the town centre and perfect for a walk or run in the morning. After our outing, we got hike ready and in the car for the 50min (60km) drive to Squamish along the Sea to Summit Highway – what a fantastic name for a road!
We were not prepared for how busy the car parks were at the base of Stawamus Chief, so we ended up parking at Shannon Falls car park around 10am and then walked under the Sea to Sky Gondola to join up with the trail. I would highly recommend getting to Squamish early to guarantee a good parking spot.
The Stawamus Chief – 2nd & 3rd peak
The 3rd Hike of the Road Trip was the most surprising and thrilling! It was recommended by one of Roisin’s colleagues to do it for the fun of climbing multiple peaks overlooking the water below. It is by far the most popular hike in Squamish, and as we found out. This hike was only a half day for us and is very accessible, but the higher-up sections are exposed with some ladders and Via Ferrata included. Roisin and I chose to do the loop counter-clockwise, doing 3rd peak, 2nd peak and then 1st peak.
Squamish Hiking Loop
This route was a much quieter start, with most people heading straight to 1st peak while we enjoyed the wooded and rocky climb up a ravine to the 3rd peak. The 3rd Peak climb is a smooth rock with the best panoramic views of the summits! Follow the path back along the narrow path and start the short, steep climb up to the 2nd peak. This is closer to the waterfront and my favourite of the 3 views.
It was a fast descent with some ladders and cables to go down, where we met oncoming traffic. It’s a narrow section between rocks, and passing is difficult. Then came my favourite part, the sheer Via Ferrata where you climb rungs up a rock wall and then onto footplates and chains. This is technical, and I would not recommend this section if you aren’t sure-footed or have a head for heights.
The Stawamus Chief – 1st Peak
After reaching the end of the via Ferrata, go left around the summit and then climb up to the main rock slope to get to the top. You’ll notice more people on the 1st Peak compared to the other two, and a clean photo takes patience. Now for the descent, which has 1 ladder section, which creates a bottleneck before descending the sets of wooden stairs to the bottom of the trail. We swung via Shannon Falls, which has impressive height and made use of the Cable Car Station toilets before finishing up.
When back at the car park, the real carnage begins with people struggling to find free spots, making it difficult to leave. Overall, a very fun hike and climbing combo with wonderful views and can be achieved in around half a day at a push. We drove into Squamish to have a nosy around, and being the climbing capital, I hoped to have a look at a climbing/outdoor store. And of course brought some gear as a souvenir before we shopped at Save-On-Foods, where we luckily managed to get a Guest discount on our shop to save some money.
I like Squamish as a town, and it has nice proximity to the mountains as well as being within touching distance of Vancouver and Whistler. We didn’t have time to do Brandywine Falls on the way back, as we chose to look around the many clothes shops in Whistler, where we picked up some Patagonia kit. Our evening was chilled with a home-cooked meal in the apartment, and we made the most of the hot tub at the hotel before a good night’s rest, before the biggest hike planned of our Canadian Rockies Trip.
Canadian Rockies Trip Day 10: Garibaldi Lake
Today was the hiking day I was most excited for, especially after getting the parking reservation for Rubble Creek Trailhead. We did a short morning stroll around the upper area of Whistler before leaving Whistler at 7am to ensure we got a parking spot at the trailhead. It was only a 25min drive, and it’s worth having the QR code for the reservation downloaded as the signal is intermittent. There is a checkpoint on the access road up and a decent-sized car park to prepare for the day ahead. This day hike is one of my all-time favourites and comes in at Number 2 on The Best Mountain Day Hikes List
Garibaldi Lake
Our Garmin GPS took 5 mins to locate, and then off we went up the trail following the AllTrails route. The first 9km up to Garibaldi Lake is a steady gradient, which we did in around 90 mins. It’s mainly through the forest and along switchbacks with few views of peaks yet. To Garibaldi Lake, it is a 900m climb, and there is a campsite next to the shoreline where you will see campers descending the other way.
We beat most of the crowds, so we were one of the first hikers up to Garibaldi Lake by 9:30am and were in awe of the vast lake in front of us. We then continued to Taylor Meadows at around 10am after many photographs and a pit stop. It was a steep section before the lovely alpine meadows with the famous Black Tusk looming above.
Rubble Creek Out & Back
Panorama Ridge
We started to meet hikers who had gone straight up towards Panorama Ridge instead of to Garibaldi, whereas we chose the lake first as we were unsure of injuries and weather, and then continued higher. We saw Marmots on the path as the day brightened and we began our final ascent. This was tough going on steep, loose scree in places along the ridge. It took us around 30 mins to climb the last few hundred metres in elevation just in time for the clouds to break.
We noticed the mix of prepared hikers and tourists in sandals and no water struggling up to the summit in search of their perfect photos. This ridge to the main summit is exposed, and we cooled off quickly with wind chill, so it’s worth bringing layers. It was the best hiking view of the Canadian Rockies Trip and still a firm favourite of mine now living in Vancouver.
We made it to the top of the Panorama Ridge and were rewarded with a view that lived up to its namesake! You can see the surrounding peaks, glaciers, the whole lake below, Black Tusk behind and further into the distance. The summit is popular, so we stopped for lunch on the crest a little further on the other side.
After many photos, we descended the steep trail and then powered back along the meadows and into the forest, overtaking many groups which had ventured to Garibaldi. Once we returned to the car park, we had completed over 31 km in a day with almost 1650m of climbing, so we were pretty shattered but extremely happy with the day hike.
Whistler
After returning to Whistler, we were fairly wrecked post-hike, where we made a homemade pasta dinner before a very gentle evening walk. 50,000 steps later, we went for a nighttime hot tub dip to ease some aches. After spending the first 9 days eating and drinking out, we were more than happy to cook for ourselves and save some money for later on in the Canadian Rockies trip.
Canadian Rockies Trip Day 11:
Whistler to Ucluelet
Despite being on the expensive side, we were sad to leave Whistler as we had fond memories of the 2-day hikes we did in the area. Our morning walk showed us the Olympic Rings and Inukshuk before we packed and cleaned the apartment. After check-out, we left early as we had a morning ferry booked to Vancouver Island, so it was easy to fill up on fuel at the Chevron on the way towards Squamish.
For the 5th time in 3 days of our Canadian Rockies Trip, we drove along the Sea to Summit highway for 1h20m drive to Horseshoe Bay. Tip: The navigation is confusing, and you don’t need to go to the ticket office beforehand, so follow the signs as you go past the town and double back on the highway to the entrance.
Horseshoe Bay
Fortunately, we arrived at Horseshoe Bay on time for our scheduled ferry. The Canadian Affair vouchers were simple to exchange, and with an hour to kill, we walked over to the small port town. We grabbed a coffee from Blenz Coffee before boarding the ferry. The crossing was smooth with a nice deck to sit and spot Vancouver on the horizon. We disembarked in Nanaimo, where I drove through the slow lunchtime traffic along Highway 19 and off into the rugged landscapes towards Port Alberni.
We stopped at a Walmart to pick up some additional groceries and were amazed by the size of Walmart and also the lack of quality of produce. The drive on Highway 4 towards Pacific National Rim was stunning, with beautiful winding roads through hills and along lakes. Even though there were lots of motorhomes and lorries, we found passing lanes pretty often to overtake.
Ucluelet
It was a long day driving when we finally arrived at Ucluelet along the rugged Pacific Coast. Our favourite accommodation of the Canadian Rockies trip was at Water’s Edge Suites, where we had an incredible apartment overlooking the Bay. Unlike Whistler, we had a separate bedroom from the kitchen and then a hot tub on the balcony, which we made the most of. This was by far the best accommodation for the space, utilities and comfort we had and would love to go back.
After unpacking, we walked into the town to see the small amount there was. The main supermarket is the Co-Op general store, which has a large range of fresh produce and serves all our needs, including a 2L tub of espresso ice cream. We cooked in the apartment and enjoyed a sunset over the bay with a glass of white wine in the hot tub, a much-needed relaxation after the Pano Ridge hike.
Canadian Rockies Trip Day 12:
Pacific Rim National Park
Another day and another morning walk, but this time along coastal trails, which was literally a refreshing change from the mountain walks. Ucluelet has a newly created trail called the Wild Pacific Way, which consists of the Ancient Cedar Loop Trail, the Artists Loop and the Lighthouse Trail. We first did the Cedar and Artists walk, which was an easy trail poking in and out of coastal outcrops and coves. This took us an hour from the start of the trail at the northern point, which finishes at Big Beach near town.
Vancouver Island feels completely different to the Canadian Rockies. Tofino is a well-known destination for whale watching and stunning beaches, but we didn’t drive as far as Tofino. From Ucluelet, it took an hour to drive to Radar Hill along the Pacific Rim Highway (4). The 1st stop had my joint favourite and least favourite bits of the day. We walked casually for 45 mins along the boardwalks and bog to the Canso Plane Crash Site. Suddenly, a large, smashed-up Graffiti-covered plane emerges in the trees.
Be careful of the sharp metal, but you can scramble around it and get some great pics of the plane, and Forrest merged. We retraced our steps past the creepy abandoned building and the car park up to Radar Hill. The walk up the road is steep and not enjoyable, plus the view from the top was a little disappointing. The next stop was Combers Beach, which is next to Long Beach. A short walk down the forest trail unveils a huge, long beach, which we used as a pleasant lunch spot. The weather was cool and cloudy, so it wasn’t ideal beach weather, so we drove on to the Rainforest Trail.
The car park was very busy, comparatively showing the popularity. We walked along the wooden stairs and walkways deep into the Rainforest. It was a surreal experience which gave me a sense of peace. Despite other people, you can find quiet and listen to the sounds of the rainforest. After our relaxing walk, we parked at Wickaninnish Beach car park and walked over to South Beach down a steep wooden staircase. The beach was shale and slow progress, but we scrambled up a large rock for some pics and views of the coast and ocean.
After South Beach, we went home as we had a long day exploring Pacific Rim National Park and decided we would half outsource our dinner. Jiggers is a fast food truck which does fish & chips mainly. In Ucluelet, there was a long queue, but as we only ordered chips, we got served quickly. It was a mad rush back to Water’s Edge to cook dinner and enjoy the tasty chips/fries.
Of course, we made the most of the balcony hot tub one last time and then were treated to some ice cream and a film. Vancouver Island was the perfect place after all our hiking to relax and recharge before the cities to come. My highlight was all the walks along the rugged coast with the moody atmosphere and slower pace of life.
Canada Road Trip Day 13:
Ucluelet to Victoria
The day started on the Wild Pacific Trail doing the Lighthouse Loop. There was a pretty sunrise as we walked around the Amphitrite Point lighthouse. We packed and filled up at the Petro-Canada before starting the day’s drive to Victoria. We passed Kennedy Lake with clear roads, which made it one of my favourite driving moments of the trip. Unfortunately, we hit roadworks, so we caught up with the traffic and crawled our way to Port Alberni.
We did a quick toilet stop and driver swap before driving to Cameron Lake. The parking was crazy with abandoned vehicles everywhere, so instead of stopping, we continued to Nanaimo. Lunch was leftover dinner on the pontoon at Chemainus Lake Park in the sun before we continued to Victoria. The traffic increased as we approached the city, and it turned out I had the short straw of driving through the centre.
Victoria
Victoria is a lovely city with an impressive waterfront, but the traffic is heavy. We passed the busy centre to the Oswago Hotel, which immediately looked fancy as there was a vintage Ferrari parked out front. We checked in and got ourselves comfortable in the room before heading out to check out the town. The room was a modern studio apartment with views from the 7th floor and a compact kitchen for our dinner. We were a few minutes’ walk from the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia and Fairmont Empress Hotel, which are grand architectural masterpieces on the Harbour.
We walked into Downtown to check out Munro’s Books, MEC and many other shops. Then, we felt in the mood for cocktails, so we wandered around until we found Garrick’s Head Pub, which served us a very strong Alabama Slammer and Long Island Iced Tea which was named appropriately. While heading back towards the hotel, we stopped in Belleville’s Watering Hole on the harbour.
We sat out front for the views and tried a traditional Canadian Cocktail. The Shaft is made of Vodka, Coffee Liqueur (Kahlua), Irish Cream Liqueur (Bailey’s) and cold brew coffee, so it’s similar to a white Russian but is a morning coffee drink. We made a quick stir fry before settling into a quiet night in our apartment.
Canadian Rockies Trip Day 14:
Victoria to Vancouver
We woke up to an orange sunrise over the skyline of Victoria before we headed out for our morning walk. The harbour was peaceful with the sunrise colours reflected in the water, and not many other people were awake yet. We walked over to Breakwater Lighthouse along the seawall, where lots of runners were speeding past as we overtook other walkers, with everyone being friendly.
After we went up Beacon Hill Park to look at the gardens and greenery. Our final stop after seeing the impressive Christ Church Cathedral was Market on Yates. We raided the bakery where I could finally try a Nanaimo bar, a three-layer delight with a coconut crumb base, a custard filling, and a chocolate ganache topping. Unfortunately, we did see the homeless crisis in the city, and it was noticeable in Vancouver over the next few days
Schwartz Bay
We enjoyed Vector cereal, coffee and a Nanaimo bar to fuel us while travelling to Vancouver. The Toyota Corolla was packed, and I drove the 30mins out of the city towards Schwartz Bay for the ferry, where we luckily got on an earlier ferry, which we didn’t complain about. The ferry crossing was pretty smooth over the 1h50 where we watched the islands pass from the deck, read our books and write my travel journal. Then we arrived at the final destination of our incredible 2-week Canadian Rockies Trip.
Roisin had the task of driving into Vancouver during lunchtime traffic to drop off the car to end our Canada Road trip. It was slow but exciting seeing the city grow as we weaved into the centre. We managed to drop off our luggage at the hotel to save us from carrying it from Avis. The car drop was odd as you drove down the levels of the underground car park to Level -8.
Vancouver
Afterwards, we walked back to Robson on Rosendale to collect our luggage and check in. The hotel was nice, and we had a separate bedroom at least. We got changed and walked into the centre, only 10 mins away, where the crowds were noticeable. After the quiet of Vancouver Island, we were in a big city with plenty of shopping malls, attractions and restaurants. We checked out some shops to get souvenirs to remember the amazing trip.
We had almost 2 days in Vancouver, so we didn’t overload Day 14. To celebrate the end of the road trip, we went to Glowal, a sleek, trendy bar where we got excellent service and creative cocktails. We ordered different Sangrias and The Roof before heading back to the Hotel. It was our last night of cooking, so we made tapas of our remaining ingredients before a quiet night of watching Netflix.
Canadian Rockies Trip Day 15: Vancouver
We woke up feeling ready to discover Vancouver, and where better to begin than Stanley Park? We started off by heading to the West End and the Harbour to enter the park. However, we did not realise there was a cycling race from Vancouver to Whistler up the Sea to Summit Highway. The last riders were just leaving as we walked along the waterfront. We didn’t do a complete loop of Stanley Park, as that would have taken half a day, so we visited the beautiful Rose Garden instead.
First, we visited a local market, but we did not buy anything, so we walked over to English Bay and Sunset Beach, where people were playing skate hockey and beach volleyball. We crossed the bridge towards Kitsilano for a spot of shopping on 4th Avenue. I picked up some Patagonia gear, but no more, as we had no more packing space after our Canadian Rockies Trip.
Hawksworth Restaurant
Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to visit Granville as we had a special end-of-trip restaurant booked at Hawksworth. We went back to the hotel to get dressed up and walked over to the award-winning restaurant in the Rosewood Hotel Georgia. We tried the Taste of Hawksworth lunch menu for $36 each, which was exceptional value with top service and delicious local cuisine.
The recommended Riesling wine was superb, and it was the perfect way to celebrate as we savoured the beetroot starter, cod loin main and Tres Leches cake dessert. We were extremely content after our lunch and went out for a walk to Yaletown for some drinks in a cheap local bar (Two Parrots Bar & Grill). After some drinks, I felt in the mood for some Poutine, so I went to Fritz European Fry House, which was fast, huge and tasty.
The starter was rather filling, but did not deter me from wanting to try Ignite Pizza. Roisin and I shared a 16” pizza sitting outside, and it was one of the best Pizzas I’ve had and better than the several I’ve had in Italy! We walked back via the BC Place stadium to Robson on Rosendale to end a long day with over 40,000 steps. We went for a swim and a hot tub dip in the hotel before relaxing in the room.
Canadian Rockies Trip Day 16:
Vancouver to London
For our last day of the Canadian Rockies Trip and after missing Day 15’s sunrise, we got up early and went to Canada Place to get a perfect viewpoint as the sun illuminated the sky and clouds. The pictures were incredible and a special memory to end with. We finished off the Vector for breakfast with the conclusion that it’s our favourite cereal. Strategically, we packed our large bags and daypacks for the flight later on and luckily left them with the hotel concierge.
We left to go explore Stanley Park, doing a 12km walk starting from English Bay and along the beaches, taking in the beautiful views. Afterwards, we strolled into the forest and trees and reflected on all the best bits of our Canada Road Trip. There was a Safeway on Robson Street where we found and stocked up on our new favourite chocolate bar: Coffee Crisp.
The bags were collected, which made us look like pack mules with each of us double-bagging. Gastown was a 15 min stroll so we explored the older-looking part of town with the steam clock and flat-iron-shaped building. It is a pretty area with an industrial look, which we appreciated before trekking to Yaletown as we made our way to the Airport. The metro was fast and cheap as we went to Vancouver International Airport, where we checked our bags in and waited for the flight to Calgary. We did lengths of the terminals and picked up some small last-minute souvenirs for ourselves and our family before boarding.
Calgary Airport
We had 90 minutes to kill at Calgary Airport before our long haul back to Heathrow. After exiting the plane and going through transfers, we were hungry, which should be easy in an airport, but midweek, most of the eateries were shut, to my disappointment. I settled on a Thai tofu bowl for dinner, and we used all our spare cash on Tim Horton Timbits for the flight.
The flight with WestJet to Heathrow felt long, but we had good in-flight entertainment and the on-board food was better than expected. We arrived in London the next day, having travelled through the night, which threw off our bodies. To finish our Canada Road Trip, we then drove back to the midlands, tired, jetlagged and incredibly happy about life.
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Next Time
- Canmore: Our short lunch visit made me want to properly spend some time in Canmore. Our first taste of the Canadian mountains on our Canadian Rockies Trip, and there are so many peaks to climb, along with biking and white water sports to try.
- Yoho National Park: The neighbouring area to Banff, which looked like an equally picturesque and quieter landscape. Lake O’Hara and Emerald Lake were considered, but in the end, Lake Louise was higher on the list. I would love to spend some days camping in Yoho, but permits for Lake O’Hara do sound like gold dust.
- Kananaskis: The one area that I wish we could have explored. It looked more raw and wild than Banff and was incredible for peaceful hiking routes. In particular, Tent Ridge looks like a challenging and epic hike! The routes look advanced and with more scrambling, so right up my street.
- Jasper: With only 1 full day in Jasper and smoke from wildfires, we didn’t get to fully appreciate everything Jasper has to offer. There are many more hikes mentioned above, and I would love to canoe on Maligne Lake to see Spirit Island
- Revelstoke: Similar to Canmore, Revelstoke has everything for outdoor adventure. Very popular for Skiing in Winter and equally as popular for hiking and biking in the summer.
- Kamloops: We avoided Kamloops and went on a more scenic drive, but this is a good place to stock up on fuel, groceries or have a break on a long transition day
Canadian Rockies Trip: The Best of
Hikes
- Panorama Ridge & Garibaldi Lake, Whistler
- Mount St. Piran and Plain of the 6 Glaciers, Lake Louise
- Stawamus Chief, Squamish
- Cory & Edith Pass, Banff
- Moraine Lake Shoreline
- Opal Hills, Maligne Lake
- Tunnel Mountain, Banff
Locations
- Banff, Alberta
- Whistler, BC
- Vancouver, BC
- Jasper, Alberta
- Canmore, Alberta
- Squamish, BC
- Ucluelet, BC
- Victoria, BC
- Clearwater, BC
- Calgary, Alberta
Restaurants
- Hawksworth, Vancouver
- Zyka, Banff
- The Raven Bistro, Jasper
- Ignite Pizza, Vancouver
- Lupo, Banff
- Nourish Bistro, Banff
- Gateway Grille, Clearwater
- Jasper Pizza, Jasper
- Fitz European Fry House, Vancouver
Accommodation
- Ucluelet- Water’s Edge Suites
- Whistler- Whistler Village Inn & Suites
- Victoria- The Oswego
- Calgary- Sandman Hotel
- Clearwater- Wells Gray Inn
- Jasper- Lobstick Lodge
- Banff- Caribou Lodge
- Vancouver- Rosendale on Robson
Food & Drink
- Poutine
- Vector Protein Cereal
- Maple Old Fashioned
- Ruffels Crisps
- Coffee Crisp Chocolate
- Sicilian 75 Cocktail
- The Shaft Cocktail
- Bear’s Paw Pastry
- Espresso Ice Cream
- Nanaimo Bar
Viewpoints
- Panorama Ridge
- Lake Louise Sunrise
- Moraine Lake
- Mt St. Piran Summit
- The Chief
- Cory & Edith Pass
- Vermillion Lake
- Mount Robson
- Peyto Lake
- Sunwapta Falls
Canadian Rockies Trip Lessons
Nature
- It goes without saying that Canada is naturally stunning and one of the most varied countries. This Canadian Rockies Trip through the Canadian Rockies and Pacific Coast Mountains was always likely to be my highlights with the stunning peaks, endless evergreen forests, the massive lakes and abundant wildlife. The Icefields Parkway is the perfect example of the typically Canadian mountain landscape. On the other hand, the rugged Pacific rim coastline and rainforests were enchanting and offered a different, relaxing atmosphere. Finally, the city that has it all is Vancouver with the harbours, mountains and urban lifestyle.
Driving
- The roads in Canada are some of my favourites, with the Icefields Parkway topping the list. The Toyota Corolla was ideal as it was a smooth cruiser with plenty of space and very good fuel efficiency. The roads are much wider and straighter than in the UK, which also means wide parking spots. We learnt on our Canadian Rockies Trip that it’s legal to turn right on a red light and there are plenty of one-way systems in the cities. The most confusing aspect was having traffic lights on highways, so going from motorway speeds to a stop. Many people choose to drive Motorhomes or RVs, which are much slower, but overtaking is easy, and there are passing lanes.
Shopping & Food
- We learnt very quickly on our Canadian Rockies Trip that GST (a 5% tax) is not included in prices, so remember it will be added on at checkout. The produce was similar in most grocery stores, with Safeway & Yates on Market having the highest quality produce, whereas Buy Low-Foods had by far the best value for money. We did enjoy the local cuisine, especially the Poutine (3 times) and appreciated the fresh seafood when at Hawksworth. The prices for restaurants and bars were comparable to London, with BC being more expensive in general than Alberta.
Canadian Rockies Trip Summary
This Canadian Rockies Trip felt like a genuine bucket-list experience. It also left me even more inspired to explore Canada in greater depth. The natural beauty is hard to beat for mountain lovers, and the variety of landscapes surprised us every day, from alpine lakes and glaciers to forests, coastlines, waterfalls and wildlife-rich roads.
The 16 days we spent travelling through Alberta and British Columbia felt far longer in the best possible way. Every section of the Canadian Rockies Road trip brought a new highlight, whether that was hiking in Banff, driving the Icefields Parkway, exploring Jasper, visiting Whistler, reaching Vancouver Island or finishing in Vancouver. The freedom of having a car meant we could shape the route around our own priorities and maximise the hiking, walking and scenic stops along the way.
This Canada Road trip Itinerary ran incredibly smoothly and gave us the perfect balance of adventure, flexibility and comfort. I’m grateful to Canada Affair for helping with the planning and booking, and I would happily recommend their services to anyone wanting support with a similar western Canada route.
Even after 16 days, I still felt like we had only scratched the surface. There are so many other areas in western Canada I would love to visit, and I’m excited to return to learn more about the culture, history and landscapes of the country. For anyone planning a Canadian Rockies Trip, my biggest advice is simple: give yourself as much time as possible, prioritise the places that excite you most, and leave room for spontaneous stops along the way.
What are the best must-see places on a Canada road trip? Drop your favourite in the comments below and share this guide with anyone planning their own Canadian Rockies adventure.
FAQs
How many days do you need for a Canadian Rockies Trip?
For a proper Canadian Rockies Trip, 10 to 16 days is ideal. This gives you enough time to visit Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, the Icefields Parkway and a few extra stops in British Columbia without rushing every day. If you also want to include Whistler, Vancouver Island, and Vancouver, a 16-day itinerary works much better.
What is the best Canadian Rockies Road trip route?
One of the best Canadian Rockies Road trip routes is to start in Calgary, drive to Banff and Lake Louise, continue along the Icefields Parkway to Jasper, then travel west towards Whistler, Vancouver Island and Vancouver. This route combines mountains, lakes, glaciers, wildlife, coastal scenery and city time.
Is this a good Canada Road trip Itinerary for first-time visitors?
Yes, this Canada Road trip Itinerary is ideal for first-time visitors who want a mix of iconic Canadian Rockies scenery and British Columbia highlights. It includes Banff, Jasper, Whistler, Vancouver Island and Vancouver, making it a strong introduction to western Canada.
What is the best time of year for a Canadian Rockies Trip?
The best time for a Canadian Rockies Trip is usually from June to September. July and August offer the warmest weather and best hiking access, while September can be quieter with cooler temperatures and beautiful early autumn colours. Mountain weather can change quickly, so waterproof layers and warm clothing are still essential.
