There are glaciers, and therefore icefields on most of the mountains between Canmore & Jasper. However the easiest ones to get to are at the Columbia Icefields about half way between Lake Louise & Jasper. Here you can park your rig and walk up onto the glacier yourself OR pay the big bucks & go onto a snow cat jammed with overseas tourists all carrying three cameras each and be driven up onto the glacier.
We drove from Golden BC, over the other side of the Kicking Horse Pass to the Icefields, walked up & onto the glacier, drove back to Canmore in one day.
I don't believe in astrology. I am a Gemini and
we're very skeptical.
zwicky wrote: thanks for all the good suggestions. We are setting up camp in Canmore and plan to drive to some of these places. I think
I might be abit confused on where the icefields are. Can someone help me with that? Jasper is to far to drive for a day trip, will we be able to see some of the icefields just north of Lake Louise? thanks
jen
The Columbia Icefields are about a 1 1/2 hour drive north of Lake Louise on highway 93 towards Jasper. Longer if you stop to see some of the sights... It's a beautiful scenic drive with lots to see... Oh ya... You must have a Park Pass to drive the highway.
Been doing some research on things to do, there is a boat ride on Lake Minnewanka and a boat ride on Waterton Lake that takes you to Goat Haunt to do some hiking. Any thoughts on which is better? They both are somewhat costly so I think I can only do one of them. there is also boat rentals on Lake Minnewanka for less money, should we just get ourselves a small boat and just go around the lake?
Canmore to Banff to Lake Louise and on to Yoho is a major highway, with speed limit around 100 km/hr (60mph). Other roads should be taken slower, such as the parkway between Banff and Lake Louise, drives to the lakes from Lake Louise, and road north to the Icefields. Besides those roads give access to lots of hikes and view points. Even if you don't drive Icefields all the way to glacier, take it to Peyto Lake. I'd also strongly recommend Morraine Lake, preferably as early in the day as you can. The hike up Johnson Canyon is also great.
zwicky wrote: Heading up to Banff area, need some suggestions on must see and do things. So far we will be going to the stampede one day, doing the gondola ride in Banff and probably the hot springs too. Thinking of driving up abit into on the icefields. What do we do while driivng the icefields? Are there places to get out and sightsee or areas to do some small hikes?
Also want to go to Lake Louise but really don't know what to do there? Any suggestions?
where are some areas for good hiking, have kids with us so long hike are probably not going to happen?
Any awesome places to eat?
thanks Jennifer
So far there are some good suggestions. A couple questions that may help us to provide better info for you:
1. How much time do you have to spend here once you get to Alberta?
2. How many kids and how old are they?
3. What type of RV are you using and what length?
4. Where are you planning to cross the border into Canada?
I live in Calgary and have traveled, hiked, backpacked and camped in the mountain parks for many years.
* This post was
edited 04/24/12 08:14pm by Mexnut *
Jennifer; Some good advice already. The Waterton boat ride to Goat Haunt is very pretty but not a way to get to hiking since you only do a very short walk to the American ranger station. Better to do one of the short hikes listed in the Parks info. out of Waterton townsite.
Also there are lots of good hiking guidebooks available in most Banff bookstores or the bookstore in Lake louise townsite mall. Also, the Field, Lake Louise, or Banff info centers would be excellent sources of advice on family oriented hikes and trail conditions at the time you are there. I recommend the easy hike to the far end of Morraine lake, the Lake Louise walk along the lake, and the Johnson canyon walk as starters. On the way to the Columbia icefields Parker's ridge has a stiff climb up but is well worth some effort on an excellent trail with great views at the top end.
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