Guest Post :: The Ultimate Road Trip Through Alberta’s Rocky Mountains
Last updated on 20 June 2025
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Canada’s Rocky Mountains need to be on your travel bucket list. As a born Calgarian, I have lived adjacent to the mountains most of my life. I have spent day trips, weekends, and more hiking, camping, and exploring through our provincial and national parks. Having spent many weekends and holidays exploring new areas and visiting beautiful spots, I decided to create a two-week road trip itinerary of Alberta’s Rocky Mountains.
Where to begin your road trip through Alberta’s Rocky Mountains
This road trip begins in Southern Alberta. Depending on where you are travelling from, it may be easiest to fly into Calgary or drive up from the United States via the Chief Mountain Summer Station border crossing.
The trip will begin in Waterton National Park; however, if you are interested in exploring Alberta’s largest city, consider spending a day or two in Calgary first. Before you start your trip, plan to buy a Discovery Pass from Parks Canada for admission to the National Parks.
Stop 1: Waterton Lakes National Park
Waterton shares a border with Glacier National Park in the United States. As it’s tucked in the southwest corner of the province, it gets less traffic than its more famous cousin, Banff National Park. I would plan to stay two to three nights in Waterton.
Book your accommodations in advance, as most of the national parks fill up quickly during the summer. In Waterton, there are a number of mid-range and luxury-level hotels. There is also a campground in town, which makes for a great budget-friendly option.
On the first day, I’d recommend visiting Waterton’s downtown. The town is very small, so it’s easier to get everywhere on foot. Walk along Waterton Ave and visit the Red Chairs at the marina. These red Adirondack chairs are placed at hundreds of iconic viewpoints across all Canadian national parks. If you have the energy, climb Bear’s Hump to watch the sunset in the evening. It’s a short but steep hike that gives you a great view of the lakes and the town.
No-Hike Destinations in Waterton
On day two, take a drive over to Red Rock Canyon and make the short trek to the nearby Blakiston Falls. Come back to town for lunch and maybe take a free walking tour at the Prince of Wales hotel (tips are appreciated). In the afternoon, drive back through town to get to the Akamina Parkway and spend some time at Cameron Lake. Return to town for the evening, and maybe walk over to Cameron Falls for some beautiful photos.
Hiking in Waterton
If you don’t like to hike, you can skip day three and head to your next destination. However, if you enjoy hiking, it’s worth spending a little extra time in Waterton.
For moderate-level hikers, I’d recommend hiking to Bertha Lake. The Bertha Lake trailhead departs right from town, so you don’t need to account for any transportation time. If you are looking for a more challenging route, consider the 19.2 km Alderson-Carthew trail or the 17.2 km Crypt Lake trail.
When hiking, always make sure to bring the essentials, look up trail conditions, and download a route map. Never go further than you are comfortable, and always have a backup plan. Safety is the priority, and many trails do not have cell service. Waterton has a high bear population, so familiarize yourself with bear safety protocol and purchase bear spray (and ask how to use it).
The next day, follow Highway 6 north to Pincher Creek and connect with Highway 22 (Cowboy Trail) bound for Kananaskis.
Stop 2: Kananaskis Country
Kananaskis Country is a group of provincial parks west of Calgary. As this falls under Alberta Parks jurisdiction, the Discovery Pass is not valid here. A Kananaskis Conservation Pass is required if you wish to park anywhere within park boundaries. A day pass is $15 and covers one vehicle.
If you don’t want to purchase a Kananaskis pass, you can bypass the park by taking Highway 2 from Fort Macleod to Calgary, then connecting with the Trans-Canada Highway. However, Kananaskis is home to some of my favourite spots in Alberta, so I highly recommend making the detour.
From Cowboy Trail, drive north until you reach Longview, then take the turn for Highway 541 to Kananaskis. This will eventually become Highway 40, Kananskis’s main route.
In Kananaskis, consider stopping at Elbow Lake for a short hike (2.8 km round trip). Alternatively, you could continue a little further up the road and stop at Ptarmigan Cirque or Arethusa Cirque. These are moderate hikes that should take less than 3 hours total. If you’d prefer not to hike, you can stop instead at Lower or Upper Kananaskis Lakes, found just after the junction with Highway 742.
Kananaskis to Canmore via Trans-Canada Highway
For those looking for a smoother ride or interested in stopping at Kananaskis Village, continue north on Highway 40. There is also a lovely viewpoint and picnic spot at Barrier Lake in this direction. Highway 40 will eventually intersect with the Trans-Canada Highway. Take the exit for the Trans-Canada West towards Banff.
Kananaskis to Canmore via Smith Dorrien Trail
If you are interested in more incredible views and off-the-beaten-path spots, consider taking Highway 742 (the Smith-Dorrien Trail) west to Canmore. This route is mostly gravel, not paved, so make sure your vehicle is equipped to handle the conditions. The Smith-Dorrien takes travellers past the stunning Spray Lakes Reservoir. This route takes more time, but gives incredible views and a stunning aerial shot of the Town of Canmore as you descend the mountain pass.
Stop 3: Town of Canmore
Canmore is a mountain town between Kananaskis and Banff. It’s situated in the Bow Valley and is a common destination for Albertans. I love stopping in Canmore after a hike or backpacking trip. We almost always grab a coffee and snack at Beamer’s, a local coffee shop with multiple locations in the town.
For this itinerary, Canmore will serve as a two-night rest stop between Waterton and Banff. After a long day driving from Waterton, relax in Canmore and indulge at one of their many fantastic restaurants. Some of my favourites include Rocky Mountain Flatbread, the Grizzly Paw, and The Wood.
On the only full day in Canmore, take in the local area. Consider an easy hike like Grassi Lake or Grotto Canyon. The Canmore Nordic Centre also offers many hiking trails and outdoor activities. If you are interested in a more intense hike, Ha Ling, East End of Rundle, and Lady MacDonald are some local favourites (in increasing difficulty).
Spend some time shopping at the boutiques on Main Street and be sure to capture the iconic picture of the Three Sisters Mountain. The next morning, pack up and drive 20 minutes to reach Banff National Park.
Stop 4: Banff National Park and Town of Banff
Banff National Park covers a huge area. Stop 4 will focus on areas close to the townsite. Banff is full of amazing activities for all interests. During the summer, up to 43,000 visitors stay in Banff on a single day. To avoid crowds, consider visiting Banff during the weekdays. Plan to spend two nights in Banff.
After passing the park gates, take the exit for Lake Minnewanka. It´s a great spot for a picnic, so plan to bring lunch. There are many day-use picnic tables, a river cruise with a guided tour, and a lakeside trail that leads to Stewart Canyon. Choose your own adventure here, then head into Banff townsite for the late afternoon to check into your accommodations. There are both hotels and campgrounds in and around downtown Banff to choose from.
Banff Townsite
Spend the evening walking around Main Street. Stop at the cute shops, visit the candy store, and marvel at the gems and minerals at the Rocks & Gems store.
On the second day, start with the Tunnel Mountain hike, which should take 1.5-2 hours. You can walk directly to the trailhead from downtown Banff, or park at the Lower Lot. After this 4.8 km hike, check out the Cave and Basin site and relax in the Banff Hot Springs.
In the evening, take a walk or a drive over to the Fairmont Banff Springs and explore the hotel’s shops and history. Maybe grab dinner at one of the many restaurants. Then, take the path of the road down to the Bow Fall viewpoint.
Bow Valley Parkway
On the third day, pack up and drive to the Bow Valley Parkway. Take this route to Johnston Canyon, where you will hike the short trail to see the Upper Falls. Avid hikers can continue the trail to the Ink Pots before returning to the car. From here, continue to the end of the Bow Valley Parkway and connect with the Trans-Canada at the Castle Junction. Then take the Trans-Canada to Lake Louise.
Stop 5: Lake Louise and Moraine Lake
Two of the most popular lakes in Canada, Lake Louise and Moraine Lake have become increasingly difficult to visit. In efforts to reduce the impact of visitors to the space, Parks Canada has closed Moraine Lake Road to personal vehicles. Visitors need to book the shuttle to Moraine Lake two days in advance.
Moraine Lake and Lake Louise are both accessible by the shuttle. There is also a connector route that drives visitors between the lakes. You can either park in the Lake Louise Overflow Lot off the Trans-Canada or park at your accommodation, depending on where they are.
When visiting Moraine Lake and Lake Louise, I recommend choosing one moderate hike for the day. This will get you out of the busyness near the lakeshore and allow you to more fully experience the area without sacrificing your whole day. The hikes I would recommend are the Plain of Six Glaciers or Big Beehive from Lake Louise, or Eiffel Lake, or Larch Valley from Moraine Lake.
Spend one night in the Lake Louise area so you are well-situated to travel to the last stop on the journey.
Stop 6: Jasper National Park
Icefields Parkway
From Lake Louise, take the junction with Highway 93 north. This route is also known as the Icefields Parkway and is considered one of Canada’s most scenic drives. There is a glacier or waterfall seemingly around every corner of this drive.
To make the most of the Icefields Parkway drive, you’ll need to make some stops along the way. Bring lunch, as there are few services along this road.
The first stop I recommend is Bow Lake. Behind Bow Lake sits Bow Glacier, the origin of the Bow River, which flows from Banff into Calgary. Next, stop at Peyto Lake and get a photo of this iconic blue water from above. Another great stop is Mistaya Canyon, a little further up the road. The canyon includes a 500-metre walk from the parking lot, giving visitors a good chance to stretch their legs.
Further up the road, consider taking a longer stop to visit either the Columbia Glacier, including the Skywalk, or to hike the adjacent Wilcox Pass, which gives incredible views of the glacier from across the highway. Even closer to the Town of Jasper, a final worthwhile stop is Athabasca Falls.
Don’t worry about making every stop along the way, as you will need to reverse this route to drive home. It’s a good idea to save a couple of stops for the drive back.
Town of Jasper
In Jasper, there are many campgrounds, hotels, and cabins to choose from. Plan to stay about 3 nights in Jasper.
Due to the fires in 2024, some trails, services, and campsites are closed; however, the town is open for visitors and continued tourism will help fund rebuilding projects. The Parks Canada website has up-to-date information about what is open in Jasper.
On day one, wander around the town’s shops and restaurants. Then, take a short drive to Maligne Canyon and walk the interpretive trail. In the afternoon, take some time to visit Pyramid Lake and either rent a boat from Pyramid Lake Lodge or hike around the Pyramid Bench trail network.
On your second day, either choose a hike in the Maligne Lake area or take a Maligne Lake river cruise. Commercial boats will bring visitors to the famous Spirit Island on the lake. You can also rent a canoe and paddle on the lake yourself.
If you’d prefer to hike, Bald Hills and Opal Hills are both stunning choices in the area. I hiked Bald Hills during my last trip to Jasper and was blown away by the views of Maligne Lake from above. These are longer hikes, and while not technically challenging, do require some stamina.
In the late afternoon, visit the Miette Hot Springs to relax and walk the interpretive trail if you have time. Then return to town for the evening.
The next morning is the last day of the road trip. Pack up and begin the 4.5 hour (412 km) drive back to Calgary. Take Highway 93 south to the Trans-Canada (East). Save some stops along the way home, like Athabasca Falls or Bow Lake and stop for lunch in Banff or Canmore.
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