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Canadian Rockies: 8 Best Attractions in British Columbia & Alberta

One of the best road trips you can do in Western Canada is the Canadian Rockies, which is the Canadian portion of the Rocky Mountains in North America found in both Alberta and British Columbia. Here are some of the best attractions in the Canadian Rockies!

Caldron Peak and Mount Patterson over Peyto Lake in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
Caldron Peak and Mount Patterson over Peyto Lake

We did a 5-day road trip along the Canadian Rockies the past September, and it was a blast! The Canadian Rockies definitely have some of the best views I’ve seen in Canada.

Crowfoot Mountain and BowCrow Peak Reflections at Bow Lake in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
Crowfoot Mountain, BowCrow Peak and Bow Peak at Bow Lake

Did you know? The mountains are more jagged in the Canadian Rockies than its American counterpart because they have been more heavily glaciated. You will notice this from the photos.

(Horizontal) Moraine Lake at Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

We visited Banff, Yoho and Kootenay National Parks which are three of the four national parks in UNESCO World Heritage Site’s Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks.

The fourth one that we didn’t get to visit was Jasper since it was too far from our lodging at Panorama, BC.

Emerald Lake with Mount Burgess at Yoho National Park, British Columbia, Canada
Emerald Lake with Mount Burgess

From this trip, here are 8 of the must-see sights in the Canadian Rockies, which are some of the most best attractions in British Columbia and Alberta, and Canada as a whole!

Also Read: Best Nature Attractions in Washington State


Canadian Rockies: Best Attractions in British Columbia and Alberta in Banff, Yoho and Kootenay National Parks

Canadian Rockies in Alberta

Best Attractions in Banff National Park

Established in 1885, Banff National Park in Alberta is Canada’s first national park, and the third in North America, after Yellowstone and Mackinac National Parks.

Here are some of the best attractions in Banff National Park, the most visited park in the Canadian Rockies!

Lake Louise

Perhaps one of the most famous lakes not just in Canada, but also in the world, Lake Louise is known for its turquoise, glacier-fed lake with a backdrop of rugged Canadian rocky mountains or the popular Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.

Panoramic View of Lake Louise at Banff National Park, Alberta's Canadian Rockies

During the summer and before it gets cold in the fall, a great way to experience the lake is by doing the canoe. During winter, the frozen lake becomes a skating rink.

Canoe Rental at Lake Louise in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
Canoe Rental

Parking is very limited at Lake Louise, and you might need to take the shuttle during peak seasons.

Binocular Observation Stand at Lake Louise in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
Lake Louise Binocular Observation Stand

With its popularity, expect a lot of people in Lake Louise. The nearest viewpoint from the parking lot will be flocked with tourists so you might want to hike a little further for some isolated views.

Lake Louise on cloudy day at Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
Fairview Mountain at Lake Louise, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
Fairview Mountain

Moraine Lake

Just near Lake Louise and 14 kilometers outside the Village of Lake Louise is Moraine Lake. You will actually pass-by the road going to this lake on you’re way to Lake Louise.

Panoramic View of Moraine Lake in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

Situated in the Valley of the Ten Peaks, this glacially fed 50-hectar lake has a vivid blue-green colour with an epic backdrop of mountains, waterfalls and rockpiles.

(Vertical) Moraine Lake at Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
Moraine Lake
Valley of the Ten Peaks at Moraine Lake in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
Valley of the Ten Peaks

Though people seem to visit the Canadian Rockies because of Lake Louise, I was actually more amazed by Moraine Lake.

At Moraine Lake, you feel intimate with nature because of how much closer they are to you. You are surrounded by different kinds of nature even without hiking.

Tower of Babel at Moraine Lake in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
Tower of Babel

When you arrive at the lake, the first thing you’ll notice is the huge rockpile on the left. Yes, you can climb the rock pile that gives you a great viewpoint.

There is also a Rockpile Trail with signs along the way teaching about the geology of the region.

Moraine Lake Rockpile at Alberta's Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies
Rockpile

Peyto Lake

Perhaps one of the best attractions in Canada is Peyto Lake, named after Bill Peyto, an early trail guide and trapper in the Banff area.

This glacier-fed lake from the Icefields Parkway is popular for its vivid turquoise color that doesn’t require photo-editing, and breathtaking backdrop of snow-capped mountains, valleys and forests.

Panoramic View of Peyto Lake in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

The best view of the Peyto Lake is the lookout high above the water, which is where we went.

Travelling Foodie Tip: If you don’t want to do an elevated hike, you can join a tour company instead. They have access to the second parking lot that is so much closer to the lookout.

High viewpoint of Peyto Lake in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
Doesn’t the tip of the lake look like a maple leaf?

Nature is funny and unpredictable. After we drove for 2 hours to reach Peyto Lake, it was snowing very badly, and we pretty much couldn’t see any views at all since it was all fogged up.

We decided to leave and, on the drive back, we stopped by the Bow Lake overlook (below) along the parkway to take some photos.

Snowy Peyto Lake Trail in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
Peyto Lake Trail in Snow

While at Bow Lake, we saw the clouds cracking and the sun started to show. Since we drove so far already, we took the chance and headed back to Peyto Lake.

We’re so glad we did because the views had cleared up at that point. We were also lucky.

There wasn’t a lot of people anymore because most people and tour buses had left already from the bad snow and fog just 30 minutes before.

Glimpse of Mount Patterson at Peyto Lake in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
Glimpse of Mount Patterson

Also Read: Best Things To Do in West Volusia for Nature Lovers

Bow Lake

Located on the Bow River off the Icefields Parkway (Hwy 93), Bow Lake is one of the largest lakes in Banff National Park at an altitude of 1920 metres (6300 feet).

Did you know? Bow Lake is fed by meltwater from Bow Glacier.

Panoramic View of Bow Lake at Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

Going back to our road trip: After we went back to Peyto Lake, we also decided to come back to Bow Lake and get closer to the lake since the street-side lookout showed more of Crowfoot Mountain than the lake.

And again, we were so glad we did!

Crowfoot Mountain at Bow Lake in Icefields Parkway Overlook in Alberta, Canada

I was blown away with the reflections here which feature Crowfoot Mountain, BowCrow Peak, Mount Thompson and a glimpse of Bow Glacier Falls.

Bow Lake Reflections: Crowfoot Mountain, Mount Thompson and Bow Glacier Falls in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
Crowfoot Mountain, Mount Thompson and a glimpse of Bow Glacier Falls

Since we went on a cloudy day, the reflections really looked like mirror images.

Epic Crowfoot Mountain Reflection at Bow Lake in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
Epic Reflection of Crowfoot Mountain
Bow Lake Reflections of Crowfoot Mountain, BowCrow Peak and Bow Peak at Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
Crowfoot Mountain, BowCrow Peak and Bow Peak

Interestingly, Bow River stretches for 587 kilometers. One of the best spots to see them is at the Town of Banff itself.

Johnston Canyon

Johnston Canyon is another popular natural attraction in Banff National Park due to its geological features.

Carved into a limestone bedrock by thousands of years of water erosion, the canyon offers walls, waterfalls, the Johnston Creek (a tributary of the Bow River), and forest.

Framing Johnston Canyon Lower Falls at Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
Johnston Canyon Lower Falls

We did the Lower Falls hike which is an easy 1.1-kilometre hike, around 25 minutes. I love how intimate the hike is since you are actually hiking inside the canyon.

The trail is well-developed so it should be good for even casual walkers. While hiking along the canyon, you also have beautiful views of Johnston Creek throughout.

Johnston Creek along Johnston Canyon Lower Falls Hike at Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
Johnston Creek

At the end of the hike, you will see a bridge across the creek and that’s where you’ll find the Lower Falls, a cataract waterfall with three sharp turns.

Long exposure Johnston Canyon Lower Falls at Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
Johnston Canyon Lower Falls

Travelling Foodie Tip: Cross the bridge and you’ll find a short tunnel through the bedrock which gives you an up-close view of the falls.

Close-up Johnston Canyon Lower Falls at Banff National Park, Alberta in the Canadian Rockies
Johnston Canyon Lower Falls from the short tunnel

Canadian Rockies in British Columbia

Best Attractions in Yoho National Park

Yoho National Park is named for a Cree expression of awe and wonder which applies to the beautiful nature in the park. Established in 1886, it is Canada’s second national park located in British Columbia.

Here are some of the best attractions in Yoho National Park.

Takakkaw Falls

Fed by the Daly Glacier above it, Takakkaw Falls is Canada’s second tallest waterfall with a height of 380 metres and a freefall of 254 meters.

Horizontal View of Takakkaw Falls in Yoho National Park, British Columbia, Canada

I love easy hikes with big rewards, and Takakkaw Falls was no exception. A nice and easy 0.5-kilometer hike brings you to the base of the falls.

Takakkaw Falls Base View at Yoho National Park, British Columbia, Canada
View from the base of Takakkaw Falls

Throughout the hike, you get views of the falls too so it’s interesting to see the different scenes you can have the falls with.

Takakkaw Falls with bridge and river at Yoho National Park, British Columbia in the Canadian Rockies
Takakkaw Falls at the start of the trail
Views from Takakkaw Falls Trail in Yoho National Park, British Columbia, Canada
Scenic views along the trail

Emerald Lake

Discovered in 1882 by mountain guide Tom Wilson, Emerald Lake is the largest of Yoho National Park’s 61 lakes and ponds.

Panoramic View of Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park, British Columbia in the Canadian Rockies

Travelling Foodie Tip: While it’s easy to walk along the bridge to admire the views, go on the unpaved path which brings you to the best panoramic view of Emerald Lake.

Emerald Lake with Wapta Mountain and Mount Field in Yoho National Park, British Columbia, Canada
Emerald Lake with Wapta Mountain and Mount Field

One of the most iconic shots of the Emerald Lake is with the high-end Emerald Lake Lodge perched on the edge of the lake.

Emerald Lake Lodge and Mount Burgess at Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park, British Columbia, Canada
Emerald Lake with Emerald Lake Lodge and Mount Burgess

Also Read: Instagrammable Things To Do in Seattle, Washington


Best Attractions in Kootenay National Park

Centred around Kootenay River, Kootenay National Park in British Columbia was created to have a another road across the Canadian Rockies.

Did you know? The name Kootenay came from old spelling of the Ktunaxa First Nations, who made use of the area and its hot springs hundreds of years ago.

Here are the best attractions in Kootenay National Park.

Marble Canyon

A colourful canyon in Kootenay National Park, Marble Canyon offers a well-developed trail that takes you along Tokumm Creek. Beauty starts at the parking lot with a very scenic view.

Marble Canyon Parking Lot View of Kootenay River at Kootenay National Park, British Columbia, Canada
Kootenay River from the Marble Canyon Parking Lot

In contrast to Johnston Canyon where you hike inside the canyon, Marble Canyon’s hike is on top of the canyon, giving you a “look down” view of the canyon shaped by fire, erosion and mountain-building along turquoise waters.

Tokumm Creek at Marble Canyon in Kootenay National Park, British Columbia in the Canadian Rockies
Tokumm Creek
Looking down Tokumm Creek at Marble Canyon in Kootenay National Park, British Columbia, Canada
Turquoise Tokumm Creek along Marble Canyon

At the end of the trail, you are rewarded with a beautiful waterfall!

Tokumm Creek Waterfalls at Marble Canyon in Kootenay National Park, British Columbia, Canada
Beautiful Waterfalls from Tokumm Creek
Waterfall viewpoint at Marble Canyon in Kootenay National Park, British Columbia, Canada
Panoramic View of Waterfalls from the viewpoint

As you hike, you’ll notice that burnt trees surround you. These are remnants of the blazing forest fire that swept through the Kootenay National Park in 2003.

This month-long forest fire almost destroyed Marble Canyon and the trail’s bridges and railings.

Burnt Trees at Marble Canyon in Kootenay National Park, British Columbia, Canada
Burnt Trees
Full View Waterfalls at Marble Canyon in Kootenay National Park, British Columbia in the Canadian Rockies
Full view of the waterfalls from the bridge

Best Attractions in Canadian Rockies Video

You have to see it to believe it! Watch this video to see how breathtaking it is in the Canadian Rockies.


MAP: Best Canadian Rockies Attractions

Here’s a map of all the Canadian Rockies attractions covered in this travel guide.


Hope this gives you an idea which nature attractions to see in the Canadian Rockies! You’ll definitely get to enjoy some of the best things to see and do in Canada here.


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