| Rocky Mountain National Parks Camping Tour |
| Day |
Routing |
| 01 |
Calgary
Alberta - Transfer from the airport to your hotel. You meet your guide during the Welcome to the West dinner in the hotel. |
| 02 |
Waterton National Park
Driving south, you visit the museum and site of Head-Smashed-In-Buffalo-Jump with an impressive view over the vast prairie and a drastic depiction of the culture of the Plains People. The mountains are shimmering on the horizona surprising sight is the abrupt change from prairie to the high alpine of Waterton Park. Short hikes like Redrock Canyon this afternoon. |
| 03 |
Waterton National Park
Viewpoints overlooking the Waterton Lakes during a 5-hour mountain hike make ideal rest stops. Your goal is the deep, blue-green Bertha Lake at 1750 m (5758 ft) elevation. An alternative, but much more strenuous, would be the ascent to Crypt Lake. You have to climb a ladder, pull yourself up a cable and crawl through a 20 m (60 ft) long tunnel. |
| 04 |
Fernie
The Crowsnest area of southern Alberta has a turbulent history of legendary gold finds and mining tragedies. You scramble through the rubble of a huge slide, which buried a whole town in 1903. West of the Crowsnest Pass is British Columbia, where we camp by a beautiful lake. Time for a swim. |
| 05 |
Top of The World Park
Driving a gravel road, following a mountain creek you reach a campground on White Swan Lake. By a creek you have a chance to strike it rich. Gold pans and other equipment are provided and with some skill and patience a sparkling souvenir can be yours. A primitive pool, fed by a 43o C (110o F) sulphurous hot spring, is the place to relax. You might be the only one here, you are far away from any tourist crowds. |
| 06 |
Top of the World Park
A 14 km (8.4 mi) day hike leads through cool forests to an alpine meadow and a beautiful small lake, just perfect for scrambling and exploring along its shore. |
| 07 |
Banff National Park
The hot springs of Fairmont and Radium are developed to large and busy outside pools. Thanks to its mild climate this area is a favorite for vacationing Canadians. Keep your camera ready - you drive through aweinspiring landscape into the famous National Parks. Forests and wildlife are nondisturbed, bighorn sheep or elk show no fear of people. In Kootenay National Park, on the western flank of the Rocky Mountains, you walk through Marble Canyon, where the rocks tremble under your feet from the rushing waters. By noon you are in Banff, Canada's oldest Park. 2 days. |
| 08 |
Banff National Park
Passes at 2300m (7545 ft), secluded mountain lakes wait to be explored. Perhaps you rather take it easy, browse through the lively town of Banff with its colorful stores and boutiques or the informative Native museum. |
| 09 |
Yoho National Park, BC
Hikers value the outstanding trails and magnificent scenery of this mountain wilderness. Camp for the next two nights is set up in the pine forest before you join the guide for a 6-hour circuit up Yoho Pass, the flower-covered Highline Trail and finally Burgess Pass at 2180 m (7267 ft). |
| 10 |
Yoho National Park
Suggested is a side trip to the town of Golden, British Columbia, for a thrilling five-hour whitewater rafting trip in 8-person rubber rafts. Included is a steak barbecue by the shore of the Kicking Horse River. Of course there are things to do and see in Yoho Park as well. There are the Natural Bridge, Emerald Lake and Takakkaw Falls to be visited and parts of the famous Iceline Trail are waiting to be explored. |
| 11 |
Icefields Parkway
This alpine highway connects the two parks. There is no hurry, new surprises and views invite you to stop and admire. One of the jewels is Lake Louise: turquoise water surrounded by snow-capped peaks. Day hikes here and near Moraine Lake count among the best in the National Park. |
| 12 |
Jasper National Park
Near the gigantic Columbia Icefields snowstorms in July are not uncommon and it is best to rely on the experience of the guide for the selection of the next hike. It depends on the weather and the trail conditions which new highpoints can be conquered today. One of the guides favorites is the 11 km hike through Wilcox Pass at 2375 m (1239 ft). 2 days on the campground near the mountain village of Jasper. |
| 13 |
Jasper National Park
Rent a mountainbike for a circuit on forested trails and along the river. Join the guide for a side trip to Maligne Lake and a loop hike into the mountains surrounding this stunningly beautiful lake. And in case no bears have crossed your path in all these days, you give them one more chance during a twilight photo safari. |
| 14 |
Edmonton
Walk along the roaring Malign Canyon before you leave the mountains and reach Edmonton, modern capital of the province of Alberta. Tour ends with arrival at the hotel. |
| 15 |
Transfer to the Edmonton airport. |
