Classic Rockies Road Trips Pt. 1

TO DO (Add Fraser Valley Notes, Add link to a Vancouver & Victoria Article. Hiking Trails)

No matter how many times I do the drive into the rockies, which at this point I have certainly lost count of, it never comes close to getting old. I simply don’t think a sunrise glow on rocky mountain peaks can get old, it is too spectacular a sight. On top of that, there are so many routes to take out there and no two trips can truly be the same. I have hardly scratched the surface of the winding Alberta & BC highway systems, but what I have seen has been nothing short of spectacular.

Hwy 1 (Trans Canada)

The obvious starting point on this list is the Trans Canada. The name in itself embodies travel across this country. The section through the rockies is absolutely spectacular but the options do not end there. You can extend this route about 700km west to reach Victoria, BC at the western end, and 7000km east to reach St John’s, Newfoundland at the eastern end. We will quickly cover the Calgary to Victoria section here.

Departing Calgary, you will trace the Bow Valley for a few hundred kms until you reach Lake Louise. Likely spending a night or two in Canmore or Banff along the way for a hike and some nice meals. It is 100% necessary to spend time in Banff on a first trip through the rockies, but the crowds do get large around here in the summer, and there is plenty more to experience further down the Trans Canada where less people tend to venture.

Pulling through Lake Louise, you are passing over the continental divide and the highest point on the Trans Canada highway. From here, your vehicle, and all of the watersheds, are headed downhill towards the pacific ocean. Passing through Yoho National Park, some classic quick stops at Takakkaw Falls and Emerald Lake are a must before carrying on towards Golden.

After a refresh at one of Golden’s many charming hotels, you are in for a real treat passing through arguably the most spectacular part of the drive in Roger’s Pass. The highway runs through a narrow mountain pass between Golden and Revelstoke, so narrow that the surrounding mountains appear to loom over sections of the road. You will weave in and out of tunnels through the Glacier National park, and likely stop for more than one of many spectacular hikes and viewpoints.

Revelstoke is mainly known for it’s world class winter skiing, but that doesn’t mean the summer experience falls short whatsoever. There is mountain biking, golf, lakes, hiking, and lots of fun to be had in town during the warmer days.

Leaving Revelstoke, you start to close in on the Okanagan valley. If you want to extend the trip a bit and see the area, scroll down to the Hwy 97 section for details. Or, bypass and head straight through Kamloops. Depending on your timeline and budget, this area has some great options for golf or boating around the Shuswap Lake.

From Kamloops, it is a straight shot down the Fraser Valley to Vancouver, where there is far too much to do to summarize here. See my Vancouver notes for more info. If you are headed all the way to Victoria we will make sure you have a suitable ferry time slot. Crossing the Straight of Georgia by ferry is nothing short of spectacular. The fjords to the north and Vancouver’s immaculate skyline will make the journey fly by.

Before you know it, you will have reached the West end of the Trans Canada and the end of the road on this trip. Gazing out over the Victoria Harbour, you will be undoubtably reminiscing on all the sites of the past few days. This is an incredibly special trip that I am fortunate to have taken on more than once, and I still have yet to see it all along the way. The trans Canada will offer a slightly different trip for everyone, I can’t wait to see what it bring s you.

93 North (Jasper Parkway)

The Jasper Parkway is certainly not the most remote of the highways on this list, running only 230km between Lake Louise at the south end and Jasper at the North. But, it is up there for the most wild. Deep inside the Banff and Jasper National parks, aside from the road itself, the area is essentially devoid of development. The parks have kept the region protected for well over 100 years, leaving nothing but the raw beauty of the mountains.

I have never driven the Jasper parkway without catching a glimpse of a bear, moose, or some other 4 legged friend going about it’s business roaming the vast parkland.

This road trip also takes you past, as the name suggests, icefields. One of the few places in the Rockies you can actually catch a glimpse of them without venturing far off the roads. The Wapta and Columbia icefields sit just west of the Jasper parkway and there are a few spots where you are pulling up right next to the toe of a glacier. These spectacular glacier systems have been here for hundreds of thousands of years and in some spots the ice is over 1000 ft deep.

As you continue north towards Jasper on this journey, you will also pass some mountain lakes that rival the beauty of Lake Louise. Personally, I think the Bow Lake turnout is the nicest lake view in the region. If you are feeling really daring, hop in for a quick cold plunge. These lakes rarely get above 4 celsius or 39 fahrenheit even in the summer. They are consistently fed by glacier melt water keeping them teetering on the freezing mark all year round.

There are plenty of potential stops sprinkled throughout this journey to meet a wide range of desires. Athabasca and Sunwapta falls are impressive in terms of size and power. The close proximity to the road makes them no brainers for the trip, as they require no more than a 5 minute detour.

The Jasper Skytram offers a quick ride up and down Whistlers peak towering over the town and surrounding campsites, if you are not able to make the hike, this is a nice shortcut to a great view.

Some of my favourite hikes in the area line the sides of the highway from Lake Louise all the way to Jasper. The options are truly endless, and there is something for every level of adventure. If you want to get the scoop on my all time top trails, reach out or check out this article.

Arriving in Jasper, you have made it to what many refer to as a little Banff. All the charm and fun of a National Park mountain town, with far smaller crowds. Some good food and a pint from Jasper Brewing Co. will bring this road trip to an end. From Jasper, there is no harm in turning around and running the parkway in reverse, giving you a completely different perspective and hours of beautiful views you wouldn’t have seen on the way up. Alternatively, you can continue west into BC and towards Mt. Robson provincial park, home of the tallest mountain in the Canadian Rockies.

93 South (Castle Mountain, Windermere Lakes, & Kimberley)

Hwy 3 (Fernie & The Crowsnest Highway)

Hwy 99 (Kamloops to Whistler & The Sea to Sky)

Hwy 97 (The Okanagan Loop)

If you have ever been to California wine country or the beautiful Muskoka lakes of northern Ontario, and thought “wouldn’t it be great if these were in the same place?” If so, look no further than the Okanagan Valley.

The landscape and climate here are beautiful and fascinating. The valley is a large split between the rocky mountains to the east and coastal pacific’s to the west. Rolling hills and lakes fill the void between the ranges, with long meandering Lake Okanagan stretching 100km from Vernon in the north to Penticton in the south. The towns, campgrounds, and views along this lake are among my favourite places in the country.

For the sake of this guide, we will begin in Kelowna. This route ends up being a bit of a loop, so you can do it in either order and start from wherever works best for your travels.

Kelowna

This is the crown jewel of the Okanagan and the area’s most populous town. Here, you will want to grab some good food, pop out onto the lake for a day on a boat or jet ski, go for a wine tour, and golf. The City Park & Waterfront Park are absolutely beautiful. I have logged some good hours hanging by the lakefront here on past road trips.

Accommodations range widely based on your budget. Mid summer on the weekends you can get some solid hotels for as low as $200 CAD. Or, go for top of the line at the Grand Okanagan or Royal Kelowna for ~$600CAD.

Specific spots: Lake Country / Vernon – Blind Tiger, Grey Monk, Intrigue/O’Rourkes.

East Kelowna – Vibrant Vine

Kelowna – Yuzu Bowl, City/waterfront parks, Myra Canyon,

Vancouver Island & Hwy 4 (The End of The Road)

On Hwy 1 we got you to Victoria, and maybe saw a bit of the island along the way. If you wanted to see more, and who wouldn’t…. this is the trip for you.

The island presents visitors with a biome that doesn’t align with any normal presumption of Canada. Most of the landscape is a mountainous temperate rainforest. Words that simply don’t come up when discussing the rest of the country. The average high in July is 17 celsius, and in December it is 8 celsius. The city of Vancouver and surrounding area has a somewhat similar climate, but outside of this little pocket on the West Coast you won’t find mild winters and summers anywhere else in the country.

Weather aside, the island can only be described as magical. On my first trip here, we took the ferry over for a “couple days” and didn’t catch a ferry back for nearly 3 weeks.

Ideally, your journey kicks off in Victoria, either hoping off a flight, or the ferry from Vancouver. This gives you the full experience on your way to the end of the road in Tofino. From Victoria, I would recommend starting with a quick zip over to the Sooke Potholes in Sooke. Especially in the summertime, this is a great spot to swim and cool off in some crystal clear rocky ponds. Even though you are on the ocean, there won’t be many more good swimming opportunities until Tofino.

Victoria has a charm to it that I have yet to find in another Canadian city. It is the largest city on the island with a population still under 400,000. This quaint size mixed with the fact that it is one of Canada’s oldest cities, gives it the feel of a small European town. A sunset stroll down Dallas rd. and a nice seafood dinner may have you wanting to make Victoria your next home, it has almost got me a few times.

From Victoria, it will be time to hit the road North. Tofino is only about a 4 hour straight shot from Victoria, but there is plenty to see along the way. A series of provincial parks line the highway through the start of the drive, with plenty of beautiful short trails and lookouts over the Saanich Inlet. This is where you really start to see that this truly is a rainforest.

The road winds north past Cowichan Bay and Duncan, a few sleepy towns along the way to stop for food and a break. From this area, you have the option to detour over to Salt Spring Island, a haven for biking, camping, hiking, and spending time along the ocean inlets of BC.

Nanaimo is the island’s second largest town, and offers a great place to spend an evening before the drive day to Tofino. The harbour in Nanaimo is bustling, and this is a great opportunity to get out on a boat. It is possible you already saw some on the ferry, but if not, whale watching tours leave the Nanaimo area everyday. The gulf island inlets are full of marine wildlife, and even if they are being shy the day you go, the views of the island from the water are beautiful.

In the morning, grab a few Nanaimo bars from Red’s bakery, and hit the Pacific Rim highway towards Tofino. As you pull onto the highway, I would recommend a mandatory stop at the Goats on Roof Old Country Market. As the name suggests, you will likely see some goats hanging on the roof. This is also a perfect souvenir and coffee stop. From here, the Pacific Rim is a winding mountain road crossing through the middle of the island. There is not much along the way aside from campsites and roadside viewpoints. It is a great time to sit back and enjoy the ride.

As you reach the Pacific Rim national park boundary, you should be able to feel the ocean air. The Tofino peninsula is unlike anywhere I have been before. The surrounding rainforest, mild temperatures, and tiny town gives the vibe that you are truly at the end of the world.

In Tofino, there is a long list of things to do and see over a couple days. As one of the few places to truly surf in Canada, I would recommend at least giving it a go. Nothing screams Canada like voluntarily spending hours of your day in 45-57 degree (F) water. Even mid-summer the Northern Pacific never gets above these frigid temps. Don’t worry though, the rental shops in town stock up on some of the thickest wetsuits you can find and they are incredibly effective.

Trails are in abundance along the peninsula. Water taxis can take you to some of the smaller islands close by, each mostly void of development and with their own set of trails to explore. The big tree trail and radar beaches are two of my favourites. After a big day on the water or on the trail, there is plenty of good seafood to be had in town. Or, pop into my personal favourite, Tacofino.

After a few days in Tofino I think you will be shocked to recall that you are only 4 hours from Victoria. Once you are settled into this little coastal town, the world feels very far away. Whether it is a couple days, a week, a month, or a whole summer, any time spent in Tofino is a top tier Canadian experience.

I have said it many times, it never gets old driving through these mountains. But, I will be quick to admit, nothing compares to the first time you visit. Before you have an idea of the scale, the vastness, and the ever changing landscape, it is truly a surprise around every corner. If this sounds like something you want to see for yourself, I would be happy to show you.