Day 1
Depart Kalispell, MT 9 AM…
We’ll pick you up at the Super 8 Hotel at 9AM. We’ll cross the border into British Columbia, Canada as we enter glorious Canadian Rockies Kootenay National Park. We’ll have picnic lunch along the picturesque Kootenay River and end our day at Tunnel Mountain Campground in Banff National Park where we will spend the next 3 nights tent camping or bus camping.
Day 2
Banff National Park
We’ll spend the day exploring the town of Banff and its immediate surroundings. Begin the day with a Gondola ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain. You will feel as if you are on top of the world! Spend the rest of your day wandering around town or take in a local hike. We suggest Bow Falls, Tunnel Mountain or the Hoodoo Trail. End your day browsing through the many shops and museums downtown Banff has to offer, and sample some local food with a dinner out.
Day 3
Lake Louise, Banff National Park
Spend the day exploring beautiful Lake Louise. Your hiking options are many! Hike to the Lake Agnes Tea House, or the Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House and experience tea and biscuits in the High Rockies. For an easier day, hike the Lakeshore Trail and take in a Ranger Program in front of the famous Lake Louise Hotel.
Day 4
Moraine Lake, Icefields Parkway Banff and Jasper National Parks…
We’ll start our day with a drive out to beautiful Lake Moraine. Hike the Moraine Lake Lakeshore and Consolation Lakes trails or rent a canoe for a few hours. After lunch we will make our way up the Icefield Parkway and camp the next two nights just outside of the town of Jasper in Whistler’s Campground. This unforgettable drive will take us past countless glaciers and waterfalls including Sunwapta Falls. The views simply never end!
Day 5
Maligne Canyon, Jasper National Parks
We’ll spend our morning hiking Maligne Canyon and the afternoon in the town of Jasper. Explore town or access more hiking trails such as the Pyramid Bench Trail or Old Fort Point. Bike rentals and biking trails of all levels are also available. If you like rafting, Jasper has plenty of opportunities for class II, III and IV rapids. We can help you arrange a rental or trip in the afternoon.
Day 6
Jasper National Park
We’ll make our way back down the Icefield Parkway and take in Athabasca Falls before taking a ride on an Ice Explorer right onto a Athabasca Glacier. Take in the unique Glacier Skywalk. Step out onto a glass bottom platform 900+ feet above a canyon floor. Tonight camp in the Bow Valley Campground in Kannaskis Provincial Park surrounded by beautiful mountains.
Day 7
Return to Montana, USA
We head back to Montana today. Our journey shows us just how quickly landscapes can change. We will leave behind the Canadian Rockies, drive through the vast prairies of Alberta before returning to the Rockies, this time in Montana. Our day ends with views of the East side of Glacier National Park. We will camp here just outside of Glacier for the next 3 nights.
Day 8
Logan Pass, Glacier National Park
Logan Pass is the Heart of Glacier National Park. Situated right on the Continental Divide, this area offers great hiking and wild life viewing opportunities. Hike to scenic Hidden Lake Overlook, or part of the famous Highline Trail. Keep an eye out for mountain goats, big horn sheep, hoary marmots and maybe even a grizzly!
Day 9
Many Glacier, Glacier National Park
Nicknamed Little Switzerland, the Many Glaciers area gives us another chance to experience snowcapped peaks, pristine lakes, and beautiful alpine meadows. Hike the Swiftcurrent Nature Trail, or for a bigger challenge, try hiking to Josephine or Grinnell Lakes, or even up to Grinnell Glacier! Need a break from hiking? We also recommend the scenic horseback ride, or renting a kayak for an hour or two, or relaxing on the Lodge porch!
Day 10
St Mary’s Valley, Glacier National Park
Hike along St. Mary’s Lake, through thick forest, past cascading creeks to St Mary’s and Virginia Falls. Take in the exhibits of the St Mary’s Visitor Center and the shops of the hamlet of St Mary. Perhaps you’ll take an light hike down to the lake behind our campground, sit around a campfire, or soak in a hot tub under the stars in the evening!
Day 11
Going to the Sun Road, Glacier National Park
Take a Red Bus tour the entire length of the famous Going to the Sun Road. Spend the afternoon on the shores of Lake McDonald in Apgar Village, or try some rafting on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River
Day 12
Avalanche Creek, Glacier National Park
Hike to an amazing alpine lake surrounded by snowcapped peaks and streaming waterfalls. The trail first begins with the towering Trail of Cedars and then follows the beautiful Avalanche Creek to Avalanche Lake. In the late afternoon, relax on the shores of beautiful Lake McDonald, rent a kayak, or visit the shops at Apgar Village. We’ll enjoy a cookout and campfire tonight, and perhaps a local favorite: Huckleberry Ice Cream!
Day 13
Return to Kalispell, MT
We’ll roll back into Kalispell, WA between 10-12noon, exchange emails so we can share photos, and say our goodbyes to all of our new friends!
“Don’t cry because it’s over… Smile because it happened.” Dr Seuss
