Planning a road trip through the Canadian Rockies? In our ultimate travel guide for exploring Jasper National Park, Lake Louise, and Banff National Park, we’ve got best places to stay and eat, along with a ton of cool things to do in the majestic Canadian Rockies.

This is a bucket list trip, and you really can’t top the experiences at the iconic Fairmont resorts, where you’ll find outdoor adventures, a picture perfect escape from it all, and luxurious time to recharge (and eat some really, really good food).

COVID-19 & the Canadian Rockies

Travelling during Covid-19 obviously presents unique challenges, mainly that you can’t go far from home. And while you might be yearning for an epic international trip, we were so happy to discover the gems in our own backyard, and this epic road trip really fulfilled that desire for a “bucket list” vacation.

People come from all over the world to take a road trip through the Canadian Rockies and explore Alberta’s magnificent national parks, so if you’re Canadian, now is actually a great time to visit. Because Canada’s borders are closed, there are less crowds (especially at iconic destinations like Lake Louise), there is so much to do outdoors in every season, and you can travel by car instead of plane.

We felt very safe throughout our entire trip - just remember to pack your masks!

ROAD TRIP FROM VANCOUVER TO JASPER NATIONAL PARK

We started our Canadian Rockies road trip up north in Jasper National Park, which we highly recommend! Starting in Vancouver, BC, we chose to drive to Jasper, Alberta, and then make our way south through the epic Icefields Parkway drive, stopping in Lake Louise and Banff. This allowed us to then explore both Banff National Park and BC’s Yoho National Park before making our way back to Vancouver through the Okanagan.

Here are some places to stop along the way on a road trip from Vancouver to Jasper:

Helmcken Falls in Wells Gray Provincial Park, which is 3x as tall as Niagara Falls
Vale Coffee in Valemount, BC
Mount Robson Visitor Centre
Berg Lake Trail - this trail has epic views, but you’ll either need a reservation or to get there super early

on our way to the Canadian Rockies! 🇨🇦🏔 had to stop at #helmckenfalls 😍

COOL THINGS TO DO IN JASPER NATIONAL PARK

When you arrive in Jasper, you will instantly feel different. Unlike Banff National Park, we found Jasper National Park to be a lot calmer, more remote, and we loved the chill vibes.

We partnered with Fairmont for this trip, and all three mountain resorts offer such different experiences from one another. At Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, there are a bunch of cool, mid-century cabins centred around a stunning turquoise lake, with the Rocky mountains in the background.

FAIRMONT JASPER PARK LODGE REVIEW

We loved having so much outdoor space at Jasper Park Lodge, and when you arrive at all Fairmont’s, your temperature is checked and each guest is given a PPE kit with masks, gloves, and sanitizer to keep everyone safe.

If you want an idyllic escape in nature, while having the luxuries of a nice bathrobe and delicious dinners, this is definitely the place to stay in Jasper! We can see ourselves returning here time and time again for a romantic getaway, the chill vibes were just what we needed.

Fairmont has a great offer on right now to encourage Canadians to #AdventureHere. The more you stay, the more you save! The campaign is designed for this exact road trip, so if you stay at any two properties (Jasper, Lake Louise, Banff, or Whistler), you’ll save 7% on your second stay, 10% on your third, and 15% on your 4th. Find all the details here!

THINGS TO DO IN JASPER NATIONAL PARK

Honestly…there was so much to do (and relax) at Jasper Park Lodge that we barely left the resort! One of our favourite things to do in Jasper was have a picture perfect champagne picnic on the lake.

You can order your pre-packed gourmet picnic from Fitzhugh’s Fine Foods at the resort, and then choose a favorite spot to spread out your blanket and enjoy! We also loved that they had gluten-free options, it really doesn’t get much better than this.

Another activity that you absolutely must do in the Canadian Rockies is canoeing! The boathouse on the lake makes it super convenient to get in a canoe and get out on the water at Lac Beauvert.

For a fancy, delicious dinner, you need to eat at Orso, which is a modern Italian restaurant with the finest in just-harvested regional ingredients and the best steaks. Even if you’re not a steak lover, trust us…in Alberta, do as the Albertans do. You won’t be disappointed!

You can also cozy up to the fireplace at The Great Hall at the heart of Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, we ate here for breakfast and dinner and loved soaking in the rustic lodge vibes.

Another fun thing to do in Jasper is star-gazing! Jasper is a designated Dark Sky Preserve, which means that the city has specific rules to limit light pollution, which make it an amazing place to see the stars. There is even a little planetarium onsite that you can book a ticket for with a live astronomer, or book a time to look through the giant telescope at the stars. About once a week you can see the Northern Lights too!

When it comes to really good coffee and breakfast in Jasper, we loved Sunhouse Cafe in town! Their avocado toast, smoothies, and lattes were all so amazing, it was the perfect spot for us to fuel up before we left Jasper and headed out for the most epic drive of our lives.

ICEFIELDS PARKWAY: THE MOST MAJESTIC DRIVE OF YOUR LIFE

One of the things we loved the most about our Canadian Rockies road trip was how chill it was. Driving through Jasper National Park was a stunning experience, and we really understand why this is ranked one of the top drives in the world.

Here are some important things to know before you go:

The drive is about 3 hours, so you’ll want to plan for 4+ hours to explore
Don’t forget to fuel up in Jasper as there isn’t gas along the way (we forgot)
Bring a packed lunch or have snacks for the car, because there’s not many options to eat along the way
You can buy your park pass online ahead of time (just make sure you print it out), but it might be cheaper to buy an annual Discovery Pass instead, which will give you admission to all Parks Canada locations
There is basically no cell reception, so download your playlist & offline maps before you go

WHERE TO STOP ALONG ICEFIELDS PARKWAY in JASPER NATIONAL PARK

Just driving along the parkway will leave you speechless, but here are some great places for you to stop and see the sights in Jasper National Park!

Stop in for a hike at Maligne Lake to see the infamous Spirit Island
Get up close & personal with a waterfall at Athabasca Falls, and make sure you walk along the entire little trail!
You can literally drive onto a glacier at Columbia Icefields, but if you don’t want to pay for a tour you can still see the glacier pretty well from the parking lot!
Looking for an epic photo spot without a huge hike? Peyto Lake is the place to be, but FYI, it’s currently closed for improvements until November.

CANADA’S ICONIC LAKE LOUISE, ALBERTA

When it comes to bucket list destinations, Lake Louise is at the top for many people! The crystal clear turquoise water with sky-high mountains behind it makes for amazing memories (and Instagram photos, let’s be real). Normally, Lake Louise is super crowded with tourists trying to get the perfect shot, so we were surprised to find that it really wasn’t that busy!

There is a public access area to Lake Louise, but if you walk down towards the front of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, you’ll find that is both less crowded and the most photogenic spot. Everyone was wearing masks, and there was plenty of space to both social distance and take your photos.

FAIRMONT CHATEAU LAKE LOUISE REVIEW

So, visiting Lake Louise is truly a “pinch me” moment, but staying there? It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you’ll never forget. Staying right on the lake at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise just gives you a totally different experience than you would find if you just spent a couple hours visiting the lake as a tourist.

You get to soak in the wonder of the water and the mountains without feeling rushed, and we think it’s definitely worth it to splurge on a stay here for a night! Especially since you can save on room rates right now.

The hotel grounds at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise are centered around the iconic Lake Louise view, so you can really take it all in all day long, whether you’re out on a hike or enjoying happy hour at the Lakeview Lounge.

BEST MEAL OF OUR LIVES AT FAIRMONT CHATEAU LAKE LOUISE

The peak of our entire Rockies road trip was the exquisite dining experience we had at Fairview Bar & Restaurant, inside the hotel. We highly recommend reserving a table with a view, it really doesn’t get any better than watching the sun set over Lake Louise with a delicious cocktail and good friends.

The dinner vibes at Fairview were stellar, and we loved their seasonal inspired menu, served in the most elegant setting. The craft cocktails were impeccable, our favorites were the Noble Thyme and Let Me Clarify, and the scallops were absolute perfection.

Like we mentioned earlier, we really gained a new appreciation for steak while in Alberta. Not only are the prices better, the quality is just amazing. We all enjoyed a different cut of steak at Fairview, from wild boar to Fairmont Reserve Ribeye, and they were all so delicious! There’s even a vegan Rutabaga steak on the menu, so no one has to feel left out of the steak experience.

Another perk to staying at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is that you get to wake up and enjoy the quiet lake views in the morning with a coffee, whether that’s from the view in your room, on the patio, or along the boardwalk. We can easily say this was the best view we’ve ever had in a hotel room!

THINGS TO DO IN LAKE LOUISE, ALBERTA

Canoeing on Lake Louise is definitely an iconic experience, it’s kind of surreal to look down and see nothing but glacial, turquoise water! Make sure you wear layers because it gets a bit windy on the water.

There are so many outdoor hikes and things to do in Lake Louise, and while we didn’t get to them all, it’s always a little nice to leave something to come back to!

Here are some cool things to do near Lake Louise:

Moraine Lake is almost as famous as Lake Louise (but a lot more crowded). For the best tips on what time to get there and where to go, check out To Vogue or Bust’s blog post here!
The Tea House Hike starts near the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and climbs uphill on a switch-back trail for 2.2 miles, and takes most people 1-2 hours.
The Beehive is a hike that will give you stunning views of turquoise water, you can hike to the top once you’ve reached the Tea House!

THINGS TO DO IN YOHO NATIONAL PARK

The Rockies are situated right along the border between BC and Alberta, which means that there are some pretty spectacular places to stop in BC too! Depending on your route, you might find yourself zig-zagging between Yoho National Park (BC) and Banff National Park (Alberta).

Here are some cool things to do in Yoho National Park, which is 20-30 minutes from Lake Louise:

Takakkaw Falls is the second highest waterfall in Canada
Emerald Lake (pictured below) is a stunning lake that lives up to it’s name
Natural Bridge is a beautiful rock formation that forms, you guessed it, a natural bridge over water

THINGS TO DO IN BANFF NATIONAL PARK

Last but certainly not least, we made our way through Banff National Park! There is so much to explore in Banff, and we can’t wait to come back again to experience all the seasons.

Lake Minnewanka was a super beautiful spot to stop, with more stunning water and mountains (it’s really endless here!)

We definitely recommend driving the Lake Minnewanka Loop, which is a 24km scenic drive that offers incredible views and a chance to see some wildlife! So put on a good playlist, turn up the volume, and keep your eyes peeled for elk, mountain goats, and even bears.

Banff is a bustling village, and there is a lot that for you to eat, drink, and explore! Here are some of our favorite things to do in Banff:

The Radiant for brunch or dinner out
Park Distillery for amazing cocktails
Nourish Bistro for healthy and yummy eats
The Grizzly House if you like fondue

If you like craft beer, you can also go a bit further past Banff to Canmore (where a lot of the locals live) for a tasting at Canmore Brewing Company or The Grizzly Paw Brewery.

FAIRMONT BANFF SPRINGS REVIEW

All of Fairmont’s mountainous resorts have a different vibe to them, and the biggest difference you’ll notice at the Fairmont Banff Springs is how GRAND everything is! You are staying in a freaking castle, and you will feel like you’re straight out of a fairytale.

From the grand staircases to the iconic viewpoints and all of the many restaurant and activities options in-between, this was the perfect way to cap off our Canadian Rockies road trip.

Since we were on The Great Canadian Road Trip, it was only fitting that we enjoyed Afternoon Tea, a 132-year-old Canadian tradition, in the castle’s Rundle Bar. We loved taking time to unwind, sip some tea, and indulge in delicate pastries and sandwiches. The best part? Book ahead, and they can cater to both gluten-free and dairy-free dietary restrictions!

Like the other resorts, there was so much for us to do, see, and eat at the Fairmont Banff Springs that we really didn’t even need to leave! The newly renovated Rundle Bar feels like you’re stepping into Beauty & the Beast, and this stunning restaurant is the more “casual” one at the hotel — we enjoyed dinner and cocktails here too (pro tip: always order a cocktail with the famed purple Rundle Gin).

MORE Things to Do at Fairmont Banff Springs:

If you’re looking for a relaxing vacation where you can be socially distant, yet still enjoy the finer things in life, a trip to Fairmont Banff Springs is right up your alley!

You can definitely stay busy, yet relaxed, by staying on the resort for a whole weekend. Here are some of the things we did at the hotel:

Willow Stream Spa is a serene alpine sanctuary and is home to the most amazing kur bath that you can enjoy after any spa treatment for two hours. We each indulged in Couples Massages, which was the ultimate pampering experience and the perfect way to end our road trip, they were honestly the best massages of our life!
Tunnel Mountain Sunrise Hike is a guided hike for guests of the hotel offered multiple times a week, and we loved taking in the breathtaking views at sunrise on top of the mountain. Is there any better way to start your day?
Wildlife Corridor Tour was a super fun experience! We all hopped on a golf cart with our guide from the Activities Centre and set off to look for some wildlife! At different times of year you can spot elk, coyotes, bears…even if you don’t spot any wildlife, you’ll appreciate it for the jaw-dropping views, history, and drinks and charcuterie at the end.
Banff Springs Golf Course - we don’t golf, but seeing this course on our wildlife tour seriously made us want to! If you’re a golfer, this is a can’t miss experience at one of Canada’s top golf courses.

For our final dinner of our trip, we ate at The Vermillion Room, an elegant French restaurant complete with Canadian charm. The martinis were true perfection, and we loved the classy, but not snobby, atmosphere.

If there’s one meal you want to treat yourself to while in the Canadian Rockies, it’s the steak at The Vermillion Room. Our husbands were so infatuated with this steak, they said it was the best thing they have ever eaten in their life! Don’t believe us? Watch their reactions on our TikTok here!

Well, there you have it! If you made it this far, that must mean that you are planning your own trip ;)

We hope you have so much fun on your travels, and don’t forget to wear a mask, wash your hands, and bring layers (it cools down at night, even in the summer).

You can take advantage of Fairmont’s #AdventureHere offer on now to save more with each stay!

You can follow us on Instagram @localwanderer for more tips and inspo for travelling locally this year, and check out our “Rockies” highlight to see stories and videos from our trip.

CANADIAN ROCKIES: BANFF, LAKE LOUISE, & JASPER ROAD TRIP GUIDE!