soapy27 wrote:Yeah its one of my life long dreams to see them . Where would you recommend Chris ?
To get the very best of the area I would recommend a circuit mate, fly into Calgary pick up a rental car, stay overnight in Calgary (as most flights from the UK get here around 8pm)
Day 1, drive to Kananaskis and make one of the dozens of fantastic rarely trodden hikes to any number of wonderful locations, theres something to suit all abilities too. After the hike eat dinner in the little town of Canmore and then drive to Banff (less than 1 hour) hotel for the evening.
Day 2, make one of the incredible hikes close to Banff (I would say include Lake Minnewanka area) and do the gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain (for an easy day do the gondola and hike back down
After the hike eat in Banff and explore the small town centre then drive (less than 1 hour) to Lake Louise and stay in the Chateau Lake Louise (1 night and worth it)
Day 3 rise to incredible scenery of Lake Louise and do the Plain of 6 Glaciers hike, a nice gentle ascent but good distance hike to a stunning viewpoint, after the hike have a beer in the hotel bar but save a few bob by driving up the Icefields Parkway (about an hour) to saskatchewan crossing resort where theres a decent cafe open late and cabins. Stay the night at saskatchewan Crossing Resort (bit rough but serviceable)
Day 4 rise to wonderful view from saskatchewan crossing resort and eat breakfast in their cafe, then head north on the Icefields Parkway to any one of hundreds of incredible hikes to glacial overlooks and some of the most incredible scenery you will ever see, after your hike keep heading north to the icefields centre and stay the night there (good rooms/food and bar)
Day 5 in the morning look out of your room at the Athabasca Glacier, after breakfast you can do the short hike to it, or catch the glacier tour bus that drives out onto the middle of it
after exploring the glacier head north and pick yourself a hike from any number of stunners, after the hike keep going north (less than 1 hour) to Jasper, stay the night in Jasper, lots of bars, cafes etc
Day 6 Wake up see a bear....guaranteed, Jasper is crawling with bears
take in any one of dozens of wonderful hikes including a ridgetop wander off a gondola with the most stunning views Stay in Jasper again just for chioce of food/bars
Day 7 Up and at 'em heading west along the Yellowhead Highway, less than an hour, to Mt Robson Provincial Park (The Highest and most prominent mountain in the Rockies) Have yourself a wander on one of the selected hikes in the park (nice cafe for lunch post hike) back in the car and drive a long stretch of wonderful highway 4 hours south to Kamloops, stay the night.
Day 8 Up and away, drive 3 hours in truly breathtaking scenery to Whistler BC, (Ski Resort, mountain bike spot etc) hike from a choice of hundreds, after hike eat in Whistler (some really good pubs here) Back in the car and 1 hour drive along the spectacular 'Sea to Sky Highway at sunset into Vancouver for the evening.
Day 9 take a break and explore vancouver, a beautiful level walk (or bike with rentals nearby) around the route that skirts Stanley Park with lovely views all the way. In the afternoon go to Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, eat in Vancouver (just for the choice) then head east to Hope BC (about an hour and half) stay the night in Hope at the Park Motel (cleanest motel on the planet earth and really cheap) in the morning get breakfast in Hope and then do Hope Mountain hike (short but beautiful) then the Othello Tunnels flat 5k hike along a spectacular canyon. Back in the car and knock a couple of hours off tomorrows journey by driving on the Coquihalla Highway back into Kamloops, eat and stay the night.
Day 10, after breakfast drive 3 hours east to Glacier National Park and have yourself a look around, good choice of trails for all abilities, after the hike head 1 hour east to the town of Golden, eat drink and be merry for the evening.
Day 11, rise and eat breakfast in Golden, then head east for less than 1 hour to Yoho National Park, make sure you visit Emerald Lake, theres a short level 6km hike around it and and incredible restaurant on the shore when you've done the hike. Canoe rental too so you can splash around in the lake for a bit. Back in the car and 15 minute drive to Lake Louise again (or 45 to Banff) eat and stay the night in one of these.
Day 12, See more of the town of Banff have a nice hike, drive 20 mins to Canmore for lunch, then drive the Smith Dorrien Trail 35 km through stunning mountains and lakes to Mt Engadine Lodge, stay the night.
Day 13, select your final hike from any one of dozens of real stunners in the Kananaskis area, I would say tent ridge
then visit Kananaskis Lakes just to wow at them before returning to Calgary (1.5 hours)
Day 14.......do we really have to go home
A couple of things I would add, the driving is very easy with little traffic and a sedate pace, you can miss out a few and have more time in Vancouver or Jasper or Banff or you could base yourself in Banff and see Kananaskis, Yoho, Lake Louise, Canmore with little travel....But this circuit would be my way to spend 2 weeks in the Rockies even if you forgive yourself the hikes on some days the trip would still be awesome.
All of these places are on my website but I can't link to it now because of the site rules, if you click the little house icon under my avatar it will take you there and you can see pics of all of this
If you ever do it, give me a shout for better details and suggestions