Canadian Rockies road trip: Banff to Jasper via Icefields

Mode

Places

Start

Banff National Park

End

Smutwood Peak

Stops

40

Video author

travmap

Updated

September 19, 2026

Stops on this route

1. Banff National Park
2. Lake Louise Village — Mountain village base within Banff National Park near two iconic turquoise lakes, offering hiking and mountain resort amenities.
3. Icefields Parkway — 230-kilometer scenic drive between Banff and Jasper with incredible mountain vistas, glaciers, and turquoise lakes along Highway 93.
4. Jasper National Park
5. Mount Robson Provincial Park — Provincial park home to highest peak in Canadian Rockies, featuring remote valleys, pristine lakes and challenging hiking trails.
6. Yoho National Park — National park west of Lake Louise featuring beautiful waterfalls, emerald lakes and outstanding hiking opportunities in BC Rockies.
7. Banff
8. Banff Hot Springs — Natural thermal hot springs within Banff National Park, accessible via scenic trails, popular attraction for relaxation and photography.
9. Johnston Canyon — Scenic canyon with waterfall hikes near Banff, featuring trails above the canyon walls with stunning views of the gorge.
10. Vermillion Lakes — Series of scenic lakes near Banff with stunning reflections of Mount Rundle, accessible via hiking trails and viewpoints.
11. Lake Minnewanka — Largest lake in Banff National Park offering scenic boat tours, fishing, and hiking trails with mountain views.
12. Bow Valley Parkway — Scenic 53-kilometer drive through Banff National Park connecting Banff to Lake Louise with numerous pullouts and hiking access points.
13. Moraine Lake — Stunning turquoise glacial lake in Banff National Park, famous for its pristine color and surrounding Valley of Ten Peaks.
14. Big Beehive Trail — Popular hiking trail above Lake Louise offering panoramic views of the glacial lake and surrounding peaks, accessible from Lake Louise village.
15. Bow Lake — Turquoise glacial lake along Icefields Parkway with scenic viewpoints and hiking access, featuring Bow Glacier in the background.
16. Helen Lake and Cirque Peak Trail — Six-kilometer hiking trail near Bow Lake ascending to alpine lake surrounded by peaks, with steep final ascent to Cirque Peak summit.
17. Peyto Lake — Stunning turquoise glacial lake along Icefields Parkway accessible via short hiking trail with panoramic viewpoint.
18. Waterfowl Lakes — Series of glacial lakes along Icefields Parkway with scenic views, hiking trails, and camping facilities.
19. Mistaya Canyon — Narrow canyon with dramatic rocky formations along Icefields Parkway, accessible via short walk from highway viewpoint.
20. Columbia Icefield — Massive glacier complex at Icefields Parkway with guided glacier tours and scenic views, spanning multiple peaks in the Canadian Rockies.
21. Jasper
22. Maligne Lake and Canyon — Scenic turquoise glacial lake in Jasper with boat tours and hiking, featuring nearby Maligne Canyon with dramatic limestone walls.
23. Medicine Lake — Alpine lake in Jasper National Park with seasonal water level changes, scenic picnic areas and hiking access.
24. Athabasca Falls — Powerful waterfall in Jasper National Park created by the Athabasca River, accessible via short walk from highway with scenic viewpoints.
25. Sulphur Skyline Trail — Hiking trail in Jasper National Park offering panoramic views of Jasper townsite and surrounding mountains from elevated ridge.
26. Valley of the Five Lakes — Scenic hiking area in Jasper with five interconnected alpine lakes surrounded by forest and mountain views.
27. Mount Edith Cavell — Mountain peak in Jasper National Park with accessible hiking trail to alpine meadows and glacier views, named after WWI nurse.
28. Mount Robson — Highest peak in Canadian Rockies at 3,954 meters, towering over Berg Lake with dramatic north face and glaciers.
29. Berg Lake Trail — Multi-day hiking trail reaching base of Mount Robson with alpine lake camping, featuring remote scenery and glacier views.
30. Kinney Lake — Alpine lake on Berg Lake Trail near Mount Robson, accessible as day hike destination with mountain views.
31. Takakkaw Falls — One of Canada's highest waterfalls in Yoho National Park, cascading 254 meters with scenic viewing area and hiking access.
32. Emerald Lake — Stunning turquoise glacial lake in Yoho National Park with scenic hiking trails and lodge, surrounded by mountain peaks.
33. Sherbrooke Lake — Hidden alpine lake in Yoho National Park accessible via hiking trail, offering solitude and mountain views.
34. Lake O'hara — Breathtaking turquoise alpine lake in Yoho National Park with extensive hiking network and mountain lodge access.
35. Canmore — Laid-back mountain town one hour west of Calgary in front ranges of Rockies, known for outdoor recreation and local culture.
36. Kananaskis Country — Wilderness area spanning several provincial parks with diverse wildlife, backcountry hiking and rock climbing, locals' favorite destination.
37. Grassi Lakes — Twin turquoise lakes near Canmore accessible via scenic hiking trail, popular for photography and rock climbing.
38. Kananaskis Lakes — Series of alpine lakes in Kananaskis with scenic hiking trails, camping and outdoor recreation facilities.
39. Sarrail Ridge — Hiking trail in Kananaskis with breathtaking views, moderate to advanced difficulty offering alpine scenery.
40. Smutwood Peak — Mountain peak in Kananaskis with hiking trail offering moderate to advanced difficulty and panoramic views.

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Video on this route

CANADIAN ROCKIES ROAD TRIP ITINERARY | 2-3 Weeks Through Jasper & Banff National Park

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