Canadian Rockies: National Parks Westbound

Arrival in Calgary

Land in Calgary, find your way to the hotel, and drop your bags. The first official move is meeting the rest of the crew for drinks at a pub downtown. It’s a low-key start, a good chance to swap stories and get oriented before the real trip kicks off tomorrow.

Into the Rockies: Banff

The Rockies proper. A morning drive of about two hours gets you into Banff National Park. The first stop is a hike up Tunnel Mountain for views over the valley before setting up camp. The afternoon is yours to wander the streets of Banff town, which is touristy but has its charms. You can find a decent trail for a quick hike or just find a spot to grab a beer.

Later, a soak in the natural hot springs is the classic move to wind down. Tonight is the first of many nights camping out under the stars, so get your tent sorted and settle in.

The Glacial Lakes of Banff

It’s a short drive to Lake Louise, the one you’ve seen in all the photos. The main event is the hike up to the Lake Agnes Tea House, a log cabin that’s been serving tea for over a century. It’s a solid uphill trek past Mirror Lake and a few waterfalls, but the payoff is worth it. For a longer, more serious hike, the Plain of Six Glaciers Trail is the alternative.

The area around the main lake is a crush of people, but the trails thin out the further you go. You'll set up camp nearby for the night.