| |

Ultimate Road Trips: Canada for First-Timers, Part 2

ByYvonne

Guest Post by Susanne Maier

Vancouver to the Rockies and back

So you love to go on road trips? Is traveling to Canada still on your bucket list? Good! (Same here!) So when I finally got the chance to travel to Canada this summer, I tried to figure out how to experience some of the best of Canada’s magnificent landscapes and outdoor activities all in one ultimate road trip Canada. After spending some time in Vancouver and a week of surfing, sea kayaking and whale watching on Vancouver Island, here is part two of a three-week adventure on the road you will never forget:

Road Trip Canada – Ultimate Tips for First-Timers, Part 2

Day 10: Vancouver – Whistler

Today is the beginning of your Rocky Mountain tour! Follow the scenic Sea-to-Sky highway along the coast to Whistler. Bring a picnic and stop along the way, e.g. in Britannia Beach. Explore Whistler, home of the 2010 Winter Olympics, check out the crazy downhill mountain bike trail right in the town center and enjoy some nightlife.

Day 11: Whistler – Jasper

Start early if you want to reach Jasper in one day (it’s over 800 km!). I enjoyed crossing surprisingly different landscapes and climatic zones from the coast mountains to the semi-arid, almost desert-like landscapes around Lillooet (welcome to gold rush country!) and Kamloops lake. Pass the majestic sight of Mount Robson, highest peak of the Canadian Rocky Mountains (3954m), before arriving in Jasper at night.

mountains with pine trees surrounding a small creek with a rail track along the water

Day 12, 13: Jasper National Park

Jasper is a nice little mountain town, way more relaxed and less crowded than Banff. One of my personal highlights of the road trip Canada is found in Jasper National Park: Mt. Edith Cavell. Loved hiking the “Path of the Glacier” through rocky moraines to a meltwater lake filled with icebergs! The “Cavell Meadows Trail” leads you higher up to subalpine meadows with lovely flowers and even better views of the Angel, Cavell and Ghost glaciers (and the little iceberg lake). If you can, spend more days and do more hikes, a cruise on the famous Maligne Lake, or fly like Superman on the Zipline.

black mountain with snow and a frozen lake shot from a road trip canada

Day 14: Jasper – Banff

Two magical words for every road trip Canada fan: Icefields Parkway. Imagine a panoramic road through the heart of the Canadian Rockies, 250 kilometers of wilderness and spectacular views of mountain peaks, turquoise lakes, glaciers…and you driving on it. Best stops: Columbia Icefield/Athabasca Glacier and Peyto Lake viewpoint.

mountains surround a valley with pine trees and a very blue lake

Day 15, 16, 17: Banff National Park

Spend a couple of days in this legendary national park among spectacular mountain scenery and: get out there! Go hiking (there are also many light trails and walks, so no excuses), experience the famous view of Moraine Lake and the Valley of the Ten Peaks (best in the early morning or at sunset) and get a chance to see wildlife (from moose to grizzly). Best trails: Sunshine Meadows and Plain of the Six Glaciers.

Day 18: Banff – Revelstoke

Continue east from Lake Louise and through stunning Yoho National Park. Have a blast trying some of the finest whitewater rafting in the Rockies on Kicking Horse River (loved it!). Pass Glacier National Park and continue until Revelstoke.

pink flowers with pine trees, green grass and mountains in the distance

Day 19: Revelstoke – Kelowna

Mount Revelstoke is one of the few opportunities where you can actually drive up to the mountain top. You’ll pass through different vegetation zones before reaching lovely subalpine “Meadows in the Sky” full of wildflowers and a 360° mountain view. Stunning! Made me feel like being on top of the world. (Don’t forget to bring mosquito spray, though!) Later, continue south towards the Okanagan valley and lake, an almost ‘Mediterranean’ region of orchards and vineyards. For a lakeshore sundowner, try Rose’s Pub in Kelowna.

a sunset over a harbor filled with small boats

Day 20, 21: Kelowna –  Vancouver

Now, you’re officially on your way back to Vancouver. Taking highways 97C and 5 is the faster option, but I recommend the longer and more scenic route south via Summerland and Pentiction, spending a little more time in the Okanagan valley and stopping for some wine tasting along the way. Spend your last night in Osoyoos near the US border, a desert-like region of wine, fruit and lakes, before heading back to Vancouver. What a trip!

Have you been to the Canadian Rockies? Share you experiences and tips with us below!

——————————————————————————————

picture of a woman smiling with a life vest on and boats in the background

Susi is a media evaluation consultant and a university and travel buddy of Yvonne. She is inspired by big cities, rough landscapes and medieval stuff, and loves travel that involves cars. Follow her on twitter @blackdotsws

 

WhatsApp
Email
Pin
Share
Avatar for Yvonne

Hi, ich bin Yvonne. Reisesüchtig. Schuldig im Sinne der Anklage. Sehr wahrscheinlich falle ich gerade irgendwo von einem Kamel, werde von einer Kobra angespuckt oder schleppe mein Gepäck durch einen Fluß im Dschungel. Es könnte allerdings auch gut sein, dass ich gerade im Schlafanzug auf meinem Sofa in Berlin sitze. Gute Mädchen kommen in den Himmel, böse Mädchen kommen überall hin. Überall hört sich irgendwie viel spannender an. Seid travelous und folgt mir!