Visit the Canadian Rockies – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – and you’ll be smitten with Rocky Mountain fever.
Banff, Jasper and Lake Louise are all bucket list places to visit in Canada.
And once you see these Canadian Rockies pictures of Banff, Jasper and Lake Louise, you’ll understand why!
And that Rocky Mountain fever?
It’s the ache you feel upon beholding glaciers that cling like angel’s wings to mountains so lofty, they disappear into the clouds.
It’s the longing that overtakes you after seeing untamed evergreen forests, waterfalls that cascade down vertical cliffs and lakes that glitter an astonishing aquamarine.
Are we getting a bit too syrupy? See, that’s what the Rockies do to us!
Canadian Rockies pictures
The only cure for Rocky Mountain fever?
Return and visit once again the world-renowned Canadian Rocky Mountains.
Photos of Banff and Lake Louise
Banff and Lake Louise are found in Banff National Park, one of the most popular national parks in Canada.
Get ready to be wowed!
Many of the snow-capped mountains in Banff soar higher than 12,000 feet!
Spanning 2,564 square miles of wilderness, the park also boasts 1,000 miles of hiking trails – more than any other mountain park in the world.
There are a gazillion things to do in Banff National Park (well almost), from biking the Legacy Trail and paddling a kayak on Lake Louise to biking along Lake Minnewanka.
We like hiking along the steel catwalks up Johnston Canyon – it’s exhilarating to feel the spray above the thundering waterfalls!
Soaking in natural hot springs and golfing are also popular.
And the wildlife?
We’ve seen black bears, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, brilliant blue jays and cheeky chipmunks that grab bits of your sandwich and run.
In winter, you can shuss down world-class slopes at three ski resorts – Lake Louise Ski Resort, Mt. Norquay and Sunshine Village.
There are other great things to do in Lake Louise too.
The Lake Louise Gondola offers gorgeous mountain views.
Sleigh riding, cross-country skiing and snow shoeing are also fun in winter.
It’s also possible to see remarkable sights…
Like the Northern Lights!
Where to stay in Banff and Lake Louise
Banff accommodation:
Like a castle in the mountains, the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel is the grandest place to stay in Banff.
Also check out the best Airbnbs in Banff.
Where to stay in Lake Louise?
The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is another grand hotel in Canada’s Rockies.
Be sure to paddle a canoe on Lake Louise – a very Canadian thing to do!
Photos of Jasper
Jasper National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is twice as big as Banff.
But its postage-stamp size town, Jasper, is quainter and you’ll bump into fewer visitors here.
There are many stunning Jasper attractions.
For one, the Jasper Sky Tram – the longest and highest aerial tramway in Canada – is something you’ll want to put on your Jasper itinerary.
And if you hike the Old Fort Point Trail, you’ll get stunning views of Jasper and its surroundings.
On the way down, the Old Fort Point Bridge – an iron bridge crossing the Athabasca River – is likely to catch your attention.
Where to stay in Jasper
For accommodation, perhaps splurge on the Jasper Park Lodge.
Along with the Chateau Lake Louise and Banff Springs Hotel, it’s one of the “wow” places to stay in Canada’s Rocky Mountains.
Or you can rent a cabin like we have on a couple of recent summer family holidays in Jasper.
We particularly like Alpine Village Resort.
On the banks of the Athabasca River, the Pine Bungalows are also very clean and good (less expensive).
Driving from Banff to Jasper
Connecting Banff and Jasper parks is the 144-mile Icefields Parkway, which stretches between Lake Louise and Jasper.
Watch out for the elk!
Be sure to stop at the Columbia Icefield, North America’s largest sub-polar body of ice feeding eight major glaciers.
You can ride in a big red “ice explorer” on Athabasca Glacier, then walk along the glass-floored Glacier Skywalk suspended a jaw-dropping 918 feet above glacier-formed valleys.
So there you have it – the beautiful Canadian Rockies…
And some inspiring Canadian Rockies photography.
Talk about a Rocky Mountain high!
How to snap your own great Canadian Rockies photos?
Well, first you have to visit!
One of the best ways to see the Canadian Rockies is on the Rocky Mountaineer train. It travels between Vancouver and Banff, taking in Lake Louise.
You’re sure to get some of your own Insta-perfect shots of the Canadian Rockies!
Enjoy more of Canada!
Parksville and Qualicum Beach | From swimming at warm shallow beaches to caving to spying the goats on the roof, you’ll love these crazy fun things to do in Parksville and Qualicum Beach.
Victoria | Lace up your sneakers and check out these easy scenic walks in Victoria.
Tofino | When the weather is wild and bad, head to Tofino for storm watching!
Our top travel tips and resources
Here are our favorite travel resources:
Hotels: Booking.com is great for scoring a “wow” hotel – or at least a decent one. (We especially like their flexible cancellation policy!)
Vacation homes, condos and rentals: We prefer and use Vrbo (Vacation Rentals by Owner).
Tours: For the best local food, walking and other guided tours plus skip-the-line tickets to attractions, check out GetYourGuide and Viator.
Car rental: Renting a car is often one of the best ways to explore off the beaten path. Discover Cars searches car rental companies so you get the best rates.
Travel insurance: SafetyWing is designed for frequent travelers, long-term adventurers and digital nomads. It covers medical expenses, lost checked luggage, trip interruption and more.
Vaccines and meds: We follow CDC travel guidelines to see what medications and vaccines are needed for trips. You can get vaccines at your pharmacy, travel medical clinic or doctor’s office.
Travel gear: See our travel shop to find the best luggage, accessories and other travel gear. (We suggest these comfy travel sandals for city walking, the beach and kicking about.)
Need more help planning your trip? Check out our travel tips and resources guide for airline booking tips, ways to save money, how to find great hotels and other crazy useful trip planning info.
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Photo credits: 9 © Janice and George Mucalov, SandInMySuitcase
About the authors
Luxury travel journalists and SATW, NATJA and TMAC “Best Travel Blog” award winners, Janice and George Mucalov are the publishers of Sand In My Suitcase. Between them, they’ve traveled to all 7 continents. See About.
Find destination guides, global food-and-wine stories, luxury hotel reviews, articles on cultural explorations and soft adventure trips, cruise reviews, insanely useful travel tips and more!
Victor Tribunsky
Tuesday 13th of June 2017
What wonderful views! Emerald water. Yes, Canada is one of the handsomest countries of the world, cold, but beautiful.
Janice and George
Sunday 18th of June 2017
Yes, we Canadians are hardy people :-). But it's not so cold in the summer. August, in particular, is a great time to visit weather-wise :-).
Alma Cruz
Wednesday 19th of April 2017
We went to Banff and Jasper last summer thinking "We'll go there just once and I would be happy". We loved it so much that we are planning to return and spend more time. I fell in love with those Canadian Rockies and beautiful lakes. We will be there soon!
Janice and George
Wednesday 19th of April 2017
The mountains get in your blood, don't they! We were so fortunate to be so close to the Rockies when we lived in Calgary...
Carol Rediker
Tuesday 18th of April 2017
I've been to Banff twice and Jasper once! They are both so beautiful, but I found Jasper more to my liking!
Janice and George
Tuesday 18th of April 2017
Jasper is smaller and more laid-back -- less touristy. We love Jasper too :-).
Laura Marie
Wednesday 12th of April 2017
These photographs are magical, I would love to see The Northern Lights one day how magical.
Great to meet you guys, I'm taken with your content!
Laura xo
Janice and George
Wednesday 12th of April 2017
The Northern Lights is something we'd like to see too :-). And we're delighted you like our site.
Frank
Thursday 9th of March 2017
Oh wow, some incredible photos. But the one with the guy skating across the lake is spectacular, WOW! We always say that one day we'll come back to Western Canada, so much we haven't seen. Most beautiful part of this great country!
Frank
Janice and George
Friday 10th of March 2017
There's lots to Canada (and western Canada) we haven't explored yet too, even though it's (sort of) in our back yard :-)