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The Canadian Rockies are also termed the Canadian Rocky Mountains. They are a part of the British Columbia Rocky Mountains and the Alberta Rocky Mountains.
The range is located in the interior of Alberta and northeastern British Columbia. The Southern end has a bit of Idaho and Montana, while the northern end is the Liard river. The Canadian Rockies form the easternmost part of Canada and are part of the Canadian Cordillera. They are also a section of the American Cordillera.
The Canadian Rockies are made of sedimentary rocks and are heavily glaciated. This makes them sharp and pointy, with wide valleys between them. The Canadian Rockies are cold and wet, making their soil moist, rivers and glaciers bigger, and tree line lower.
The Canadian Rockies have more than 50 peaks surpassing 3,350 meters and are well known for being the source of river systems. Several major river systems, including Columbia, originate in the Rockies.
The Canadian Rockies has a lot of heritage accessible to visitors; here’s a list of 10 places to explore while visiting the Canadian Rockies.
10 Most Amazing Canadian Rockies
There are many places to explore and things to do while in the Canadian Rockies. These 10 things may be the best of them.
1. Icefields Parkway
Icefields Parkway contains ancient glaciers, beautiful lakes, and thundering waterfalls. Here are a few destinations to visit while in Icefields Parkway
1.1) Bow Lake
Bow lake is a perfect spot to view the Wapta Icefield, Bow Glacier, Crowfoot Glacier, and Mount Thompson.
1.2) Saskatchewan River Crossing
This is the point of connection of three rivers, namely, the Howse, Mistaya, and Saskatchewan, from the North.
1.3) Weeping Wall
This wall is located at Cirrus Mountain, which resembles a bout of tears. The main waterfall here is called Teardrop.
1.4) Columbia Icefield
The Columbia Icefield covers 325 km2 and received seven meters of snowfall. It is a major hotspot for ski mountaineering and has the Columbia Icefield Centre.
1.5) Athabasca Falls
Athabasca falls are very impressive and picturesque. They are well known for their volume and force.
2. Banff National Park
Banff National Park is Canada’s oldest park. It was established in 1885 and lay in Alberta’s Rockies. It covers more than 6,641 sq. km of glaciers, coniferous forests, and landscapes. Parks Canada manages the park. It is also the world’s third established national park.
Banff National Park has the montane, subalpine, and alpine ecoregions. Bears, moose, cougars, and wolverines comprise some of the wildlife found here. Banff National Park is famous for its lakes, mountains, and easy access to adventure. The Banff National Park has a lot to offer, ranging from amazing valleys, rugged peaks, and beautiful lakes to Canadian eateries and celebrations of art and culture.
Here are a few key attractions of Banff National Park:
2.1) The Sulphur Mountain
This mountain has two natural hot water springs, picturesque views, and huge ridges that provide a glimpse of everything Banff National Park is known for.
2.2) Lake Louise
Lake Louise is home to bears, hiking trails, and rusty tea houses.
2.3) Johnston Canyon
Johnston Canyon is made from limestone and creates a beautiful view of the canyon falls and the waterfalls.
2.4) Peyto Lake
A short hike towards Icefields Parkway leads you to a beautiful view called Peyto Lake. The water here is turquoise and comes from Peyto Glacier.
2.5) Banff Gondola
The Banff Gondola will let you enjoy the Canadian Rockies from an ariel view of 7,486 ft. You will also see the top summit of Sulphur Mountain with its trails.
3. Jasper National Park
Jasper National Park is Alberta’s largest one. It spanned over 11,000 km2 and was established in 1930. It contains the Columbia Icefield glacier, springs, mountains, and waterfalls.
Jasper National Park offers treks in Mount Edith, Maligne Canyon and more. The park offers mountains, rivers, glaciers, various excursions, and opportunities to enjoy activities, for example, skiing, snowshoeing, and more.
The front country of the national park has attractions, namely, Miette Hot Springs, Mount Edith Cavell Hiking area, Maligne Canyon and Lake, the Jasper Skytram, and the Marmot Basin ski area, which is highly populated during winters. Jasper National Park’s backcountry includes the North Boundary Trail, Jones Pass, Fryatt Lake, and Tonquin Valley.
4. Spirit Island
Spirit Island is an iconic landmark in the Canadian Rockies, located at Maligne Lake in Jasper National park. It enjoys a worldwide reputation and is one of the most famous views of the Rockies.
The island is connected to the shore by an isthmus, but the rain and melts of snow cause the water levels to rise and separate the island from the shore. Its popularity is the picture hung by photographer Peter Gale in Kodak’s Colorama showcase in New York in 1960. It has appeared on computer desks and in movies; famous ones are Owen Wilson’s and Vince Vaughn’s ‘The Internship.’ The island is also worshiped as a spiritual place by Stoney Nakoda First Nation; for them, the mountains are representations of their ancestors.
Spirit Island, a beautiful and famous hotspot in the Canadian Rockies, is almost unreachable. Paddling can take four hours, and a cruise can take two hours to reach. This makes it difficult for visitors.
5. Mount Robson
The most prominent mountain of the Canadian Rockies is Mount Robson; it is also Canada’s highest one. It is also B.C.’s second-highest peak and its oldest provincial park, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Old forests, waterfalls, and meadows combine to form this beautiful park. There are several hiking spots here. It is rich in wilderness, including whitetail deer, mules, mountain goats, and grizzle bears. There are also over 180 bird species, including American Pipits, Rufous Hummingbirds, grey Owls, and majestic golden eagles.
The major sites to visit in the park are Berg Lake, the Valley of a Thousand Falls, Kinney Lake, and Emperor Falls. There are also a lot of popular destinations for hiking and camping here; some are the camping excursion to Berg Lake and the Mist, Berg, and Robson Glaciers.
6. Maligne Lake
Maligne Lake is in Jasper National Park. It is famous for its azure water, visible glaciers, and Spirit Island.
Here are a few things to do while in Maligne Lake or Maligne Valley.
6.1) Maligne Lake Cruise
This cruise is accessible to everyone and takes only 1.5 hours to complete. You can view glaciers, mountain peaks, and Spirit Island.
6.2) Mary Shaffer Loop
The best way to save money in Maligne Valley is to visit the Mary Shaffer Loop. It is a small hike and takes only 45 minutes to complete. You can also see deer and moose.
6.3) Bald Hills Trail
Bald Hills Trail offers some great views of Maligne Lake. It is one of the best trails and has a very scenic route.
7. Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park sits in Northern Montana. This is the first international peace park in the world.
Going-to-the-sun Road is its most popular section. Many Glacier, Two Medicine, and North Fork are other hotspots. This spot is part of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
The Logan Pass is a must-stop-at destination. It is the highest point in the National park, and you can view jagged mountains, wildflowers, mountain goats, and bighorn sheep.
Lake McDonald is the park’s largest lake and has a lot of adventurous activities, including hikes and horseback riding. Wild Goose Island is the park’s most photographed spot. Views of this location can be found in ‘The Shining’.
8. Yoho National Park
Yoho National Park falls in the west of the Canadian Rockies. Yoho’ is a Cree word for amazement, and it is a good description of how you will feel when you see the park’s spectacular landscape. Yoho is the smallest of the national parks and covers 1,313 km2.
Yoho National Park is home to coyotes, badgers, timber wolves, elks, grizzly bears, black bears, moose, mule deer, hoary marmot, mountain goat, rufous hummingbird, lynx, cougar, and pika. The trees in Yoho include red cedar, western hemlock, fir, aspen, cottonwood, and spruce.
Yoho National Park also houses Takakkaw Falls, the 2nd tallest waterfall in Canada. Other notable sites include Natural Bridge, Emerald Lake, and Kicking Horse river. The Iceline Trail is another reason people love this place; it is full of waterfalls, wildflowers, glacier lakes, and views.

Finally, another beautiful destination held in Yoho is Paget Peak. It is an easy and short hike providing incredible views of the Kicking Horse Pass, the hanging glacier on Cathedral Mountain, and the Great Divide Glacier.
9. Moraine Lake
Moraine Lake is a glacially-fed lake in the Valley of Ten Peaks. When the lake freezes, it reflects a beautiful shade of azure blue because of the rock flour at the bottom of the lake. Moraine Lake is so beautiful that the Canadian 20-dollar bill has a picture of it. Because of this, it is nicknamed ‘Twenty Dollar View’.
Lake Moraine’s observation platform gives you great views of Mount Temple, the third-highest Canadian Rockies’ peak. The area has various hiking trails; the most commonly used one is the Rockpile Trail. Moraine Lake’s view from the top of this trail is widely photographed. The Consolation Lake trail is 3 km long, and hikers can continue along to the upper part of the lake. Another famous trailhead is located near the Moraine Lake Lodge. Here, there are two trails, which branch out into five: the Eiffel lake, Wenkchemna Pass, Larch Valley, Sentinel Pass, and Moraine Lakeshore trail.
10. Lake Louise
Lake Lousie is a stunning vivid turquoise lake, with bright red canoes floating in its waters. In colder months, the lake freezes into a beautiful stage for cross-country skiers, ice climbers, and horse sleighs. The outdoor skating rink also opens its area for skaters.

It has a lot of hikes, with the lakeshore one being the first to be covered. Other hiking trails include trips to Mirror Lake, Saddleback Pass, Lake Agnes, Fairview mountain, Big Beehive, Devils Thumb, Little Beehive, Mount Niblock, and Mount Whyte. Many of these trails are open for mountain biking, horseback riding, and rock climbing, and the surrounding lake is always open for kayaking and canoeing. Lake Louise Ski Area offers equipment for alpine and cross-country skiing, heli-skiing, snowboarding, ice-fishing, and ice skating. You can also indulge in ice climbing, snowmobiling, dog sledding, and snowshoeing.
Lake Louise, along with Banff, is also a stage for spoken, written, and illustrated art and stories of the two. There are many galleries, heritage spaces, and exhibits to educate you about the place’s culture.
The Canadian Rockies: A Conclusion
The Canadian Rockies offer some of the most unforgettable experiences and fun activities of your life. The lakes, glaciers, trees, and wildlife of the above-listed locations will take you to a different place.
The Rocky Mountains form an important part of the tourism industry of Canada. They offer something for everyone, and no one will leave here disappointed. So, if you’re looking for a trip close to nature, the Canadian Rockies is the place to be!
Last Updated on by Himani Rawat