The Rockies are a region of Canada that more or less form the border between the provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. The roads and railroad routes here are amongst the most beautiful in the world. Much of the Rocky mountains of Canada lie within various national and provincial parks. The Canadian Rockies continue southward into the U.S. states of Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and New Mexico.

Regions

The Alberta half of the Canadian Rockies includes two national parks:

• Banff National Park, including the towns of Banff and Lake Louise
• Jasper National Park, including the town of Jasper

It also includes Kananaskis Country, to the south-east of Banff National Park, including the town of Canmore.

The British Columbian half of the Canadian Rockies also includes the eastern subregions of the Kootenays region:

• Columbia-Rockies
• East Kootenays, including Yoho National Park and Kootenay National Park

Understand

The history of the Canadian Rockies – like that of so much else of Canada – is based in the fur trade and the railroad. The first Europeans to view the Rockies were a ramshackle collection of pioneers who ventured there on behalf of their respective fur trading companies. Most significantly, David Thompson ventured through Howse Pass on behalf of the North West Company in 1804, establishing Kootenay House, near what is now Invermere.

In 1871, Sir John A MacDonald convinced British Columbia to join Canada with the promise of a national railway that would connect it to the rest of Canada. The Canadian Pacific Railway was completed on November 7, 1885, and the last spike was driven in Craigellachie, BC.

In the following 50 years, Banff, Jasper, Waterton, Yoho and Kootenay National Parks are established, and the area becomes a tourist destination. The gorgeous scenery and unblemished wilderness are but some of the reasons that most of the area is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and draws millions of visitors every year.

There is wide variability of atmosphere throughout the area. Banff and Lake Louise are likely the most developed towns, while the villages of Field and Elkford attract more through their natural splendour than via any attractions within the communities themselves.

The region is probably one of the most scenic in the world between the spectacular mountains, widespread forests and glacier fed lakes. The weather in the summer tends to be hot (30°C) and sunny. In winter it is colder at around -15°C and fantastic for skiing at the area’s many resorts.

Get in

By plane

The closest international airport are located in Calgary and Edmonton. Some travellers arrive into Vancouver either fly to the regional airport in Cranbrook or drive to the Rockies.

There are tour operators that transport passengers between Edmonton and Jasper via Train and Bus.

By car

Banff is about a 2 hour drive from Calgary. Jasper is about 3 hours from Edmonton. Either one is about a 10 to 12 hour drive from Vancouver. Note that the highways fromVancouver run through alpine passes, and can be closed or slowed due to avalanches, accidents or other such problems. Closures are most common in winter, which is roughly from October to May. Drivers with little or no winter driving experience are cautioned against long alpine drives in snowy, icy or cold conditions.

By rail

VIA Rail offers service into the Canadian Rockies via the gateway cities of Edmonton or Calgary.

The Rocky Mountaineer rail service is a beautiful way to get to the Rocky Mountains and to see many spectacular sights from the dome car.

Get around

There are a number of extremely scenic highways through the Rocky Mountains.

• Icefields Parkway – connects Banff to Jasper