Adventure Guide: The Canadian Rockies (Hunter Travel Guides)

409 Pages·2006·8.3 MB·English

by  Brenda Koller Hunter Publishing

n Jasper National Park
n Banff National Park
n Yoho National Park
n Kootenay National Park dventure Guide
n Kananaskis Country
n Waterton Lakes National Park
n Mt Robson Provincial Park
Here is a guide filled with inside information on how to avoid the tour-
ist traps and where to find the special places off the beaten path that
most tourists don’t know about; the most worthwhile outdoor adven-
tures and indoor activities; the best hotels and restaurants at all price
levels; plus tips on places to avoid.
The author grew up in the Canadian Rockies and has been exploring
them since she was a child.
Easily accessible adventures include walking, hiking, mountain bik-
ing, fishing, boating, horseback riding, skiing and wildlife viewing.
Where else can you spend the morning hiking through spectacular
wilderness, then enjoy high tea at a grand hotel in the afternoon?
Competing guides focus overwhelmingly on Banff and Jasper Na-
tional Parks. We cover all of the parks in depth, taking you to the
lesser-known attractions as well, where the crowds won’t ruin your
experience – hiking paths, bike trails, rafting trips, alpine and
cross-country ski resorts, horseback excursions, glaciers, pristine
lakes, and much more.
n SIGHTSEEING & ADVENTURES
n WHERE TO STAY & EAT
Life is an adventure – let Hunter be your guide! n BOATING & FISHING
n HIKING & SKIING
Sightseeing Skiing & Hiking Wildlife Spotting n WILDLIFE SPOTTING
Food & Wine Walking & Biking Where to Stay
Fishing & Boating Restaurants Shopping
Canadian
Hunter Publishing, Inc. ISBN 1-58843-57-3
130 Campus Drive
Edison NJ 0818 Rockies
Printed on recycled paper
US $19.99 9 781588 435736 5 1 9 9 9
Brenda Koller
www.hun te rpub l i s h i ng . com HUNTER
dventure
Guide Canadian Rockies
dventure Guide
The
Canadian
Rockies
Brenda Koller
HUNTER
HUNTER PUBLISHING, INC,
130 Campus Drive, Edison, NJ 08818
% 732-225-1900; 800-255-0343; fax [phone]
www.hunterpublishing.com
Ulysses Travel Publications
4176 Saint-Denis, Montréal, Québec
Canada H2W 2M5
% 514-843-9882, ext. 2232; fax [phone]
Windsor Books
The Boundary, Wheatley Road, Garsington
Oxford, OX44 9EJ England
% 01865-361122; fax [phone]
ISBN 1-58843-573-3
© 2006 Hunter Publishing, Inc.
Manufactured in the United States of America
This and other Hunter travel guides are also available as e-books
through Amazon.com, NetLibrary.com, EBSCO and other digital
partners. For more information, e-mail us at
Contents
Introduction 1
My Travel Philosophy 3
How this Book is Organized 6
Human History in the Rockies 6
Geology 9
Plants 13
Weather & Seasons 14
Wildlife 16
National & Provincial Parks 25
National Park Regulations 28
Visitor Information Centers 29
Getting There & Getting Around 30
By Road 30
Motorhome Rentals 31
By Bus 32
By Air 32
By Rail 32
Where to Eat 33
Where to Stay 33
Rental Cottages & Apartments 34
Hosteling 34
Camping 35
Photography Tips 39
What to Bring 41
Adventures Rockies-Style 41
Playing it Safe 41
Adventuring with Children 42
Tour Operators 44
Equipment Rentals 44
Adventures On Water 45
Lake Boating 45
Canoeing 45
Swimming 45
Fishing 46
Whitewater Rafting 46
Adventures On Horseback 47
Adventures on Foot 48
iv n Contents
Hiking 48
Mountain Biking 55
Bicycle Touring 56
Winter Adventures 56
Useful Information 58
Traveling with Dogs 58
Public Holidays – British Columbia & Alberta 59
Time Zones 60
The Language 60
Money Matters 61
Telephone Calls 63
Alcohol & Tobacco 63
Information Sources 63
Jasper National Park 65
History 65
Getting There & Getting Around 67
Special Events 70
Jasper Townsite 71
Attractions 74
The Jasper Heritage Railway Station 74
Jasper-Yellowhead Museum 74
Shopping 75
Where to Eat 76
Where to Stay 78
Downtown 78
Near Jasper Townsite 80
Rental Cottages & Apartments 82
Camping 83
Campsites in Jasper National Park 84
Campgrounds Near Jasper National Park 85
Backcountry Camping 85
Hosteling 85
Wildlife 86
Adventures 88
Sports & Camping Equipment Rentals 88
Guided Tours 89
Horseback Riding 91
Whitewater Rafting 92
Mountain Biking & Bicycle Touring 94
Lake Boating & Fishing 95
Drives, Sights, Activities & Hikes 97
Contents n v
Patricia & Pyramid Lakes 97
Old Fort Point Loop 98
Jasper Tramway 98
Lake Edith & Lake Annette 99
Lac Beauvert 100
Maligne Valley 100
Maligne Canyon 101
Opal Hills 104
Miette Hot Springs Road 105
Sulphur Skyline 106
Jasper Lake & Talbot Lake Sand Dunes 107
Highway 93A 108
Mount Edith Cavell 108
Cavell Meadows 109
Path of the Glacier 109
Winter Adventures 111
Alpine Skiing 111
Nordic Skiing 112
Outdoor Ice Skating 112
To Do List 115
Useful Information 116
Mount Robson Provincial Park 119
History 119
Getting There 121
Touring the Park – Yellowhead Highway 16 123
Visitor Information Center 123
Mount Terry Fox 123
Rearguard Falls Viewpoint 124
Overlander Falls Trail 124
Yellowhead Lake & Moose Lake 125
Where to Eat 126
Where to Stay 126
Lodging 126
Camping 127
Wildlife 129
Adventures 129
Hiking 129
Berg Lake Trail 129
Kinney Lake Trail 130
Whitewater Rafting 133
Horseback Riding 134
vi n Contents
Useful Information 134
Icefields Parkway 137
History 138
What You Need to Know 139
Where to Eat 139
Where to Stay 140
Wildlife 140
Bicycle Touring 140
Walks & Hikes 141
Valley of the Five Lakes 141
Athabasca Falls 141
Sunwapta Falls 142
Beauty Creek Trail to Stanley Falls 144
Stutfield Glacier Viewpoint 145
Tangle Falls 145
Sunwapta Canyon Viewpoint 145
The Columbia Icefield & Athabasca Glacier 145
Wilcox Pass 148
Parker Ridge 150
Bridal Veil Falls & Panther Falls 150
North Saskatchewan Valley Viewpoint 151
Saskatchewan River Crossing 151
Mistaya Canyon 151
Snowbird Glacier Viewpoint 151
Peyto Glacier Viewpoint 151
Bow Summit 152
Peyto Lake Viewpoint 152
Peyto Lake 152
Simpson’s Num-Ti-Jah Lodge 153
Crowfoot Glacier Viewpoint 155
Helen Lake 155
Banff National Park 157
History 158
Getting There & Getting Around 159
Special Events 162
Banff Townsite 164
Banff Historical Walking Tour 166
Attractions 166
Banff Gondola 170
The Banff Center 172
Contents n vii
Shopping 173
Where to Eat 176
Where to Stay 179
Downtown 180
Near Banff Townsite 180
Rental Cabins & Apartments 183
Camping 184
Campsites in Banff Townsite 185
Backcountry Camping 186
Hosteling 186
Adventures 187
Sports & Camping Equipment Rentals 187
Guided Tours 187
Horseback Riding 190
Whitewater Rafting 191
Lake Boating & Fishing 194
Mountain Biking & Bicycle Touring 196
Drives, Sights, Activities & Hikes 196
Bow Falls 196
Tunnel Mountain 197
Vermilion Lakes 198
Mount Norquay 199
Lake Minnewanka Road 200
Bow Valley Parkway 202
Johnston Canyon 203
Cory Pass – Mount Edith Circuit 203
Winter Adventures 205
Alpine Skiing 205
Nordic Skiing 206
Outdoor Ice Skating 207
Wildlife 207
Scenic Must-See’s 207
To Do List 208
Useful Information 210
Lake Louise 211
History 211
The Village 215
Where to Eat 215
Where to Stay 217
Hotels/Inns/Lodges 218
Camping 219
viii n Contents
Campsites in Lake Louise & Vicinity 220
Hosteling 221
Adventures 222
Sports & Camping Equipment Rentals 222
Horseback Riding 222
Mountain Biking 223
Hikes, Drives, Sights & Activities 223
Lake Louise 224
Lake Louise Lakeshore 224
Lake Agnes 224
Plain of Six Glaciers 225
Fairview Lookout 229
Saddleback/Fairview Mountain 229
Moraine Lake 229
Moraine Lakeshore 230
Larch Valley – Sentinel Pass 230
Winter Adventures 231
Alpine Skiing 231
Nordic Skiing 231
Outdoor Ice Skating 231
Useful Information 232
Kananaskis Country 233
History 235
Getting There & Getting Around 235
Special Events 237
Canmore Townsite 241
Attractions 241
Shopping 241
Where to Eat 242
Where to Stay 244
Downtown 244
Guest Ranches & Lodges 246
Camping 248
Hosteling 252
Wildlife 253
Adventures 254
Sports & Camping Equipment Rentals 254
Guided Tours 254
Horseback Riding 257
Whitewater Rafting 258
Lake Boating & Fishing 259
Contents n ix
Mountain Biking 259
Drives, Sights, Activities & Hikes 260
Kananaskis Country Provincial Parks 260
Grassi Lakes 261
Bow Valley Provincial Park 261
Evan-Thomas Provincial Recreation Area 262
Peter Lougheed Provincial Park 262
Ptarmigan Cirque 263
Spray Valley Provincial Park 264
Karst Spring 264
Winter Adventures 265
Alpine Skiing 265
Nordic Skiing 265
Outdoor Ice Skating 266
Scenic Must-See’s 266
To Do List 267
Useful Information 267
Yoho National Park 269
History 270
Getting There & Getting Around 272
Special Events 274
Field Townsite 274
Shopping 275
Where to Eat 277
Where to Stay 278
Rental Cottages & Apartments 280
Camping 281
Hosteling 284
Wildlife 284
Adventures 284
Tour Operators 284
Horseback Riding 286
Whitewater Rafting 286
Lake Boating & Fishing 287
Mountain Biking 287
Drives, Sights, Activities & Hikes 288
Trans Canada Highway 288
The Spiral Tunnels 288
Leanchoil Hoodoos 289
Wapta Falls 289
Yoho Valley 291