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Route Rating Level 2 to Level 5

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Casual Inns
  • From $2,498
    To $2,598 pp dbl. occ.
  • (+$990 for sgl. occ.)

Reserve early for the best available price. More Info

6 DAYS, 5 NIGHTS
ROLLOVER DATES BELOW FOR SPECIFIC PRICES
2008 DATES
CLASSIC TRIPS
SINGLES+SOLOS TRIPS
ROLLOVER DATES ABOVE FOR SPECIFIC PRICES
TRIP NOTES

All meals included except 1 dinner.

Cancellation Policy

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Meet / Depart

Banff, Alberta

Special Interest

Geological Wonders, Natural Beauty &/or Wildlife

My Backroads

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Contact Us

Call: 800-462-2848
or 510-527-1555
Fax: 510-527-1444
E-mail us

801 Cedar St.
Berkeley, CA 94710

Business Hours:
7 days a week
from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pacific Time

Or contact your travel agent

Canadian Rockies Vacations

Canadian Rockies Biking

Banff and Jasper National Parks

Are you up for a remarkable vacation that takes you along soaring mountain passes in the shadow of the Continental Divide? Then join Backroads to bike the spectacular Icefields Parkway, past dramatic glaciers, thundering waterfalls and blue-green lakes from Banff to Jasper National Park. Each day keep your eyes peeled for Rockies wildlife - moose, bear and elk - as we journey from one welcoming mountain lodge to the next.

You are viewing the Classic Casual Inns version of this trip.
View the Classic Premiere Inns , Classic Deluxe Camping Itineraries.

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Day 1 banff

Meet in Banff Follow the Bow River's blue-green waters up to Lake Louise, a UNESCO World Heritage Site set against a dramatic backdrop of glacier-cloaked mountains Stretch your legs on a hike to the stunning waterfall in Johnston Canyon   Enjoy a bountiful picnic lunch in a setting of breathtaking peaks.

Days 2-3 lake louise

Climb to Moraine Lake, whose glacial blue water is dramatically framed by the Ten Peaks   Shadow the Continental Divide as you ride on the Icefields Parkway, bordering a treeless alpine tundra Along the way, watch for black bears, elk, mountain goats and bighorn sheep  Soaring mountains and tumbling glaciers flank a long gradual uphill to jewel-colored Bow Lake Descend past Snowbird Glacier to the Mistaya and North Saskatchewan Rivers.

Days 4-5 saskatchewan river & sunwapta valley

Climb Sunwapta Pass, savor the raw beauty of the Columbia Icefield and revel in the scenery of glaciated mountains and valleys  Learn about the massive Athabasca Glacier, the largest in the Rockies, at the park's information center Descend to the beautiful Sunwapta Valley and ride along the Athabasca River as it flows toward the Arctic Ocean.

Day 6 jasper

Check out the area's wildlife on a relaxing optional float trip down the Athabasca River or pedal to impressive Maligne Canyon Shuttle back to Banff.

Route Rating What's this? Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. Each offers options for more or less activity, so you can decide exactly how much you want to do day by day.

Lodging What's this? Our lodgings are divided into three different categories.

Premiere Inns:These lodgings possess both elegance and authentic regional flair.

Casual Inns:These lodgings are comfortable and appropriate to the areawith such characteristics as authenticity, scenic settings and proximity to our activities.

Deluxe Camping:We set up the tents (and take them down), handle every camp chore and perform culinary magic.

Detailed Itinerary

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Trip praise

If dramatic scenery and challenging rides are what you're after, come to the Canadian Rockies—a spectacular setting to admire from the seat of bicycle. The landscape is the star here, with cozy inns and casual restaurants as supporting players. Scout locations such as Lake Louise, Bow Lake and the Columbia Icefield. And enjoy cameo appearances by elk and maybe a bighorn sheep or two. You're certain to give our newest Casual Inn trip a standing ovation.
Alison Iles - Regional Manager, Canada

For more than 29 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the Canadian Rockies tour experts. For biking tours in Canada, trust our in-depth connections. To see all our Canada biking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning Canada walking and hiking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning Canada multisport tours click here.

Canadian Rockies Biking

ROCKIES RETREATS : Casual Inns

Deer Lodge

Lake Louise (2 nights):

A quiet retreat tucked among the towering peaks surrounding Lake Louise featuring a rooftop hot tub from which to enjoy the views. Guest rooms are furnished with antiques and comfy down comforters.

The Crossing Resort

Saskatchewan River (1 night): This basic but comfortable hotel sits along the famous Icefields Parkway.

Sunwapta Falls Resort

Sunwapta Valley (1 night): A modest resort set amid the spectacular surroundings of Jasper National Park.

Tekarra Lodge

Jasper (1 night):

Sitting on a pine-topped ridge overlooking the confluence of the Athabasca and Miette Rivers, this rustic lodge offers cozy cabins with hardwood floors, fireplaces and balconies. 

Canadian Rockies Biking Canadian Rockies Biking

Deer Lodge

You are viewing the Classic Casual Inns version of this trip.
View the Classic Premiere Inns , Classic Deluxe Camping Itineraries.

Canadian Rockies Biking

Route Rating

Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain

Day 1
  • Levels 1 to 3  3 Route Options Available
  • Biking 38, 39 miles
  • 1500 - 3000 feet elevation gain
  • Walking 2.2 miles
  •  0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 2
  • Level 1  3 Route Options Available
  • Biking 9, 17 miles
  • 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
  • Hiking 4 miles
  • 1000 - 1500 feet elevation gain
Day 3
  • Levels 3 to 5  2 Route Options Available
  • Biking 37, 60 miles
  • 0 - 2000 feet elevation gain
Day 4
  • Levels 4 to 5 2 Route Options Available
  • Biking 44, 61 miles
  • 0 - 2000 feet elevation gain
Day 5
  • Levels 4 to 5 2 Route Options Available
  • Biking 17, 33 miles
  • 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 6
  • Level 1 1 Route Option Available
  • Optional Rafting
  • Biking 17 miles
  • 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Canadian Rockies Biking Canadian Rockies Biking

Trips For All Abilities

Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.

Activity Level Average Time Average Distance
    Biking Walking
& Hiking
1 2-3
hours		 10-20
miles		 2-5
miles
2 2-4
hours		 21-30
miles		 5-7
miles
3 3-5
hours		 31-40
miles		 7-9
miles
4 4-6
hours		 41-55
miles		 9-11
miles
5 5-7+
hours		 56-75+
miles		 11-13+
miles