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Route Rating Level 2 to Level 4

PDF iconDetailed Itinerary

RESERVE THIS TRIP!

Premiere Inns
  • From $2,998
    To $3,298 pp dbl. occ.
  • (+From $940 To $970
    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
2009 DATES
CLASSIC TRIPS
SINGLES+SOLOS TRIPS
ROLLOVER DATES ABOVE FOR SPECIFIC PRICES
TRIP NOTES

All meals are included.

Cancellation Policy

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Meet / Depart

Banff, Alberta

Special Interest

Fine Wine & Cuisine, Geological Wonders, Natural Beauty &/or Wildlife, Spa

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 Walking

Canadian Rockies Hiking

Banff & Yoho National Parks

"This is the way I've imagined worlds being born - all mist and shadow and swirl," muses National Geographic Traveler magazine. "There would be peaks appearing and disappearing in wisps of fog, and rock walls so impossibly high you'd bow your neck in a posture the opposite of prayer just to see the top. And, below, a lake, its water a shade of blue you thought existed only in dreams." Join Backroads Trip Leaders, certified Professional Mountain Parks Heritage Interpreters who know the region intimately, and experience the natural grandeur of Banff, Kootenay and Yoho National Parks on an exhilarating hiking journey amid ancient glaciers, vibrant forests, majestic snowcapped peaks, hanging valleys and sparkling emerald glacier-fed lakes. 

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Day 1 Yoho National Park

Meet in Banff  In Kootenay National Park, hike through a vast and recent wildfire burn area and experience the beauty of the new growth forest, fireweed and yellow columbine Venture farther into a pristine hanging valley for your first up-close view of incredible Stanley Glacier.

Days 2-3 Emerald Lake

Hike to Canada's second-highest waterfall, Takakkaw Falls (from the Cree word meaning "it is wonderful") Admire views of the Wapta Icefields and the Yoho Glacier as you ascend a series of switchbacks through lush forest and meadows to Yoho Lake Walk to our mountain retreat on the shores of aptly named Emerald Lake Hike to beautiful Emerald Basin, a natural amphitheater of rock and ice adorned with cascading water.

Days 4-6 Lake Louise

Tackle the steady climb to one of the most beautiful alpine meadows in Banff National Park - in peak season it's carpeted with wildflowers and alive with the whistles of hoary marmots Take in vistas of the Crowfoot Glacier and Bow Lake From Moraine Lake, follow switchbacks to breathtaking Larch Valley  Marvel at the sight of Mount Fay and the ten Wenkchemna Peaks Savor the exquisite cuisine of Chef Hans Sauter at the Post Hotel's acclaimed restaurant - and for even more indulging, visit the Post's spa! Cap off the trip with a classic and stunning Canadian Rockies hike from world-renowned Lake Louise to the historic Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse.

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

Reserve This Trip!

Guest Trip Reviews

This trip offers a truly exquisite alpine experience! We bring together the finest hotels in the region, our amazing Trip Leaders, and some of the most beautiful hiking in North America to create a magnificent Canadian Rockies classic.
Alison Iles - Regional Manager, Canada

All Guest Reviews

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

Canadian Rockies Hiking

SUBLIME SECLUSION: Premiere Inns

Cathedral Mountain Lodge

Yoho National Park (1 night): Enjoy the grand comfort and cuisine of this timber-framed lodge before snuggling into your well-appointed private log cabin that features a stone fireplace and spacious deck with inspiring views.

Emerald Lake Lodge

Emerald Lake (2 nights): This secluded turn-of-the century lodge on a tree-rimmed lake offers delicious cuisine, a gym, sauna and outdoor hot tub.

Post Hotel & Spa

Lake Louise (2 nights): It's easy to see why this Relais & Châteaux member-hotel, with a full-service spa, an award-winning wine cellar and gourmet cuisine, is called a "masterwork" by the Los Angeles Times and consistently appears on Travel+Leisure World's Best list.

Canadian Rockies Hiking Canadian Rockies Hiking

Post Hotel & Spa

Canadian Rockies Hiking

Route Rating

Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain

Day 1
  • Levels 1 to 2 1 Route Option Available
  • 5 miles
  • 1000 – 1500 feet elevation gain
Day 2
  • Levels 2 to 3  3 Route Options Available
  • 5.2, 8.2, 8.6 miles
  • 750 - 1500 feet elevation gain
Day 3
  • Level 2 1 Route Option Available
  • 6.3 miles
  • 500 - 1000 feet elevation gain
Day 4
  • Level 3 2 Route Options Available
  • 7.5, 8.6 miles
  • 1500 - 2000 feet elevation gain
Day 5
  • Levels 2 to 3 2 Route Options Available
  • 5.2, 7.2 miles
  • 1500 - 2500 feet elevation gain
Day 6
  • Levels 2 to 3 2 Route Options Available
  • 6.2, 8.2 miles
  • 1000 - 1500 feet elevation gain
Canadian Rockies Hiking Canadian Rockies Hiking

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