Just sky, water, rock and wheels. It seems too simple to be this incredible. Glaciated Rockies soaring thousands of feet above the trees. Air that feels like the purest you ever breathed. A quiet parkway you’ll ride the entire day. Lake Louise, jewel-blue and simply stunning. Bighorn sheep staring as you pass as if they’ve never seen the likes of you before. The Post Hotel & Spa offering you pure luxury in such a rugged land. Your ride is simplicity, rawness and beauty in its purest form.
Day 1 A vast wilderness of magnificent peaks, ancient ice fields, pristine mountain lakes and broad valleys
Pedal from the picturesque resort town of Banff to Lake Minnewanka and picnic amid snowcapped spires.
Day 2 The elegant Post Hotel, where old-world charm meets modern sophistication
Bike the Bow River Valley’s rolling hills alongside towering summits and a striking blue-green river Water pounds and spray flies at the dramatic Johnston Canyon waterfall.
Day 3 Ride the Icefields Parkway, a journey through the heart of the Canadian Rockies
along the Continental Divide - it’s been called one of the world’s most beautiful roads! Can beauty stop time? You might think so as you gaze at spectacular Lake Louise Watch for black bears, elk, mountain goats and bighorn sheep Tumbling glaciers flank the gradual ascent to unbelievably blue Bow Lake.
Days 4-6 Gloriously crisp clean mountain air
Crest Sunwapta Pass en route to Athabasca Glacier At the Columbia Icefield Centre, get the lowdown on the massive frozen expanse, one of North America’s primary fresh water sources Explore Sunwapta Valley’s riverside byways Bike to remarkable Maligne Canyon and come face-to-face with the sculpting power of water, or opt for a river float trip.
Trip Highlights
- A vast wilderness of magnificent peaks, ancient glaciers, pristine mountain lakes and broad valleys
- Spectacular Lake Louise
- Ride the Icefields Parkway, a journey through the heart of the Canadian Rockies
- Incredibly crisp clean mountain air
- The Post Hotel, blending old-world charm with modern sophistication
Premiere & Casual Inns
Buffalo Mountain Lodge (1 night): A timbered lodge on the gentle slopes of Tunnel Mountain with fieldstone fireplaces in each cozy guest room.
Post Hotel & Spa (1 night): This European-style chalet set on the Pipestone and Bow Rivers is the epitome of rustic elegance, earning it a Travel + Leisure World's Best Award. A Relais & Châteaux member. (pool, spa)
Num-ti-Jah Lodge (1 night): This rustic and simple mountain retreat offers an atmosphere of secluded tranquility on the shore of Bow Lake.
Glacier View Inn (1 night): A modest lodge selected for its phenomenal location overlooking the famed Athabasca Glacier and Columbia Icefield.
The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge (1 night):
Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain
Day 1
- Levels 2 to 3 2 Route Options Available
- 29, 36 miles
- 550 - 1210 feet elevation gain
Day 2
- Levels 3 to 4 2 Route Options Available
- 38, 55 miles
- 1900 - 2560 feet elevation gain
- Optional Hiking 2.2 miles
- 500 feet elevation gain
Day 3
- Level 3 2 Route Options Available
- 35, 38 miles
- 1530 - 2170 feet elevation gain
- Optional Hiking 4 miles
- 500 feet elevation gain
Day 4
- Levels 4 to 5 2 Route Options Available
- 46, 57 miles
- 880 - 2480 feet elevation gain
- Optional Hiking 3.4 miles
- 820 feet elevation gain
Day 5
- Level 5 3 Route Options Available
- 56, 67, 70 miles
- 180 - 410 feet elevation gain
Day 6
- Level 1 1 Route Option Available
- Biking 11 miles
- 320 feet elevation gain
Routes 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 | Biking Average | Walking Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 2-3 hours | 10-20 mile | 2-5 miles |
| Level 2 | 2-4 hours | 21-30 miles | 5-7 miles |
| Level 3 | 3-5 hours | 31-40 miles | 7-9 miles |
| Level 4 | 4-6 hours | 41-55 miles | 9-11 miles |
| Level 5 | 5-7+ hours | 56-75+ miles | 11-13+ miles |
2012 Dates & Pricing*
CLASSIC TRIPS
- 6/24-29Price: $3198 pp dbl. occ., (+ $800 for sgl. occ.)
- 7/1-6Price: $3198 pp dbl. occ., (+ $800 for sgl. occ.)
- 7/8-13Price: $3198 pp dbl. occ., (+ $800 for sgl. occ.)
- 7/15-20Price: $3198 pp dbl. occ., (+ $800 for sgl. occ.)
- 7/22-27Price: $3298 pp dbl. occ., (+ $800 for sgl. occ.)
- 7/29-8/3Price: $3198 pp dbl. occ., (+ $800 for sgl. occ.)
- 8/5-10Price: $3398 pp dbl. occ., (+ $800 for sgl. occ.)
- 8/12-17Price: $3198 pp dbl. occ., (+ $800 for sgl. occ.)
- 8/19-24Price: $3198 pp dbl. occ., (+ $800 for sgl. occ.)
- 8/26-31Price: $3198 pp dbl. occ., (+ $800 for sgl. occ.)
- 9/2-7Price: $3198 pp dbl. occ., (+ $800 for sgl. occ.)
*Prices may change. Once you book your trip, your price is guaranteed.
Guest Trip Reviews
This was my 8th active vacation and it was the best of them all! Great cycling and scenery. And outstanding trip leaders were both very professional, service oriented, and generated lots of fun.- Tacoma, WA
Everything about this trip was fabulous. I felt well taken care of and supported along the way. The food was exceptional . . . don't usually pack smoked salmon on MY picnics (smile).- Saint Paul, MN
Thank you, Backroads, for sharing this beautiful part of the world with us in such a rewarding and special way. Cycling through the Canadian Rockies was an incredible experience that will leave its imprint on my life!- Saint Louis, MO
Trip of a lifetime. The scenery was awe-inspiring to say the least.- Crownsville, MD
Without a doubt, this trip was one of the finest of my life: breathtaking scenery, talented guides, fine food and people. Backroads challenges and pampers in a well balanced, well-paced trip. The routes selected were sublime. I found myself laughing joyously as I rode because I was continually and progressively awestruck. THANK YOU!!- Brighton, MA