Canadian Rockies Multisport Tour
- Natural and historic treasures discovered by foot, bike and boat
- Ice walk on massive Athabasca Glacier with informative mountain guides
- Bike to impossibly blue Lake Louise and teal-hued Maligne Lake
- A float trip down the Athabasca River
- Spot signs of marmots, deer, elk and coyote
Natural & Historic Treasures in Banff & Jasper National Parks
Breathtaking. It's an interesting word, really. Looking up at the ice-draped Rockies is "breath taking." But stepping out on the glacier, feeling it crunch under your feet. Being humbled by the enormity of it is a different kind of breath taking. It's the difference between "taking it in" and "diving in." Rafting on a glacier-fed river. Hiking a slot canyon. Biking among crystalline lakes. Moose. Bighorn sheep. The more you get into the Canadian Rockies, the more you'll get out of it. Some vacations are about catching your breath. This one's about losing it.
We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception. Read the Straight Talk 
We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
Accommodations
The historic Num-Ti-Jah Lodge is our home for one night. The guest rooms are clean and comfortable, but simpler than the typical Backroads standard. We've chosen this property because of its character, proximity to our favorite routes and the fantastic views. The Num-Ti-Jah Lodge does not have in-room phones.
Days
1-2 Impossibly blue Lake Louise, a world-renowned beauty and World Heritage site ringed by towering glaciated peaks 
Pedal past virgin forest and vibrant wildflowers as you follow the winding Bow River A scenic hiking trail leads through Johnston Canyon to a picturesque waterfall 
Walk through subalpine forest lined with larch trees Marvel at the blue-green hues of Moraine Lake, beneath the striking Wenkchemna Peaks.
Day
3 Bike the stunning Icefields Parkway with sweeping vistas of mountains, glaciers, lakes and evergreens Got keen eyes? Use them to spot wildlife, including moose, bighorn sheep and black bears Wander along the shores of Bow Lake for a closer view of Bow Glacier Falls.
Day
4 Explore Athabasca Glacier with expert mountain guides at your side This glacier is just one part of the enormous Columbia Icefield! Continue along the Icefields Parkway and enter Jasper National Park Check out the impressive Athabasca Falls, where the most powerful river in the park plunges over a cliff of eroded limestone Back on your bike, continue down the Athabasca Valley, tracing the path of the river.
Days
5-6 Abundant wildlife, from black bears and elk to pikas and mule deer Teal-hued Maligne Lake wows you before a gradual, downhill-to-rolling spin Hike through spectacular Maligne Canyon, a limestone slot canyon up to 250 feet deep yet at points only three feet wide Ready to take the plunge? Float gentle Class II rapids on the Athabasca River, following a route used by early fur traders and explorers Traveling by boat offers a new perspective on the landscape - as well as more chances to see wildlife Amble through pristine mountain wilderness in the Valley of Five Lakes, winding past its blue-green namesakes.
Guests Reviews About This Trip
FANTASTIC trip - absolutely exceeded any expectations I had. The accommodations were stellar, the scenery spectacular and the leaders truly "off the charts". I am 37, and this so far has been the best, most relaxing, most invigorating, most moving vacation so far...but I am sure I will say that about the next Backroads trip as well! Several of us shed a tear or two when saying our goodbyes.- Hamilton, Bermuda
Thank you for a wonderful trip! The activities were perfect - the scenery unmatched, the food - delicious, the lodging offered exactly what I had hoped for!! I loved our guides as I felt like I was hanging with 2 of my best buddies!! What a way to experience the Canadian Rockies! I couldn't have asked for more!- Boise, ID
This was one of the best trips that I have had in a long time. I will highly recommend Backroads to my friends and family and hope that they will sign up for a trip in the future. Our leaders were superb. They really made the trip so enjoyable and helped me overcome my fear of heights during our hikes. Hats off to Backroads for a fabulous vacation that I will always remember. I look forward to future trips with your company.- Westchester, IL
Casual Inns
Baker Creek Mountain Resort
Lake Louise (2 nights) This hidden gem, nestled in a wooded setting beneath the Canadian Rockies, features a great location next to a babbling brook.
Num-Ti-Jah Lodge
Bow Lake (1 night) This rustic and simple mountain retreat offers an atmosphere of secluded tranquility on the bank of Bow Lake.
Tekarra Lodge
Jasper (2 nights) A cluster of simple cabins with fireplaces and porches, nestled in pines above the confluence of the Athabasca and Miette Rivers.
Private Trips Options & Pricing
Gather your favorite people to share a Backroads adventure on a ready-to-book Private Trip - featuring all the legendary Backroads hallmarks from expert leaders to unforgettable activities.
You can pick from a large selection of dates for your group of 8 or more. Call us for date availability.
If your party has fewer than 8 guests, or if your preferred date is not available, we'll create a departure just for you.
Pricing for Private Trips (prices may vary based on departure date)
| 2 - 3 guests $4,798 pp dbl. occ. | 8 - 9 guests $3,598 pp dbl. occ. |
| 4 - 5 guests $4,198 pp dbl. occ. | 10 - 11 guests $3,098 pp dbl. occ. |
| 6 - 7 guests $3,798 pp dbl. occ. | 12 or more guests $2,798 pp dbl. occ. |
This Trip Is Rated Level 2-4
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.
| Daily Route Options | |||||||||||
| Day | Activity | EASYGOING | ACTIVE | AVID | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | |||||||
| miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | ||
| 1 | Biking | 17* | 500 | 30 | 1000 | ||||||
| Hiking | 1 | 100 | |||||||||
| 2 | Hiking | 5 | 1800 | 7 | 2400 | ||||||
| 3 | Biking | 24* | 1400 | 31 | 1800 | ||||||
| Biking | 36 | 2500 | |||||||||
| Hiking | 6 | 500 | |||||||||
| 4 | Biking | 19 | 700 | ||||||||
| Other | Guided ice walk (2 hours) | ||||||||||
| 5 | Biking | 24 | 400 | 31 | 400 | ||||||
| Walking | 1.6 | 0 | |||||||||
| Rafting | On the Athabasca River (2 hours) | ||||||||||
| 6 | Walking | 3.1 | 100 | ||||||||
* Includes a shuttle
More Recommended Trips
For 35 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the Canadian Rockies tour experts. See our award-winning Canada multisport tours, Canada biking tours and Canada walking and hiking tours.
