Oh! CANAD “Awe”

Canadian National Parks

Rocky Mtn Provinces

As we close in on “life list” number fifty of the US National Parks, we decided to point our Winnebago Solis (National Parks Edition of course) adventure van north to check out what Canada has to offer in regards to the National Park experience.  To say the least, we are HUGE national park fans, but we have been so focused on our US parks prize that we kind of forget that there is a huge country sitting north of the continental USA waiting to be explored.  Well folks, our neighbors to the north have a treasure trove of wild and outdoor experiences, which very much rival (maybe even oust) our own National Park offerings.

So, welcome to Canada! Canada is the world’s 2nd largest country by land area, so the massive size of this country can be a deterrent for a traveler to take on for the first time.  The sheer size and travel times to access this country are a bit daunting, but we believe the perfect starting point to start “unlocking” this country is a cluster of National Parks 50 miles west of the metropolis of Calgary, Alberta.  (FYI - Calgary, population 1.3 million is only 200 miles from the US border)  The Canadian National Parks within this cluster are Banff, Yoho, Kootany, Glacier, Revelstoke Mountain, and Jasper.  These six parks are situated in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, which means that adventures will be packed full of endless waterfalls, glaciers, snowy peaks, wildlife and miles upon miles (oops)...kilometers upon kilometers of hiking trails to explore.

Mt. Revelstoke National Park, British Columbia

Mt. Revelstoke National Park is a pretty basic park, which means the bulk of the highlights can be easily accessed by vehicle and a few very approachable walking trails.  This park has one main thoroughfare, Meadows in the Sky Parkway, which delivers travelers to the summit area of the 6,341ft (1933 meter) Mt. Revelstoke.  No zip through Revelstoke NP is complete without standing atop “the point of no return”, the world-famous Nels Nelson Hill (aka Big Hill) ski jump area, which was the site of early world record ski lore.  You will notice upon arrival at Revelstoke, and any Canadian National Park, that Canadians take great pride in their country’s lands, which are showcased in wonderful signage and well kept park grounds.  Quick Note to Traveler: Mt. Rev NP is best enjoyed as a quick morning stop, meaning no need to clear an entire day of a trip itinerary

Beyond the Park:
1) Stroll downtown Revelstoke (Hip Ski town at base of Revelstoke Ski Resort)
2) Must Stop Coffee = Dose Coffee (downtown Revelstoke)

Glacier National Park, British Columbia

Sporting the same name as one of America’s greatest parks, Glacier National Park is just east of Revelstoke, but unlike Revelstoke, travelers will need to hit the hiking trails and work a bit to fully appreciate this national park stop.  Sure, the giant Glaciers throughout the upper mountain regions can be viewed from inside your Winnebago, but to truly appreciate the size and magnitude of this area one will need to hit the trails and head into the wilder country beyond the pavement.  Remember that Glaciers are made of water, giant frozen rivers slowly carving out the vertical landscape, so all of your hiking miles will be filled with raging rivers, wild flower filled meadows and endless waterfalls. Quick Note: most of Glacier is wild, making it a mecca for backcountry/ultra adventure enthusiasts 

Overnight: Illecillewaet Valley NP Campground (FCFS) a little 60-site gem right smack in the middle of Glacier NP with easy access to anything and everything this park has to offer.  We stayed in peak season (late July) and had over 20 spots to pick from upon a mid-afternoon arrival.

Spots to Hit:
1) Hermit Trail - calf burner & summit area has major Switzerland vibes
2) Meeting of the Waters Trail (perfect “post dinner” stroll from campground)
3) Illecillewaet Valley area ( area even if you don’t stay the night)

Yoho National Park, British Columbia

The word Yoho is a Cree* word for the expression of “Awe” and AWE will be your complete state of mind as you explore Yoho National Park.  Yoho is home to some of the highest peaks of the Canadian Rockies, which actually gives new meaning to “driving into the park”, as the mountain slopes seem to envelope your vehicle upon arrival.  Yes, Yoho is a biggie with endless places to explore, but we truly feel the stroll (it is not a hike) that circumnavigates Emerald Lake is THE signature Yoho experience that cannot be missed.  Emerald lake is the typical other worldly emerald green glowing glacial lake, but what sets it apart from the more famous glacial Canadian tourists lakes, is that you can completely walk around the entire lake.  It is just a special place and people of all ages and abilities can complete this hike. Emerald Lake in Yoho is just a special place and you will be talking about it, thinking about it, and gawking at your pictures for years to come.  Quick Note: we just literally “scratched the surface” of Yoho, so please don’t think of this as a complete guide to the area, but please place, either a sunrise or sunset stroll around Emerald Lake, on your trip agenda…you WILL NOT be disappointed! 

Spots to Hit: 
1) Town of Field (quirky little town within the park border)
2) Truffle Pig for the pork nachos (little restaurant in Field)
3) Emerald Lake
4) Natural Bridge (actually a pretty epic waterfall)
5) Wapta Falls (gotta mid effort hike to hit this one)
*Cree: indigenous peoples of North America and make up one of Canada’s largest 1st nations

Overnight: Municipal Campground in town of Golden, BC  **we enjoy morning and evening walks into town…mingle with the locals a bit (Showers, laundry, Wifi, variety of camping options…full service kinda place)

Beyond the Park:
1) City of Golden*
2) Kicking Horse Mountain Resort (Mountain Biking, Gondola, Bear Sanctuary)
3) Whitetooth Brewing Company
4) Tacos at Reposadosa
5) Coffee at Ethos
6) Mid-Week Farmers Market
*Golden is a hidden gem Mountain town that has yet to be HIT by BIG MONEY…think Steamboat, Colorado 30 years ago! 

Kootenay National Park, British Columbia

First off, pronounce this park “Kootenee” and now you will fit in with the locals and sound like you know what you’re doing.  Kootenay is another park that we consider more of a “drive through” place to take in views and move on.  BUT, it is home to Radium Hot Springs, so you must park the Winnebago and take some time to lounge in the warm waters of Radium.  This is not Hot Springs NP in Arkansas, meaning this is a much more family friendly and affordable place to take a soak, so please don’t drive by and skip.  We did purchase a day pass to Radium and stayed the night in the Redstreak National Park campground, which has a 2 kilometer hiking path connecting the springs to the campground.  Much needed chill day with multiple soaks in the hot spring.  

Overnight: Redstreak Campground - very large reservable NP campground…nice and clean, but as of Summer 2024 this camp needs a bit of TLC from the parks service

Beyond the Park:
1) Skip the town of Radium Springs (nothing to see here)
2) 9K drive south to Invermere and visit Kicking Horse Coffee Headquarters & Cafe

Banff National Park, ALBERTA

The grand daddy of all, the world-famous, THE place to be and often a “Bucket List” destination for travelers throughout the world, welcome to Banff National Park.  Also, welcome to crowded trailheads, masses of people, tour buses, timed reservation systems to limit access, shuttle buses and general organized chaos!  Yes, Banff National Park is a different beast, but don’t be scared away because of the crowds, just be prepared.  Banff is beautiful, worth the hassle, and the crowded areas can be easily left behind by simply hitting any hiking trail leading away from the popular destinations.  The Banff and Lake Louise region is spectacular and an absolute joy to explore.  It is organized and a destination that will leave you “in awe” and wanting to return again soon, even with the busy chaos. (don’t be “too cool” and skip because everyone else does it…celebrate and place yourself within the confusion and just practice patience)

Overnight: (2 part process)
1) Lake Louise Campground: HUGE complex with many options from tent to 50+ ft RVs, the main decision one must make is “Soft-Side” vs “Hard-Side” & be ready to book online 6 months in advance…very very competitive!!! We believe Lake Louise Campground is a MUST STAY location for a complete trip because it gives you direct access to the Lake Louise area of Banff.  As you begin your personal planning for Banff National Park, you will quickly learn that MOST of the actual National Park type activities center in this region of the park.  DO NOT SKIP STAYING at LAKE LOUISE.
Soft-Side = no hook-ups, small rigs & tents, surrounded by network of Electrical fences to deter bears and other large creatures
Hard-Side = literally hard walled campers, large trailers & RVs…no electrical perimeter fence and all food items must be stored within the hard walls of camper (again to deter large creatures) FYI - we staying in Soft-Sided area with the Solis
2) Banff Tunnel Mountain Campground: seemingly endless GIANT facility with all options of camping & is also a place that needs to be booked months in advance.  This campground is used to access the town of Banff and all the town centered activities..this is NOT the best place to base your camping experience for hiking/exploring the natural parts of the National Park.

Quick Note: we stayed multiple nights in both these places in order to experience both aspects of Banff…BOTH campgrounds are VERY nice with showers, top notch facilities, shuttle bus service, etc…you won’t be disappointed in either. (unless you skip Lake Louise…did we mention STAY at Lake Louise?) 

Spots to Hit: 
1) Lake Louise (the actual lake)
2) Shuttle to Moraine Lake
3) Lake Agnes Tea House
4) Sentinel Pass Hike
Note: you want to Canoe on Lake Louise = rentals are $150 per hour…you want to Canoe on Lake Moraine = $160 per hour! (the Banff area is nuts, but worth it with some patience)  

Jasper National Park, Alberta

Unfortunately, Jasper was not an option for this year's trip, due to extensive wildfires.  During our time in Alberta, both the National Park and town of Jasper were evacuated and many places were burned to the ground.  Wildfires throughout the Canadian and American west have become the norm these days and we hope the communities affected by this latest outbreak are able to bounce back and rebuild their lives.  For us, it just means we need to return back for more Canadian Rocky/National Park adventures!  

Happy Trails! 
- Christian, Ray, Valerie, LilV and our faithful Winnebago Solis “Mearl.”