Itinerary

Day 1
We’ll pick you up at your accommodations in Calgary at 10AM. After a drive into the mountains we’ll enjoy a short walk in the Moraine Lake area, a scene made famous on the back of the Canadian $20 bill. Sparkling waters lie at our feet and towering peaks with sheer cliffs and glaciers surround us. We’ll enjoy the views of  the famous Ten Peaks in the distance and the Great Divide that forms the boundary line between Alberta and British Columbia and between Banff and Yoho National Parks. Just to the north is Banff National Park’s third highest mountain, Mount Temple with a glacier on its summit. Our walk through this sub-alpine forest is a wonderful way to begin our adventure in the Canadian Rockies. From here we will continue our drive over the Continental Divide and into British Columbia. Tonight we’ll enjoy the hospitality of the Heather Mountain Lodge.
(Walk up to 5 kms or 3 miles, Drive up to 4 hours)
 
Day 2
Today’s hike takes us into Glacier National Park in the interior wet belt of British Columbia. The steep rugged mountains, warm moist climate and wide variety of plant and animal life are typical of this natural region. Glacier National Park protects unique stands of old-growth cedar and hemlock and endangered wildlife species such as mountain caribou and mountain goat. Just over 125 years ago, “Railway Pathfinder”, Albert Bowman Rogers, found the key passageway through these mountains. Rogers Pass is designated as a National Historic Site for its significance in the construction of the country’s first national transportation route. Our hike in the Illecillewaet Valley takes us toward the toe of the glacier seen spilling into this valley. We’ll stay at the same accommodations this evening.
(Hike up to 10 kms or 6 miles, Drive up to 1 hour)

Day 3
Only one word describes the national park that we’ll visit for the next three days – Yoho – meaning ‘magnificent or awesome’ in the Cree language. Yoho National Park is filled with rock walls, waterfalls, glacial lakes, snow-topped mountain peaks, roaring rivers and silent forest. This park’s history in entwined with a railroad: spiral tunnels inside mountains and tales about runaway trains. The mountains that were the curse of railway builders are responsible for the park’s many waterfalls. In 1858, near Wapta Falls, a packhorse kicked explorer James Hector in the chest, and the Kicking Horse River got its name. Wapta Falls is the full width of the river and drops 100 feet. We’ll enjoy a short walk to the falls before we depart for a hike around the deep, rich turquoise waters of Emerald Lake. Silt carried by streams from melting glaciers high in the mountains is responsible for the colour of the mountains lakes. We’ll enjoy the luxury of the resort, Lake Louise Inn for the next 3 nights.
(Walk up to 8 kms or 5 miles, Drive up to 1 ½ hours)

Day 4
Our travels today take us to Takakkaw Falls, Canada’s third highest. The plunge 833 feet down is awe-inspiring. We’ll hike the Iceline Trail that takes us along the edge of a glacier with the President Range in the backdrop. We’ll climb moraines and travel through glacier meltwater creeks that feed many of the small-unnamed lakes. We’ll look down upon the magnificent Takakkaw Falls, tiny now in the distance. We’ll enjoy the tranquility of an alpine meadow filled with wildflowers such as cinquefoil, columbine and golden and purple asters. We’ll also visit the edge of one of the world’s most important fossil finds, the Burgess Shale. Fossils found here contain the remains of more than 120 marine animal species dating back 515 million years. We’ll enjoy the same accommodations this evening.
(Hike up to 16 kms or 10 miles, Drive up to 1 ½ hours)

Day 5
As we look out over Lake Louise this morning, imagine what lies beyond Mount Victoria at the head of the lake. There are two ways to get to a place that many have called the most beautiful lake on earth. One is over the pass directly in front of us (a very long climb) which we won’t choose and the other, a bus ride that limits the number of visitors to Lake O’Hara each day. Fortunately…we have a bus pass. Nestled in a high bowl of lush alpine meadows is Lake O’Hara, framed by spectacular peaks permanently mantled in snow. Our hike today in the view of Mount Biddle, the Biddle Glacier, the deep-blue lake and colourful alpine meadows is an unforgettable panorama and experience. We’ll enjoy our last evening together at the same resort.
(Hike up to 12 kms or 7 ½ miles, Drive up to 1 hour)

Day 6
Today we’ll enjoy short walks around the Lake Louise area before returning to Calgary and the end of our adventure at approximately 3PM.
(Walk up 6 kms or 3 ½ miles, Drive up to 2 ½ hours)

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