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Miami to the Canadian Rockies: Calgary, Banff and Jasper

Miami → Calgary → Banff → Jasper

Calgary
"Downtown_Calgary_2020-4.jpg" by AceYYC, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence
Town of Banff viewed from Sulphur Mountain (Banff)
Photo: Ethan Sahagun, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Canadian Rockies Best season (general guide): Late Jun–Sep

The Canadian Rockies have glaciers, turquoise lakes and wildlife along roads that are easy to drive in summer. This route flies into Calgary, spends time in Banff and travels the Icefields Parkway north to Jasper. From Miami there are flights to Calgary, often with a connection.

After a night in Calgary, the drive west reaches Banff, a mountain town inside the national park. Lake Louise and Moraine Lake are famous for their colour, and Parks Canada runs shuttles in summer because parking is limited. The Icefields Parkway between Banff and Jasper is a famously scenic road, with glaciers, waterfalls and viewpoints such as Peyto Lake along the way, and the Columbia Icefield about halfway. Jasper is quieter than Banff, with Maligne Canyon, Maligne Lake and dark skies. These parks are part of the UNESCO-listed Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks.

Late June to September is the best time for full access to the parkway and trails. September brings fewer people and golden larches. The Moraine Lake shuttle runs from early summer to mid-autumn; check Parks Canada for the current dates.

A Parks Canada pass is required. Reserve shuttle seats when bookings open in spring, and keep your distance from wildlife on the roads.

How to pace it: arrive in Calgary and drive to Banff the next morning. Three nights in Banff give you one day for Lake Louise and Moraine Lake by shuttle, and another for a hike or the gondola. The Icefields Parkway has few services, so fill up before you start and take a full day with many stops for the drive. In Jasper, spend one day at Maligne Canyon and Maligne Lake, and keep the evenings for stargazing. Drive back to Calgary at the end, or drop the car at Edmonton, if that suits your flight better.

Suggested outline

  1. Miami

    Start

  2. Calgary

    By air · 1 night suggested

    The gateway city for the Rockies, connected to Banff by the Trans-Canada Highway.

  3. Banff

    Overland · 3 nights suggested

    Canada's first national park town. Lake Louise and Moraine Lake are reached by Parks Canada shuttles in summer.

    Moraine Lake
    "Moraine_Lake_17092005.jpg" by Gorgo, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

  4. Jasper

    Overland · 3 nights suggested

    North along the Icefields Parkway, past the Columbia Icefield. Maligne Canyon and Maligne Lake are close to town.

    Maligne Lake
    "MaligneLakeBaldHills.JPG" by Erik Lizee - Free to All, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Day by day

  1. Day 1 · Calgary — Arrive; pick up the hire car· Miami → Calgary (by air)
  2. Day 2 · Banff — To Banff; town and Bow Falls· Calgary → Banff (overland)
  3. Day 3 · Banff — Lake Louise and Moraine Lake by Parks Canada shuttle
  4. Day 4 · Banff — Hike or gondola
  5. Day 5 · Jasper — Icefields Parkway via Peyto Lake and the Columbia Icefield· Banff → Jasper (overland)
  6. Day 6 · Jasper — Maligne Canyon and Maligne Lake
  7. Day 7 · Jasper — Free day; dark-sky evening
  8. Day 8 · Jasper — Travel home from Jasper· Jasper → Calgary (overland), then Calgary → Miami (by air)

A suggested pace only; expedition days are set by the operator.

Flights, leg by leg

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Calgary

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Banff

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Jasper

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