Canadian Rockies March 2024

With jagged, ice-capped peaks, alpine lakes, and diverse wildlife, the Canadian Rockies span the provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. This is a vast land, a stunning mountain range filled with inspiring scenery with many areas protected within national and provincial parks.

With terrain characterized by steep slopes, craggy peaks, and dramatic valleys, the natural environment remains relatively untouched, with clean air and water. The landscape is alive with color, from the turquoise lakes to the green forests and wildflowers, and many peaks are covered in snow, even during the summer.

Highlights include:

• Emerald Lake: Emerald Lake is the largest lake in Yoho National Park and is surrounded by President Mountain Range. The lake gets its color from the melting of glaciers above it: when the melting glaciers deposit rock flour (fine rock ground by moving glaciers) into the lake, it causes the lake to refract sunlight in a brilliant emerald color.
• Lake Louise: A stunning, turquoise glacial lake in Banff National Park, Lake Louise freezes in in the colder months to become a winter wonderland.
• Morant’s Curve: An iconic scenic viewpoint near Lake Louise of a dramatic bend along the Bow River where trains pass through the Canadian Rockies.
• Bow Lake: One of the largest lakes in Banff National Park, Bow Lake and lies at the base of Bow Summit, which is perfectly reflected in its waters on calm days. The stunning lake is fed by meltwater from the Bow Glacier in the Wapta Icefield and forms the headwaters of the Bow River, which flows through Banff, Calgary and the Alberta foothills.
• Vermilion Lakes: A cluster of three beautiful lakes within walking distance of Banff, Vermilion Lakes sit at the foot of Mount Rundle and Sulphur Mountain.

Shimmering glaciers and vibrant lakes, limestone caves and craggy peaks, alpine meadows and dense forest make the vast landscape of the Canadian Rockies a treasure of scenic splendor.