Western Canada's Scenic Hikes: Canadian Rockies & Okanagan Valley - 14 Days

Highlights

• Explore the lesser-known town of Canmore and go hiking near Banff
• Follow the trails in Kananaskis and discover alpine lakes, peaks, and wildflowers
• Climb the passes in Yoho National Park and enjoy beautiful views of Moraine Lake
• Go wine tasting and fruit picking in the Okanagan Valley 

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Calgary, Drive to Canmore 

Welcome to Calgary, the provincial capital of Alberta and the gateway to the Canadian Rockies! Upon arrival at the airport, pick up your rental car and make the 1.5-hour drive to Canmore, located at the edge of Banff National Park. While lesser known than its neighbor, Banff, the views are impressive, and it offers convenient access to the nearby trails. With its stunning mountain views, endless outdoor activities, and vibrant downtown area, Canmore is the perfect destination for outdoor adventurers and nature lovers.

Outdoor activities include hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking, fishing, and skiing. Hiking trails range from easy walks along the Bow River to challenging mountaineering routes that test your endurance. Rock climbing is available year-round at a variety of spots, with routes suitable for all levels of climbers. Mountain biking is popular in the summer months, with trails suited for all levels of riders. Once you've checked into your hotel, Canmore's downtown is worth exploring, with various independent shops, restaurants, and galleries. 

Day 2: Day Hikes Near Banff 

Spend the day in Banff today, just a 10-minute drive from Canmore. Visit the Cave and Basin National Historic Site to learn how the popular park started. See the grotto discovered in 1883 that led to Banff's national park designation, and then enjoy a morning hike choosing from one of the hundreds of options available. For a challenge, arrange a guided climb on Mount Norquay's via ferrata (Italian for "iron way") following a protected climbing route as you clip into a series of fixed iron cables. An easier option, and one of the best hikes, is to take the Bow River and Hoodoos Trails.

Day 3: Day Hikes in Kananaskis

Kananaskis is a region southeast of Canmore that encompasses 10 provincial parks in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies. You'll find secluded, pristine trails and stunning vistas. From Canmore, follow the scenic Smith Dorrien Trail into Smith-Dorrien Valley and make your way to the trailhead of your choice. With several peaks over 10,000 feet (3,050 m), there are numerous day hikes to choose. Suggested hikes include the Elbow Loop Trail winding through a forest of pine trees, offering stunning views of Elbow Valley. It takes an hour to finish and is suitable for all fitness levels.  

Mount Lorette Ponds Trail is a 2.7-mile (4.4 km) hike located in the Highwood Pass area of Kananaskis. The trail is an excellent spot for bird-watching and requires a moderate fitness level taking 1.5 hours to complete. Galatea Lakes Trail is a 6-mile (10 km) trail located in the Spray Valley area, and requires a moderate fitness level taking around three to four hours to finish. Rawson Lake Trail is a challenging 6-mile( 10 km) hike and an excellent spot for wildflower viewing, taking four to five hours to complete.  

Day 4: Drive to Yoho National Park

Leave Canmore this morning and follow the Bow Valley Parkway, a scenic alternative to Highway 1, west of Banff. It's a 1.5-hour drive to Field, the only town within Yoho National Park. Take advantage of the short distance by making some stops along the way. The first suggested stop is trekking along the cantilevered walkways of Johnston Canyon. Choose between the 1.5-mile (2.4 km) Lower Falls trail or the slightly steeper Upper Falls route. Allow 2.5 hours to complete both. You could plan for a picnic at the Ink Pots, five aquamarine-colored pools beyond Upper Falls.

Day 5: Explore Yoho National Park

Start the day early to cover Yoho's highlights as well as the drive to Emerald Lake. Allow 90 minutes to walk the 3-mile (5 km) Emerald Lake Loop. You'll have views of the jewel-hued waters encircled by spruce and firs and the snow-capped Rockies, including the iconic profile of Mount Burgess. Make sure to check out Natural Bridge on your way in or out. If you're looking for serious hiking, choose from one or two of over 250 miles (400 km) worth of trails. One of the best hikes in the Rockies is the Iceline Trail, a challenging 13-mile (21 km) loop. It will take most of the day, but the views are worth it.

Drive to Lake O'Hara, where you'll find a wealth of trails from this picturesque lake, the longest being only 4.7 miles (7.5 km). Take the 2-mile (3.2 km) Lake Oesa Trail to climb an elevation of 787 feet (240 m) to overlook the lake. If you're experienced, opt for one of five Alpine routes for a bit of everything: alpine meadows, glaciers, and wooded hillsides.

Day 6: Day Hikes Around Lake Louise & Moraine Lake

You'll have more time today to explore by foot around Banff National Park's Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. Moraine Lake's distinctive blue color comes from an accumulation of debris shaped during the melting of the glaciers, while Lake Louise is world-famous and instantly recognizable, with its turquoise waters and breathtaking views of the Victoria Glacier.

Numerous notable routes get you away from the lakes' crowds and into the beautiful backcountry of the Rockies. All of the hikes are well-marked and regularly maintained. You'll find map boards with trail descriptions at Lake Louise and Moraine Lake near the shoreline. Still, don't hesitate to visit the visitor center beforehand or purchase a backcountry map to be safe. 

Day 7: Hike to Wapta Falls, Drive to Revelstoke

You can't leave Yoho without hiking to stunning Wapta Falls, a 3-mile (4.8 km) trail. Once you return, drive to Revelstoke. Follow Highway 1 to Golden, famous for white-water rafting, where you can take a rafting trip through the rapids of Kicking Horse River. Or you could paddle down a quieter segment in an inflatable kayak. Next, step aboard the Golden Eagle Express Gondola up Kicking Horse Mountain to enjoy sweeping vistas over lunch at the Eagle's Eye Restaurant. Take a detour through Glacier National Park, or visit Rogers Pass Discovery Center to learn about its significance and wildlife.

If you feel like stretching your legs mid-journey, stop at the Hemlock Grove Trail for a short hike through an ancient hemlock forest. In less than three hours, you'll reach Revelstoke, just outside Mount Revelstoke National Park. Revelstoke offers an abundance of outdoor summer experiences. After settling at your hotel, learn about town history by visiting the Revelstoke Museum. Stroll through town to see sixty-some heritage buildings and public art. Cap off the day with a satisfying meal at Woolsey Creek Bistro and linger on the patio.

Day 8: Drive to Vernon & Okanagan Lake

Today you'll head to Vernon. After about an hour's drive, stop at Craigellachie to see the "Last Spike." An essential part of Canada's history, you'll find a cairn with a plaque and a piece of the railway line to mark the spot where Canada was connected from sea to sea by rail. Stop at Salmon Arm, "Gem of the Shuswap," where wooded hills, farms, and Shuswap Lake will surround you. Swim in the lake or paddle out from Canoe Beach at Shuswap. This is an excellent time to stop and stretch your legs before swinging by Grass Root Dairies to pick fresh fruit from the roadside stands. 

Hit the road again, and work your way south through the rural Okanagan Valley past lakes, orchards, and vine-striped hills, enjoying food and wine-tasting stops along the way. Just north of Vernon, stop at Silver Star Mountain Resort and take the chairlift to the top, where you can hike or mountain bike the trails back down. Arriving in Vernon, located on the shore of Okanagan Lake, settle into your hotel and head out to explore the wineries and vineyards. Life in the Okanagan moves at a relaxed pace, which should come as a nice contrast after your adventures in the mountains.

Day 9: Drive to Osoyoos & the Okanagan Valley

This morning, head south to Osoyoos, past vineyards and several great wineries. Stick to the western shore of Okanagan Lake and stop to visit Peachland before taking to the nearby hills. Climb Pincushion Mountain, 2.1 miles (3.4 km), for one of the best views over Okanagan. Go wine tasting at the historic Hainle Vineyards and make your way around the lake to discover the wineries between Penticton and Naramata. Stop at Red Rooster Winery for a farm-to-table lunch. A great way to explore the Naramata Bench is to rent a bike, but you could also hike through the Skaha Bluffs. 

Nearing the arid southern end of the Okanagan Valley, pull over to taste wine from the Black Sage Bench, renowned for its premium Bordeaux-style grapes. Don't miss Stoneboat Vineyards and Burrowing Owl Estate Winery, where you can reserve a table for an exceptional dinner at The Sonora Room. Resume the drive to your hotel close to the Canada-US border in Osoyoos. This small town is on a narrow piece of land ringed by the beaches of Osoyoos Lake and the orchards, farms, and vineyards it irrigates. If you're up for it, get out your swimsuit and relax in Canada's warmest freshwater lake.

Day 10: Wine Tasting in the Okanagan Valley

Get your tastebuds ready for a day in the Okanagan Valley. The history and culture of the Thompson-Okanagan region are strongly linked to the land. The area's First Nations semi-nomadic tribes were divided between hunting and fishing grounds in summer and semi-subterranean house camps in winter. Europeans came first to trade in furs and later established cattle, agriculture, and mining. The region contains museums and heritage sites of its rich and eventful past, as well as renowned golf courses, orchards, ski resorts, vineyards, and diverse landscapes.

The highest point in the Canadian Rockies is in this region, with a waterfall twice the height of Niagara Falls. Spend the day visiting more wineries in the Okanagan Valley and enjoy the stunning views of the mountains, lakes, and vineyards. If you don't wish to drive, you can organize a wine-tasting tour that includes transport.

Day 11: Explore More of Osoyoos

Take time to relax and explore the surrounding region today. Head north to Covert Farms to pick fruit, taste organic wine, and shop the country-style market, an excellent local-approved spot to stock up on supplies. Then, return to Osoyoos to visit the Desert Center. Learn about this unique corner of Canada, from the pocket desert to its desert dwellers, including 23 invertebrates found nowhere else in the world.

You could spend the day at Gyro Beach or Cottonwood Beach on Osoyoos Lake. There's also Sẁiẁs Provincial Park (Haynes Point), a skinny peninsula that juts into the lake south of town and has a narrow beach with a walking trail through the marsh. Dry off and have lunch at an outdoor table overlooking the vineyard at Nk'Mip Cellars, the signature restaurant of Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Center. Early evening, make the short drive to Oliver for dinner at Terrafina, a Tuscan-style restaurant belonging to Hester Creek Estate Winery.

Day 12: Drive to Vancouver & the Coast

Following Highway 3, make the four-hour drive west across British Columbia to Vancouver. Stop in the Similkameen Valley to visit smaller, lesser-known wineries, like Forbidden Fruit or Orofino Wineries in Cawston. Check out the historic grist mill in Keremeos and purchase fresh-picked fruit from roadside stands en route. For a taste of Gold Rush history, visit Princeton and District Pioneer Museum to see pioneer artifacts from Granite City, Chinese and Salish artifacts, and a large fossil display. Stretch your legs and experience the lakes and alpine meadows of E.C. Manning Provincial Park.

Day 13: Explore Vancouver's Downtown & Neighborhoods

Most of Vancouver's highlights, galleries, and colorful neighborhoods are within easy walking distance. You could spend time at Stanley Park, a 988-acre (400 ha) coastal rainforest park reserve in the heart of Vancouver with dozens of walking trails and a half million trees. For lunch, visit Granville Island, where you'll find an eclectic collection of art galleries and boutique shops. Chow down at the vibrant Granville Island Public Market. Just west of Granville Island, you'll find Kitsilano or "Kits," a lively neighborhood with some of Vancouver's best shopping streets, restaurants, and beaches.

Head to Kits Beach and walk the seawall around Kits Point. Kits Beach is an excellent spot to enjoy an evening picnic and bottle of wine as the sun sets. If you're up for a drive, head west to the University of British Columbia (UBC). Visit the university's museums and gardens and the Museum of Anthropology for an introduction to the Pacific Northwest's history. Showcasing spectacular First Nations totem poles and impressive carvings, join a tour to learn British Columbia's rich First Nations history. You'll also find countless trails in Spanish Banks and Pacific Spirit Park.

Day 14: Depart Vancouver

Your adventure draws to a close today as you enjoy a final morning in Vancouver. When the time comes, you'll head to the airport to return your rental car and catch your departing flight. Safe travels!

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