Best of Kananaskis Country

Top itineraries and travel advice in and around Kananaskis Country
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Emerald Lake, Yoho National Park
Map of Vancouver to Calgary Road Trip: Okanagan Valley & Canadian Rockies - 10 Days
Vancouver to Calgary Road Trip: Okanagan Valley & Canadian Rockies - 10 Days

With 10 days, experience the best of British Columbia's wine country and the Canadian Rockies. You'll start in Vancouver and spend the first half of the trip wine tasting and getting out on the great biking and hiking trails of Okanagan Valley. From there, head north into the mountains to some of Canada's most dramatic national parks—ending your trip in the spectacular (and underrated) hiking region of Kananaskis Country.

Emerald Lake, Yoho National Park
Map of Vancouver to Calgary Road Trip: Okanagan Valley & Canadian Rockies - 9 Days
Vancouver to Calgary Road Trip: Okanagan Valley & Canadian Rockies - 9 Days

This fast-paced road trip takes you across British Columbia on a popular route from Vancouver to Calgary. You'll have 2-3 hours of driving most days, with a couple of free days to immerse yourself in the Okanagan Valley's wine country and Kananaskis Country, the hidden gem of the Canadian Rockies. This itinerary is best suited for those who enjoy great food and wine and want to combine this with outdoor adventures. 

Town of Revelstoke, one of BC's most popular outdoor destinations
Map of Vancouver to Calgary Road Trip: Okanagan Valley & Canadian Rockies - 13 Days
Vancouver to Calgary Road Trip: Okanagan Valley & Canadian Rockies - 13 Days

After a couple of days in Vancouver, head east to the dry interior of the Okanagan Valley, home to hundreds of local vineyards, fruit orchards, and lake parks. Split your days between mountain biking and hiking in the local mountains and visiting the wineries and restaurants in the afternoon. From here, the second half of your trip focuses on the dramatic peaks and alpine trails in the Canadian Rockies before departing from Calgary.

The lakes and mountains of the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia's wine region
Map of Vancouver to Calgary Road Trip: Okanagan Valley & Canadian Rockies - 11 Days
Vancouver to Calgary Road Trip: Okanagan Valley & Canadian Rockies - 11 Days

Follow one of British Columbia's most popular road trips, crossing the province from Vancouver to Calgary. While there are a few different routes to choose from, this itinerary takes you through the wine region and lake country of the Okanagan Valey before finishing your trip surrounded by the epic scenery of the Canadian Rockies. You'll have short driving days for most of the trip so you can maximize your time in the outdoors. 

The Icefields Parkway in fall
Map of Canadian Rockies Road Trip: Banff, Lake Louise, & Jasper - 6 Days
Canadian Rockies Road Trip: Banff, Lake Louise, & Jasper - 6 Days

With just 6 days, base yourself out of Banff and Jasper for convenient access to some of the best hiking trails and viewpoints in the Canadian Rockies. Besides a couple of longer days of driving, this itinerary is designed to get you outside and into what these parks are all about—alpine trails, turquoise lakes, giant glaciers, and great opportunities to see wildlife. 

Wine vineyards near Penticton in the Okanagan Valley
Map of Vancouver to Calgary Road Trip: Okanagan Valley & Canadian Rockies - 14 Days
Vancouver to Calgary Road Trip: Okanagan Valley & Canadian Rockies - 14 Days

With 2 weeks, this itinerary covers the best of British Columbia's wine region and the Canadian Rockies. You'll have short driving days and will base yourself in a number of great locations for multiple nights, where you can immerse yourself in the surroundings. This route is a great option for those looking to combine great wine and food outdoor adventure and dramatic scenery.

Fall in Kananaskis Country, south of Canmore
Map of Vancouver to Calgary Road Trip: Okanagan Valley & Canadian Rockies - 12 Days
Vancouver to Calgary Road Trip: Okanagan Valley & Canadian Rockies - 12 Days

In 12 days, follow this popular drive across British Columbia from Vancouver to Calgary. This particular route focuses on two main regions—the wine hills of the Okanagan Valley and the dramatic mountains of the Canadian Rockies. You'll have ample time to explore both regions, as you'll have two nights in most locations. This drive is best done between May and October.

Naramata Bench with Okanagan Lake in the background
Map of Vancouver to Calgary Road Trip: Okanagan Valley & Canadian Rockies - 15 Days
Vancouver to Calgary Road Trip: Okanagan Valley & Canadian Rockies - 15 Days

With 15 days, you'll have enough time to explore the hundreds of wineries and fruit farms of the fertile Okanagan Valley and immerse yourself in the dramatic scenery of the Canadian Rockies. Along the way, go swimming in freshwater lakes, hike through cedar forests, and drive along some of the most iconic roadways in Canada. Finish your trip by exploring one of the Rockies' most underrated regions in Kananaskis Country.

Peyto Lake, Banff National Park
Map of Canadian Rockies Road Trip: Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, & Canmore - 8 Days
Canadian Rockies Road Trip: Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, & Canmore - 8 Days

With 8 days, explore the best of the Canadian Rockies stretching from Banff to Jasper. You'll drive one of the world's most iconic stretches of road in the Icefields Parkway and spend full days exploring the backcountry trails away from the crowds. This is the perfect amount of time to cover a lot of ground without feeling too rushed. 

Fresh snow on a sunlit peak in the Canadian Rockies
Map of Canadian Rockies Road Trip: Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper & Canmore - 9 Days
Canadian Rockies Road Trip: Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper & Canmore - 9 Days

Spend nine days exploring the best of the Canadian Rockies. You'll base yourself in just a few locations to avoid moving around too much and instead spend your days on beautiful alpine trails. Besides having enough time to take in all the main highlights on the Icefields Parkway, you'll also explore some of the lesser-known regions that help you escape the crowds. 

Mount Rundle, Banff National Park
Map of Vancouver to Calgary: Whistler, Wells Gray, & the Canadian Rockies - 9 Days
Vancouver to Calgary: Whistler, Wells Gray, & the Canadian Rockies - 9 Days

With 9 days, this is the minimum amount of time you'll want to make the journey across British Columbia without feeling too rushed. After having a couple of days to explore Vancouver and Whistler, you'll head east to the impressive mountains, rivers, and waterfalls of the Canadian Rockies where you'll have shorter driving days and more time outdoors. This route is designed for nature lovers, focusing on the best parks, hidden gems, and ways to avoid the crowds.

Hiking in the Ten Peaks Valley, Banff National Park
Map of Canadian Rockies Road Trip: Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, & Canmore - 10 Days
Canadian Rockies Road Trip: Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, & Canmore - 10 Days

With 10 days, you'll have enough time to explore all the highlights of the Canadian Rockies between Banff and Jasper. You'll also have time to get off the beaten path and away from the crowds, either on a multi-day hiking adventure, to a wilderness lodge, or into the lesser-known (but just a stunning) region of Kananaskis.

Moraine Lake, Banff National Park
Map of Vancouver to Calgary: Whistler, Wells Gray, & the Canadian Rockies - 10 Days
Vancouver to Calgary: Whistler, Wells Gray, & the Canadian Rockies - 10 Days

Follow one of Canada's most popular road trips from Vancouver to the Canadian Rockies, passing through Whistler and Wells Gray Provincial Park as you make your way across the province. This trip is fast-paced at the start given limited time, but the driving reduces dramatically once you reach the Rockies where you'll spend the majority of your days exploring the trails and backcountry away from the crowds. Finally, you'll depart from Calgary after driving through the iconic Icefields Parkway. 

Peyto Lake, Banff National Park
Map of Canadian Rockies Road Trip: Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, & Canmore - 14 Days
Canadian Rockies Road Trip: Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, & Canmore - 14 Days

In two weeks, explore the best of the Canadian Rockies from Banff to Jasper. This route is optimized for less time on the road and more time hiking in incredible alpine scenery away from the crowds, best done between May and September. You'll start and end in Calgary, and take in a couple of special, lesser-known regions such as Kananaskis Country. 

Sunrise at Wedge Pond in Kananaskis Country
Map of Vancouver to Calgary: Whistler, Wells Gray, & the Canadian Rockies - 11 Days
Vancouver to Calgary: Whistler, Wells Gray, & the Canadian Rockies - 11 Days

This road trip crosses the breadth of British Columbia in 11 days, from the Pacific Coast Mountains to the rugged interior of the Canadian Rockies. The first half of the trip includes a few longer days of driving before slowing down the pace to shift your focus to the countless trails and vantage points surrounding Jasper, Banff, and underrated Kananaskis Country.

Moraine Lake and the Valley of the Ten Peaks
Map of Canadian Rockies Road Trip: Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, & Canmore - 13 Days
Canadian Rockies Road Trip: Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, & Canmore - 13 Days

Designed for outdoor adventure lovers, this route gets you away from the crowds into the best alpine scenery of the Canadian Rockies. You'll start and end in Calgary and drive the iconic Icefields Parkway in both directions, taking in Banff, Lake Louise, and Jasper, with minimal driving time and more time in nature. 

Follow this epic route through the Canada Rockies
Map of Canadian Rockies Road Trip: Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, & Canmore - 16 Days
Canadian Rockies Road Trip: Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, & Canmore - 16 Days

Discover the best of the Canadian Rockies by basing yourself in a few key locations where you can stay for a few nights and explore the backcountry trails and lakes. You'll take in the main highlights of the Icefields Parkway as well as the lesser-known regions, such as the beautiful Kananaskis Country and Yoho National Park. This route focuses on less time driving and more time out on the trails.

Mount Rundle, Banff National Park
Map of Canadian Rockies Road Trip: Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, & Canmore - 11 Days
Canadian Rockies Road Trip: Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, & Canmore - 11 Days

Spend 11 days in the outdoors of the Canadian Rockies. Starting and ending in Calgary, you'll base yourself in four locations that allow for nearby access to the best trails and lesser-known regions around Banff and Jasper national parks. This route is best done between May and September and was called the "drive of a lifetime" by National Geographic. 

Highway 40 through Kananaskis Country
Map of Canadian Rockies Road Trip: Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, & Canmore - 15 Days
Canadian Rockies Road Trip: Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, & Canmore - 15 Days

This route focuses on getting you into the incredible mountain scenery of the Canadian Rockies, starting and ending in Calgary. You'll head north and south along the iconic Icefields Parkway while basing yourself in a few key locations along the way. As well, you'll explore beautiful Kananaskis Country, a region just south of Banff and Canmore that locals regard as their favorite hiking region (without the crowds of the more famous parks).

Lake Louise at sunset
Map of Canadian Rockies Road Trip: Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, & Canmore - 12 Days
Canadian Rockies Road Trip: Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, & Canmore - 12 Days

Starting and ending in Calgary, this route gets you outdoors on the best trails and routes through the Canadian Rockies. You'll have ample time to visit all the famous stops along the way as well as the lesser-known regions known just to locals. This route is optimized for those looking to get out into nature, beyond just the roadside stops and attractions. 

Peyto Lake, Banff National Park
Map of Vancouver to Calgary: Whistler, Wells Gray, & the Canadian Rockies - 12 Days
Vancouver to Calgary: Whistler, Wells Gray, & the Canadian Rockies - 12 Days

Get the true sea-to-summit experience as you road trip across British Columbia from the coast to the mountains. You'll follow some of Canada's most scenic highways through numerous provincial and national parks, culminating in the spectacular scenery of the Canadian Rockies. This itinerary is designed to spend fewer days on the road and more time exploring the mountains, lakes, and rivers. 

Approaching Mount Robson Provincial Park
Map of Vancouver to Calgary: Whistler, Wells Gray, & the Canadian Rockies - 14 Days
Vancouver to Calgary: Whistler, Wells Gray, & the Canadian Rockies - 14 Days

Two weeks is the perfect amount of time to drive across British Columbia without feeling too rushed. This itinerary is designed for those seeking to spend the majority of their days in the outdoors and covers the best mountain parks and trails that the province has to offer. The ideal time to travel this route is from mid-May to mid-October when the alpine trails are more likely to be clear. 

Icefields Parkway in the Canadian Rockies
Map of Vancouver to Calgary: Whistler, Wells Gray & the Canadian Rockies - 16 Days
Vancouver to Calgary: Whistler, Wells Gray & the Canadian Rockies - 16 Days

Follow one of Canada's most scenic road trips from Vancouver to the Canadian Rockies. With 16 days, you'll have ample time to stop and explore Whistler and Wells Gray en route before devoting over a week to the hiking trails and backcountry of the Rockies. This route is best done from mid-May to mid-October.

Icefields Parkway in the Canadian Rockies
Map of Vancouver to Calgary: Whistler, Wells Gray, & the Canadian Rockies - 15 Days
Vancouver to Calgary: Whistler, Wells Gray, & the Canadian Rockies - 15 Days

This epic route across British Columbia takes you through some of the most impressive mountain landscapes in Canada. You'll base yourself in convenient locations for two-to-three days, with less time driving and more time exploring the trails and scenic viewpoints. As you near the Canadian Rockies, the views become even more impressive, where Kananaskis Country provides the perfecting ending to your trip.