Two Short Days in the Rocky Mountains

Is two days enough time to spend in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, especially when taking the Sky to Sea Highway road trip from Vancouver?   Banff is literally heaven on earth and two days just isn’t enough time to explore everything that the Rocky Mountains has to offer.  So the answer is NO, however, if two days is all the time you have, then two days in the Rocky Mountains it is!

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The Canadian Rocky Mountains is one of the most beautiful spots in Canada and you could easily spend weeks exploring, however, most travellers don’t have that amount of time. In this post, you will be provided with the absolute “must see” attractions in order to make the most of your 2 days visiting the Canadian Rockies.

My trip through the Rocky Mountains to Banff was a solo road trip. In order to utilize what little time I had and to see as much as I could of this this part of Canada, I arranged a 12 hour tour with Brewster Sightseeing Tours. This excursion can be arranged prior to your arrival, either directly with the tour company or by contacting the conceirge at the resort you will be staying at. While I realize tours aren’t for everyone, they work wonders when you want to see as much as possible within a short period of time.

Let’s begin the tour …

Day 1 in the Canadian Rocky Mountains

The first morning in the Canadian Rockies, get up bright and early and ready to hit the road by 7:00 a.m.  Brewster will pick you up at the front door of your hotel (I stayed at the Rimrock Resort and it was perfect!). They will then take you to their headquarters where you will meet up with other travelers taking the tour.

Just One Tip: If you’re visiting Lake Louise and have ample time, you might want to stay for Afternoon Tea at the Fairmont Lake Louise.

Lake Louise

Lake Louise is magical and must be put on everyone’s bucket list!  When I was in the Rocky Mountains it was late May and the lake was still partially frozen, however, with the green water peeking through the snow on the lake the view was absolutely spectacular.  Lake Louise will be the first stop you will want to make on your Rocky Mountain tour in order to avoid the mass influx of tourists. By arriving early you will be provided the opportunity to enjoy the peace and quiet of the Rocky Mountains.

There are several trails at Lake Louise, but on this tour you unfortunately won’t have time to explore any of the trails.  If you visit Lake Louise on your own, be sure to check them out. If you are travelling alone and want to take a solo hike anywhere in the Rocky Mountains, it is important that you take safety precautions as the Canadian Rockies is definitely bear territory. A word of caution if you visit Lake Louise without taking a tour, parking is very limited and fills up fast. If you arrive later in the day, you will have to park a couple of miles down the road and take a bus to the Lake.

Icefield Parkway

We then made our way towards the Icefield Parkway. This was definitely by far one of the most magnificent drives I have ever taken, and in fact, the Icefield Parkway is known as one of the most beautiful drives in the world. There were mountains, lakes and glaciers as far as the eye could see.  The beauty of the surrounding mountains and lakes is indescribable.  Throughout the drive, the guides will explain the various mountain elevations, as well as the vegetation that grows (or doesn’t grow) at each elevation.  It will not be unusual to see wildlife roaming freely along the highway or by the lakes and mountains.  For me, this was the best part of the drive.  I just had to see at least one bear, and I was lucky enough to spot 4 bears throughout the tour.

CAUTION: Under no circumstances approach a bear. Always keep your distance!

JUST ONE TIP: If you drive the Icefield Parkway on your own, fill up on gas before you start as there are no gas stations along the way.

Bow Lake

We made a pit stop at Bow Lake for a photo-op and to take in its beauty.  I had never seen anything as beautiful as the reflection of the snow covered mountains reflecting on the green waters of the lake.

While the guides were setting up coffee, there was a loud rumbling noise coming from across the lake.  Yup, it was an avalanche!  It was a pretty cool thing to see!  Winter was late leaving and a large number of the trails had not been opened up to the public yet for fear of avalanches.  If you are an avid hiker like I am, make sure you visit in the summer months to ensure that you are able to get out on the trails.  The trails are numerous and it would take a lifetime to climb them all, but always pay attention to the warnings!

Visitor’s Center

The tour included a buffet lunch at the Visitor’s Center.  The restaurant is open for all tourists, however it is busy and expensive.  If the weather permits, I would highly recommend taking a picnic. There are many spots to rest along the Icefield Parkway which allow you to take in the views.  Be aware of the bears, they are out and about!

Athabasca Glacier

After a nice lunch, we did the Columbia Icefield Adventure.  We boarded our “bus” for a quick and very bumpy, steep ride out onto the Athabasca Glacier.  I would not recommend that you miss this adventure!  It is said that the glacier is receding approximately 5 meters per year, so get out on it and experience it while you can.

It is STRONGLY recommended not to walk on the Athabasca Glacier on your own as there have been many deaths. Take a tour or go with a guide. A guide is knowledgeable and will provide history and information regarding the glacier.

Glacier Skywalk

Last but not least, was a visit to the Glacier Skywalk.  This is the spot to go in order to take in the many mountains, lakes and glaciers, from an awe-inspiring glass bottom observation platform. The viewing platform hangs 918 feet above the Sunwapta Valley.  It took more than a little bit of courage to get me out on this platform, however, I was glad I was able to escape my comfort zone for this experience.

Day 2 in the Canadian Rocky Mountains

As I always do, I kept one day open to explore and wander wherever my heart desired.  It was also the day before a long 10 hour drive back to the airport, so I made sure to leave some rest time before my drive back.

Banff, Alberta

After a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, head to downtown Banff and spend a couple of hours browsing the shops and marveling at the mountains surrounding the town. If you are staying outside of Banff, many of the resorts offer free shuttles to town.

There are numerous small boutique shops, restaurants, novelty stores and winter clothing stores, which can keep you busy for hours if you are a shopper, which I’m not. 

You can’t visit Banff without checking out one of the quaint coffee shops or restaurants. Don’t be afraid to wander off the main street. Explore the side streets and you will find many restaurants and cafes.

Banff Gondola

After an awesome lunch and some friendly chatter, I hopped back on the free bus and headed back to my hotel.  While heading back to my hotel, I decided not to get off at my stop and instead continue on to the Banff Gondola which takes you up Sulphur Mountain.  I am so glad that I didn’t miss this attraction!!!!  There were no lineups and I hopped on as soon as I arrived. 

The ride up on the gondola was more than a little frightening at first, given that I am terrified of heights, but the beauty surrounding me made it well worth my while.  The gondola ends part way up the mountain at the visitor’s center, which has restrooms, restaurants and coffee shops, as well as an interpretive center. 

If you aren’t ready to stop exploring, continue to hike up to the summit of Sulphur Mountain. Once you reach the summit, you are able to see 6 mountain ranges and the Bow Valley from 7,486 feet above sea level.  The hike up from the visitor’s center to the summit is an easy hike and can be done by people of all fitness levels. Once you reach the summit, you will be glad you continued on. The view is spectacular.

Just One Tip: For travellers exploring the Rocky Mountains on their own, I recommend renting a car.  If you intend on taking tours, then contact Brewster Express as they also have shuttle services from and to the Calgary airport.

The Best Time to Visit the Canadian Rocky Mountains

The Canadian Rocky Mountains are beautiful at any time of the year and you will find plenty of activities whether visiting in the Summer or Winter. It all depends what your interests are and what you want to do.

Summer

During the Summer months, June through August, you can expect the weather to range between 14 degrees Celsius to 18 degrees Celsius during the day, and can dip as low as 0 degrees Celsius in the evening. The range in temperature makes it difficult to know what clothing to pack and it is recommended that in addition to the usual Summer attire, you bring some warmer clothing such as hoodies, jacket, and even gloves.

For the nature lover and hiking addict, visiting Banff National Park during the Summer months would be the ideal time and visiting during this period would also guarantee that the trails would be open for hiking. I must caution you though that visiting the Canadian Rockies during this time of the year is EXTREMELY busy, so if it is peace and quiet that you are seeking, the Summer months is not the ideal time to visit.

Winter

Banff National Park during the Winter months are magical and if you love to ski, this is the place you want to visit. Even if you aren’t a skier, there are still many winter activities for the entire family, including dog sledding, ice skating on Lake Louise, horse drawn sleigh rides, snow shoeing, and the Ice Magic Festival which is held the second and third week of January each year.

If heading to the Rocky Mountains during the Winter months, you can expect temperatures to drop as low as -14 degrees Celsius so bundle up. Dressing for the Winter in the Rocky Mountains is very much like dressing for Alaska.

If you plan to drive through the Rocky Mountains during the Winter months be prepared, the road conditions are quite treacherous. Before heading out, check the weather conditions and take all necessary precautions.

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Off-Season

Visiting the Canadian Rocky Mountains during the off-season between April and June, and September and November is the best time to avoid a deluge of tourists. You will also find the cost of lodging to be less expensive, however, you will also find that many of the trails are closed due to the potential of an avalanche.

The off-season is the perfect time to visit if you are seeking rest, relaxation, scenery, and possibly the odd bear or two.

2 Days in Banff Comes to an End 🙁

As the old saying goes….all good things must come to an end.  My Rocky Road Trippin Adventure took a total of six days including the drive from and back to Vancouver.  If you aren’t into long roadtrips, then I recommend that you fly into Calgary, which is approximately a one hour drive to Banff. 

I will definitely be back to the Canadian Rocky Mountains!  Two days exploring the Rocky Mountains isn’t near enough time, however, this two day itinerary will allow enough time to see the major attractions that Banff has to offer.

Enjoy Your Time in the Canadian Rocky Mountains

If you are lucky enough to be in a position to visit the Canadian Rocky Mountains, be prepared….it is expensive…..but worth every single penny! I will be going back, but next time I will go for two weeks. Two short days in the Rocky Mountains just isn’t enough time to see it all.

ENJOY THE MOUNTAINS 🙂

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