The Ultimate Canadian Rockies Itinerary For 10 Days

Planning a road trip in the Rocky Mountains of Canada? Check out my tried and tested Canadian Rockies itinerary for 10 days – the perfect amount of time for a taster of this astoundingly beautiful part of the world…

The Canadian Rockies are one of my favorite places in the world and I have been fortunate to visit six times so far, with hopefully many more visits in the future.

This is one of the most naturally beautiful places in the world and the best way to experience it is by doing a Canadian Rockies road trip. I based this Canadian Rockies road trip on one that I did in 2013 that I thought turned out pretty perfectly, and also includes Glacier National Park in the U.S., which is just over the border.

Canadian Rockies Itinerary 10 Days

This Canadian Rockies itinerary is for 10 days. Ten days may seem like a lot of time but it really isn’t because there is so much to do in this area! If you cut out Glacier National Park in the U.S. you could easily cut this down to 7 days.

Ideally, I love to do even longer Canada Road Trips, but this 10 day Canadian Rockies road trip is a great taster. Next time I want to go RVing in Canada!

As we had been to Jasper on a previous road trip, we decided to skip it this time around to see some new places, but if you have longer, I highly recommend adding it to your road trip. Or drop Glacier National Park and add Jasper instead, but be aware that after the devastating fires in Jasper in 2024, not everything has been reopened.

After picking up your rental car and some quick stops to get food and a propane canister for your camping stove (this camping food guide is a must-read before shopping for food and cooking gear), hit the road to drive to your first stop: Waterton Lakes National Park.

Day 1-2: Waterton Lakes National Park

Waterton Lakes is part of an International Peace Park that encompasses Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta, Canada, and Glacier National Park in Montana, USA. It is a three-hour drive from Calgary and if you have time, I recommend you drive on a smaller highway south, rather than the busy and generic main highway.

You will drive through flat prairie land and past ranches in the heart of Canada’s cowboy country. Gradually you will start to see the mountains rising out from the flat land in the distance.

After driving for three hours, you will finally start climbing, surrounded by sheer rock faces. 

The Waterton Lakes townsite has a spectacular setting, nestled on the rocky shoreline of Upper Waterton Lake and surrounded by massive mountains. On arrival, walk around the tiny downtown and to Cameron Falls, a small but beautiful cascade nearby.

If it is available, stay in the camping ground located in the townsite, otherwise there are a few camping grounds just outside the park if that is fully booked. 

The next day, take a scenic boat ride over Waterton Lake to do the gorgeous but challenging hike up to Crypt Lake, you can read more about that here.

I only had a short time in beautiful Waterton Lakes National Park but I loved it. It didn’t feel crowded like Banff or Jasper National Parks but it easily rivaled their beauty.

I’m not sure why it doesn’t get the same number of visitors but I hope it stays like that. The wide open spaces and unhurried pace is what makes it so special.

If you decide to stay longer in Waterton Lakes National Park, I recommend hiking the spectacular Carthew-Alderson trail, Bertha Lake and Bertha Falls, and Bear’s Hump.

Where To Stay at Waterton Lakes National Park

If you are camping, stay right in the Waterton townsite at the Townsite Campground.

For a very worthwhile splurge, consider staying at the historic and very regal Prince of Wales Hotel, or if you are looking for a more affordable option, stay at Crandell Mountain Lodge or the Rocky Ridge Country Lodge.

Days 3-5: Glacier National Park

The next stop on your road trip is across the border in Montana. Glacier National Park is consistently rated as one of the top National Parks in the U.S. and is definitely worth adding to your Canadian Rockies itinerary.

The Park Café near the St Mary entrance to the park is known for its amazing pie so that was where you should head first. After fueling up on some incredible pie (I loved their coconut cream pie and boysenberry pie) drive the famous Going to the Sun Road across the park. 

It is a spectacular drive and one of the best in the U.S. according to a lot of polls. Pass by shimmering lakes lying at the foot of snow-covered mountains. Waterfalls drop into deep glacial valleys and wildflowers are abundant on the high alpine meadows.

At the highest point of the road, Logan Pass, there is a very popular Visitor Centre with numerous short hikes departing from there. Stretch your legs on the Hidden Lake Overlook hike which is only 5 km/3 miles return but very worthwhile.

There are lots of ground squirrels, marmots, and chipmunks along the way and it’s possible to see mountain goats in the distance.

Once you get to the viewpoint of the hidden lake it’s time for lunch, and you can sit and admire the lake view while eating. 

Your next stop is outside the western end of the park: Whitefish, Montana.

Whitefish is a cool little town with Wild West-style wooden storefronts and a tidy main street. Explore the stores then head down to the lake to swim or relax with a book.

Spend the night in Whitefish before heading back into the park the next day.

The next morning, drive over to Many Glacier in the northeast of the park where you will base for the next two nights. 

Stop along the way in Apgar Village which is tiny, comprising a couple of log cabins selling souvenirs, a motel, and a visitor center. It is situated on the lovely Lake McDonald, one of many pristine lakes in the park.

The grand Many Glacier Hotel is one of the great ‘Parkitecture’ Hotels famous in the US National Parks. This style is also known as ‘National Park Service Rustic,’ and it intends to create buildings that harmonize with the natural environment.

The hotel has a great balcony with Adirondack chairs where you can relax after a hard day hiking, watching the sunset behind the mountains while sipping a hot chocolate. I did exactly that after my 16km/10 mile return hike to Iceberg Lake.

Iceberg Lake is one of the beautiful crystalline blue lakes in Glacier National Park with the added bonus of actually having icebergs floating in it. The hike was fantastic and pretty easygoing.

I hiked along a ridge line then through the forest, stopping for lunch at a waterfall, before emerging to the breathtaking sight of the lake. There were a lot of moose along the way including a mother and baby.

There are also lots of wild huckleberries and salmonberries on the trail. Huckleberries grow locally and no one has managed to domesticate them so you can only find them in certain areas of the USA and Canada. They are very similar in look and taste to blueberries. Delicious.

On your last day in the park, I recommend hiking the epic 19km Highline Trail. It starts at Logan Pass and traverses a thin trail above a stunning valley replete with waterfalls and small glaciers, before switch-backing up to a butte.

Due to changes in 2026, you will need to take a shuttle to Logan Pass and back to hike the trail as parking is now limited to three hours there. Make sure to reserve your shuttle spot in advance. You can take it from St Mary Visitor Center.

After 12km/7.5 miles you will reach the Granite Park wilderness chalet. Rest here for a bit before hiking another 7km/4.3 miles to get down to the road where a free shuttle will take you back to Logan Pass.

I saw a bear on the second part of the hike which was pretty exciting!

It crossed the trail about 20 meters in front of me and stopped me dead in my tracks. Mr Bear walked down to a small tree with berries and started feasting. He looked up at me but didn’t seem bothered by my presence.

After catching the shuttle back to your vehicle at St Mary Visitor Center, drive back to Many Glacier Hotel to relax in their elaborate lounge before retiring to your accommodations for the night.

Bid a fond farewell to the truly spectacular Glacier National Park the next morning. It is definitely in my top 5 U.S. National Parks!

But it was time for your Rocky Mountain Road Trip to continue.

Where To Stay at Glacier National Park

There are numerous campgrounds to choose from in the park if you want to camp. I recommend staying at Many Glacier to explore the eastern side of the park, and Apgar Village or Sprague Creek for the western side of the park.

For non-camping accommodation, I recommend splurging at the historic Many Glacier Hotel – book early because it books out fast, or at St Mary Village in the eastern side of the park.

Stay in the sweet town of Whitefish on the western side of the park at affordable Grouse Mountain Lodge, or the more luxurious Firebrand Hotel.

Day 6: Fernie, Radium Hot Springs, Golden

Fernie

Drive over the Crowsnest Pass, leaving the plains of cowboy country as you enter beautiful British Columbia.

Your first stop in BC is Fernie, a small community in the BC Rockies with a historic downtown core and a strong arts scene. Visit the Arts Co-op and tasteful gift shops in town, and grab lunch at one of the excellent restaurants.

There is also a small museum with information about the town’s history. It is really interesting and you can see how proud the locals are of their little piece of paradise in the mountains; the community spirit is strong in this place.  

Radium Hot Springs

Radium Hot Springs is not much further on from Fernie so stop there for a soak in the thermal hot springs. There is nothing like swimming in hot springs. 

Feeling relaxed, drive on to Golden where you will be spending the night.

Golden

Golden is another cute little community known for its wooden pedestrian bridge (the longest freestanding timber frame bridge in Canada!) that they are very proud of.

Check out the local coffee shop/bookstore and some of the other shops in the cute downtown, before hitting the road for Yoho National Park, he next stop on your Canadian Rockies road trip.

Where To Stay in Golden, BC

For camping, stay at the Whispering Spruce Campground or the Golden Municipal Campground and RV Park. Both are right by town.

The best non-camping options are the luxurious Winston Lodge just outside of town, or the affordable Alpine Meadows Lodge.

Day 7-8: Yoho National Park

Your first stop in Yoho National Park should be beautiful Emerald Lake, the most popular attraction in the park.

There are a number of hikes you can do but if you’re short on time, do the 3.2-mile mostly flat Emerald Lake loop. You can also take a canoe out on the lake.

Treat yourself to lunch with a view at Cilantro on the Lake, just over the bridge to the island that is home to the Emerald Lake Resort, or wait till you get to your next stop, the tiny town of Field.

Field is the town within Yoho National Park and is made up of a handful of orderly streets in the shadow of the surrounding mountains. Little colorful cottages, many of them B&Bs, abound.

The only shops in town are the Truffle Pigs Lodge and restaurant (highly recommended!), The Siding Cafe, a ceramics shop, and a post office. There is a small lake between the town and the highway where people swim. It is a lovely little place.

Your last stop in Yoho National Park is Takakkaw Falls, an iconic waterfall that is truly spectacular, as is the drive there from the main road. It is a short walk across the milky Yoho River to the thunderous Takakkaw. You can climb up beside the falls (be careful).

There are lots of beautiful hikes in Yoho National Park if you have longer in the area – I highly recommend doing the excellent 13-mile Iceline Trail for a stunning longer trail. For shorter hikes, tackle Sherbrooke Lake, the Emerald Lake Loop, Yoho Pass, Twin Falls Teahouse, and Emerald Basin.

Optional Add-On: If you manage to get a shuttle reservation, I highly recommend spending a night or two camping or staying in a hut or lodge at Lake O’Hara. I did the hike to Abbot Pass Hut and it was one of my favorite Canadian adventures. The hut is no longer there but the Lake O’Hara area is one of the most breathtaking places in the Canadian Rockies.

Where To Stay in Yoho National Park

If you’re camping, the best campgrounds in the park are Monarch and Kicking Horse. Another budget-friendly option is to stay at the rustic HI Yoho National Park Whiskey Jack Hostel across from Takakkaw Falls.

There is only one hotel/lodge in Field, Truffle Pigs, and their restaurant is excellent. There are also a number of bed and breakfasts. I recommend the Hummingbird Suite (my friend owns it), and Mount Stephen Guesthouse (I volunteered here in 2015).

If it is luxury you are after, you can’t go past the gorgeous setting of the Emerald Lake Lodge or Cathedral Mountain Lodge. 

Day 9-10: Lake Louise and Banff 

Lake Louise

Like Emerald Lake in Yoho, Lake Louise in Banff National Park is another lake of astonishing blue. If you only have time to do one hike during your time here, make it the Little Beehive, Lake Agnes Teahouse, and Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse hike that takes in two historic teahouses as well as glaciers and lake views.

The last part of the hike will follow the shoreline of Lake Louise and it is my favorite hike in Banff National Park, actually, it’s probably one of my favorite hikes ever.

If you only have a couple of hours, just do the hike up to Lake Agnes Teahouse and back. Make sure to get lunch at the teahouse either way.

Another amazing lake in Banff National Park (and my personal favorite) is Moraine Lake. When I first saw Moraine Lake in 2010 I was completely blown away by its beauty and the quiet solitude after the crazy circus surrounding Lake Louise.

These days it is just as busy as Lake Louise but still definitely worth visiting.

Make sure to do the short hike up the rock pile for the best lake views, and hopefully you will get to see the resident pikas too (and chipmunks).

Pikas are one of my favorite animals, and are cute little rodents with no tails and big ears. They live in amongst the rocks and you can usually see them scurrying back and forth, collecting grass for their winter food supply. I saw in a documentary that they also eat the brains of dead birds. Ewwww.

You should also make time to walk along the easy trail to the end of the lake.

If you have more time, I highly recommend hiking to Larch Valley and Sentinel Pass when visiting Moraine Lake. It was a hike I really enjoyed on a subsequent visit and is especially spectacular in the fall. 

To visit Lake Louise, either aim to get there really early to get a park, or book a shuttle. You can no longer drive to Moraine Lake at all. The easiest way to visit both in a day is to book the combined shuttle through Parks Canada.

Alternatively, if you want to beat the crowds and get to Moraine Lake for sunrise, you can take the sunrise shuttle through the Moraine Lake Bus Company. This is also a great option if the Parks Canada shuttle sells out as they have multiple departures during the day. You can also book a shuttle to Lake Louise through them.

Banff

Banff is the very busy tourist center of Banff National Park and there are lots of things to do there including soaking at the Banff Upper Hot Springs, visiting the majestic Fairmont Hotel, learning about Banff’s history at the excellent Whyte Museum, seeing the original hot springs at Cave and Basin National Historic Site, and exploring the shops and restaurants of downtown.

There are a number of hikes that originate in town including Bow River to Bow Falls, Tunnel Mountain, and the more challenging Sulphur Mountain trail.

There are also lots of excellent hikes to do in the Banff National Park – I recommend Johnston Canyon to Ink Pots trail, and a section of the Lake Minnewanka trail.

Where To Stay in Banff

There are numerous campgrounds close to Banff, with the Tunnel Mountain campgrounds being the closest to town.

Another great budget option is to stay in one of the hostels in Banff – HI Banff Alpine Centre is a great choice right by town. If you want something quieter, the HI Mosquito Creek.

If you prefer a hotel, stay at the most iconic in Banff – the Fairmont Banff Springs, or stay at Peaks Hotel and Suites or Canalta Lodge.

The Rocky Mountains continue to captivate and amaze me and I hope you love visiting this amazingly picturesque part of the world as much as I do. This 10 day Canadian Rockies Itinerary was one of the big highlights of five months in Canada.

There are so many other places in the Canadian Rockies I would recommend visiting if you have longer including Canmore, Kananaskis Country, Jasper, Revelstoke, Glacier National Park in Canada, Mount Assiniboine, Wells Grey, Mount Robson, and more.

I strongly encourage anyone with a passion for hiking to visit this magical place, it is a hiker’s paradise. Use this Canadian Rockies Itinerary for 10 Days as a guide and start planning your trip!

If you liked this post, check out some of my other Canada content:

• Everything You Need To Know About Visiting Gwaii Haanas
• How I Traveled Through Canada on $30 Per Day
• A Great Canadian Adventure: Hiking To Abbot Pass Hut
• Crypt Lake Hike: One of the Best Hikes in Canada
• Life in Field, BC: The Best Mountain Town in the Canadian Rockies
• What To Do in Revelstoke If You Only Have Two Days
• The Best Vancouver Itinerary: 4 Days in Summer
• The Sunshine Coast, BC: Canada’s Most Underrated Destination?
• Revisiting Victoria: Canada’s English-Themed City
• What To Do in Summer on Denman Island, Canada
• Hiking Through the Mountains to Stunning Garibaldi Lake
• Why You Should Visit Vancouver in the Fall

PIN IT!