Travelogue: Memories of my four-day road trip in the Canadian Rockies

Hi, I'm Suzanne, marketing coordinator at Audvik. I'm French and I'm living in Quebec for a year. During this year full of emotions and discoveries, I took the opportunity to go on an adventure! Last September, I hit the road with my boyfriend for a month and a half road trip across the United States and Canada. With no specific itinerary, just a few markers on Google Maps, a van filled with our essentials, and a desire to discover the unknown.

This trip introduced us to breathtaking landscapes. A concentration of adventure and freedom, the memories of which will remain etched in our minds forever.

Among the places we dreamed of seeing, the Rockies were at the top of our list. We were supposed to meet some friends there, and after two weeks of driving through American national parks and a few big cities, we finally parked our van for a few days in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, in Banff National Park, Alberta.

First day: rest and discovery of the first lakes of Banff National Park

We arrived at Banff National Park early in the morning, after spending the night at a campground about thirty minutes away in the Kananaskis Valley, which borders the Bow Valley. Unfortunately, it was one of the only campgrounds still open with available spots. To our surprise, in September, many campgrounds are already closed because the tourist season is coming to an end (something we hadn't anticipated!).

As soon as we arrived, we drove to the town of Banff to do some laundry and explore this small, touristy town at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. Unfortunately, the rain greeted us, and it didn't really leave us for the rest of our stay in the Rockies.

Lake Minnewanka

But we weren't going to let that get us down! We put on our anoraks and set off to brave the weather to discover our first lake: Lake Minnewanka. We were able to walk along its banks and enjoy a brief lull. We were truly impressed by the color of the lake and the calm of the place (probably due to the few tourists due to the bad weather).

The Vermilion Lakes

We then took the road to the Vermilion Lakes, even wilder and quieter. We were alone! A true haven of peace. We sat there, doing nothing, just listening to the birds and letting ourselves be lulled by the tranquility of the place.

After these two wonderful discoveries, we headed to Mosquito Creek Campground, about an hour's drive from Banff, to get as close as possible to our next stop. It was listed as full, but we managed to find a small spot between two vans and met tourists of all nationalities. It's a beautiful site, right in the heart of the national park, where we were able to enjoy a magnificent sunset over the mountains. However, as its name suggests, beware of mosquitoes—even with the low temperatures during the night!

Day Two: Hiking Tour from Lake Louise and Johnston Canyon

Lake Louise

For our second day in the Rockies, we decided to explore the most iconic lake we'd heard so much about: Lake Louise. We arrived very early to secure a parking spot (note that the price is quite high—so it's best to book a shuttle that drops you off directly at the base of the lake).

As soon as we arrived, we were amazed by the turquoise color of the water. The panorama was simply magnificent, and the view of the mountains impressive, even if the peaks were hidden by the clouds. We then walked along the lake to join a trail. We had been recommended the Six Glaciers hike which is about 15km, and we were not disappointed! We climbed a lot, first in the rain and with our heads in the clouds, but it was definitely worth the detour. Luckily, we had remembered to take our polar fleeces , sleeveless jackets and anoraks . We did the onion technique, and it worked well!

First stop: Lac Miroir, a small, almost suspended body of water surrounded by fir trees. Then we continued to Lac Agnès, where we were surprised to discover a small café serving hot drinks and meals. A real comfort in this cold! We settled in to enjoy a hot tea and catch a few rare rays of sunshine on the lake.

After this well-deserved break, we resumed our ascent, steeper this time. Throughout the route, we were able to observe several glaciers clinging to the rock faces and enjoy numerous panoramic viewpoints. We then descended to complete the loop around Lake Louise.

Johnston Canyon

After a quick snack, we continued our exploration of the Rockies with a visit to Johnston Canyon. Unfortunately, the rain returned, so we brought out our anoraks , but we stayed the course! The well-maintained trail (6 km round trip) allows you to discover several waterfalls sculpting the rock. A fairly short walk, but very pleasant despite the weather.

To conclude this eventful day, we met up with friends in Banff for a few beers and a nice hot meal before spending the night at Tunnel Mountain Village Campground, just outside the town of Banff.

Day 3: Bow Lake View and Peyto Lake Hike

Bow Lake

After a good night's sleep, a hot shower, and a little rest at the campsite, we hit the road again towards Bow Lake, located in the Bow Valley, an hour's drive from Banff (we couldn't find a closer campsite. It's best to book well in advance, unlike us...!). We strolled along the water's edge to admire the scenery. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't great, so we had to cancel the originally planned hike.

Peyto Lake

But we weren't discouraged. We continued on to our next stop, the famous Peyto Lake, recognizable by its fox-head shape. The hike to get there is short and fairly easy, and leads to a viewpoint that also overlooks nearby Bow Lake.

Despite the cold and overcast weather (the hat was definitely a must!), we fully enjoyed the view. Once again, the emerald and turquoise hues of the water took our breath away.

After these two visits, we returned to the campsite to have a nice hot meal and warm up because it had actually snowed on some of the peaks! We didn't expect that for September...

Day Four: Visit Emerald Lake in British Columbia and depart for the next part of the adventure

For this fourth day, the sun was finally back, much to our delight, even though our stay in the Rockies was already coming to an end. To close this chapter in style, we followed our friends' advice (and we weren't disappointed) by heading to Emerald Lake, located in Yoho National Park, British Columbia, near Banff.

The lakeside is beautiful and very accessible for a short walk. We strolled along the banks and through the lodges, which I found really cute. We stopped at several viewpoints to admire the scenery and the emerald-colored water... hence the name!

An unforgettable wild interlude

It was already time to hit the road again, heading for Seattle and then California, but this stretch of time in the Rockies will undoubtedly remain one of the highlights of our road trip. Despite the rain, the cold, and the unexpected, each day offered us its share of breathtaking landscapes, memorable hikes, and simple pleasures, like a hot cup of tea by a lake or a sunset over the mountains.

It's a place where you feel tiny in the face of nature, yet incredibly alive. A place that forces you to slow down, observe, and breathe. We left tired, a little wet, but above all filled with gratitude and wonder.

And if we had to do it again, we wouldn't hesitate for a second to go back... but above all, don't forget your anoraks !