Tag: Road Trippin

A memorable road-trip through Banff and Jasper

Leave a comment

 

So you love road trips, eh? We do too. We also love taking pictures and procrastinate doing any post-processing work. If you are the same way, look no further! A road trip in the Canadian Rockies is tailor made for you. Believe us, you would not have to do any photoshopping to make your pictures look stunning. The colors of the glacier fed lakes and the rugged snow clad peaks in the background will make smartphone photos print-worthy!

 

Before you start planning for a road trip of a lifetime, recommend chalking out some details that we often ignore –

  • There will not be much cellphone reception. So get a printed map. We have a Google maps view chalked out below that you can customize and print.
  • Recommend downloading an offline guide app. We love the Gypsy Guide apps. We have used it in road trips around North America. Highly recommended. There are two – for Banff (Lake Louise Guide) and for Jasper (Jasper Guide)

Suggested Duration: 3-4 Days     Best Time of Visit: End May – Early Oct    Base: Banff/Canmore

Itinerary

We set base location in Canmore. The itinerary is divided into days; all days complete at Banff or Canmore. So expect to do a lot of driving each day.

Day 1

  1. Start at the town of Banff and follow Trans-Canada Highway. Put in your GPS, Lake Louise as the destination for now.
  2. Drive to Lake Minnewanka and Vermillion Lakes – Should take about 1 hour to get back to the Highway.
  3. Drive northbound and take the exit towards Bow Valley Parkway leaving the Trans Canada Highway. This is a slower road but chances of wildlife and soaking in history are higher.
  4. First stop is Johnston Canyon. Takes about 1.5 hours for about a mile long round trip hike to the spectacular Lower Falls.

    Johnston Canyon

    Johnston Canyon

  5. Drive slow to spot wildlife, remnants of forest fires and terrain battered by landslides.
  6. Merge into the Trans Canada Highway at Castle Junction and travel north.The Bow River flows south along the road here to your right.
    1. You will also spot some interesting bridges – they are for the bears to cross the highway safely.
  7. Next up is Lake Louise. It is highly visited especially during summer months as the roads are closed until mid-May due to risk of avalanches. There is a hotel – Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, where you will park the car. A hike around the pristine waters will give you ample opportunities to soak in the beauty. Don’t forget to look around for avalanche debris. Whole trip here should take about 2 hours.
  8. From Lake Louise, follow directions to Moraine Lake. Looking at the deep blue

    waters of the lake surrounded by 10 peaks is an incredible experience. A little hike up the hill created by avalanche debris, will give you an awesome view from the vantage point. The log pile in front of the lake after the parking lot creates a nice foreground for the photography enthusiasts. Taking in the beauty and doing a bit of hiking around should take about 1 hour. Can you guess why the waters in the lake are so blue? Check the answer here.

  9. We chose to end our day after tiring hikes and posing for numerous pictures all day. We will continue this journey on Day 2, but the evening can be spent at the beautiful town of Banff.

Day 2

  1. Fill up gas and your stomach before hitting the road. This will be a much lighter day, and we can revisit one of the hikes or trails that we missed out yesterday. We will head towards Yoho National Park first. About a 45 minute drive from Banff, after the intersection of Icefields parkway, DSC_1732Instead of going towards Icefields Parkway (which we will do on our third day), stay on Trans Canada highway towards Yoho National Park.
  2. Along the road, try spotting some bears as this is a nice habitat for bears by the railroad tracks. Why? As the grain carriages on the tracks may leak some grains which attract bears, causing a number of bear deaths. You will hear train whistles along the way as well to keep bears away from the tracks.
  3. About 15 minutes in, you will spot the Continental Divide which is also the Alberta and British Columbia border. The rivers on either side of the divide flows in opposite directions.

     

  4. Don’t miss the Spiral Tunnels pull out. You may have to wait a bit for the best experience. You may be able to spot a train, which will pass above itself through the spiral tunnels at various levels. This was done due to the steep mountain side that the engineers had to build necessary rail tracks to transport goods. It’s an incredible site. A train generally passes through here every half an hour.
  5. As you drive west along the Yoho parkway, you will spot the upper tunnels as well. We will drive towards Emerald Lake. You will see Natural Bridge signs. This road is typically closed during winters and does not open until early June. We missed the lake and the bridge, but the road up is picturesque enough to fill your appetite.

     

  6. As you drive down to the main highway, take a left towards Field, BC. If you go west, the road takes straight to Vancouver, BC, and is about 9 hour ride. Stop at the idyllic town of Field, BC. It is a charming town in the summer, but winter is harsh here as the towering Mt. Steven hinders sunlight from getting here. Grab a bite in the small town stylish cafes before hitting the road.
  7. Quick turn left to take a steep climb up through a seasonal road towards Takkaka Falls. Pull out at the sign to see the meeting of the waters to the right. Difference between glacial greenish water of Yoho river and clearer waters of Kicking Horse river meet here in a whirlwind. Through multiple switchbacks up, reach the lot for the spectacular Takkaka falls.
  8. This is the wet side of the continental divide, and the vegetation is much greener than the rugged landscape of the other side. But look out for steep slopes that are devoid of any trees. It is a sign of deadly avalanches and landslides have depleted any vegetation.
  9. The Takkaka Falls are fed by the hidden icefields above it which has about 8 different glaciers. The falls are one of the tallest in Canada, and the gigantic amount of water coming down eroded the landscape for ages to create the sharp cliff and gorge.
  10. On your way back down to the highway, look at the Spiral Tunnels from a higher vantage point. On the highway before crossing the AB/BC border, the nice lake of Wapta Lake will be on your right.
  11. Once past the provincial border into Alberta, you are inside Banff National Park again from Yoho National Park. We will end our day here on the road, and spend the afternoon in town of Banff. There are plenty to keep yourselves busy in Banff. Tomorrow is Icefields parkway, and will start very early.

Day 3

  1. Begin as early as possible, preferably before 6am. Fill up gas tank and coffee mugs. From Banff, drive up north about 40 minutes and take the exit towards Icefields Parkway into Jasper. This is voted the best mountain drive in the world. Hopefully you are here around sunrise to spot the golden crowns of the steep peaks around you.
  2. First stop is at Herbert Lake. On a still day, the reflections of the mountains on the lake is inspirational at its best. Many people would stop at the shoulder of the road to take the pictures. DSC_1767
  3. At a distance, about 15 minutes later, you will see Hector Lake which is a large water body only accessible via a trail.
  4. Next up is Bow Lake which has a pristine calm beauty around it. The view is spectacular from the road, but even better is from a tiny alley north of the lake. The alley on the left will take you to the lodge Nampti-Ja, and the view from that level (lake level) is incredible. From here you can spot the Bow Glacier as well.
  5.  Next up is the Bow Summit and the Peyto Lake. The best photo opportunity appears after a steep but short hike. Many postcards, travel magazine covers and wallpapers feature a photo of this. It is about 2500 meters above sea level, so a brief period of out-of-breath is common.
  6. Next up is Snowbird Glacier on your left getting its name from the shape like a bird spreading its wings. There is a small shoulder pull out for a quick stop and snap pictures.
  7. Continuing up north, you will see multiple noteworthy mountain peaks – Mt. Weed on the right hand side, Mt. Cephren pyramid shaped peaks on left, Mt. Wilson with the back of the icefield on top. Stop at the Mistaya Canyon for a quick hike (~30 minutes) through the narrow canyons. You will see washouts caused by melting snow and heavy glaciers. One of them is a big washout on your right.
  8. About 10-15 minutes north, you will see the wide Graveyard Flats where Alexandra and Saskatchewan rivers meet. On your right up ahead is Mt. Coleman with the green vegetation, look out for mountain goats on the cliff. You will see Sakatchewan Glacier and Mt. Andromeda from up ahead.
  9. As you pass the Big Bend, you will spot the end of the glacier and beginning of the river. Mt. Athabasca and Mt. Andromeda, two of the highest mountain peaks in the Rockies, can be seen from the bend ahead. You will enter the Jasper National Park from here.
  10. Next up is the Columbia Icefields where you will spend 2-3 hours exploring the glacier and surrounding vista including the Glacier Skywalk. Read more here.

  11. Quick stop ahead is the Tangle Falls on the right. Set your shutter speed slower and smaller aperture for a nice water strands of the falls falling in multiple stages. Take a closer look up ahead of the Stutfield Glacier.

    Stutfield Glacier

    Stutfield Glacier

  12. Endless chain ridge, a row of knife like peaks, 17 mile in length with highest peak at 9000 feet will be visible to your right. Quick entry on the left and an easy walk to Sunwapta Falls is warranted here.
  13. Past a bunch of lakes like Buck Lake and Honeymoon Lake, drive up towards Athabasca Falls. This is where heavy amounts of water from the river of the same name plunges down through a narrow canyon. Try to capture the falls with the gorgeous mountains in the backdrop.
  14. Press on towards the town of Jasper. You will see the Valley of the Five Lakes which is a 1-2 hour easy trail that takes you to 5 pristine but tiny lakes. But may not be a good one to do on the short time today. So lets skip it, and revisit if you are staying a night in Jasper. You will spot the Pyramid Mountains and Whistlers Mountain Trams up ahead.
  15. End the drive in Jasper town for an evening snack or dinner. We drove back to Banff the same evening, but not recommended. Try to find reservation in one of the quaint lodges in Jasper.

Okay, that’s it for the road trip. Please note that a 3 day itinerary is slightly aggressive, but can easily be stretched into four, especially if weather Gods are not merciful on one of the days. Hope you enjoyed the tour. Please reach out via comments or Instagram/Twitter if we can be of any help to put together an itinerary for you.

Below is a map view. You can also download the map for navigation here.

[googlemaps https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1X1UvqbRdHrrVw1YdIyXnUzs9r2BtXOaX&w=640&h=480]

Kancamagus Highway

2 comments

An open road well balanced with caffeine, gasoline and love can take you a long way, literally! Add in an exuberance of fall foliage around it while the sun shines brightly above; it is a recipe for a good day at work.

As residents of the New England area, fall is a particularly exciting season for us. Not only because of the impending winter right after, but also because of the scenery around you along with the festivities that springs to life. Perfect time to hit the road on a sunny weekend for a day or a weekend getaway. Among several others, Kancamagus highway in New Hampshire White Mountains is a particularly special one. It is an easy ride with enough hikes to keep you exercised and quick enough to cover in a 7-8 hour day for a New England resident.

Begin At: Conway, NH  |  Suggested Duration: 5 Hours   |   Recommended Time of Visit: Fall (Mid-Sept – Mid-Oct)

We will take you through our journey along with some key tips to make this road trip memorable. Scroll down for a Google Maps view of the highway, but here is a snapshot of the official map –

Kancamagus Map

Official Kancamagus Highway Map

We begin the road trip from the visitor center in Conway, NH in the eastern most side of the Kancamagus Highway. Follow the map for planning purposes.

Brief History

The name Kancamagus comes from the peace loving tribal chief of the legendary Indians, Passaconaway, of New Hampshire. European settlers lived in the fertile land along the Swift river in 1790. The road connecting Conway and Lincoln was established and opened to traffic in 1959. Now US Forest Service maintains the road and recreational areas, that support hiking, skiing, swimming and kayaking. Trails and overlooks provide ample opportunity for visitors to hike and soak in the panoramic vistas of the Kancamagus mountains and the valleys.

Scenic Route

There are multiple scenic spots along the way. Mileage from the Eastern Entrance is marked below.

  • First Leg: The Swift river runs along the Kancamagus Highway. The main attractions and vantage points are mostly along the river. The first stop to the right is the Albany Covered Bridge (6.1 miles), followed by the Lower Falls (6.8 miles), both of which requires a quick hike. Rocks and boulders in the river allows you to take a better look at the valley up and down stream. On a clear day, foliage colors and the rocky foreground makes for beautiful landscape pictures. The viewing platforms for the Lower Falls make great pictures while appreciating the serenity around. Next up is the Rocky Gorge (9.0 miles) that is a highly photogenic area with a beautiful flume and falls. On your way westward, stop at the Russel Colbath House (12.5 miles) which is a historic house retaining the remains of the Passaconaway village. Before reaching the pass, on your left will be the Sabbaday Falls (15.4 miles)

    which requires an easy 0.6 mile hike to the cascading falls and an emerald pool.

  • Crest: Through the winding roads alongside bright foliage, the road took us to about 3,000 feet high at the Kancamagus Pass (22 miles). There are multiple vantage points facing east and west; feel free to pull over cautiously to soak in the views of the valleys that boast a palette of mixed hues. Notable overlooks, before

    and after the Kancamagus Pass, are Sugar Hill Overlook (17 miles), CL Graham Overlook (21 miles) for views of the Northeast. Best viewed in the afternoon with the sun in the back.

  • The Descent: Once past the pass, the road becomes slightly narrower and more winding while you descend. There are overlooks to view the south and southwest sides now. Pemi Overlook (23 miles) and Hancock Overlook (24 miles) provide

    unobstructed views of the Osceola range. Last notable stop is at the Lincoln Woods (30 miles). A suspension bridge and a fairly long hike on mostly flat terrain should make your day complete. Fall foliage colors might be a bit subdued here due to the presence of conifers.

  • Down and Out: On your way out to Lincoln, there ought to be a quick stop at the Loon Mountain Ski Resort for some stunning views, especially at dusk. Although a tiny town, stop at Lincoln for a quick bite. The Gypsy cafe, (dog friendly) with its whimsical menu of interesting selection of cuisine from around the world, is our favorite.

Key things to know before you go

  • Although you can visit any time of the year, fall makes it the poster child of NH tourism. Timing the visit to experience the explosion of colors at its peak, however, is tricky. Leaves begin to turn at the higher altitudes first. Leaves reach the peak color at the lower altitudes about 1-2 weeks after peaks at the high altitudes. So at any given time, barring about a 8-10 day window, either the high altitudes or lower altitudes will not be at peak. Since the Kancamagus highway strategically goes through both altitudes, you should be able to see a spectrum of color regardless.
  • It is close to impossible to predict what time the colors reach peak, so unfortunately for travelers coming in from outside New England, it is a gamble. As it gets closer to the middle of September, however, foliage tracking is a bit more predictable. Check these two amazing resources to fine tune your timing – NH Foliage Tracker and New England Live Foliage Map.
  • Kancamagus Highway is the road between Lincoln, NH (in the west) and Conway, NH (in the east). You can enter from either side, but going from East to West has its benefits. First, likely you are going to finish the trip in the evening just before sunset. The glow is best observed from the hikes in the western end. Also, the attractions in the eastern side are better observed during the day. Finally, Lincoln is a quaint town for dinner and is closer to a major highway connecting to Boston.
  • There is no cellphone reception after you cross the visitor center in Conway, NH. So pick up a map from the visitor center. It is fairly easy to navigate as the hikes and attractions are well marked.
  • Quite obvious, but please adhere to the speed limits. The road is not treacherous, but bicyclists and wildlife frequent this road. While you admire the fall foliage, please keep an eye on the bicyclists and wildlife.
  • There are no food or beverages sold in the 35 mile stretch between Conway and Lincoln. So pick up some food/lunch from Conway that you can eat in the picnic benches along the way.
  • There are no gas stations along the way, and gas prices are high in Lincoln. So fill up the tank before entering the road.

Interactive Map

Feel free to use the downloadable map below for your Kancamagus expedition.

[googlemaps https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1XOeVRftWKgVEomwEpY8V_IA4aXDipvPV&w=840&h=380]