Last Updated on December 27, 2022 by Maggie McKneely
Looking for a Canadian Rockies itinerary? This 3-day plan will help you make the most of your limited time in this beautiful place!
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3-Day Canadian Rockies Itinerary
The portion of the Rocky Mountains that extend into Canada is unlike anywhere else along that mighty mountain range. In Canada, the peaks tower thousands of feet above the valley floor. Massive glaciers stretch their toes down the slopes. Animals associated with the wild reaches of the north – caribou, gray wolves, grizzly bears, elk – roam the thick pine forests. Lakes so turquoise that they look photoshopped litter the landscape (Canada has a high-quality of life, and all those lakes probably have something to do with it!). It’s an incredible place that should be on everyone’s travel list and is definitely one of the best places to visit in Canada.
Icefields Parkway
But if you’re short on time, it can also be overwhelming to try and plan out how to see everything you need to! The Canadian Rockies are actually split into 5 different National Parks (yes, 5!!!), spread throughout several Canadian provinces. My family spent 3 days and 3 nights in Banff National Park in Alberta, the largest and most centrally located of the parks.
While you’ll wish you had more time here, 3 days is enough to see all of the highlights if you’re short on time. To help you out, here’s a great 3-day Canadian Rockies itinerary. (Got more time? Consider adding this itinerary to a 3-week trip to Canada!)
Table of Contents
Day 1: Banff
The closest airport to the Canadian Rockies is Calgary International. Alternatively, you can drive to Banff (which is what we did – make sure to read these tips for driving in Canada first!). Either way, part of Day 1 is going to be spent just arriving.
Since you’re short on time, you’ll want to stay somewhere centrally located. We stayed at the lovely Lake Louise Inn because Lake Louise is close to everywhere on this itinerary. However, you pay for the location, and Lake Louise is one of the most popular destinations in the world. The town of Banff is another good option that’ll save you a little bit of money. Just expect to pay more for everything (food, gas, lodging) inside any of the parks!
Lake Louise
Since you’ve probably been traveling most of the day, spend the evening exploring the town of Banff. It’s an adorable place filled with lots of cute restaurants, chocolate shops, and gift stores. Check out one of the many breweries, such as Banff Ave. Brewing Company, or get a delicious pizza from Bear Street Tavern (the Tatanka is topped with smoked bison!). Or, if you’re feeling fancy, check out dinner at the famous Fairmont Banff Springs.
Day 2: Moraine Lake, Icefields Parkway
They say Moraine Lake is the most photographed spot in Canada, and I don’t doubt it. It’s one of the most naturally photogenic places that I’ve ever been to! And although it’s beautiful any time of day, sunrises over the lake are particularly famous. So start day 2 of your Canadian Rockies itinerary watching the sun light up the Valley of Ten Peaks.
The problem is, everyone else knows about Moraine’s famous sunrises too. If you want to catch the sunrise at Moraine Lake, get up early! I suggest getting to the parking lot at least 30 minutes before the official sunrise time. It’s a popular spot with very limited parking. When we were there in August, sunrise was at 6:15 AM, so we got there at 5:50 AM – and the parking lot was already full!! But the view is definitely worth dealing with the tourists.
Moraine Lake
After you get your Moraine Lake photos, grab some coffee and breakfast at Lake Louise Village before starting the next part of the day: the Icefields Parkway.
The Icefields Parkway is, without question, one of the most incredible drives in the world. For 144 miles (232 km), this highway travels through the heart of the Canadian Rockies. That’s 181 miles filled with massive mountain peaks, incredible blue lakes, caribou crossings, and glaciers that you can walk right up to. So, obviously, it’s a necessary part of any Canadian Rockies itinerary worth its salt!
Caribou crossing!
But 144 miles is a long way, and with only 3 days to spend, you don’t need to do the entire thing. Instead, start at Lake Louise and drive 82 miles to Athabasca Glacier, and pick some key stopping points in between!
View from the parkway
Places to stop between Lake Louise and Athabasca Glacier
Crowfoot Glacier
This impressive glacier is visible from the parkway, but to get a great picture, be sure to make a quick stop at the overlook! It’s named “Crowfoot” because there used to be three “toes;” however, one of them broke off in the 1930s, and another is in the process of melting.
Peyto Lake
Nicknamed the “bluest lake in Canada,” Peyto Lake can be seen from the top of a short, paved trail off the parkway.
Not photo-shopped! It’s really that blue!
Parker Ridge
If you have a little extra time, the Parker Ridge Trail is a must. The entire round-trip is 5.5 miles, but you can do just half of that and still get excellent views of the mountains and the Saskatchewan Glacier.
Icefields Center, Toe of the Glacier
The Athabasca Glacier is the most-visited glacier in North America because of its easy accessibility. Do the short hike to walk right up to it (plus, it’s the only free way to see the glacier)! Also, be sure to check out the Icefields Visitors Center for more information about the Columbia Icefield and the glaciers, and for coffee with a view.
Get up close and personal to the Athabasca Glacier
Coffee with an epic view at the Icefields Discovery Center
Tip: DO NOT get gas at the Saskatchewan Crossing gas station. We paid the equivalent of $7 a gallon here, at least double what gas costs outside of the park!
Day 3: Plain of 6 Glaciers
Lake Louise is, deservedly, the most iconic place in Banff and no Canadian Rockies itinerary would be complete without it. However, Lake Louise’s shore is always packed with thousands of other tourists! Fortunately, there’s a way to spend a full day at the lake without having to put up with all of the other visitors: the Plain of 6 Glaciers Hike.
My shirt matched Lake Louise! (I promise I didn’t plan that)
The Plain of Six Glaciers trail winds its way around Lake Louise before climbing up through the incredible valley carved by Victoria Glacier. The hike ends at the very toe of the glacier, where you can treat yourself to coffee and chocolate cake at the historic Plain of Six Glaciers tea house.
Victoria Glacier, high above Lake Louise
To truly avoid the tourists, start this hike early in the day and allow for 5-6 hours to complete it. For more information on this must-do hike, visit my post all about the Plain of Six Glaciers.
After the hike, take the afternoon to relax and grab some ice cream from Lake Louise Village. You earned it – you just completed a whirlwind 3-day Canadian Rockies itinerary!
Tips for visiting the Canadian Rockies
- You will need to purchase a Parks Canada Pass in order to get into any of the national parks. One pass will get you into any of them though (you don’t need to buy a separate one for Banff, and then another for Jasper, etc.). Passes can be purchased either online or at the park entrance gate.
- There is almost no cell reception on the Icefields Parkway and it’s very spotty in other areas in the parks. So just FYI.
- Most of the scenic pull-outs and parking areas have outhouses if you need a bathroom stop.
- Accommodations and campsites fill up very quickly during the summer season, so make your reservations well in advance.
- The parks are open year-round, and while we were there in the summer, I hear that visiting both Banff and Jasper in the winter is a truly special experience.
Where to Stay
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Loved this post since I was just looking into Canada trips the other day! Your pictures are so gorgeous!!!
This is a legit guide! Wow! I feel like you planned the whole trip for me lol I have to go now!
Your pictures are amazing – I always think “Oh, they’ve made it look pretty (photoshop)” but Peyto Lake really is a delight! I would definitely like to see Icefields Center up close!
Those pictures are amazing! Its my dream to visit Lake Louise and this post wants me to go even more! Thanks for sharing!
Looks so beautiful! I can’t believe I’ve lived in California my whole life and never taken a vacation to the Canadian Rockies! It’s so close and so beautiful!
Love the details here! Some of the restaurants and bars sound great, and really useful tips about gas and sunrise photos!
What an amazingly beautiful landscape! I never knew Canada was so surreal before read travel blogs
This looks like an amazing itinerary and gorgeous photos. I’d love to explore this part of Canada!
This is great timing. I’m planning a vacation to the Canadian rockies for next fall.
Canadian Rockies are just amazing. I can’t wait to go there. And I think I will have extra time to spend while there since visiting breweries are not in my list.
OMG Maggie!!! I love the place you visited. If you know the Vlogger Peter McKinnon, he visited these places and he said it’s his favorite place to visit. Now I know why. Looking at your raw photos, those waters are just tempting. Hopefully, I got the chance to visit these places someday.
Such beautiful photos! This makes me regret not spending more time in Canada while I was living in the United States. I am def going to have to add this to my list of must see locations for when I get back!
Well versed itinerary, I’m not sure when I will visit there but definitely I’m gonna follow it whenever I’m there.
Great post! Planning a road trip In Canada in 2019 so this really really helps!
After all this pictures I can’t wait to go.
Canadian rockies blew my mind! It’s an amazing place. We just visited Canada and went to Niagara. This will be next in the list.
We would love to spend some time in this part of Canada. Having spent a few months in the Andes last year, the Rockies is high up on our list to do next! The pictures actually remind me a lot of Patagonia in South America. I think we’d really feel at home in the Canadian Rockies 🙂
I’d love to do a road trip of the Canadian Rockies! One of my friends just did and she had a great time. The scenery there looks amazing!
These pictures are beautiful. The lake looks like a perfect destination for a road trip. Your recommendation for the hike are very helpful.
Banff is definitely on my list. Great outline of your 3 days. It’s hard when there is so much to see and do with so little time. Seems like you got a lot out of your short visit. Wonderful pictures.
What beautiful photos! Canada is totally on my bucketlist!
WOW! I have fallen in love with those pictures. They are breathtaking ! Canadian rockies are just about everything I was expecting it to be. You have managed a lot in those few days. Looking forward to hearing more about Canada from your blog.
Wow your pictures really made me wanted to book the first floght to Canada. It looks amazing!!!
This is a really helpful post considering there are 5 different National Parks in the Canadian Rockies and I would not know which one to visit. The Peyto Lake is so stunning, it must’ve looked more awesome in person. Also, that was such a co-incidence your shirt color matched with Lake Louise haha. Did you see any of the animals like caribou as I noticed the caribou crossing sign? All the places are beautiful and I hope to visit someday!
We saw some black bears and elk, but no grizzlies or caribou! Would’ve loved to though. I think we just got unlucky because people spot them all the time! Definitely hope you get to visit one day, it’s beautiful!
We went to Banff in September and absolutely loved it! We hit up some of the places you went to but didn’t get a chance to visit the Athabasca Glacier. It looks stunning and I love how easily accessible it is. We definitely want to revisit Banff and explore it even more! Thanks for the tip about the gas 🙂
Love your 3 day, glacier heavy itinerary. I used to live in Northern Montana and I think Eastern Rockies is the most beautiful place on Earth. I love the glaciers and the mountain town feel of Banff and Lake Louise.
**serious case of wanderlust here** Those lakes look straight out of a fairytale. And you are right, Moraine Lake at sunrise is stellar. I’ve never done a glacier hike. I bet it’s a fun experience.
The turquoise of those lakes is absolutely dreamy!! And sunrise at Moraine Lake looks like a definite must for a trip like this. One of the reasons I’ve hesitated so long on exploring this region of Canada is because there are so many uniquely beautiful things to see and experience there and I always feel like I’m missing out if I don’t see everything! But it looks like this 3 day itinerary was a pretty good capture of the majestic landscapes, charming mountain towns and even glaciers… maybe I’ll have to reconsider a shorter trip up to the great white north 🙂
Love your post! You managed to fit so much in in 3 days! Sunrise on Moraine Lake is gorgeous!
Great itinerary for three days with a nice mix of taking in the awesome scenery and some hiking. You did a nice job of fitting things into the time you had. There really is so much beauty in this area.. But then, I may be biased, it’s my home province!
The Canadian Rockies are always on my wishlist. But you have given the perfect guide with stops, food joints, time and distance. I am saving your post as it would help me a lot for my future travel.
This is one of my dream destinations, and to stay at the Fairmont Banff Springs hotel. 😉 I’d think I hit the jackpot to actually see a grizzly bear on my trip, or to even watch the caribou crossing. Your pictures are great and I appreciate the suggestions for what to do on my highly anticipated travels.
Lake Louise and Morraine Lake look so beautiful. I see so many pictures of these lakes on Instagram, and they just make me want to travel there. What’s your favorite time of year to visit?
I’ve only been once, and that was in August. It was definitely busy, but we had excellent weather! You risk having snow the rest of the year, but there are less crowds. I hear early fall is really lovely!
I did some of this trek in the winter but because of the snow I couldn’t get to half of the places you listed! I plan to return and I’ll definitely be using this as a guide! Great post!
This trip sounds like a dream, so much beautiful nature I want to explore in Canada and this post is such a great starting point!
This is the perfect itinerary for a quick trip in the Canadian Rockies! I cannot believe that Lake Moraine is THAT popular!!
I couldn’t believe it either!! It was so crazy!!!!
This is a great itinerary, I’ve always wanted to visit the Rockies. It’s at the top of my bucket list, thankyou for sharing! Your pictures are stunning.
Fantastic itinerary. I did something similar back in 2015 and heading back there at the end of winter to capture those mountains in all its snowny glory. Loved banff, Jasper and Lake Louise. This area is so magical for me
I just visited Banff in June this year. It was my absolute favorite trip of 2019! Soooo incredible and majestic!!!