canada's national parks
One of my besties, Lins, made the trek out to Boze for an unhinged road trip planned by yours truly this past August (2024). Could not have asked for a better adventure buddy!!! We caught a Childers concert & hiked a trail in USA’s Glacier NP with my sister before bopping up north. As soon as the Canadian Rockies were in sight I was in awe of the humbling beautiful giants & knew that this wouldn’t be my last trip up this way. We got to check out three of Canada’s beauties: Banff, Glacier, and Yoho. Jasper had a pretty gnarly fire earlier in the year so we changed our trip itinerary, but next time I’m up this way it will be a priority to visit (and I’d really love to see Kootenay too). Hoping to climb on some of these rock faces one day!!
BANFF NATIONAL PARK, ALBERTA
Visited: August, 2024
Banffy Fun Facts yo
There is a shuttle system to both Lake Louise and Lake Moraine out of the ski parking lot area. I got shuttle tickets when they first opened up mid April for the August trip lol. Check Parks Canada for the most updated info!!
The bright blue of Banff's lakes is a result of them being Glacier fed! The glacial silt, fine residue created by grinding of ice on rock, flows into lakes & remains suspended before settling. The gorgeous color comes from the sun reflecting on these these silt particles.
Banff is a town of legends
A Griz nicknamed "The Boss" has fathered 70% of current cubs in the park, was observed eating another bear, & was hit by a train and survived! He's now 20+ years old
Wild Bill Peyto, a park warden, has a lot of rad rumors about him including raising cougar kittens.
Lake Agnes Tea House
Elevation Gain: ~1500 feet
Length: 4.6 miles RT
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 2-3 hours
Note(s):
Lake Louise Area so a shuttle pass is required!
The Tea House was built in 1901 and started serving tea in 1905 (building was later replaced in 1981)
It is the highest elevation tea house in the world, located at 7,005ft abv. sea level
Staff hike supplies to the tea house two to four times a week, but a helicopter comes once a year to deliver dry goods & propane!
Online said the tea house only took cash but they definitely took card when we were there!!
Johnston Canyon
Elevation Gain: ~900 feet
Length: 3.4 miles RT
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 2-3 hours
Note(s):
We did this on our one rainy day of the trip!
Hecka touristy & parking was a nightmare
There was a line to go through the rock tunnel to view one of the falls
Sick af views tho
Borgeau Lake & Harvey Pass
Elevation Gain: ~4200 feet
Length: ~12.8 miles RT
Difficulty: Hard
Time: 6-8 hours
Note(s):
We only went up to the first alpine lake above Borgeau. (I think this was ~11.8 mi & ~3000 ft elev. gain)
I think there are 3 alpine lakes above Borgeau!!!
Views were stunning just from Borgeau & I’m happy we bopped up a bit higher to see more of the valley
TON of loose rock btwn Borgeau & that first alpine lake #mykneedidsogood
Heard it was a fav with the locals & we wanted to get out & not do just the Banff touristy stuff
I turned 26 on this trail :)
GLACIER NATIONAL PARK, BRITISH COLUMBIA
Visited: August, 2024
Glacier Fun Facts!!
This park does not connect to the USA's Glacier NP.
Three vegetation zones exist in the park: Interior Rainforest, Subalpine, & Alpine.
As per the name, Glacier National Park’s landscape includes significant glacial coverage. Monitoring of the park’s glaciers began in 1887 with the Vaux family. Over the years, steady glacial decline has been noted. In 2018, there are 129 glaciers in Glacier National Park, down from 337 in less than 40 years.
The park started monitoring its Glaciers in 1887. In 2018 129 glaciers still exist, but this is a significant decrease from the originally noted 466.
References: https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/bc/glacier/activ/edu/faits-facts
Hermit Trail
Elevation Gain: ~2600 feet
Length: 5 miles RT
Difficulty: Hard
Time: 3-4 hours
Note(s):
Hecka steep – a review said it was similar to hiking in the North East of USA & they weren’t exactly wrong. (For my bozeman friends the steep way up the M is a ~16% grade and this trail is a ~20% grade)
Tbh this might’ve been my fav hike of the trip tho- the views were INSANE
There are a ton of platforms for tents up top- so I think this is a pretty popular backpacking spot! I can’t imagine how sick the sunrise is from up there. (The main view direction is looking East)
Lins had a Speyeria Mormonia Butterfly sit on her hat for a ton of the way up so it was pretty magical vibes (magic was not inclusive of how tired we were with this being the last hike of the trip)
YOHO NATIONAL PARK, BRITISH COLUMBIA
Visited: August, 2024
Yoho Fun Facts yo
Yoho is home to the world famous Burgess Shale, a layer of half-billion year old rock with some pretty rad fossils.
The pass between Yoho and Banff is known as Kicking Horse Pass. The pass got is name from the first recorded expedition through it in 1857-1860. The groups surgeon, James Hector, was kicked right in the chest by a horse & the legend eventually led to the naming of the pass.
Yoho National Park was originally named Mt. Stephen Reserve, but was renamed in 1901.
Reference(s): https://adventures.com/canada/attractions/national-parks/yoho-national-park/
Takakkaw Falls
Elevation Gain: ~200 feet
Length: 1.1 miles RT
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 1 hr or less
Note(s):
Pretty busy spot, but we parked along the road & took that connector trail. Main parking lot was packed.
Waterfall is fed from the Daly Glacier & dumps into Yoho River.
The waterfall is ~1200ft tall, the tallest waterfall in the Canadian Rockies, & the second tallest in all of Canada!
Takakkaw is Cree Indian for wonderful/magnificent
Wapta Falls
Elevation Gain: ~400 feet
Length: 4 miles
Difficulty: Easy-Medium
Time: 2 hrs
Note(s):
Highly recommend hiking the full way down to the waterfall base- it was dreamy af. (thats what these stats are for)
Wapta is Stony Indian for river!
VAMESSY'S FUTURE HIKES ;)
*some sort of reservation system (check parks.canada for more info)
I had knee surgery last Feb (2024) and my way of coping was planning a nature adventure that’d inspire me to work hard in my recovery. Being laid up on the couch and getting excited to plan a trip resulted in me doing a ton of research and I thought it might be nice to share a few of the hikes that made my list that I haven’t had boots on the ground for yet!
Banff National Park, Alberta
Cory Pass - Mt. Edith Circuit
Little Beehive*
Big Beehive*
Plain of Six Glaciers*
Sentinel Pass*
Peyto Lake & Bow Pass
Consolation Lakes*
Eiffel Lakes*
Wenkchenma Pass*
Glacier National Park, British Columbia
Perley Rock
Abbott Ridge
Balu Pass
Great Glacier Trail via. Illecilleweat Campground
Glacier Crest
Kootenay National Park, British Columbia
Marble Canyon
Paint Pots
Numa Creek Trail
Numa Falls
Stanley Glacier
Jasper National Park, Alberta
Sulphur Skyline
Bald Hills
Indian Ridge via. Whistlers Summit
Wilcox Pass
Edith Cavell Meadows
Valley of Five Lakes
Yoho National Park , British Columbia
All Souls*
Lake McArthur
Emerald Lake
Hoodoo Creek Trail