Jasper National Park Travel Forum

My wife and I will be visiting Banff and Jasper the first week of October. We only have 3 full days and nights to be there. We know that for the most part it is not enough time. We hope that we might get some ideas. We will be doing most of our site seeing by car. We would like to see as much as we possibly can. Any ideas that can be given would be fantastic. This trip in reality will be about 5 weeks, but we are doing alot of other things meantime. Currently we are doing some volunteer work near South America, and we are looking forward to this trip. Thank you, before hand, for your help and ideas

The beginning of October is an awkward season. There could be -20C with 1 meter of snow, or it could be above freezing with little or no snow. You would be wise to plan for both.

If there is snow head for lake Louise. The things to do are; X-country skiing; sleigh ride around Lake Louise to the frozen falls; dog sledding; downhill skiing. On the way to lake Louise stop at Johnston Canyon on the parkway (hwy 1A)– it is beautiful in winter. Make sure though that you bring, purchase or rent cleats for your boots. The trail is perched o the edge of the canyon and will be icy. Doing the trail without cleats in winter is suicide. After lake Louise stop for a night at Num-Ti-Yah lodge. It is a really neat place with tons of history. Finally, if the ice field tours are open, take them in. When you get near Jasper don’t miss the Athabasca falls and Angel glacier.

If the weather is warmer spend a day in the Banff area and do some low elevation hiking. There are tons of hikes to choose from. Then make a slow trip up to Lake Louise and Num-Ta-Yah stopping at the sites along the way. Make sure to see Lake Louise regardless of the conditions. Beyond Num-Ta-Yah the recommendations are about the same.

If you had more time there is so much more to do.

The beginning of October is an awkward season. There could be -20C with 1 meter of snow, or it could be above freezing with little or no snow. You would be wise to plan for both.

If there is snow head for lake Louise. The things to do are; X-country skiing; sleigh ride around Lake Louise to the frozen falls; dog sledding; downhill skiing. On the way to lake Louise stop at Johnston Canyon on the parkway (hwy 1A)– it is beautiful in winter. Make sure though that you bring, purchase or rent cleats for your boots. The trail is perched o the edge of the canyon and will be icy. Doing the trail without cleats in winter is suicide. After lake Louise stop for a night at Num-Ti-Yah lodge. It is a really neat place with tons of history. Finally, if the ice field tours are open, take them in. When you get near Jasper don’t miss the Athabasca falls and Angel glacier.

If the weather is warmer spend a day in the Banff area and do some low elevation hiking. There are tons of hikes to choose from. Then make a slow trip up to Lake Louise and Num-Ta-Yah stopping at the sites along the way. Make sure to see Lake Louise regardless of the conditions. Beyond Num-Ta-Yah the recommendations are about the same.

If you had more time there is so much more to do.

The beginning of October is an awkward season. There could be -20C with 1 meter of snow, or it could be above freezing with little or no snow. You would be wise to plan for both.

If there is snow head for lake Louise. The things to do are; X-country skiing; sleigh ride around Lake Louise to the frozen falls; dog sledding; downhill skiing. On the way to lake Louise stop at Johnston Canyon on the parkway (hwy 1A)– it is beautiful in winter. Make sure though that you bring, purchase or rent cleats for your boots. The trail is perched o the edge of the canyon and will be icy. Doing the trail without cleats in winter is suicide. After lake Louise stop for a night at Num-Ti-Yah lodge. It is a really neat place with tons of history. Finally, if the ice field tours are open, take them in. When you get near Jasper don’t miss the Athabasca falls and Angel glacier.

If the weather is warmer spend a day in the Banff area and do some low elevation hiking. There are tons of hikes to choose from. Then make a slow trip up to Lake Louise and Num-Ta-Yah stopping at the sites along the way. Make sure to see Lake Louise regardless of the conditions. Beyond Num-Ta-Yah the recommendations are about the same.

If you had more time there is so much more to do.

Hi,

I have an acquaintance (Judy) who has developed a website with various driving itineraries of the Rockies, Calgary and Vancouver. I think it would be worthwhile for you to check out her website, and have a look at her 5 day itinerary, which I think could be scaled back to work for your 3 day plan. Here's her website:

http://groups.msn.com/CalgaryandCanadianRockiesTravelTips/

Her website also has lots of useful traveller info, which you may find helpful. I hope you have fun planning your trip, and I hope your trip is great!