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| Summer at Sunshine Village, Banff |
This guide has been checked for 2023 and is updated annually. I also add new suggestions regularly.
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| Beach Time at Kokanee Creek Provincial Park, BC |
The BEST of Summer in the Canadian Rockies
1. Go camping! Bonus points if it's somewhere new
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| Camping at Red Streak Campground, Radium Hot Springs, BC |
2. Take a family road trip (and find a new favourite family beach)
Read: 5 Destinations to Explore on your Summer Road Trip
Read: The Importance of Summer Vacations (and the BEST of the Okanagan Valley)
Read: The Best of the Columbia Valley (Radium Hot Springs to Invermere - and beyond)
Read: Family Adventure Bucket List for Kimberley, BC
Read: Family Touring around Nelson and the West Kootenays, British Columbia
Read: Family Touring around Nelson and the West Kootenays, British Columbia
Read: Family Adventure Bucket List for Revelstoke, BC
Read: 5 Steps to Crushing Local Mountain Bike Trails as a Family (with links to all of my popular biking stories)
Read: Kids on Wheels: Pump Tracks and Mountain Bike Parks - with information on all of the mountain bike skills parks we've visited across Alberta and BC.
Converted railway lines make excellent bike trails!
Read: Biking the Kettle Valley Railway from Kelowna to Osoyoos
Read: First Summits for Families in the Canadian Rockies - a resource guide with links to all of my family's first summits.
Read: Best Day Trips and Picnic Sites - with links to all of my best picks for picnic sites and short day trips near Calgary.
Read: Best Toddler and Preschool Hikes near Calgary
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| Beach time in the Okanagan, Peachland, BC |
3. Find a new favourite bike trail!
Read: 5 Steps to Crushing Local Mountain Bike Trails as a Family (with links to all of my popular biking stories)
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| Biking in the Columbia Valley near Invermere, BC |
4. Visit a mountain bike skills park with the kids
Read: Kids on Wheels: Pump Tracks and Mountain Bike Parks - with information on all of the mountain bike skills parks we've visited across Alberta and BC.
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| Bike Park in Blackfalds, Central Alberta |
5. Bike a Rail trail as a family
Converted railway lines make excellent bike trails!
Read: Biking the Kettle Valley Railway from Kelowna to Osoyoos
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| Biking on the Kettle Valley Railway, above Naramata, BC |
6. Climb a mountain as a family (Or try a gondola-accessed hiking!!)
Read: First Summits for Families in the Canadian Rockies - a resource guide with links to all of my family's first summits.
This story gets updated every time we climb a new mountain.
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| Climb a mountain as a family and get views like this! |
7. Conquer five summits in one day - with the kids!
Yes, it is possible! And you'll only do one big climb - with five summits accessible from the same pass.
Read: 5 Summit Day in Canmore (Kid-friendly)
Enjoy the best hikes, take a boat tour, ride a gondola or walk on a glacier!
Read: Local's Guide to Exploring the Best of Banff and Jasper
Read: Family Guide to Banff National Park - Top Ten Places to Explore with the Kids
Read: Our Top Ten Favourite Things to do in Jasper
Read: 5 Summit Day in Canmore (Kid-friendly)
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| 5 Summit Day in Canmore with a group of Mighty Kids! |
8. Explore the BEST of the Canadian Rockies - as a local
Enjoy the best hikes, take a boat tour, ride a gondola or walk on a glacier!
Read: Local's Guide to Exploring the Best of Banff and Jasper
Read: Family Guide to Banff National Park - Top Ten Places to Explore with the Kids
Read: Our Top Ten Favourite Things to do in Jasper
Read: Hike Moraine Lake to Lake Louise (via Sentinel and Saddleback Pass)
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| Premier scenery in Jasper National Park on top of Whistlers Mountain |
9. Explore the Icefields Parkway and Walk on a Glacier!
Explore the incredible Icefields Parkway between Lake Louise and Jasper this summer and even take a tour on the Athabasca Glacier!
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| Hiking across the Athabasca Glacier |
10. Enjoy a picnic or a short day hike in the mountains
Read: Best Day Trips and Picnic Sites - with links to all of my best picks for picnic sites and short day trips near Calgary.
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| Bow Valley Provincial Park in Kananaskis has many beautiful picnic areas |
11. Enjoy an awesome day hike with the family
Read: Best Toddler and Preschool Hikes near Calgary
Read: Troll Falls and The Upper Falls, Family Hiking in Kananaskis
Read: Sunshine Village in Summer! (Premier Lift Accessed Hiking in Banff National Park)
Read: Memorable Hiking and Sightseeing at the Lake Louise Gondola
Read: First Summits - Polar Peak, Fernie Alpine Resort
Read: High on Adventure at Fernie and Kicking Horse Mountain Resorts
Read: Summer Fun at Revelstoke Mountain Resort, BC
Read: Moms' Comfort Camping Adventure at Sundance Lodges
Read: Alberta Comfort Camping Destination Guide
Read: Mount Engadine Lodge Glamping Experience (expect decadence)
Read: Yurt Camping on top of a Mountain at Radius Retreat
First Summits - Yates Mountain and the Barrier Lake Lookout, Kananaskis
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| Hiking the Many Springs Trail in Bow Valley Provincial Park, Kananaskis |
12. Visit a ski resort for lift-accessed day hiking
Read: Sunshine Village in Summer! (Premier Lift Accessed Hiking in Banff National Park)
Read: Memorable Hiking and Sightseeing at the Lake Louise Gondola
Read: First Summits - Polar Peak, Fernie Alpine Resort
Read: High on Adventure at Fernie and Kicking Horse Mountain Resorts
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| Easy scenic hiking in Sunshine Meadows, Sunshine Village Resort |
13. Try a guided Via Ferrata experience with your family at Mt. Norquay
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| Mount Norquay Via Ferrata, Banff |
14. Ride a rollercoaster down a mountain!
Read: Summer Fun at Revelstoke Mountain Resort, BC
And while Revelstoke was the first ski resort to open a mountain coaster, you'll also find them now at Panorama Mountain Resort, The Golden Sky Bridge, and in Alberta at the Canyon Ski Hill in Red Deer.
Read: Epic Climbing on the Kicking Horse Via Ferrata in Golden, BC
And for the kids, ride the gondola at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, take a hike, and visit Boo, the resident grizzly bear at his wildlife refuge.
Read: Family Adventure Bucket List for Golden, BC
Read: Family Backcountry Cabin Camping in the Canadian Rockies
Read: Backcountry Cabin Camping with Kids - Stanley Mitchell Hut, BC
Read: Backpacking in the Bugaboos, Conrad Kain Hut (and our first family glacier traverse)
Read: Summer Backpacking Trip to the Asulkan Cabin, Rogers Pass
Read: Backcountry Cabin Camping with Kids - Elk Lakes Cabin, BC
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| An awesome way to get down a mountain! |
15. Plan an adventure weekend away in Golden, BC
Read: Epic Climbing on the Kicking Horse Via Ferrata in Golden, BC
And for the kids, ride the gondola at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, take a hike, and visit Boo, the resident grizzly bear at his wildlife refuge.
Read: Family Adventure Bucket List for Golden, BC
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| Adventure awaits on the Kicking Horse Via Ferrata in Golden |
16. Try backcountry cabin camping
Read: Family Backcountry Cabin Camping in the Canadian Rockies
Read: Backcountry Cabin Camping with Kids - Stanley Mitchell Hut, BC
Read: Backpacking in the Bugaboos, Conrad Kain Hut (and our first family glacier traverse)
Read: Summer Backpacking Trip to the Asulkan Cabin, Rogers Pass
Read: Backcountry Cabin Camping with Kids - Elk Lakes Cabin, BC
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| Backcountry Cabin Adventure in Yoho National Park, BC |
17. Try comfort camping or glamping with the kids
Read: Moms' Comfort Camping Adventure at Sundance Lodges
Read: Alberta Comfort Camping Destination Guide
Read: Mount Engadine Lodge Glamping Experience (expect decadence)
Read: Yurt Camping on top of a Mountain at Radius Retreat
Read: Backcountry Glamping at Shadow Lake Lodge, Banff National Park
Read: Gym to Crag: How to Transition to Outdoor Rock Climbing
Read: SUP Calgary The Best Places to try Stand Up Paddleboarding In and Around Calgary
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| Comfort camping at Sundance Lodges, Kananaskis |
18. Try outdoor rock climbing as a family
Read: Gym to Crag: How to Transition to Outdoor Rock Climbing
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| Outdoor rock climbing in Kananaskis |
19. Try stand up paddle boarding as a family
Read: SUP Calgary The Best Places to try Stand Up Paddleboarding In and Around Calgary
Read: Touring the Canadian Rockies on a Stand up Paddle Board
Read: 5 Reasons to Introduce Stand up Paddleboarding to the Family
Read: Campsite to River! Camping and Floating across Southern Alberta
Read: Find us in the River - Camp Life at Writing on Stone Provincial Park
Read: Paddling and Camping on the Columbia River with Kids
Read: 5 Reasons to Introduce Stand up Paddleboarding to the Family
20. Spend a day (or a weekend) floating down a river with the family
Read: Campsite to River! Camping and Floating across Southern Alberta
Read: Find us in the River - Camp Life at Writing on Stone Provincial Park
Read: Paddling and Camping on the Columbia River with Kids
Read: Easy Family Day Trip on the Columbia River (Invermere to Radium Hot Springs)
Read: Paddling the Alberta Badlands
Read: Easy Overnight Paddling Trips for the Whole Family
Read: Easy Family Paddling Day Trip on the Bow River through Banff
Read: Family Canoeing and Kayaking in the Canadian Rockies
Read: Paddling the Alberta Badlands
Read: Easy Overnight Paddling Trips for the Whole Family
Read: Easy Family Paddling Day Trip on the Bow River through Banff
Read: Family Canoeing and Kayaking in the Canadian Rockies
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| Paddling down the Milk River in Southern Alberta |
Know before you go! New and recent changes for 2024
Visiting Lake Louise
Parking fees are now in effect if you want to visit Lake Louise. Visit the Banff National Park website for more information on parking, shuttle bus service, or Roam Transit access.
Visiting Moraine Lake
Moraine Lake Road is now closed to personal vehicles year round. Parks Canada shuttles, Roam Public Transit, and commercial buses are permitted from June to mid-October. Visit the Banff National Park website for more information on shuttle service and reservations for shuttle busses.
Restriction on the use of non-motorized watercraft, fishing equipment and aquatic recreational equipment in the National Parks
A self-certification permit is now required if you want to canoe, kayak, stand up paddle, fish, or play in any of the lakes or rivers in Banff, Yoho, or Kootenay National Park. Basically the permit states that you have cleaned and dried your vessel and equipment before heading to the water. For more information visit the Banff National Park website
A self-certification permit is now required if you want to canoe, kayak, stand up paddle, fish, or play in any of the lakes or rivers in Banff, Yoho, or Kootenay National Park. Basically the permit states that you have cleaned and dried your vessel and equipment before heading to the water. For more information visit the Banff National Park website
Also read the frequently asked questions about the self-certification permit and download the permit to fill out at this link.
No Paddling allowed in Yoho National Park for the 2024 summer season - Read more on the Parks Canada website.
And there are restrictions against use of personal boats in Waterton as well.
All non-motorized watercraft from outside of the park are prohibited from entering water bodies in Waterton Lakes National Park for the 2024 summer season. Read more on the Waterton Lakes National Park website.
The New Kananaskis Conservation Pass
A day pass or annual pass is now required if you want to visit Kananaskis for a day or for an overnight trip. You can find more information on the conservation pass here.
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