Few destinations rival the Canadian Rockies for sheer beauty. Jagged, snowcapped peaks rise thousands of metres above emerald lakes, pine forests, meadows and glaciers—the tallest peak in the entire range being Mt. Robson in British Columbia, at 3954 metres. The Rocky Mountains lie on along the border between Alberta and British Columbia, extending from northern BC more than 4,800 kilometres south to the U.S. state of New Mexico. So poignant and prominent is the 65-million-year-old range that it has become a symbol for all of Canada west of Calgary.
Nature is the main event everywhere you go here: nearly every car on the road is mounted with skis, a kayak or bikes (or all three). In Canada, the Rockies incorporate five national parks—the four connecting parks of Banff, Jasper, Yoho and Kootenay, and, farther south on the Montana–Alberta border, Waterton—as well as several provincial parks.
The most visited park by far is Banff, Canada's first national park, established in 1885, which today has a booming town centre with high-end dining and shopping but also plenty of opportunities for getting back to nature on foot, skis or horseback.
Just as stunning are Jasper, Kootenay and Yoho parks, which have more off-the-grid opportunities (especially in Yoho and Jasper): thousands of kilometres of trails for hiking, biking and cross-country skiing and sparkling blue and green lakes for canoeing and kayaking. You can enjoy yourself without breaking a sweat, too: Those mountain views are just as gorgeous from a hot springs spa, golf course or the comfort of your luxury lodge or resort.
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