The Canadian Rockies are the most popular reason UK visitors go to western Canada: turquoise lakes, glaciers, big wildlife and mountain roads you'll remember for years. They're also a place where a bit of planning matters, because some of the best spots now need a reservation and some roads and trails are still affected by the 2024 Jasper wildfire. This guide covers how to get there, when to go, what to book in advance and what it costs. Prices are in Canadian dollars, change often and come from the sources listed at the end, so check official sites before you go.

Getting there

Fly into Calgary, which is about 90 minutes by road from Banff. You'll need an eTA to fly to Canada (see our first-time Canada guide). A hire car is strongly recommended, especially in Jasper, which has no public transport.

When to go

Summer, roughly May to October, is the main season. The lakes are unfrozen, attractions such as the Athabasca Glacier tour and the Columbia Icefield Skywalk run, and the shuttles to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake operate. Moraine Lake is inaccessible in winter.

  • June to August: the busiest and most expensive. August has the highest wildfire risk, and late July to early August is peak mosquito season
  • Spring (April to May): mountain lakes only de-ice around late May, and alpine hiking in Banff generally waits until mid-June
  • Early autumn (September to early October): crowds and prices drop, and the golden larches in Banff peak in early October. Days are shorter and bears are foraging
  • Winter (December to March): skiing and Northern Lights. Lake Louise's ski area stays open until early May

What to book in advance

Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. Moraine Lake Road is closed to personal vehicles all year round. You can only get there on a Parks Canada shuttle, a licensed commercial tour or as a Moraine Lake Lodge guest. Lake Louise parking is very limited and often full before sunrise.

  • Parks Canada shuttle reservations opened on 15 April 2026, with 40% of seats released on launch day and 60% two days before departure, according to Parks Canada
  • The reservation fee is $3.50 online (or $5.50 by phone), and your ticket covers both lakes and the return trip. You need a national park entry pass as well
  • The Moraine Lake shuttle runs 1 June to 12 October, weather permitting
  • Roam Route 8X runs year-round from Banff to Lake Louise Lakeshore, and reserving is recommended in summer
  • If you'd rather not sort the shuttle yourself, there's a Lake Louise, Moraine Lake and Banff tour from Calgary, Canmore or Banff

Other things to book early: hotels from June to September, the Maligne Lake cruise to Spirit Island and glacier tours.

Shuttle dates and fees are for the 2026 season, so check Parks Canada for the year you're travelling.

National park passes

According to Go To Banff (prices checked July 2026), a daily park pass is $12.25 for an adult and $24.50 for a family or group of up to seven. Under-18s are free. A 12-month Discovery Pass is $83.50 for an adult and $167.50 for a family. Parks Canada made entry free from 19 June to 7 September 2026, but that period has ended. Passes must be displayed in your car. If you're visiting several parks (Banff, Yoho, Jasper), the Discovery Pass can work out cheaper than daily passes. Check Parks Canada for current prices.

A 7-day route

This is based on a 2026 itinerary from The Banff Blog, and the order works well from a Calgary arrival.

  • Days 1 and 2, Banff: Banff Avenue, Bow Falls, the Lake Minnewanka scenic road, the Banff Gondola (go early), Tunnel Mountain and the Hoodoos
  • Day 3, Moraine Lake and Lake Louise: book your shuttle or tour first. The Lake Agnes Teahouse trail is a popular walk
  • Day 4, Icefields Parkway to Jasper: the parkway is 232 km and takes a full day with stops, including Peyto Lake, Mistaya Canyon, Sunwapta Falls and Athabasca Falls. The Glacier Skywalk is on this road, and you can buy Glacier Skywalk admission in advance
  • Day 5, Jasper: a rafting trip on the Athabasca River, then a walk such as the Valley of the Five Lakes (check the trail is open). For a guided option, there's an interpretive nature walk in Jasper
  • Day 6, Maligne Lake Road: a 46 km drive with Medicine Lake and the Maligne Lake cruise to Spirit Island. Allow at least six hours
  • Day 7, return: back along the Icefields Parkway, or by the Bow Valley Parkway with Johnston Canyon

Don't overpack the schedule. If you'd rather not drive the mountain roads, there are guided tours.

Jasper after the 2024 wildfire

Jasper was hit by a major wildfire in 2024. Parks Canada's page (last modified 13 October 2026) says the town is open to visitors, and that Highway 16, the Icefields Parkway and Maligne Road have reopened. Some places remain closed or affected, including Miette Hot Springs, the Maligne Canyon trailhead and Cavell Meadows, and only one of the frontcountry campgrounds was listed as open. Conditions change, so check Parks Canada, 511 Alberta and the trail conditions page before you go.

Driving and wildlife

  • Wildlife such as elk, deer, bighorn sheep and bears can cross the road without warning, especially at night. Bears come out of hibernation in April and May
  • Distances between fuel stops can be long, so fill up before long stretches
  • See the car hire section in our Canada guide for licence, insurance and winter tyre points. We compare prices on DiscoverCars

Insurance

Visitors aren't entitled to free health care in Canada, and mountain activities add risk. Read the policy wording yourself before you buy, especially anything about hiking, skiing and snowboarding. If you use SafetyWing's Nomad Insurance, see our Canada guide for what we could and couldn't confirm. You can see it here.

Before you go

Apply for your eTA, book your Lake Louise and Moraine Lake access early, check the Jasper conditions and sort your phone data with our eSIM guide. See all our Canada guides.

Planning more? See all our Canada guides for UK travellers.

Where this comes from

Prices and rules change, and the sources don't always agree, so this is a snapshot checked on 26 October 2026. These are the sources it draws on: