Alberta Adventure Vacation Planner for Families and Outdoor Enthusiasts
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To really experience the best of Alberta, you need to visit its National Parks. There's a never-ending supply of adventure things to see and do no matter what time of year you visit.
The two major cities in Alberta (Calgary & Edmonton) are close to Banff and Jasper National Parks. Waterton Lakes National Park is located in southern Alberta next to the Montana border. All three parks are great places to explore the outdoors and you'll find all types of adventures to fill your day.
Alberta is a fantastic place to holiday with the family, where you can kayak and canoe or take easy hikes and rides along the many lakes, rivers and trails in the province! Experienced adventurers wont be disappointed either - with a number of heart-pounding thrills around every corner! Our Alberta adventure vacation page provides an overview of the province's 3 main National Parks and has information on where to go for hiking, rafting, cycling, skiing and more! Alberta Adventure Vacation - The National ParksThe Canadian Rocky Mountains offer all types of adventures in both winter and summer seasons.Banff National Park: In the summer months, you'll find unforgettable trails and paths where you can hike, bike, camp and sightsee. And in the wintertime, thousands of visitor head to Banff for "world class" downhill and cross-country skiing! Don't forget that the 1988 Winter Olympics where held here. Jasper National Park: Jasper like Banff has a lot of outdoor activities to keep you busy on your next Alberta adventure vacation! There are over 1000 kilometres of hiking and backpacking trails to explore, and you can also bike and horseback ride along designated paths throughout the park. There's fantastic wildlife and scenery to see here all year round, and the skiing in winter is world class! Waterton Lakes National Park: There's wilderness scenery to see along the many roads that run through the park. And you can find lots of adventure including mountain biking, kayaking, boating, horseback riding and even scuba diving!
Alberta Adventure Vacation - Things to See & DoAlberta Hiking Trails
The best months to hike in Alberta are from May to September. There are short hikes (45 minutes) that families can take in Banff, Jasper and Waterton as well as multi-day treks that guide you deep into the backcountry.
Try to take at least a short easy to moderate hike if you are in any of the National Parks. Most of the trails start close to major sites, and many are easy to locate with 'park maps'.
Alberta Biking Vacations
Tour companies also arrange guided bike trips along popular routes. Don't worry about getting caught on a difficult trail - there are lots of flat bike paths and trails for families as well as extreme steep routes for the thrill-seeking mountain biker! In the middle of summer you'll find lots of cyclists along the main roads through both Jasper and Banff National Parks. The Bow Valley & Icefields Parkways are very popular rides as is Minnewanka Loop road. Waterton National Park has 4 designated mountain biking trails to choose from.
Whitewater Rafting in Alberta
Outfitters in both Jasper and Banff can set you up for an adventure of a lifetime! And if you feel like taking it easy - you can arrange for a float trip along the same rivers that the whole family can enjoy, and you just might see some interesting wildlife.
Alberta Skiing
Marmot Basin in Jasper is only a 4 hour drive outside of Edmonton and is (in our opinion) the best Ski Park in all the Rockies! There are, of course, many other ski resorts throughout the province like Castle Mountain, Fortress and Hidden Valley!
Kayaking on Alberta's Lakes and Rivers
Kayaking and canoeing can be done on almost every lake and pond inside Banff and Jasper National Parks. The season starts in May and runs through to early October. Lake Louise and Moraine Lake are the most popular areas to canoe and kayak. If you're visiting Waterton, you wont want to miss Cameron Lake where you can kayak, canoe and paddle all summer long. It's possible to rent canoes and kayaks from local outfitters in every park. Some parks have regulations that do not permit you to use your own equipment in certain lakes.
Alberta Adventure Vacation Cabins, Lodges and HotelsGo to the Jasper Information Centre to find out about lodging and accommodations within the park. They wont make reservations for you, but they are very helpful for finding cabins, B&B's and hotels. It's always good to book ahead during the busy summer months and when ski season is in full swing.Look here for great deals and cheap hotels in Jasper all year round! In Banff, you will find over 3000 hotel rooms and over 2000 campsites. Everything from budget B&B's to high-end 5-star accommodation is available in the Park. Again if you are coming during the ski season or in July and August - it's a good idea to book ahead. Find affordable hotels and B&B's in Banff National Park. We recommend booking ahead if you plan on going to Waterton Lakes National Park in July or August. There are not as many places to stay here like in Banff or Jasper - but there are a variety of overnight options from budget to expensive.
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Like hiking, Alberta is an excellent cycling destination. In Banff and Jasper, biking is only allowed on designated trails. But there are also a good number of backcountry mountain biking paths to cycle as well.
The Rockies are the best place to experience heart pounding white water rapids! In fact, Alberta is probably one of the best places to raft in all of Canada. Three of the top places to raft are the Kicking Horse River and Kananaskis River near Banff, and the Athabasca River close to Jasper.
Both Jasper and Banff are extremely popular with skiers in the winter. Every year both Parks bring in more and more skiers, snowboarders and cross-country enthusiasts. Sunshine, Lake Louise and Norquay are the popular peaks in Banff National Park.
