Days Off Travel - Adventure: Multisport

Canada Banff, Jasper and Yoho

Few areas can match the sheer spectacle of the Canadian Rockies, an alpine wonderland of towering summits laden with glistening glaciers, sapphire lakes and subalpine meadows blanketed with wildflowers. Our carefully selected routes and creative itinerary feature both this region's most-renowned sights and the lesser-known treasures that make our trip so special. Each day highlights a unique facet of this magical paradise, blending the best of Banff and Yoho national parks.

Carrying only a light daypack, you will share alpine meadows with bighorn sheep, trek to a luxurious backcountry lodge to spend two nights away from the crowds, and raft thrilling whitewater. Whether you are a light hiker, a seasoned adventurer, or a family with varied ability levels, our daily hiking options guarantee you a getaway to match your sense of adventure.

Includes:

All accommodations

All meals (dinner Day 1 - lunch Day 6)

Whitewater raft trip

T-shirt

Water bottle

Support vehicle

Professional guides

Difficulty: Moderately Easy to Moderate

Dates: July 6-11 (Inn & Hut), July 20-25 (singles, Inn-to-Inn), Aug 17-22 (Inn-to-Inn)

Inn to Inn Price: $2095 (itinerary listed below)

Inn & Hut Price: $1795

Single Supplement: $395

DAYS ITINERARY

Day 1 BANFF NATIONAL PARK'S MORAINE LAKE, VALLEY OF THE TEN PEAKS After assembling in Banff at noon, we head west to Lake Louise in the heart of Banff National Park. Nothing is a more fitting welcome to our alpine adventure than a hike from the crystalline waters of Moraine Lake in the Valley of the Ten Peaks to the stunning Larch Valley, a sub-alpine meadow of mosses, wildflowers, and the valley's namesake, soft-needled larch trees.
We continue hiking to the bottom of Sentinel Pass, the highest point reached by a maintained trail in the park. Here we look across the Valley of the Ten Peaks at the Wenkchemna Range, dominated by the ice-draped summit of Mount Fay (10,675'). Tonight, we savor the heavenly comforts of the historic Deer Lodge, featuring gourmet dining and an idyllic setting just a short walk from the shores of Lake Louise. Do not miss the lodge's rooftop jacuzzi that affords stunning views of the surrounding peaks. Moraine Lake to Larch Valley [5 miles; 1,400 feet of elevation gain, then loss]

Day 2 JASPER NATIONAL PARK'S COLUMBIA ICEFIELD Experience two of Jasper's best glacier hikes in one day, Parker Ridge in the morning and Wilcox Pass after lunch. Both trails are noted for the panoramic vistas they offer of the Columbia Icefield, one of the largest sheets of glacial ice in the interior of North America. Join a local historian/naturalist as we experience everything from gardens of alpine wildflowers to 400-year-old spruce forests and fossils of ancient corals and gastropods. Mountain heather and tiny forget-me-nots carpet the alpine tundra beneath our feet as we watch for bighorn s heep, mountain goats and golden eagles.
Incredible views greet us from our rooms this evening at The Crossing Hotel. After dinner, relax and enjoy the peaceful mountain scenery from your private deck. If you stay up late enough (it doesn't get dark until after 11 p.m.), you may even catch a glimpse of the northern lights dancing in the sky above the Athabasca Glacier. Parker Ridge [3 miles; 700 feet of elevation gain / loss] Wilcox Pass [5 miles; 1,100 feet of elevation gain / loss; maximum elevation 7,830 feet

Day 3 JASPER NATIONAL PARK, HELEN LAKE Helen Lake is situated near Dolomite Pass, a region so named for its resemblance to the limestone crags of the Italian Dolomites. This vast alpine environment promises a wonderful day of hiking. You ascend through mountain meadows that, come midsummer, are ablaze with such colorful wildflowers as fleabane, paintbrush and ragwort. You continue hiking through forests and avalanche slopes until you reach the alpine region above treeline. Your destination, Helen Lake, is nestled in a spectacular natural amphitheater -- the perfect setting in which to take a break and enjoy a well-deserved lunch.
This area is prime hoary marmot habitat, so keep an ear out for their telltale whistles. Energetic hikers may want to try the longer route up to the unnamed ridge above the lake for a panoramic view of the surrounding Banff wilderness -- perhaps you'll come up with a suitable name along the way! Crow Glacier Viewpoint up to Helen Lake then back down Helen Creek [7.4 miles, 1500' elevation gain / loss] Moderate Option [8.5 miles, 1800' elevation gain / loss]

Day 4 YOHO LAKE, ICELINE TRAIL The word "Yoho" is a Cree expression of awe and wonder, sentiments that will be affirmed on our hike through Yoho's spectacular glaciated landscape. After breakfast we drive up to see and hear Takakkaw Falls, the fourth highest waterfall in Canada, as it thunders more than 1,000 feet down into the Yoho Valley. We hike through forests of subalpine fir and Engelmann spruce to beautiful Yoho Lake, and then along the remarkable Iceline Trail. One of the Canadian Rockies' classic routes, this aptly named trail takes us up into high alpine country, where we lunch at the toe of the Emerald Glacier and look across the valley at Takakkaw Falls and the Daly Glacier that feeds it.
We spend the next two evenings cradled among the western range of the Canadian Rockies in the comfort of the Kicking Horse Lodge. Bask in the glory of beautiful Mt. Burgess as you enjoy your gourmet dinner and unwind from the day's adventure. Yoho Lake and Yoho Pass [6 miles; 1,200 feet of elevation gain, then loss] Iceline Trail and Lake Celeste [for a total of 11 miles; 1,600 feet of elevation gain, then loss]

Day 5 LAKE O'HARA, LAKE MCARTHUR OR TWIN FALLS A word of warning about our hike today -- you won't believe what you see! Tucked away in the remote reaches above the Great Divide is some of the most amazing high alpine scenery that you will ever experience. We'll hike along the fire road to Lake O'Hara and climb from the lake, initially to Schaffer Lake, and then well beyond along the McArthur High Route to the startling deep blue waters of Lake McArthur. We'll picnic at the lake and return to O'Hara with time to walk the shoreline of this beautiful lake before catching a shuttle bus for our return to the trailhead.
As an alternative, we may choose to hike any combination of the easier and moderate trails in and around the Lake O'Hara area. Lake McArthur Hike [12 miles] Lake O'Hara hikes [Distance and elevation gain variable] Note: Depending on interest and abilities within the group, some Lake O'Hara hikes may be self-guided.

Day 6 KICKING HORSE RIVER After breakfast, we head out for a whitewater rafting adventure on the Kicking Horse River, which got its name for a good reason. Paddles in hand, we shoot a series of rapids with colorful names like Man-Eater Hole, The Rollercoaster and the mile-long Portage Shotgun. For those who prefer not to raft, join one of our guides and explore nearby trails. After lunch, we will return to Banff for our trip's conclusion. Kicking Horse River (Rapids: class III, IV+)

Want more information or would like to book your trip? Please call Days Off Travel toll free 1-877-580-0861 or email: mscanada@daysofftravel.com

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DAYS	ITINERARY

Day 1	BANFF NATIONAL PARK'S MORAINE LAKE, VALLEY OF THE TEN PEAKS After assembling in Banff at noon, we head west to Lake Louise in the heart of Banff National Park. Nothing is a more fitting welcome to our alpine adventure than a hike from the crystalline waters of Moraine Lake in the Valley of the Ten Peaks to the stunning Larch Valley, a sub-alpine meadow of mosses, wildflowers, and the valley's namesake, soft-needled larch trees. We continue hiking to the bottom of Sentinel Pass, the highest point reached by a maintained trail in the park. Here we look across the Valley of the Ten Peaks at the Wenkchemna Range, dominated by the ice-draped summit of Mount Fay (10,675'). Tonight, we savor the heavenly comforts of the historic Deer Lodge, featuring gourmet dining and an idyllic setting just a short walk from the shores of Lake Louise. Do not miss the lodge's rooftop jacuzzi that affords stunning views of the surrounding peaks. Moraine Lake to Larch Valley [5 miles; 1,400 feet of elevation gain, then loss]

Day 2	JASPER NATIONAL PARK'S COLUMBIA ICEFIELD Experience two of Jasper's best glacier hikes in one day, Parker Ridge in the morning and Wilcox Pass after lunch. Both trails are noted for the panoramic vistas they offer of the Columbia Icefield, one of the largest sheets of glacial ice in the interior of North America. Join a local historian/naturalist as we experience everything from gardens of alpine wildflowers to 400-year-old spruce forests and fossils of ancient corals and gastropods. Mountain heather and tiny forget-me-nots carpet the alpine tundra beneath our feet as we watch for bighorn s heep, mountain goats and golden eagles. Incredible views greet us from our rooms this evening at The Crossing Hotel. After dinner, relax and enjoy the peaceful mountain scenery from your private deck. If you stay up late enough (it doesn't get dark until after 11 p.m.), you may even catch a glimpse of the northern lights dancing in the sky above the Athabasca Glacier. Parker Ridge [3 miles; 700 feet of elevation gain / loss] Wilcox Pass [5 miles; 1,100 feet of elevation gain / loss; maximum elevation 7,830 feet

Day 3	JASPER NATIONAL PARK, HELEN LAKE Helen Lake is situated near Dolomite Pass, a region so named for its resemblance to the limestone crags of the Italian Dolomites. This vast alpine environment promises a wonderful day of hiking. You ascend through mountain meadows that, come midsummer, are ablaze with such colorful wildflowers as fleabane, paintbrush and ragwort. You continue hiking through forests and avalanche slopes until you reach the alpine region above treeline. Your destination, Helen Lake, is nestled in a spectacular natural amphitheater -- the perfect setting in which to take a break and enjoy a well-deserved lunch. This area is prime hoary marmot habitat, so keep an ear out for their telltale whistles. Energetic hikers may want to try the longer route up to the unnamed ridge above the lake for a panoramic view of the surrounding Banff wilderness -- perhaps you'll come up with a suitable name along the way! Crow Glacier Viewpoint up to Helen Lake then back down Helen Creek [7.4 miles, 1500' elevation gain / loss] Moderate Option [8.5 miles, 1800' elevation gain / loss]

Day 4	YOHO LAKE, ICELINE TRAIL The word "Yoho" is a Cree expression of awe and wonder, sentiments that will be affirmed on our hike through Yoho's spectacular glaciated landscape. After breakfast we drive up to see and hear Takakkaw Falls, the fourth highest waterfall in Canada, as it thunders more than 1,000 feet down into the Yoho Valley. We hike through forests of subalpine fir and Engelmann spruce to beautiful Yoho Lake, and then along the remarkable Iceline Trail. One of the Canadian Rockies' classic routes, this aptly named trail takes us up into high alpine country, where we lunch at the toe of the Emerald Glacier and look across the valley at Takakkaw Falls and the Daly Glacier that feeds it. We spend the next two evenings cradled among the western range of the Canadian Rockies in the comfort of the Kicking Horse Lodge. Bask in the glory of beautiful Mt. Burgess as you enjoy your gourmet dinner and unwind from the day's adventure. Yoho Lake and Yoho Pass [6 miles; 1,200 feet of elevation gain, then loss] Iceline Trail and Lake Celeste [for a total of 11 miles; 1,600 feet of elevation gain, then loss]

Day 5	LAKE O'HARA, LAKE MCARTHUR OR TWIN FALLS A word of warning about our hike today -- you won't believe what you see! Tucked away in the remote reaches above the Great Divide is some of the most amazing high alpine scenery that you will ever experience. We'll hike along the fire road to Lake O'Hara and climb from the lake, initially to Schaffer Lake, and then well beyond along the McArthur High Route to the startling deep blue waters of Lake McArthur. We'll picnic at the lake and return to O'Hara with time to walk the shoreline of this beautiful lake before catching a shuttle bus for our return to the trailhead. As an alternative, we may choose to hike any combination of the easier and moderate trails in and around the Lake O'Hara area. Lake McArthur Hike [12 miles] Lake O'Hara hikes [Distance and elevation gain variable] Note: Depending on interest and abilities within the group, some Lake O'Hara hikes may be self-guided.

Day 6	KICKING HORSE RIVER After breakfast, we head out for a whitewater rafting adventure on the Kicking Horse River, which got its name for a good reason. Paddles in hand, we shoot a series of rapids with colorful names like Man-Eater Hole, The Rollercoaster and the mile-long Portage Shotgun. For those who prefer not to raft, join one of our guides and explore nearby trails. After lunch, we will return to Banff for our trip's conclusion. Kicking Horse River (Rapids: class III, IV+)