Alberta

This classic guidebook provides unparalleled coverage of a region where towering peaks, massive glaciers, vast forests, abundant wildlife and even the West Edmonton Mall and the epic Calgary Stampede encourage travelers to think big. Choose from a range of overnight options, outdoor adventures, and cultural opportunities. A must for anyone wanting to visit Alberta and the Northwest Territories.

Places to See

Alberta and the Rockies
Alberta is Canada at its best. For many people the beauty of the Canadian Rockies, which rise with awesome majesty from the rippling prairies, is one of the main reasons for coming to the country. Most visitors confine themselves to the four contiguous national parks ­ Banff, Jasper, Yoho and Kootenay ­ a vast area whose boundaries spill over into British Columbia. Two smaller parks, Glacier and Mount Revelstoke, lie firmly in BC and not, technically, in the Rockies, but scenically and logistically they form part of the same region. Managed with remarkable efficiency and integrity, all the parks are easily accessible segments of a much wider wilderness of peaks and forests that extend from the Canada – US border northwards.

Calgary
Initially home to the Blackfoot, Calgary has endured many changes since then. In the 1960's oil was found in vast quantities across the province and the city took off and became one of the fastest growing cities in the country.The climate is dry and sunny and in winter warm winds temporarily raise the temperature. Banff National Park is 120km west and Edmonton 294km north.

Calgary Zoo
If this is your thing, it is one of Canada's best zoos, over 1100 species of mammals, birds, and reptiles are here. Underwater viewing of Polar Bears, seals and other creatures can also be seen. There are pens for large anomals, such as tigers and lions, giraffes and Himalayan cats, hundreds of birds and greenhouses full of exotic plants and flowers to keep them in. Visit the Prehistoric Dinosaur Park, an extension of the zoo it contains fossils and life-size replicas of dinosaurs.

Calgary Stampede
Held in July it is a 10 day festival that starts with a big parade. Stampede Park comes alive with rodeos, shows, concerts, dancing and eating. An amusement area with rides, lots of contests and a gambling hall, chuck wagon races, and the biggest, roughest, wildest rodeo in North America complete the festivities.

Calgary Stockyards
One of the centres for Livestock dealing. Auctions are held on weekdays.

Bow River
Starting in the Rockies and finishing in Medicine, the middle section of the river is considered the best trout fishing in North America and the best dry fly-fishing in the world. The brown and rainbow trout are numerous and large.
There are nearly 200km of bike and hike trails, many in the parks. Maps and information can be obtained from Parks and Recreation. Indoor pursuits include giant wave pools, skating, raquet courts and hot tubs. Outdoor activities include Horse riding, white water rafting helicopter sightseeing tours and, for the extrovert, bungee jumping.

Medicine Hat
The downtown streetlights are lit by gas, and from the Trans Canada Hwy you can see the World's tallest teepee, it was used at the opening and closing ceremoniey of the Olympic Games in 1988, and is a permanent tribute to Native Canadians. There is a stampede, for those who miss the Calgary one, lots of parks and hiking trails and Cypress Hills Provincial Park is forest bordering on Prairie and is on the edge of the Saskatchewan border.

Banff

This popular town gets over seven million visitors every year and is popular both in winter and summer. It is a good center for relaxing after hiking and touring. In september deer roam the streets and make good photo backdrops, but beware they are dangerous when it is rutting season.

Bow River & Falls

A walk to Bow River is a must and crossing over the Bow River bridge and a short walk into the woods will lead you to Bow Falls

Johnston Canyon

Along the Bow Valley Parkway, the canyon is a 12km trail going past many waterfalls and emerging at underground fed pools, blue-green and crystal clear, known as the ink pots. An ideal place for a picnic.

Lake Louise

Known as the jewel of the Rockies, Lake Louise is a fantastic lake nestling in a small glacial valley, surrounded by snow capped moutains. Much visited, it is perhaps best to visit early morning, whilst everyone else are eating breakfast, there are also better reflections in the water. Nearby are some some good hikes and walks. There is a boat house and you can hire canoes, be warned though, the water never gets above -4 degrees and you have about 10 minutes before hypothermia sets in, if you fall in the water.

A good trail to go on is on the northern banks of the lake, westward to the Plain of Six Glaciers. There is a teahouse on the way, and also another teahouse at Mirror Lake with good views from Big or Little Beehive, climbing higher still Lake Agnes makes a round trip if you follow the trail around and back to the Chateau. Leave a day aside for each of the trails.

15km south is Moraine Lake, and a hike of 20 km through the Valley of Ten Peaks, will bring you back to Lake Louise and is to be marked as a must do. An alternative route is to hike from Lake Louise to Moraine Lake via Paradise Creek and Sentinel Pass. This a full day's hike with some great scenery.

Icefields Parkway

Linking Lake Louise with Jasper, the Parkway is a 230km road following a lake lined valley, The mountains are the highest, most rugged and arguably the most scenic in the whole of the Rockies. Along the way stop at Peyto Lake, this is a beautiful glacial lake with the best color you can see in a lake. To see moose visit Waterfowl Lake, also along the Parkway, you will see goats, bighorn sheepand possibly elk. At the halfway point is Athabasca Glacier, part of the massive Columbia Icefield, which covers an area of 325 sq km, with parts of the glacier being 900metres thick. You can take a bus ride onto the ice in a special vehicle, take warm clothing with you.

Jasper

Smaller and quieter than Edmonton, Jasper is a good supply center for trips to the National Park, which is a good place to see wildlife and trek some excellent trails. The Tramway gondola takes you up Whistlers Mountain and gives you views of The Columbia Icefield and Mt. Robson, there is a restaurant at the top and trails to hike.
Patricia & Pyramid Lakes are quiet and small, they have horse-riding and hiking trails, good picnic spots, fishing, swimmimg, canoes and kayaks, windsurfs and boats can be rented and the wildlife includes, coyotes, bears and deer.
Maligne Lake is the largest of the glacier-fed lakes in the Rockies and the second largest in the world. Hiking, horse-riding and the usual canoeing can be taken here, a trip worth taking is the 1 1/2 hour boat trip across the lake to Spirit Island, so called, legend has it, because the Native guide and helper of the woman who discovered the lake, sat down to rest, looked at the small island within the lake and said "his spirit moved him". White water rafting can be found on the Athabasca River, there are Hot Springs, Miette have the warmest water in the Canadian Rockies, there are two pools, suits and towels can be hired. In winter skiing and cross country skiing can be found in and around Jasper, with great scenery. There are 10 campgrounds in the National Park, lots of hotels and motels and B & B's, it is wise to book ahead, especially in summer when it is really busy.



Edmonton
Alberta's largest city, Edmonton, boasts over six hours sunshine a day, summers are short and dry, average temperature 22c, in winter the temperatures can be as low as -20c. Like Calgary, Edmonton was rich in oil and has a population exceeding 800,000.

The West Edmonton Mall is the world's largest shopping mall, at the time of writing, over 800 stores, a hotel, water partk with beach, ice rink, mini-golf course, restaurants, cinemas submarines in simulated oceans, and an amusement park, to see everything you need at least 3 days there, you can hire little powered scooters to get you around the place. It is about a 30 minute bus ride from the center of town. Festivals are held from June-August and include a comedy festival and Klondike Days, where the locals and stores dress up in period costumes and parades are run in the streets.

Hostels and Accomodation

There is a good clean new hostel at Pincher Creek called "The Bunkhouse Hostel"
E-mail: mogulty@telusplanet.net
Postal address:
Box 130, Pincher Creek, Alberta T0K 1W0

You can now book reservations on-line
at the following HI-C locations:
Alberta Region:
Lake Louise, Banff (also includes Mosquito Creek, Castle Mountain, Ribbon Creek, Rampart Creek and Hilda Creek) & Calgary


For more information on the individual Hostels in the Alberta region here are some Hostel International sites.

Hostelling International Edmonton Edmonton, Alberta

Calgary International Hostel Downtown Calgary, Alberta.

Jasper National Park & Area

HI-Jasper Jasper National Park, Alberta

HI-Maligne Canyon Jasper National Park, Alberta

HI-Mount Edith Cavell Jasper National Park, Alberta

HI-Athabasca Falls Jasper National Park, Alberta

HI-Beauty Creek Jasper National Park, Alberta

HI-Shunda Creek Nordegg, Alberta
(along the east-central side
of the Rocky Mountains)

Banff National Park & Area

Global Village Banff 449 Banff Avenue,
Banff Alberta T0L 0C0,
Superbly situated

HI-Lake Louise (Canadian Alpine Centre) Lake Louise, Alberta

HI-Ribbon Creek Kananaskis Country, Alberta

HI-Castle Mountain Banff National Park, Alberta

HI-Mosquito Creek Banff National Park, Alberta

HI-Hilda Creek Banff National Park, Alberta
(Columbia Icefield)

HI-Rampart Creek Banff National Park, Alberta

HI-Waterton Waterton National Park, Alberta

HI-Whiskey Jack Yoho National Park,British Columbia

HI-The Raging Elk Fernie, British Columbia (southeastern B.C.)