The Canadian Rockies boast great national parks. Many Americans wrongly assume these parks are too far north of the border for practical exploration, and many Canadians never venture west to see Banff, Glacier, Jasper, Kootenay or Yoho. But the parks can be reached in one day's drive from eastern Washington, or within a two-hour drive from Calgary International Airport. Take a look at the features of each park and plan a budget trip.
Banff - Alberta
Mark Kahler, licensed to About.com
Canada's oldest national park is also its most popular. Within its boundaries you'll find some of the most famous travel attractions in North America: Lake Louise, Moraine Lake and the southern section of the Icefields Parkway, one of the world's most scenic drives. The possibilities here for budget travelers are many: back country camping, traditional camping, low cost resorts and small motels can be found in the towns of Banff and Canmore. Learn more about one of the world's greatest natural treasures.
Glacier - British Columbia
Mark Kahler, licensed to About.com
Smaller and lesser-known than its neighbors to the east, Glacier also suffers identity confusion with a national park of the same name in Montana. But Glacier can be a memorable place. Here you will check snow depths, trail conditions and bear reports before starting any hike. You won't find any fancy rooms or restaurants here, but this park and its twin Mt. Revelstoke N.P. reward visitors with crystal-clear lakes, pure air and unspoiled scenic beauty. Find out how stopping at Glacier could be rewarding both for your experience and your budget.
Jasper - Alberta
Mark Kahler, licensed to About.com
From the Columbia Icefield at its southern tip to Mt. Edith Cavell to the north, Jasper offers visitors some of the world's most striking mountain scenery. It shares the Icefields Parkway with Banff to the south, but many visitors to that park don't venture far enough north to enter Jasper. That's too bad, because smaller crowds here can find some of the best travel values in Canada.
Kootenay - British Columbia
Mark Kahler, licensed to About.com
This north-south park offers Canada's largest hot spring pool and enough hiking and picnic spots to entertain almost anyone. Take your time traveling Highway 93 through the heart of this park. Bring some supplies and leave behind a lot of the commercialism that surrounds national parks in more familiar places. Kootenay will provide photographers, fishermen and budget travelers of all kinds with some good catches.
Yoho - British Columbia
Mark Kahler, licensed to About.com
This park is directly west of Banff and offers a similar level of quality natural attractions. But many travelers don't make it over here. That means hiking trails and overlooks are likely to be far less crowded. Anyone who makes it to Banff should budget some time for Yoho explorations, too. Just don't budget a lot of money.
