Banff to Jasper Drive & Hike

Tour Type:

Discovery | Think of it as a ‘local’s guide’ to the best of the region. It includes a combination of activity and transportation to give you the freedom to explore and cover more ground at your own pace. We do all the research and organisation for you. All you have to do is turn up and enjoy!

Activity:

Drive and Hike | Exploration of picturesque and remarkable destinations by car combined with walks that highlight the best of a country or region.

Activity Level & Terrain

The hiking on this trip is easy to moderate. The hikes are designed to complement the drives and show you the best of each destination. 

The hiking trails are paths on dirt, gravel, and rock – although they are maintained by Parks Canada there is always the possibility of washed out, snow-covered, or overgrown conditions.

Navigation

Navigating is easy using the Macs Adventure Navigation App. Your daily hikes will be mapped in the app with GPX tracks, route notes, and turn-by-turn directions. You can download all of the routes for use offline, which means you won’t need cell service or Wi-Fi (which are often unreliable outside of your accommodations). Written turn-by-turn driving directions are included in the app; although the drives are straightforward, you may still consider using a GPS device while in the car. You will also have 24/7 Macs Adventure telephone support.

Experience & Fitness

Hikes will typically take 2-5 hours and on average involve between 4 and 5 miles of walking with 1,300 feet of ascent and descent. To get the most from your trip, you should be a regular hiker or do some training prior to departure to get accustomed to walking every day.

There is an option to extend one of the half-day hikes for a full day adventure but be aware that this is a longer and challenging extension.

Note: You will be hiking and traveling in bear country. Your pre-departure information pack will outline the best practices for responsible travel in bear country and other wildlife-specific practices. 

• 6 nights in characterful accommodations (B&Bs, lodges, and cabins)
• 6 Breakfasts
• Detailed pre-departure information pack
• Turn-by-turn route notes for driving and hiking
• Macs Adventure Navigation App
• 24/7 telephone support

• Travel to/from Banff and Jasper
• National Park Pass
• Travel Insurance
• Lunches, Dinners and snacks
• Car Rental
• Personal Equipment

• Accommodations upgrades (if applicable)
• Additional nights before, during or after the trip

When To Go

The hiking season in the Canadian Rockies is relatively short as snow can remain in the mountains until early summer and autumn arrives early with cool temperatures and higher chances of snow falling (although it can snow during the summer months here too). The opening of trails in early season is dependent on the previous winter’s snowpack and can change dramatically from year to year. 
June and July bring the longest days, with July and August being the warmest months. However, weather is variable in the Rockies, and you should be prepared for a range of conditions. The optimal months for wildflowers are mid-July to mid-August, which also brings higher numbers of tourists. September and early October are characterized by typically drier weather and fewer crowds, making this a great time to visit. Depending on your adventure goals, any time between June and October offers a memorable Canadian Rockies experience!

Availability

This trip is available mid-June through early-October (ending Canadian Thanksgiving, the second Monday of the month). As this region is a highly popular tourist destination, we suggest booking as far in advance as possible for a better chance at securing your desired dates. This tour is available to start any day of the week.

Getting to the Start

Getting to Banff

Fly into Calgary International Airport (YYC) and rent a car from there. Driving to Banff takes 1.5 hours.

Visas

For US citizens traveling in Canada for less than 180 days, no visa is required. You are required to have a valid passport with a blank passport page.

For non-US citizens travelling to Canada, an electronic travel authorisation (eTA) is required to enter. For more information about the eTA system, and to apply online, visit the official Canadian government website. See Entry requirements.

Getting from the End

You may choose to return your car and fly from the Calgary International Airport (YYC) (5 hour drive). You may also drive to return your car and fly from the Edmonton International Airport (EIA) (4 hour drive).

Alternatively, you may return your rental car in Jasper and take the train to onward Canadian destinations.

General Information

You will need a car for this itinerary. Either plan to drive to the trip start or fly to Calgary and rent a car (1.5 hours from Banff). 

Visas

For US citizens traveling in Canada for less than 180 days, no visa is required. You are required to have a valid passport with a blank passport page.

For non-US citizens travelling to Canada, an electronic travel authorisation (eTA) is required to enter. For more information about the eTA system, and to apply online, visit the official Canadian government website. See Entry requirements.

Equipment

Our pre-departure information pack includes a detailed equipment list on what to take with you. This includes warm and cold weather gear, hiking boots, rain gear, and lots of other specifics. If you have any questions about what to take, we'd be happy to share our own top tips and advice.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance helps protect your travel investment, your belongings and most importantly you, from unforeseen circumstances that may arise before or during your trip. For more information, please visit our travel insurance page by clicking this link.