Canadian Rockies 2
"Ride the Divide"

Big skies, glaciers, and fast running water abound here. It would not be uncommon to see bighorn sheep, wolves, deer and, if you are lucky, a bear. We start this tour in Kananaskis Country, a 4000 sq kilometer area south of Banff National Park. We then head north to Canmore, after which we enter Banf National Park and continue on the Bow Valley Parkway and the Icefields Parkway to Jasper. From Jasper, we transfer back to Calgary.

Talking head Route Travel Info Who's Going Webcam- Banff

The ride covers almost 500k and starts in Kananaskis Village, created for the 1988 Calgary Olympics.

The entire route is very scenic. There are about 100 glaciers along the route, many visible from the road.

Kananaskis has relatively light traffic as does the Bow Valley Parkway. The 230k long Icefields Parkway is a popular route for both vehicles and cyclists. It has a wide shoulder (about 8 feet) that cyclists are able to take advantage of. On the way too and from Canmore, there are short sections where we ride on the shoulder of a multi-lane divided highway.

Day 1&2 - Kananaskis Village - (50 to 100k)

Fly into Calgary on Sat and shuttle to the Delta Lodge in Kananaskis Village. This is the site of the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics. It is now a world class resort. The G8 met here in 2002. Watch out for left over bullet proof, tinted glass Suburbans. On Sunday, we pack a picnic lunch and ride south towards Highwood Pass, the highest motorable pass in the Canadian Rockies. This is an "out and back" warm up day. Kananaskis has less traffic and scenery comparable to the Icefields Parkway.

Day 3 - Kananaskis to Canmore - 60k

We ride north out of Kananaskis country past Barrier Lake to Bow Valley. We overnite in the Mountain boomtown of Canmore located just outside Banff National Park. We stay downtown at the conveniently located Bow Valley Motel on the banks of the Bow River. Canmore, a laid back smaller version of Banf, lies at the base of the "Three Sisters" Mountain.

Day 4 - Canmore to Lake Louise - 77k

Today we enter Banff National Park. It's about 20 k to Banff and the Bow Valley Parkway. We have time to ride into the town of Banff and check out the town as well as do the the Lake Minnewonka Loop, for a few more miles if you choose. After Banff, we ride on the Bow Valley Parkway, which is great since it parallels route 1 which draws off all the fast moving traffic. We overnite at the Lake Louise Inn.

Day 5 - Lake Louise to Sask. River X'g

We ride up the Icefields Parkway to Saskatchewan River Crossing. Here you will have the pleasure of grilling your own cut of meat in the pub while enjoying the view. Feel free to complain to the cook if your steak is not done to your liking. We stay at The Crossing

 

Day 6 - Sask. River to Sunwapta Falls - 99k

We head out for a stop at the Athabasca Glacier and the Icefields Center located there. This is one of the few spots where you can walk right out onto a Glacier and stick your toes in the runoff. Afterwards, we continue on to Sunwapta Falls and the Sunwapta Falls Resort.

Day 7 - Sunwapta Falls to Jasper - 60k

We conclude the tour by riding on up to Jasper, home to the hottest natural springs in the Rockies (140 degrees). We stay at Whistler's Inn.

Day 8 - Transfer from Jasper to Calgary

Included:
7 nites accommodations at hotels and inns
Dinners (except the first two nights in Kananaskis)
Breakfasts
Stocked support vehicle and driver
Banff National Park entry fee
Stocked support vehicle and driver
No single supplement available in Canada: doubles only

Excluded:
Lunch (except lunch on Sunday in Kananaskis)
Beer, wine booze
Entrance fees to museums, attractions
Airport Transfers