Icefields Parkway

Hotels in Lake Louise

The magnificence of the Icefields Parkway (Hwy 93) can scarcely be overstated - a 230 km (144 mi) road from Lake Louise to Jasper through th heart of the Rockies, it ranks as one of the world's ultimate drives. Its seemingly unending sucession of enormous peaks, vast glaciers, iridescent lakes, wild-flower meadows, wildlife and forests - capped by the sheer majesty of the Columbia Icefield - is utterly overwhelming.

Fur traders and First Nations peoples dubbed it the Wonder Trail, though the current road owes much to the depression era works programme and it was only opened in 1940 in its present incarnation.

Leaving the iconic image of Lake Louise behing you, the first 40 kn (25mi) of the road climbs steadly north through forest, until you reach the alpine meadow at Bow Summit, the journey's highest point. The next section, which drops down to the Saskatchewan River, offers the best chance to see black bears and moose. The Crossing marks the transition from the jaw-droppingly good to the truly awesome. This 50 km (31 mi) section is famous the world over for its breathtaking scenary as Mount Athabasca and the Columbia Glacier heave into view.

Mountain goats, bighorn sheep and elk are common along the final 100 km (62 mi) of the Parkway. The road ascends Tangle Ridge, then drops down through forest and follows the Sunwapta and Athabasca Rivers into the charming little town of Jasper. The outstanding features of this final leg of the journey are the Sunwapta and Athabasca Falls and the opportunity to spot grizzly bears and mountain caribou.

Although over a million people make the trip each year to experience this "window on the wilderness", the sheer vastness of the landscape still means it can rarely seem crowded.

HOW

By car

DEPART

Lake Louise, AB

WHEN TO GO

May to September offers the best weather.

TIME IT TAKES

Around four hours without stopping, but allow a full day of picnic breaks.

HIGHLIGHTS

The Columbia Icefield - a chance to witness a pristine wilderness.

Lake Louise - with its turquoise lake and overhanging glacier.

The Crossings - a chance to reflect and antipate.

Arriving in Jasper, a rather special town set on a small plateau surrounded by a spectacular panoramic mountain backrop.

YOU SHOULD KNOW

Even in good weather the sheer elevation of this highway can mean that road conditions can change rapidly, so come prepared for all eventualities.

Hotels in Lake Louise

The Bruce Trail

Hotels in Canada

At 800 km (500 mi) the Bruce trail in Ontario is the oldest and longest marked trail in Canada, taking the hiker along the Niagara Escarpment from Niagara to the tip of the Bruce Peninsula. There are also about 300 kIn (187 mi) of additional side trails that link well with the Bruce. The iconic waterfalls at Niagara are a great place to start and having left with the sound of crashing water in your ears and ozone in your lungs, it is a short hike to the main trail proper.

 

This well-maintained trail, with its clear markings and efficiently  run campgrounds is the most ambitious of projects. The nine chapters of the Bruce Trail Association work hard at protecting this UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, acquiring new land and opening to up this most beautiful, fragile environment for all to see. Hence, it is important to take nothing and leave nothing, except memories and  photographs. The fact that the campsites provide all necessary camping gear, to avoid outside contamination, means that you can travel light and cover more ground than you would otherwise.

This ancient escarpment shelters a rare bio-diversity and is home to an array of woodland dwellers, from chipmunks to bear and chickadees to Canada geese. The further north you venture the more isolated the trail becomes and the more likely you are to witness the resident fauna in its natural envirornnent. A good pair of binoculars and a soft step is all you need - enjoy.

 

HOW

On foot and by bike

DEPART

Niagara, ON

WHEN TO GO

During the fall colours (September-October) is best, but really any time from May to October is good

TIME IT TAKES

An experienced hiker could expect to complete the trail inside 20 days, but since 200 km (125 mi) of the Bruce is paved road, it is probably best tackled in sections.

HIGHLIGHTS

Blue Mountains Section (Lavender to Craigleith).

Beaver Valley Section {Craigleith to Blantyre) - offering fine views of rocky crevasses.

sydenham Section (Blantyre to · Wiarton) - teeming with nature.

The camaraderie of the campgrounds.

YOU SHOULD KNOW

If you are backpacking you need to be in good shape. The rocky terrain can make this journey treacherous and it can be slippery in wet weather. Campfires are not allowed and drinking water must be treated.

Trans-Canada Train Journey

Hotels in Canada

There is no rule which states that crossing a whole continent will ever be easy and this journey certainly tests the mettle of the traveller. Nevertheless, the sights you see and the people you meet on this epic trip will stay in the memory for the rest of your life. Nearly all those who make the journey from Halifax to Vancouver do so for fun (flying is cheaper and quicker) - and this gives the whole experience a real party feel.

 

Completing the journey currently comprises three stages. The first from Halifax to Montreal takes you from the extremely picturesque Nova Scotia coast, through New Brunswick. Skirting the Appalachian Mountains, you are then transported to Montreal, the beating heart of French Canada. The second leg allows you to sample the most modern railway Canada has to offer. The Montreal to Toronto link feels strangely normal compared with the rest of the trip. Business people barely look up from their laptops as the train passes along the St Lawrence River, past the Thousand Islands and along the shore of Lake Ontario.

From Toronto, Canada's most modern of cities, you embark on the truly monumental part of the train ride. The seemingly endless forests of Northern Ontario eventually give way to wide open prairies as you cross the Continent's interior - the vastness of it all is quite breathtaking. After two nights on board, the train approaches the Rockies. Waterfalls and sheer rock faces heave in to view one after another and this is the time to grab a seat in the panoramic dome car. After this, Kamloops is the last major stop before arriving in Vancouver and your chance to experience the city often voted the 'World's Best Place to Live'.

HOW

By train

DEPART

Halifax, NS

WHEN TO GO

Year round, but schedules can be disrupted in winter (November to April)

TIME IT TAKES

Plan your schedule and book ticket in advance. Currently it takes about six days with a long stopover in either Montreal or Toronto. If you want to see a lot of Canada allow two weeks and spend time in Montreal, Toronto, Jasper and Vancouver.

HIGHLIGHTS

The Thousand Islands - the islands that gave you the dressing.

Old Montreal - fabulous, French and funky.

Mount Robson and pyramid Falls – in the Rockies.

Vancouver - it really is as good as they say: the sea, mountains, excellent affordable eating and really friendly people.

YOU SHOULD KNOW

The combination of harsh weather, 1950s rolling stock and the prevalence of mega-weight goods trains can make this a bumpy ride, · but who needs sleep anyway when you're having such a good time?