2008 Tours of the Rocky Mountains: "The Rocky Mountain Explorer"

Rocky Mountain Explorer Itinerary

Day 1. Clearwater, BC.

Departing Vancouver we drive through the Fraser Canyon, following the mighty Fraser River before turning north near Kamloops. As we follow the North Thompson River we enter
Caribou Country, a region of rolling hills and prairies, thick forests, granite-walled canyons and impressive river valleys' Here ranching, logging and mining are the mainstays of the local economy. We arrive in the late afternoon just outside of Wells Gray Provincial Park. Wells Gray is more than 520,000 hectares in size and encompasses most of the Clearwater River watershed in the Caribou Mountains. After dinner we'll prep for our overnight canoe trip. In the evening we'll take a walk along the volcanic ridge top of Sphats Falls.

Accommodation: Local hotel or motel.

·
Day 2. Wells Gray Provincial Park, BC.
The drive to our canoe put-in takes us along the scenic Wells Gray corridor of rushing rivers and million year old geological rock and volcanic landforms. In the morning we’ll see Helmcken Falls, Canada's fourth highest waterfall, and one of it's best-kept secrets. Plunging 141 meters in a straight drop, this waterfall is about three times higher than Niagara Falls. Splendidly photogenic, the fast flowing Murtle River shoots over a volcanic cliff at Helmcken Falls directly into a gorge in a roaring, misty display. After the falls, we head for Clearwater Lake, one of the premier canoeing lakes in British Columbia. At the lake we’ll meet our canoe guide for a safety talk and then board our canoes for an an overnight trip into the heart of Wells Gray Provincial Park.

Accommodation: Camping

Day 3 & 4. Jasper National Park, AB.

After a morning exploring wilderness shorelines we return to our point of origin at Clearwater Lake.  We continue our drive, rejoining the North Thompson River to meet up again with the mighty Fraser River near Mt. Rob son Provincial Park. This park, the second oldest park in British Columbia’s park system, is truly one of the world's crown jewels. The 3,954 meter high mountain for which the park is named guards the park's western entrance. We stop for a 1.5 hour hike to glacier fed Kinney Lake. Our day concludes as we cross into Alberta and Jasper National Park.

Spanning 1,078 square kilometers of broad valleys and craggy mountains, Jasper is the largest of Canada's Rocky Mountain National Parks. On Day 4, We'll take the Jasper Tram to the mountain's upper terminus where much of the Canadian Rockies can be seen as far away as 80 kilometers. Later in the day we visit Maligne Lake and hike Maligne Canyon and the Bald Hills. We end our stay in Jasper with a therapeutic soak in Miette Hot Springs, the hottest hot spring in the Rocky Mountains.

Accommodation: Camping

Day 5 & 6. Banff National Park & Lake Louise, AB.
A full day of sightseeing along the Rocky Mountains Icefield Parkway will take your breath away. The Columbia Icefield is the largest of the chain of ice fields along the Great Divide separating Alberta and British Columbia. This 325 square km. accumulation of ice feeds six large glaciers. You can see three of them - the Athabasca , the Dome, and Stutfield - from the Icefields Parkway. In the late morning we arrive at the Athabasca Glacier. In the company of certified mountain guides, clients will have the option to strap on crampons and join a naturalist for a two hour guided walk on the surface of the Athabasca Glacier, a massive river of ice riddled with an estimated 30,000 crevasses. Afterward, we’ll have free time to visit the Icefield’s interpretive centre. Other scenic stops include Sunwapta Falls and Mystya Canyon. In the late afternoon we arrive in Banff National Park. Banff encompasses 6,641 square kilometers of mountains, glaciers, forests and alpine meadows.

We start the morning of Day 6 with a one hour hike of Johnston Canyon. After a brief stop at camp we'll head out to world famous Lake Louise. Here we'll board the Gondola and ascend to an elevation of 2088 meters where we'll enjoy a buffet lunch at Ten Peaks Lodge. After our visit to the Lake Louise area we'll stop at the townsite of Banff, where travellers will be given free time in the late to explore Banff on their own and take dinner at their own expense. Other highlights of the day include Bow Falls and views of Castle Mountain. Optional highlights include Sulphur Mountain Tram, Tour of Banff Springs Hotel or horseback riding

Accommodation: Camping

Day 7 & 8. Yoho National Park, BC.
The native expression for "awe" and "wonder" is Yoho. In Yoho National Park, we stop at Spiral Tunnel before visiting Takakawa Falls, the highest in the Canadian Rockies. After the falls we'll continue on to Emerald Lake for a 2 hour hike. Later in the afternoon passengers will have the option to hone their paddling skills with an optional canoe paddle. Jet boat tours are on the Columbia River are also available.

On Day 8 travellers can pursue a number of nature-based optional activities including: white water rafting on the Kicking Horse River, horseback riding from our campground, a wetland wildlife safari or a visit to the Grizzly Bear Sanctuary at Kicking Horse Resort. The Kicking Horse Grizzly Bear Refuge operates a wilderness centre for research, education, and conservation. The 22-acre sanctuary is the largest protected enclosed grizzly bear refuge in the world and provides a home and a second chance at life for orphaned grizzly bear cubs. Passengers not wishing to take part in the optional activities can take either the Leanchoil Hoodoo or Wapta Falls Trail, a 2-3 hour hike.

Accommodation: Camping

Day 9. Shuswap Lake, BC.
Today we will travel the through several mountain passes, including Roger's Pass at Glacier National Park. Here we'll stop and tour the visitor centre and enjoy the local nature trails in the area. We then continue on through the Monashee Mountains before arriving at our last stop along Shuswap Lake. Our last night is at a First Nation resort located on the shores of Salmon Arm, where passengers can enjoy a swim in the lake or soak up the sun on a white sandy beach. Optional spa facilities are available. Dinner at lodge at clients expense.

Accommodation: Lakeside Resort

Day 10. Vancouver, BC.
Our last leg of the journey takes us along the Trans Canada Highway from Salmon Arm to Kamloops and over the scenic Coquihalla Highway to Hope. We arrive in Vancouver, bordered by the majestic Coastal Mountains and Pacific Ocean.

Gateway Accommodation We offer door-to-door service at a number of modest priced hotels in downtown Vancouver. If you prefer hostel type accommodation, contact: YWCA Hotel/Residence Pacific Hostel Network HI Vancouver Otherwise, here's three of our client's favourite hotels: St. Regis Hotel Hotel Sylvia YWCA Hotel    Transportation Getting to Vancouver   Weather Vancouver Revelstoke Banff   Parks & Attractions Jasper National Park Banff National Park Yoho National Park Mt. Revelstoke National Park Mt. Robson Provincial Park Wells Grey Provincial Park Miette Hotsprings Jasper Tramway Athabasca Glacier / Columbia Icefield   Rocky Mountain Books Call toll free 1-800-255-5057 for info on tour availability

Rocky Mountain Explorer
Photo Gallery

Click a picture to see
a larger view.