Local Host service in Kalispell; Destination Guide including maps and detailed driving directions.
Itinerary:
Day #1 Kalispell. Welcome to the Gateway to Glacier National Park! Arrive in Kalispell and pick up your rental car at the airport. The remainder of the day is at your leisure to start exploring the inviting beauty of the area.
Day #2 Kalispell. Today is free to explore at your own pace. In addition to discovering the western side of Glacier National Park, you might also want to visit 28-mile-long Flathead Lake, the product of ice-age glaciers. Enjoy all manner of watersports, including swimming, boating, fishing, kayaking, or windsurfing. Make sure to spend some time browsing Kalispell’s many art galleries and antique shops or perhaps take a tour of the historic Conrad Mansion. Your Local Host will have suggestions for additional sightseeing, shopping, and dining.
Day #3 Kalispell–Glacier National Park–Waterton Lakes National Park. Continue your exploration of Glacier National Park today as you travel along the world-famous Going-to-the-Sun Road. Experience pristine forests, Native American history, colorful wildflowers, spectacular lakes, thundering waterfalls, and skilled mountain goats. There are many different ways to see the park, including boat trips, horseback rides, guided hikes, and rafting excursions. Continue to Waterton Lakes National Park for the night. Approximately 126 miles/202 km.
Day #4 Waterton Lakes National Park–Banff. Take some time this morning to explore breathtaking Waterton, the only park in the world that has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, an International Peace Park, and a Biosphere Reserve. Then, travel the “Cowboy Trail” of Alberta and witness sprawling ranch lands, historic sights, and western-themed shopping. Arrive in Banff and spend the next two nights in this popular resort town. Approximately 230 miles/370 km.
Day #5 Banff. During your time in Banff, you may wish to rent a canoe and paddle leisurely down the Bow River, enjoy Afternoon Tea at the prestigious Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, take a soak in the natural hot springs, browse the many souvenir shops, or travel to the top of Sulphur Mountain for incredible views of the valley below. Don’t forget your camera!
Day #6 Banff–Jasper. Today, travel along the stunning Icefields Parkway. Stop at the Columbia Icefield, the largest icefield south of Alaska, and while there, choose to take an exciting Ice Explorer ride on the Athabasca Glacier or join a guided glacier walk. Before arriving in Jasper, see beautiful Athabasca Falls, one of the most powerful falls in the Rockies. Approximately 207 miles/333 km.
Day #7 Jasper. Enjoy a full day at leisure to explore Jasper National Park. Outdoor activities abound in Jasper, so try your hand at hiking, rafting, golfing, fishing, and more. You may want to visit nearby Maligne Canyon with its waterfalls and walking trails, or venture to nearby Maligne Lake and see majestic Spirit Island. In the evening, make sure to check out one of Jasper’s many restaurants serving anything from pizza to seafood and fine Alberta beef.
Day #8 Jasper–Lake Louise. Return on the Icefields Parkway to Lake Louise, the “Jewel of the Rockies.” This stunning lake is situated in a small glacial valley surrounded by snowcapped mountains. Enjoy a hike on one of the many trails or visit nearby Moraine Lake with its awe-inspiring, deep-teal color. Approximately 175 miles/281km.
Day #9 Lake Louise–Kalispell. Depart Lake Louise and make your way via Kootenay National Park passing through Radium Hot Springs and the town of Cranbrook before arriving back into the United States. There is still time this evening to pick up a favorite souvenir or enjoy a homemade piece of Montana huckleberry pie. Approximately 298 miles/479 km.
Day #10 Kalispell. Return your rental car at the airport prior to departure.