Mountains, Badlands and Dinosaurs

A full day to explore Waterton Lakes National Park. Drive to Redrock Canyon and hike to Blakiston Falls. Keep your eyes on the lookout for bears on the drive to the canyon. Take the Shoreline Cruise down the lake or drive the Akamina Parkway and rent a canoe on Cameron Lake.

Today you’re entering the Canadian Badlands with its unique coulee landscapes and hoodoo rock formations.

Located in the magnificent Milk River Valley in an area of prairie grasslands and eroded sandstone formations, Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park is home to the highest concentration of petroglyphs and pictographs on the North American Plains. The park has been nominated by Parks Canada as a World Heritage site and is a sacred place for many aboriginal peoples.

A beautiful drive with many interesting stops along the way. From dinosaur eggs to the best corn you have ever tasted, it’s all here!

This park is home to the largest concentration of Cretaceous fossils on the planet and it is surrounded by dry hoodoos. Explore where the dinosaurs once roamed along breath-taking scenery.

Today you will explore more of the Canadian Badlands and our Travel Book points out many interesting sites to visit. From a suspension bridge, to ghost towns and a coal mine – lots to explore!

This community was founded on coal but now thrives on another subterranean resource – dinosaur bones. Hoodoos dominate this badlands landscape, which has featured in many a movie (mainly Westerns). Visiting the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology is a must, along with a hike in the badlands.

Today you take the ferry across the Red Deer River and have the option to visit several sites on your way to Elk Island National Park. Stop at Horsethief Canyon to enjoy the views, or at Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park. Try some delicious fudge In Big Valley, a western flavoured town. Our Travel Book shows you the way.

From the comfort of your RV, watch for the bison, elk, moose, white tailed and mule deer that freely roam the park. Feel the thrill of seeing them in their natural habitat. You may even spot the elusive Canadian lynx or coyote.

Today you drive past Edmonton in the direction of the Rocky Mountains. The road takes you across prairies and endless skies. Stop at Rochfort Bridge, one of North America’s longest train trestle bridges, or Fort Assiniboine Friendship Museum, a reconstructed Hudson Bay fur trading fort. Whitecourt counts two rivers, the Athabasca and Macleod, and many surrounding lakes. This area offers amazing hiking trails and wildlife sightings.

Today you’re entering Yellowhead County while driving on the Yellowhead Highway, a major east-west highway connecting the four western Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. It was originally a fur traders route for the Hudson’s Bay Company in the early 1800’s and has grown to be a significant trade corridor. Make sure to stop in Edson, a small picturesque town located in a river valley surrounded by a vast boreal forest and lakes.

Grande Cache is an unspoiled and relatively unknown town in the northern corner of Alberta’s Rockies. It has a rich history which claims dinosaurs and influential Aboriginal tribes as some of its early residents. Surrounded by wild rivers, picturesque valleys and magnificent lakes and mountains, Grande Cache is the gateway to the remote and beautiful Willmore Wilderness Park, which offers numerous opportunities to explore the great outdoors.

Today you’re driving to Jasper National Park, which is yours to explore for 2 days. On your way to Jasper, visit Miette Hot Springs, Medicine Lake and Maligne Lake. You can take a cruise on Maligne Lake to Spirit Island, one of the most photographed spots in the world. Explore Maligne Canyon’s waterfalls. Walk along the canyon, across the seven bridges and enjoy the stunning views.

Defined by glaciers, lakes and mountains, Jasper National Park has a lot to offer. Our extensive En Route Travel Book makes sure you won’t miss any of the beautiful spots. Take the Jasper SkyTram, the longest and highest in Canada, and enjoy the views. Marvel at the breathtaking scenery at Patricia Lake and Pyramid Lake or swim in the warm waters of Lake Edith and Lake Annette.

Today you’re driving the famous Icefields Parkway (Highway 93), rated as one of the top drives in the world with spectacular sightseeing of pristine turquoise lakes, tumbling waterfalls and ancient glaciers. Along the stretch, big horn sheep, deer, black bears, and coyotes are frequently spotted. Athabasca Falls, Sunwapta Falls, Glacier Skywalk, Athabasca Glacier… Our Travel Book makes sure you will not miss anything!

The Icefields Parkway leads you further in the direction of Banff through soaring rocky mountain peaks and vast sweeping valleys. Make a stop at Peyto Lake, Bow Lake and enjoy the views of Herbert lake and Hector Lake. Visit legendary Lake Louise and hike the Tea House Trail.

Canada’s oldest national park is famous for its unparalleled mountain scenery and jagged mountain peaks. You have the full day to explore the park. Take the gondola up Sulphur Mountain, try the hot pools, stroll down Banff Avenue and check out the stores, visit Two Jack lake and Lake Minnewanka.

It’s only a short drive to Kananaskis, or K-Country as the locals call it. It is actually a collection of over 10 provincial parks and wildlife reserves. It’s a wildlife haven being a breeding ground for elk, moose, bear, mountain goats and sheep. Canmore is a cute mountain town with art galleries, boutiques and tea rooms.

Say goodbye to the mountains as you drive east in the direction of Calgary, where you drop off your vehicle.