Horseback riding in Banff is one of the best ways to discover the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

With some of the best trails for horseback adventures and pack trips, Canmore and the Kananaskis is an awesome place for horseback riding. Banff Horseback and Trail Rides is one of the best horseback outfitters in our area.

Horseback riding is one of our most popular things to do in the Banff Kananaskis area.

For the best activities at the best prices, avoid the middleman and book direct. Go to Banff Travel.

Wildwater Adventures is considered one of the toughest jobs to get in Banff and Lake Louise, but it promises an awesome whitewater experience.

Those with the best skills, and the best luck, get jobs as rafting guides. There are many rafting companies around Banff and Jasper. The most sought after and difficult rafting guide job to obtain is for one of Canada’s oldest rafting companies – Wildwater Adventures.

Banff’s Toughest Tourism Job to Get

Considered the most difficult job to obtain in Banff and Banff National Park, Wildwater Adventures is known for having the most stringent customer service and safety policies. Most of their rafting guides are heavily seasoned guides with experience rafting some of the most challenging rivers in the US, Costa Rica and Argentina.

Whitewater Adventures was founded by Ted Bilson and Liz Webber, and employs only the best guides.

Many of the lower-end companies in town will hire kids with no experience who just got rafting certified.

“We get the best rafting guides coming to us because our rafting guides get treated well and we get great business,” says Ted Bilton. “Wildwater Adventures is is the top area rafting company that handles high level celebrities including top NHL players.”

Wildwater Adventures has been voted “Best Rafting Outfitter” of Banff National Park the past five years.
Want to see Banff, Canmore and Jasper live? Check out the Rockies.com streaming, user controlled TV cams at Rockies.com. Our towns are even more beautiful in person.

Rafting the Kananaskis River is only one of several fun things to do with your family in Banff, Alberta.

For those of you with an adventurous family, here is what I would recommend.

1) Raft the Kananaskis River: Raft the Kananskis River and enjoy the endless wilderness beauty of our Canadian Rockies. The Alberta Rafting Alliance has great deals to beat back any economic blues. And although the Kananaskis is not going to be a thrill for true adventure bums, it’s ideal for first timers and those who just want to enjoy the paradise we know as Alberta. Check out out Banff Rafting at banffrafting.org for more info.

2) Zip line tours: Zip lining is a rush, and it’s just a short drive from Banff. You can also take a shuttle. The Canadian Rockies outfitters at Banff Travel will shuttle you to base camp for an authentic Canadian Rockies adventure rush.

Check out the Banff zipline for an awesome Canadian Rockies adventure.

3) Banff ATV and Quad Tours: Think about this– You are on a dirt road, going 20 plus miles an hour, open air, looking at the incredible Rocky Mountains of Canada, forgetting about everything else, and here you are on a new Bombardier-powered ATV. Yes, that is friggin’ cool! I love ATV tours and adventures. The same outfitters at Banff Travel who provide Banff National Park area zip line tours also do ATV tours and rides. They will get you a guide or you can do it on your own. It’s more fun to go as group, which means it’s perfect for you and your family. These guys are all about safety and have the best track record in our area.

Get your family on some ATVs for quading in Banff National Park.

Want to see Banff, Canmore and Jasper live? Check out the Rockies.com streaming, user-controlled TV cams at Rockies.com.

Durango, Colorado is the perfect place to go for a run down the Animas River and then settle down to knock back a few pints at some great Colorado micro-breweries.

VAIL, COLORADO – I can’t believe I get paid to travel, run up and down the Canadian, Colorado, and Montana Rockies, and blog. You know, this is about as good as my days in the University of McGill drinking lots of beer, hanging with loose women and having free *****.

Starbucks is ready to throw me out, so here is my itinerary for thrill-seeking around the Rockies come June and July: I’ve got a 450-mile bike ride starting in Gunnison, Colorado called “Ride The Rockies,” winding through the Colorado Rockies going to Gunnison. But, being the certified whitewater rafting junkie that I am, I’m not content to leave it at that. I mean come on, this is a guy who plans to name his next child Kicking Horse. That’s right! I’m going to name the the little dude Kicking Horse! (Cool? Or do you think my future mate may have issues?) Anyway, I’m throwing in some whitewater rafting as well.

With nothing more than meager pay, a backpack, a beat up old Volkswagen, and an all-carbon bike, I’ve got some cool Colorado whitewater rafting spots on tap. Yes, the bike is worth more than my car–I’m vintage Canadian.

So here is what I got. Quit drooling. Really.

I’ll hit Durango, Colorado and the Animas River in late May. I am doing to take a raft down the incredible Smelter Run, which is cool because after I flip it, I will swim to shore, hit the park, dry out, and then saunter over to downtown Durango to have some pints at the Carver Brewing company. That’s all they will give me. Then I am going to bum some real rafting down the Piedra and Animas Rivers from Durango Whitewater.

Colorado Springs and some Royal Gorge Rafting

Royal Gorge whitewater rafting is some of the craziest rafting in the Colorado Rockies. Make sure to check out the classifications before you head out onto the rapids!

Colorado Springs, Colorado is a little too conservative for chaps of my breed, but I’ve got friends there and that means free digs. Royal Gorge rafting is killer! Even many experienced whitewater rafters can struggle with Colorado rafting if the mountain run-off is determined to be huge that day. It’s jagged, rocky, twisty and–well–some of the most beautiful whitewater rafting south of the Banff, Canada area’s Kicking Horse rafting. Funnily enough, Colorado Springs whitewater rafting companies advertise Royal Gorge rafting as a family friendly deal. Well, like….yeah, maybe for those trailer park relatives you hate or that family that will give you a good inheritance.

Buena Vista, Colorado offers some mild whitewater rafting, but it's a great place to check out some other activities and things to do in the Colorado Rockies.

Buena Vista, Colorado

I swear, half the tourism economy is rafting and the rafting is pretty mild stuff. Buena Vista is a favorite place of mine because I can go rafting and then take several hours to  bike to Leadville, Colorado (11,000 feet), come back, swill some beer at a Colorado cowboy joint, then think about golfing Collegiate Peaks the next day. Hey! It’s cheap, but the views are killer. They make fun of my accent in clever ways, while thinking I’m a real idiot.

Make sure to check back because I have some more great stuff coming up. And, well, Rockies.com has me traveling, rafting, swan-diving out of airplanes and doing some really jacked up stuff – all in the name of entertaining travelers, tourists and the unemployed who always hope to stay unemployed.

The Kananaskis Country, Alberta is the perfect place for family whitewater rafting in the Canadian Rockies.

KANANASKIS COUNTRY, ALBERTA – When you fly into Calgary, Alberta or find your way to the Canmore Kananaskis area, a rafting trip on the Kananaskis is a great family whitewater rafting experience for both beginners and experts. With great Class II and III whitewater rapids, the Kananaskis River provides a thrilling introduction to whitewater rafting that serves as a cool intro to kids and families.

The Kananaskis River is located in the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies, making this a convenient trip, and just a short 15 to 20 minute jaunt to Banff, Canmore and Calgary. And once you get comfortable with the Kananaskis, think about moving up the Canadian Rockies whitewater thrill ladder and rafting Banff’s famous Kicking Horse River or Jasper’s mighty Fraser and Athabasca Rivers. Head instead toward the Kicking Horse River for another whitewater rafting adventure, or get back on dry land to explore Banff National Park.

The Fraser River in Jasper, Alberta is well known for being some of the best whitewater rafting in the Canadian Rockies.

Rafting may be the single most exhilarating of all Canadian Rockies activities. Jasper and Banff, Alberta are two of the best areas in North America for whitewater rafting. Don’t leave our incredible province without exploring the best of Banff National Park, Jasper National Park and the Canadian Rockies.

For all of your whitewater travel needs, make sure to check out the folks at Banff Travel and pay special attention to their section on Kananaskis Country at http://www.banfftravel.com/kananaskis-whitewater-rafting.

If you're looking for the thrill of Banff whitewater rafting somewhere closer to home, rafting in Durango, Colorado might be perfect for you.

DURANGO, COLORADO – I’m a rafting aficionado and I especially love rafting Kicking Horse River just outside of the Banff, Alberta. The Kicking Horse River gives you the chance to really live on the edge. This year will even be even more interesting with the some great mountain run off.

When whitewater rafting in Banff, Alberta, make sure to hook up with Banff Whitewater Rafting for a locally-led trip down the Kicking Horse River.

But when I head south and go to the Colorado Rockies, one of my favorite rivers is the Animas River in Durango, Colorado. Colorado is one of the best states in USA for thrill-seeking rafting, and Durango rafting offers varying class levels. For example, the Piedra River is especially gnarly, narrow and not for the faint of heart. If you want more information, head on over to DurangoRafting.org and see what the Durango Rafting Alliance has to say. Durango is a really cool college town with exceptional micro breweries. Check out Durango, Colorado on their live-streaming city and train cam.

Where do I go for Banff whitewater rafting? Well, hey, I get good deals since I am an esteemed blogger. For great Banff, Canada rafting packages, check out Banff Whitewater Rafting at 1 800 519 4770. You can go rafting with some killer Lake Louise locals named Ted and Liz. Ted and Liz are official providers for the Alberta Rafting Alliance. You can even get a live look at Banff, Alberta using their user-controlled webcam.

For more information on rafting in Colorado, check out ColoradoRafting.org and let your adventure begin!

Canmore, Alberta is high on my list of places to go when the snow starts to fly. You’ve got awesome ski resorts within short driving distance, dog sledding, snowshoeing, and some of the best nordic skiing paths you’ll find anywhere, along with lots of other winter activities.

The Canadian Rockies winter is breathtaking, and not just because of the cold temps.

You’ll find Canmore well-situated for taking advantage of the the Canadian Rockies’ great outdoors, sitting basically at the crossroads of Kananaskis Country and Banff National Park.

1. Ice Walking: Hike over a sheet of natural that covers the bottom of a breathe-taking canyon. Sounds like a slippery proposition? Don’t worry, you’ll be wearing ice cleats that’ll give you a solid on the ice as you explore the Pictographs, Grotto Canyon, and the Ice Falls. The ice walk only takes about 1.5 to 2 hours total time, but they’re two hours you’re not likely to forget anytime soon. I’d recommend doing this trip with a guide, to get the best out of it and to stay safe.
2. Ice Climbing: Does this sound like something you couldn’t possibly do? Think again. Canmore is a great place for beginners to test the (frozen) waters of this extreme sport. Take a beginners ice climbing course and you’ll learn the “ropes” with professional guide instructors who will help you do it safely. One of a kind locations, and an experience well beyond the ordinary await you.
3. Snowshoe Walks: To snowshoe in Canmore, you won’t need to learn any new skills. Just strap on the shoes and go for a walk. In just a short time after leaving Canmore, you can be out enjoying the winter peace and quiet, truly enjoying nature’s beauty. Guided snowshoe tours can help you discover Canmore’s winter wildlife where, if you’re a little lucky, you can follow the tracks of the wolf, coyote or lynx.
4. Cross Country Skiing: Cross Country or Nordic skiing is one of the best known winter activities in the Canmore area. Canmore served as host community for cross country and biathlon competitions during the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics. The Nordic Centre in Canmore continues hosting competitive ski events and provides an incredible facility for beginners and other recreational skiers to enjoy world class facilities, track set trails and snowmaking. A number of wilderness areas around Canmore offer track set systems.
5. Dog Sledding: In Canmore, you’ll find three world-class outfitters offering daily trips of varying lengths in what is known to be one of the most terrific natural settings in the Canadian Rockies, dog sledding is an very popular vacation activity. Trips vary in length, and certainly go well beyond the very soft adventure that they can also be.
6. Skiing and Snowboarding: When it comes to skiing and snowboarding in the Canadian Rockies, Canmore is well known for four great ski areas that run from world class slopes to great locals skiing areas.

• Sunshine Village – Just 20 minutes from Canmore, the Sunshine high-speed gondola zips skiers up to the village at 7,000 feet. From here, numerous high-speed quads spread out all over this fabulous ski area – most of the rides and runs will keep you above treeline so you’ll get great views on top of great riding.

• Mt. Norquay –Just  15 minutes from Canmore, the Mt. Norquay is well known as a place for locals to run out and get some runs on a whim. You can enjoy it too on your vacation. Norquay’s got plenty to offer skiers and snowboarders all day long, and the only night skiing in the area every Friday.

• Lake Louise –Only  an hour after leaving Canmore, you can be at the top of Lake Louise ski resort, looking down into the Bow Valley and preparing for an epic day of skiing or snowboarding.

• Nakiska – About a 40-minute drive from Canmore into Kananaskis Country, Nakiska offers runs for various ability levels, with family cruisers, fun glades, and steep corduroy groomers to race down (evoking the 1988 Olympics, perhaps – Nakiska hosted the downhill events).

Normally I, as someone who calls the Canadian Rockies home, and spends a lot of time in Canmore, Banff and Jasper, am used to hearing nothing but good stuff about our local restaurants. So I was somewhat taken aback by what one reader sent us on Jasper’s Miss Italia:

On holiday from the UK and visited Jasper with my family. We ate at “Miss Italia” over a week ago and was probably one of the worst meals we ever experienced, thus avoided paying any service charge. It was apparent that things weren’t cooked fresh! The pasta was basically over-cooked mush and the pasta sauces lacked any flavor. My wife had the pasta with meatballs and this so bad, she could only take one taste of it – tried it myself and have tasted better from a can. I really could of cooked something better in 5 mins. Really very dreadful and meals cooked with no passion and not mention expensive. Avoid!

Roger Johnson

Horsham Sussex

Yowch! Roger was apparently not very happy with Miss Italia, and from surfing around a bit on the old internet, I’ve seen that there have been similar complaints. Still, you never know, and we’d willing to hear from readers who have other opinions, positive or no, on this and any other restaurant. Just contact us with your review, and we’ll let your voice (and stomach) be heard.

Jasper and the Canadian Rockies offer much to see. Get some expert advice!

The fact is that no one person can cover enough of the Canadian Rockies in a life time to be an expert on the entire place. Which is why over at Rockies.com they’ve been interviewing various experts on the Canadian Rockies, getting the advantage of several lifetimes worth of experience to give you some great info, with their Rockies Insiders section.

Here’s are 5 great interviews they’ve done in the last few weeks:

1. Photography: Advice on improving your Canadian Rockies photography, and places to shoot (your camera) in Canadian Rockies with Mike Grandmaison. Grandmaison is a long time pro photographer who has shot an entire book about the Canadian Rockies.

2. Icefields Parkway: A tour of the famous Icefields Parkway with Brad White. Brad’s a mountain man, if I’ve ever heard of one. He’s lived in Banff for 50 years, and worked for Parks Canada for 28 of those. His most recent work finds him as Banff’s Mountain Safety Program Specialist, doing Mountain Rescue and Avalanche forecasting and control.

3. Banff Vacation Tips: Marc Pinel, founder of the Grand Nature Club, a Banff-based hiking club offer his Banff hiking tips as well as some general Banff vacation information from him.

4. Jasper Best of: Peter Amann offered up his picks for some of the best places to see in Jasper National Park. Amann has been has been the president of the Jasper section of the Alpine Club, Canada’s official mountaineering organization, since 1992, and is a long-time Jasper tour guide.

5. Jasper with Parks Canada: Parks Canada representative Thea Mitchell give her take on what to do with children in Jasper National Park, and some great ways to get prepared for your first backpacking trip in Jasper.

Good stuff so far, and they’ve got plans to do a lot more, so stay tuned. I know I will be!

Canoeing is a great way to explore the Canadian Rockies.

So I naturally gravitate toward canoeing. Not that this is easier, or always completely safe and adrenaline free. The rivers of the Rockies can move fast and have plenty of rapids. But all in all, canoeing in the Canadian Rockies can be a great way to relax, kickback and enjoy some of Banff National Park‘s great scenery.

Before heading out on your canoe, be sure to scope out Banff and the weather with the free Banff webcam. Afterward, come back to town for great restaurants, hotels and brewpubs. Below you’ll find a guide to one of my favorite Banff canoe trips.

Castle Junction to Banff

This portion of Alberta’s Bow River lies on the east side of the Trans-Canada Highway and the west side of the Canadian Pacific Railway line and Highway 1A (Bow Valley Parkway). The Bow River runs steadily down the valley, with islands and side channels you’ll want give yourself time to explore. There are plenty of riffles and Class 1 rapids, along with one Class 3 rapid at Redearth Creek, some tight corners, sweepers and logjams, that will keep it interesting. Be sure to take care when canoeing this section.

Put in at the parking lot below the bridge over the Bow River at Castle Junction. After 6km of river you’ll reach Johnston Creek, flowing in from river left. On the downstream side of Johnston Creek you’ll find a sign for a backcountry campsite. Another 3km past Johnston Creek, a right bend in the river leads you towards the Trans-Canada Highway and the Castle Mountain Viewpoint.

This landmark indicates you are nearing Redearth Creek Rapids. As you paddle below the viewpoint, the river turns left, away from the highway. In just a few hundred metres, the river turns sharply right into the area of Redearth Creek Rapids. Rated Class 3, these rapids are a long section of fast water moving over rocks. The waves are non-stop, getting larger as you approach the end. Man a canoe has capsized or swamped here, but proper scouting and safety procedures, this rapid can be run by experienced canoeists.

If you have any doubts, portage the rapid. There is no marked portage route. But from the top of the rapid on river right, you can make your way along the shore to where Redearth Creek enters the Bow River. From there, wade across the creek and carry your canoe along the riverside trail to the end of the rapids.

A few km below Redearth Creek, the river becomes convoluted. It may not be obvious, but the river here branches into two or three channels. This is a risky section, with tight corners, endless sweepers and dangerous logjams. Pay attention and be safe!

The large gravel fan at the Wolverine Creek entrance on river right, is where you can finally rest a little, knowing the hardest parts are behind you. Another 5.5 km brings you back to the Trans-Canada Highway. This is a good place to take out as there is a gate through the fence to access a roadside parking area off the westbound lane of the highway.

Another 0.5 km brings you to the Trans-Canada Highway bridge over the Bow River. Careful going under the bridge as there are several sweepers on the left side of the river. From it’s a pleasant, 1.5 – 2 hour paddle to Banff. The river is broad and calm, allowing beautiful views of the lower Bow Valley. Take out at the canoe docks, at the junction of the Bow River and Echo Creek. Do not paddle past the canoe docks as Bow Falls is just around the corner.

Distance: 32 km (takes about 5 – 6 hours)

Level: intermediate