You made it to the mountains! Take a deep breath of mountain air and look around at the beautiful scenery all around you. There’s a reason people come to this place year after year. Whether it’s your first time, or you’re a weekend warrior who can’t get enough of this place, here are the best ways to make the most outta summer in the mountains.

1 Connect with Nature

The vast natural landscapes of the Canadian Rockies are still home to large, in-tact stretches of true wilderness. This wild area is home to numerous species of wildlife, mountains, glaciers, forests, alpine meadows, and some rare plant and animal species. You may want to access it all, but you’ll want to do so safely and with respect.

Some of the best chances of spotting wildlife are on a tour with guides who know this area like the back of their hands. They can take you to the best places for a chance to see animals in their natural habitat, and they can explain how to safely coexist with all the critters who call these mountains home. Try a wildlife tour with Discover Banff Tours, Sundog Tours, or Maligne Adventures to see what all the fuss is about. Bring a camera so you can get that iconic image without putting yourself or wildlife in danger.

Tourism Jasper / Simone Heinrich

If you want guaranteed wildlife sightings, head to a museum! The Jasper Yellowhead Museum has a new wildlife collection of specimens on display throughout the museum. This exciting collection carries a history of its own, so stop by the museum to find out more! In Banff, the Banff Park Museum houses vintage botanical and zoological specimens in a historic building.

2 Discover New Trails

With countless miles of trails to explore, there’s always something new to discover. Have you tried experiencing the trails in a new way? Horses are a traditional way of accessing the mountains, and with no motorized vehicles, the experience is largely unchanged from how the early explorers ventured through this place. Take a trail ride with Banff Trail Riders and discover historic routes through the mountains that are still in use today. Choose from a 1-hour ride to multi-day backcountry adventures. No experience is necessary for these incredible trips.

The Brewster family was one of the original outfitters in Banff and Lake Louise. You can still experience one of their legendary tours with a horseback ride in Lake Louise from Brewster Adventures. Experience the beauty of this iconic location or take a longer trip from their ranch in Seebe to explore backcountry cabins and mountain tradition.

Travel Alberta / Banff Trail Riders

For a smaller-scale, more intimate trail ride, visit Timberline Tours and create your dream vacation, from a short and sweet ride through iconic Lake Louise to a multi-day excursion designed to show you the best places in the mountains. With roots in this valley that trace back to early guide and park warden Wild Bill Peyto, the folks at Timberline Tours share their generational knowledge of all the best places to ride in the Rockies.

In stunning Kananaskis Country, the multi-generational Cowley’s Rafter Six Ranch offers trail rides for everyone to enjoy in some of the most stunning scenery around. Located between Canmore and Calgary, this outfit is easy to reach, and they explore trails that are often overlooked and uncrowded. Choose from a 1-hour scenic ride to full day explorations and even a saddlebag supper ride. If you have horse experience, try an intermediate or advanced ride in the mountains and live out your cowboy dreams!

3 Get Out on the Water

Nothing says summer like a day on the water. While the glacial waters of the Canadian Rockies are typically too cold for swimming, unless you’re looking to do a polar plunge in the middle of the summer, there are still fantastic ways to experience summer in the mountains on a lake.

Take a cruise and learn about the mountains with the Maligne Lake Cruise in Jasper or the Lake Minnewanka Cruise in Banff. Both options have guided interpretation, stunning scenery, and promise a great time on the lake. Both of these large lakes are steeped in mountain history. Discover the story of Mary Schaffer’s surveying quest at Maligne Lake and see Spirit Island, one of the most photographed spots in the Canadian Rockies. At Lake Minnewanka, learn about the hidden ghost town under the water and discover the stories of the spirits that are said to haunt this lake.

Pursuit / Mike Seehagel

If a scenic float is more your style, hop into a hard-bottomed raft and drift down the mountain rivers, taking in the scenery, the sounds of nature, and some mountain stories from your guide. Jasper Raft Tours offers scenic floats down the calm portions of the Athabasca River. These guided raft trips allow you to take in the stunning scenery without having to paddle. These trips are also dog-friendly! Rocky Mountain Raft Tours offers scenic floats down the Bow River in Banff. This family-friendly trip passes the scenic Banff Springs Golf Course, the hoodoos, and the iconic mountains surrounding the townsite.

If you’re looking for some DIY river relaxation, rent a canoe, kayak, or SUP from Banff Canoe Club and explore the calm section of the Bow River. Other spots in the mountains to rent and relax include Pure Outdoors or the Maligne Lake Boathouse in Jasper, Columbia Wetlands Outpost between Golden and Radium Hot Springs in BC, and Kananaskis Outfitters.

4 Get Soaked

If you’re looking for a wet-and-wild river experience, try whitewater rafting! The mountains have some fierce, fast-flowing rivers that will leave you breathless, and cooled off on a hot day.

In Jasper, the Athabasca and Sunwapta Rivers have fun rapids for a wicked whitewater rafting trip. Book with Jasper Rafting Adventures, Jasper Whitewater Rafting, or Rocky Mountain River Guides for an unforgettable experience. Maligne Rafting offers adventures on the rivers in Jasper as well as excursions to the mighty Fraser River in nearby BC, with even more power behind the waves. Whether you’re looking for a gentle introduction to rafting, or you want to get soaked by the end of it all, there is the perfect rafting adventure waiting for you in Jasper.

Chinook Rafting

There are enormous rapids on the mighty Kicking Horse River. To get your thrill, check out rafting in Golden, BC. Hydra River Guides tackles the big waves, and they have options for those liking to take on smaller rapids as well. Their base is on the river, meaning you spend less time travelling and more time actually rafting. Chinook Rafting offers trips on the mighty Kicking Horse, as well as trips in Kananaskis River for a splashy tour that everyone will enjoy.

5 Walk in the Clouds

Sometimes, you just want to reach the destination without putting in the sweat-equity to get there. Take in those mountain views without climbing to the top. The Banff Gondola carries guests to the top of Sulphur Mountain. The upper terminal has interactive displays about the area, excellent dining, and a short walk to Sanson’s Peak, with the historic building that was once used as a cosmic observatory. The gondola and upper terminal are accessible for people with limited mobility.

Other ways to reach the mountaintops include the Sunshine Meadows Gondola. Travel to unique meadows with breathtaking and rare alpine wildflowers and several hikes in this unique environment. The Jasper SkyTram brings you up Whistlers Mountain. Take the short hike to the peak and see mountain ranges in every direction you look. The Norquay Chairlift whisks you to Cliffhouse Bistro, a unique and cozy dining experience with stellar views. Relax in the Chill Zone, enjoy a bite to eat, or get adventurous on the via ferrata. If you’ve ever wanted to try mountain climbing with minimal risk, the set routes of a guided via ferrata are your ticket to this iconic mountain experience.

Travel Alberta / Norquay

The Golden Skybridge is a fantastic way to cross a steep valley on a swaying suspension bridge! These are Canada’s highest suspension bridges, allowing you to walk 130 m/426 feet above an expansive canyon, engulfed by the Columbia Valley. Watch birds soar below your feet as you venture across the canyon. You’ll step off solid land and into the sky at the Golden Skybridge!

No matter where you’re from, if it’s your first time in the Canadian Rockies or you’re practically a local, we hope you enjoy your time here and discover your own way to make the most outta summer in the mountains!

Taylor Jaine