Hi, hi! Wow, it feels like ages since my last blog post… feeling a bit rusty here, so bear with me on this one…
A couple of weeks ago I took off on a little road trip to Jasper Alberta with my friend Jeremy, (side note – he is a super talented photographer and if you aren’t following him on instagram, you are missing out check him out here)
We had an absolute blast running around the Rocky Mountains like a couple of kids in a candy shop. I shared some of our adventure on my instagram stories, but many of you guys had requested a little round up of our stops. So here I am with some of our favs for you to keep in your back pocket if you ever get the chance to visit!
If I’m being honest, every, single moment of this trip was like being lost in a beautiful dream. At any given moment, it was simply impossible to not be in absolute awe of your surroundings. What I’m trying to say is, this blog post could be never ending, because I could have included every moment from this trip – but I did my best to highlight the stops that stood out the most for me below for those of you who asked in the hopes that one day you will get to travel here.
The Natural Bridge
This one is in Yoho National Park – less famous than Banff and Jasper, but equally as stunning in my opinion.
We wandered down the rivers edge to silent spots where nobody else was; to spots less travelled; spots that crowds of people weren’t gathering to take photos, but were somehow even more beautiful.
We found a spot where the sound of voices faded and all that was left was the sound of the flowing water; The sound of the river as it powerfully and relentlessly, pounded over the rocks surfaces, carving and shaping them into the incredible formations that stood before us brought on an almost surreal feeling for me. I suddenly felt like I was in a dream, because there was no way any of this absolute natural perfection could be real.
We sat down and hung our legs over the river as it raged just feet below our feet. I should have been nervous to be that close to the water, but I was overcome by a feeling of calm; a feeling of intense gratitude to just be able to exist in that moment and all of its rugged, natural glory.
We took our time scrambling along the rocks – the two of us in awe over the formations forever imprinted on their surfaces from the flow of the water. The limit on the amount of time we could spend admiring them seemed to not exist, so finally having to leave them behind was kind of sad for me.
Banff
I mean, it’s way too cute of a town to not at the very least drive through if you are making your way through the Canadian Rockies. It’s beautiful, full of boutique shops and places to eat… I’ll say that again… places to eaaaaat. Need I say more.
If you hit up Banff, do yourself a favour and do not leave until you have visited Cows Ice Cream. I will leave it at that. Just do it.
Johnston Canyon
Confession; This is my second time visiting Johnston Canyon in a year, and with good reason; It is simply stunning. The emerald green river; the countless waterfalls; the burnt orange colour of the rock faces; the caves; the misty canyon… it’s hard not to just stop and stare at every point as you wind your way through.
If you have the option, I would suggest trying to go on a weekday morning or evening or better yet a bit of a rainy day, in an effort to avoid crowds. This spot is absolutely beautiful, but it is a heavily marketed tourist attraction and as such it can get extremely busy in the Summer months. So if you are like me, and prefer to enjoy nature in a bit of silent solitude – I would try and avoid peak hours as much as possible so you can really enjoy the breathtaking beauty of this canyon.
Bow Lake
The morning we spent at Bow Lake is one that I know will forever live in my memory. An incredible memory of a cold ass morning, made warm by nothing but the simple joys of good company, a pot of coffee brewed over our camp stove, and the adrenaline of the almost unbelievably beautiful landscape that surrounded us pumping through our veins.
I’ll never forget how still the water was; The way the peak of Bow Summit reflected off its icy blue, glass – like surface; the turquoise blue of the sky peaking through the thick, fluffy white clouds; The sharp chill of the wind against my face; the smell of the freshly brewed coffee; how good my hot camp mug felt against my cold hands; the smile on his face and how good it felt to get to share in that moment with him… I’ll never forget it.
Spend a moment here… you won’t regret it.
The Crossing Hotel
This was our home for three nights while we made our way through the sights of the Icefields Parkway, and we couldn’t have been happier with it. So if you are looking for a killer place to stay… this is your gem.
Icefields Parkway
Without a doubt the most beautiful drive of my life, this stretch of highway is nothing short of breathtaking. Surrounded by snow capped Rocky Mountain giants, crystal clear rivers, jewel coloured lakes and trees of every shade of green… words truly cannot describe the feeling that encompasses you while driving this highway.
And, just when you think you have seen the best, you come around a corner to a landscape that is almost impossibly even more beautiful than the last. We couldn’t help but pull over every five minutes to catch our breath and take in the unique beauty of each scene; to capture moments that I know will forever be imprinted on our memories.
Mistaya Canyon
Trying to pin point a specific spot on this trip that was my favourite is pretty much impossible – but I have to admit there was something special about Mistaya Canyon for me.
Maybe it was the breathtaking depth of the canyon or the almost terrifying speed, and force at which the water was travelling through it. Maybe it was the dizzying height of the cliffs that I stood on as I looked down into the abyss; Maybe it was the shapes of the canyon walls or the beautiful white capped river that opened up just before the canyon; Maybe it was the dusty orange glow that was illuminating everything as the sun set behind the mountains or maybe it was something that I couldn’t even see, but rather just an indescribable feeling…
I’m not really sure, but there was something magical about this place. Enjoy a sunset here, and you will know what I mean.
Jasper
We didn’t spend a whole lot of time touring the town of Jasper, but I will say we hit up a few gems.
Sunhouse Cafe was ah-maaazing. Highly recommended if you a popping into the town and want some really fresh grub. Bear Paw Bakery was recommended to us for pastries and you guys were right to tell us to stop there. I wanted pretty much everything in their pastry display and if I could go back in time, I would have just stocked up and dealt with the indigestion from eating only pastries for five days straight…
Ransom was probably my favourite store that we popped our heads into. Super awesome place to do a quick shop and spend some money on cute clothes or a rad Jasper souvenir. ^^^ That’s where we got this yellow hat and it’s one of my favvvsss!
Sunwapta Falls
If you want to see a seriously cool waterfall… Sunwapta is it.
The Island at the mouth of this waterfall is nothing short of freaking rad. Watching the water rage around either side of it, you’re almost waiting for the moment the the island is going to lift and slide over the edge of the falls… but that moment never comes. It’s such a cool sight.
Not to mention you can hike down to the lower falls and catch a glimpse of a pretty spectacular canyon. Definitely worth spending a good chunk of time exploring this sight.
Maligne Lake
A bit of a drive outside of Jasper, but the visit to Maligne lake is definitely well worth it – not only because the lake is absolutely stunning – but also because this stretch was where we saw the most wildlife. We got a good glimpse of two Moose and a group of Big Horned Sheep just off to the side of the road. So keep your eyes open if you make the drive.
If you are visiting in the Spring like we did, you will probably find that the Lake is still mostly frozen, but breathtakingly beautiful nonetheless. I stepped foot into the half frozen lake and barely even felt the cold – more just a feeling of electricity. I’ll always remember what it felt like to be ankle deep in that freezing emerald green water.
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