Breathtaking Canadian Rockies - Roadtrip

Among all faces of Mother nature i have seen, this place is simply THE BEST.

I have been planning for Canandian Rockies - Banff National Park road trip from nearly 3 years now, but somehow was not able to come up with the right plan and offcourse this becomes more tough if you have a small kid :). This summer, me and my wife were determined to complete this trip. We choose one of the best time 4th July long weekend to visit the region (would not say the best as its usual to be crowded). 

Here's my  - 5 Days and 4 Nights Itinerary

Day 1 - Seattle to Kamloops, BC  - Around 5Hrs Drive

Bridal Veil Falls

The drive from Seattle to Kamloops was pleasant. I would suggest you to stack up Gas, Ice and other stuff before crossing the border, as i found it bit expensive on the other side.The border crossing time was less than 10 minutes via Abbotsford. Once you are in, we followed Trans Canada Highway - Hwy 1 all the way to the Kamloops. Just in case you have time there would be plenty of places to stop and spend some time. We stopped at  Bridal Veil Falls Provincial Park , Rosedale and had our lunch. Its a very short hike(.2 miles) to the falls and was worth it. We reach
ed Kamloops by evening. Kamloops was a nice halt and had pretty much all major stores like Costco, Walmart etc.

Day 2 - Kamloops to Golden, BC - Around 6 hrs Drive

We started from Kamloops around 9. Passed through couple of mountain passes & trails at Mt. Revelstoke National Park region. We did two stort trails and found them to be well maintained. This was one of our halts for lunch. We followed Hwy 1 and reached Golden, BC around evening.   

Day 3 - Golden, BC - Covering Yoho National Park and the Lakes area

Emerald Lake

We started our day early towards the Yoho National Park. On the way we bought the Banff Park pass from Field Visitor Center. The first scenic point we covered was Natural bridge over the Kicking Emerald Lake (British Columbia) was such a cute and beautiful place. Good and large parking lot. Only one restaurant which welcomes patrons for lunch or dinner only. It also has a 3.1 mile flat hike around the lake just in case you want to strech your legs. We tried Canoying for the first time here as was really fun. Next stop over was

Takakkaw Falls

Horse River,the natural bridge is ok but you can't cross it and there is some ugly cement around, but generally a nice spot to stop on the way to Emerald Lake.
 

Takakkaw Falls, the drive alone is worth the trip to see these waterfalls, especially the crazy switchbacks! At the end of the road, there are several big parking lots and trails. I suggest you walk to the very base of the waterfall. It was a giant intense waterfall and and surely loud and wet. Next scenic point was Spiral Tunnel viewing point, though i was bit curious about the name, we thought to pass it for next time and go towards the lakes.  

 

 

 

 

  

Moraine Lake

Breathtaking Moraine Lake: Moraine Lake is absolutely beautiful and my favorite place in the world i have known till now. My wife and I preferred it over Lake Louise. It is a smaller lake, but the mountain peaks rise straight up from the lake and surround you. It is absolutely stunning. The best way to see the lake is to take the path at the side of the car park and especially from the Rockpile. When you get to the top of the Rockpile you have to just sit down and take it all in. The water is stunning blue/green colour when seen from above but closer to the edge of the water you can see that it is crystal clear.Arriving early morning before the crowds come would be a great idea.

Lake Louise

Lake Louise + Gondola: Lake Louise is another good one. Peer into turquoise Lake Louise three miles from the town of the same name, and be amazed by the color. The renowned grand hotel Chateau Lake Louise sits at the brim of the eponymous lake.You cannot go to Lake Louise without taking the gondola :) . Buy Ride & Dine @35 CAD, you get great views from the top of the ride and might see Bears if lucky.Be sure to take the open Gondola because you can see much better than the closed ones. If you like hiking then you must go up to the Beehive and teahouse. The best views of Lake Louise are actually from the ski hill.

Few more places we though to cover like Johnston Canyon, Norquay Drive ,Bow Falls but with limited time we left it for the next time.

Day 4 - Golden, BC - Covering Icefield area.

Peyto Lake

On the way to the Columbia Icefields, stop to see Peyto Lake, Waterfowl Lake, Bow Lake, Crowfoot Glacier (Best for Sunrise) - which are just off the Icefields Parkway, about half an hour out of Lake Louise. You probably will be able to get as far as Sunwapta Falls after seeing the Icefields.

Columbia Icefields

Columbia Icefields -   This is one of those "to say I did it" type of trips, but I'm glad I did it. It also known as Highway 93 north. As the glaciers are melting away, it's good to see one up close while you have the chance. It parallels the Continental Divide. Brewster Snow Coach Ride, The Ice field Center and the Brewster Glacier buses are truly the highlight of the whole Ice Fields road trip. Snocoach rides are sold on a first – come – first – served basis.

Columbia Icefields

The Glacier bus ride was very exciting. They take you over to the glacier area by regular bus. Then you transfer over with your bus group to the snow coaches. These all-terrain vehicles have huge wheels and can travel on the glacier. The ride on the glacier is very exciting and then you get to a far point and get out and walk for a little bit on the actual glacier. The information about glaciers on the bus ride up was good, but on the way back we had some kind of a joker bus driver who kept making one sided conversations that no one was answering and boring jokes. The ice wall where the Columbia Icefields spill out onto the Atabaska Glacier was pretty cool and neat to see. We very much enjoyed the whole trip and could not believe the very cool experience of walking on the glacier itself. Tip : Make sure to carry warm clothes though it was summer when you stand on Glacier it will be cold.

Columbia Icefields

 
Day 5 -  Golden, BC to  Seattle

Long drive but was able to make it.


Check out my Complete Flickr Photo Album  -

Lake 22 - Perfect Reflection

Lake 22, located on Mt. Pilchuck east of Everett, is a truly fantastic day hike. The trail head has a small parking lot. We reached around 12 and the parking was full. The cars were parked even on the main road. We waited for some time and got a parking. The trail head also has rest rooms just in case you wanna start fresh (as there are no restroom, water source on the trail). This hike is around 5 .5 miles round trip. As the WTA site says it good for kids, so i brought my 3.5 year son too. 

The trail starts flat and seems good. The trail winds gradually uphill most of the way. There's a nice variety of landscapes too in the shady pine forests. The trail most of the time follows the course of a river (you will come across many beautiful waterfalls, and even a beaver dam when we were there). After a mile or so you will come across the rocky part of the trip which spans for around quarter mile (my son had a hard time crossing it). 

Once you cross the rocky part, you will cross a little wooden bridge and everything opens up to the lake. It's BEAUTIFUL and the water is surprisingly warm. An ultimate Gods creation - crystal clear Lake 22 surrounded by mountains. The water is so clear and still, you will have the perfect reflection. Nice photographic place with the backdrop of mountains having multiple waterfalls (6). Though there was lot of snow on the board walk, but you can still walk and reach out to the far end points of the boardwalk towards the foothill. 

It took us about 3 hours to hike up to the lake and about half the time to get back down. We took our time and stopped a lot for pictures. So, I would think it may take about an hour less for faster hikers to get to the top. 

Definitely a place I would love to go back to again.

Notes: 

- Bugs are there so Bugspray is recommended

- No water source in the trail so carry water.

- Will not recommend for small kids, they can be at backpack.

- Carry a Forest Pass (you can buy the pass from the Verlot Public Service Center or any REI)

- The final 100 yards was all snow even in July so poles will be nice to carry along.

Driving Directions: 

From Granite Falls follow the Mountain Loop Highway east for 11 miles to the Verlot Public Service Center, Proceed 2 more miles to the trailhead, on your right (elev. 1050ft)

Bridal Veil Falls, WA

Nice hike to a amazing falls.

We started around 12 PM, the parking lot was all full. As per WTA this is a kids friendly hike, so i bought my little one who is three and half too. The hike starts in shade and climbs very fast to around 2000+ft. I heard there were around 23 switchbacks, so was sort of prepared for them. 


As the trail starts there are a lot of stairs, uneven ground but not too bad that it cant be hiked. 


The hike is 5.2 miles round trip, which was bit long for my son. The hike has something for everyone. You can go to the falls and the lake. After around 2 miles you will see a directions board, you will have to decide if you want to see the Lake Serene or the Falls. We went only to the falls, but like I said its really worth it. If you chose one or the other (I can't say anything about the Lake) but go to the falls.The falls are pretty, the views across the valley are pretty, and the stairs will put you just below the falls which is awesome.

As such there is not many places to sit and relax or have food near the falls. But we somehow crossed the water stream to the other side to the dry rock and had our lunch enjoying the valley view. If you have trekking poles they'll come in handy but they're totally not necessary. This hike requires a NW Forest Pass.


Driving Directions:
To get to the trailhead, travel east on Highway 2 (paved) from Monroe, WA. At milepost 35.2, about 21 miles east of Monroe, turn right onto Mount Index Road (Forest Road 6020 - gravel). Travel 0.3 mile on Forest Road 6020 and branch right onto Forest Road 6020-109 (gravel). The trailhead parking is just ahead. The junction is signed. Forest roads 6020 and 6020-109 are both passable to any passenger vehicle. A Northwest Forest Pass is required to park at the trailhead. There are two outhouses in the parking area, elevation: 600 feet.

Palouse Falls, WA

If you're in Walla Walla for a Balloon Stampede weekend, please take the time to drive to Palouse Falls. It's totally worth it!

Its around 1 hour drive from Walla Walla to Palouse Falls State Park and around 4hrs east of Seattle, driving pass through Snowqualmie Pass mountains. The drive towards the state park is very beautiful.The drive is stunning, especially in spring, when you'll drive through emerald green onion fields that look exactly like a real life version of Microsoft's XP's default wallpaper.

The falls are surrounded by grassy Palouse hills for miles. You will not be able to see the falls or the Canyons till you actually reach the State Park.  Out in the middle of no where, really no where, there is a waterfall you can see! You park your car and walk down a few step and there it is, in all it's beauty. It was really busy the day we visited, and hot too. We walked some of the upper trails, took some pics and left. I'd love to hike down to the river bank and check out the water some time. We did see few people swimming and enjoying the sun on the bank of the accumulated water just near the mouth off the falls - Scary but amazing.There are picnic tables and outbuildings, no plumbing, no sinks. This park is truly a hidden gem of Eastern Washington!!

Note: 

- If traveling with small children, be careful of the cliffsides since most of the area is not fenced and you can fall over the edge down to the riverbank.

- you will need a Washington state Discovery pass. If you forgot, font worry Rangers will help you on that 10$ CASH ONLY

-Wear a hat and sunscreen; we found the sun to be relentless, even though the temperature was a mere 73 degree

- For any of you interested in Camping, this place does have camping sites. Camps here cannot be booked online and need to be booked in Person.

Twin Falls, Northbend

From where I live in Tukwilla, it took less than 45min to travel from the 'hood to the trailhead...pretty quick!  Twin Falls by itself is nothing to write home about.  This was a fun, easy hike with family with a nice water feature! It's a quick, cute hike and there are nice views of the river and waterfalls. There's even a "secret" path where you can climb all the way down to the banks, where you can make your way to the boulder in the middle of the river. It's a great place to break, sunbathe, snack, enjoy the rush of the water around you. 

The natural beauty in the Cascades is lush, wet and green: it is impressive to see fallen trees on the forest floor, almost completely grown over by moss and new plants.  There are some old growth trees which tower above everything else and their trunks provide excellent perspective on what it takes to hold up a huge-ass tree for hundreds of years.  In the forest, moss and vines are everywhere and lend a creepy quality to some of the dark scenery seen beyond the trail. If you go past the falls all the way to the top you just reach a gravel road and a dead tree.Kind of anti-cilmactic.

The trail itself is excellent: I saw people with strollers and a few frail-looking elderly folks moving along with no problem even my son of 2.5yr old didnt have much problem.  The trail is mostly packed dirt and there are a few places with wooden steps.  If you don't get out much, the trail might be tiresome; but if you are at all physically active the trail is very easy. 

It's not a steep hike, but it is uphill on the way back, which is always a little masochistic for me. If you want something with more distance, you can always park away from the traditional parking lot for Twin Falls (exit 34??) and instead east from Rattlesnake Lake on the Iron Horse Trail. Easy hiking warmup and a decent enough view.

I recommend Twin Falls to anybody who lives in Seattle...it is so close, so pretty and so fun to romp around a forest for exercise.

Franklin Falls, WA - Lets Hike..

Franklin Falls Trail No. 1036 begins on Denny Creek Road on the west side of Denny Creek, elevation 2,300 feet. Franklin Falls is by no means one of the tallest waterfalls I’ve come across. It sits in a canyon directly in between the east and westbound lanes of I-90 near Snoqualmie Pass. The surreal experience of standing just beneath one of the nation’s most important freeways and staring at a beautiful sight like these falls is certainly something worth the short hike required to get to them (only about 2 mile returntrip). It does, however, for all its benefits have one major downfall. It is fairly popular and you will likely be accompanied by several people while enjoying this scenic sight.

As per the recommendations from several sites, I visited this place in May with my 2.5 year old son. Park at the bridge if there is room otherwise continue a short distance to the Denny Creek/Melakwa Lake trailhead at the end of the road. Though my son very active in hiking but we carried him over as the the path was full of snow. The overall trip was about 3 hours. On the way you can see several ancient trees grace the trail, and spur trails lead to better views of Denny Creek.

I do not recommend for children, because the terrain is steep and there are no guardrails.

Official Site: http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/franklin-falls

Glacier National Park, Montana

I used to always tell people that the most beautiful place that I'd been to was Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Well, after a long awaited trip to Glacier National Park in Montana, I've changed my tune. I will still tell people that they must go to Yellowstone before they die but I'll also add Glacier to that list. Without actually seeing it with one's own eyes, it's hard to simply read a description of the majestic peaks and valleys carved out by glaciers during two ice ages and understand the magnitude of the natural beauty there.

Open June through October, the spectacular Going-to-the-Sun Road winds 52 miles through stunning glacial scenery, crossing the Continental Divide at Logan Pass. Hiking trails allow those who venture on them to steal glimpses of the heart of this majestic wilderness and its abundant wildlife, including bears, elk, moose and bighorn sheep. Highline Trail offers opportunities to explore deep into the park during summer.

 There are so many places to stop and get out of your car (or the red bus) to snap a photo, take a walk, or simply be overwhelmed at the spectacle before your eyes. Beautiful views although once you hit the pass, the driver cannot look at anything but the road as it is winding with construction and sheer drop-offs.Sun Point is a short walk to a fantastic view. At Hidden Lake Overlook, a short walk up wooden steps from the Logan Point parking lot leads to a gorgeous view. A bit farther on you reach snow

St. Mary Lake: On our last day in Glacier, we drove the entire Going to the Sun Road, stopping at every sight along the way. Our first stop was St. Mary Lake from the Sunrift Gorge parking lot. The lighting in the early morning produced beautiful reflections of the mountains surrounding St. Mary Lake. I must say that some of our best photographs.

Some of the most beautiful waterfalls you'll ever see can be found on the eastern side of Glacier National Park, just a short walk from Going to the Sun Road.  As you drive east across the park, the first waterfall trail you reach leads to St. Mary Falls. The picturesque trail to St. Mary Falls is very worthwhile, and the falls are beautiful. Instead of returning to the trailhead after reaching St. Mary Falls, I'd recommend going on to Virginia Falls; it has more elevation gain, but it's worth it to see both falls. Be sure to take drinking water.

Snowqualmie Falls: Seattle's Niagara Falls :)

Snoqualmie Falls is known for how deep it plunges. I believe the information I read states it drops 100 feet lower than Niagara Falls. That said, I had to check it out.From Seattle, it's a short 30 minute drive. At 268 feet and pouring water from the Cascade Mountains, it is awe-inspiring.   This is a very popular spot, so there is no opportunity for solitude. My friends and I encountered people speaking many different languages, showing that Snoqualmie Falls is famous all over the world. 

Despite the crowds, the falls are an enjoyable daytrip. Visitors have the option of an easy walk to a viewing pagoda, or to continue down a trail to see the falls from its base. It is equally impressive from both views.The trail includes wooden steps at points and is easy to follow. Able-bodied people should be able to tackle the trail. 

No dogs are allowed in the park, but this rule isn't very well enforced. Getting There Snoqualmie Falls is located about 28 miles east of Seattle, just north of Interstate 90. There are many signs to point the way. Lodging There is a beautiful lodge here that overlooks the falls. I have been there many times round the year. Taken on December after several days of temperatures ranging from about 15F overnight warming to maybe 35F for the highs have frozen the spray to the usually shaded rocks. 

Multnomah Falls : Beautiful easy to see waterfalls!!

Multnomah Falls

If you ever wanted to see a very large waterfall up close but only have to walk a short distance from a parking lot, then Multnomah Falls is for you. It was a refreshing view and experience. There's hiking trails that lead up to the top of the hill, with a bridge area midway up that gives a better view of the waterfall.Located just off I-84 and exit 35


You can see the falls as soon as you walk up to the park. A short .2 mile walk gets you to the famous bridge, that crosses the two rocks, that frame the falls. If you like, you can walk the additional .8 mile steep trail up to to the top of the falls.
After you are done, you can eat the beautiful and historic lodge at the base of the falls and dry off from the mist in front of the fire.

If you have any extra time at all, take US 30 back to Portland/Troutdale instead of I-84. There are many other waterfalls and spectacular pull offs of views of the gorge along US 30.

North Cascades National Park - Beautiful scenic views of mountains, lakes, dams, and forests.

We started out from Seattle on Highway 20, North Cascades Highway. The small towns leading up to the National Park are interesting. The views were beautiful. Viewpoints overlooking the Gorge Dam, Diablo Dam, and Ross Dam were not only breathtaking but also very informative. There is a viewpoint looking west down on Ross Lake and Ross Dam that is really worth seeing. I would recommend taking your time and stopping at every lookout, you won't be disappointed.

Gorgeous, especially in September! The North Cascades are the most astounding mountains in the Lower 48, and you can get a good look at them here and there along this highway, especially around Diablo Lake and Washington Pass. But the real treats here await just up the trails. This is a hikers and climbers National Park, with few roads.

For a peek at the real peaks, step out of your car and walk a couple of miles up the Heather Pass/Maple Pass trail (near Rainy Pass). Or stroll a more level two miles or so south past alpine lakes on the Pacific Crest Trail. Fantastic.

Clearly marked and almost impossible to miss, these falls are right along the highway about halfway between Newhalem and Diablo. You go over a large bridge that crosses the falls - on the western side of the bridge there is a pretty good sized parking lot. From here, you can hike to an overlook of Gorge Dam, or you can cross the highway for a closer look at the falls, which are just under 250 feet tall.

Ketchum Creek Falls descend about 200 feet (60 m) in a staggering rock hopping path. It is a very graceful waterfall but does not see much attention.Nearby Gorge Creek Falls steals most of the attention since it is labeled on park maps and also has many road signs directing visitors to take a look.Ketchum Creek Falls is actually the more visually appealing waterfall. It can be seen from the road and the most common picture taking location is actually from the road.

 There is a turnoff from Cascades Highway leading to Diablo Dam. The spur road is steep and winds a bit and then continues on this narrow two lane bridge. From this point, a gravel road leads to Diablo Dam.

Once we crossed the diablo dam, there was a beautiful scenic lookout view and a must see.  

Land of Awe: Mt. Rainier, WA

At 14,410 feet, Mount Rainier is the fifth highest mountain in the continental 48 states. Its a beautiful 2Hr drive from Seattle. Mount Rainier National Park is a gorgeous place. Any traveler can enjoy the mountain's grandeur without having to be an experienced mountain climber. The visitor's centers offer amazing views from the comfort of a heated building. On your way to Paradise Inn, be sure to stop by various waterfalls and have pictures. However, be prepared for snow and view-obstructing clouds to move in at any moment. The clouds moved in quickly while leaving the park, making for about 15-minutes worth of white-knuckle driving on the Chinook Scenic Byway. Be sure to check the weather before you go.