There are few places in the world as spectacularly beautiful for mountain photography as the Canadian Rockies National Parks of Banff, Yoho, and Jasper.
To get these shots, you should plan for at least 4 days of driving and I highly recommend that you check out the Canadian Rockies National Parks tour by GuideAlong for an amazing itinerary and audio guide. My partner, Pete, and I listened to the entire tour the last time we were in the Rockies, and were blown away by how much value and enjoyment it brought to our trip. It was like having a dedicated tour guide right in our car to navigate so we could focus on our shots. Plus, there were wonderful stories about the flora, fauna, history, legends, and geology of the area – all at a self-directed pace to allow for my many extended photo stops.
We’re based in Vancouver, so when we visit the Rockies, we like to stay in Canmore and then Jasper (either driving from Vancouver or flying into Calgary and then out of Edmonton). Ideally, to get all of my favourite shots, you should stay in Canmore for at least 3 nights and Jasper for at least 2. At minimum, spend a day around Banff, a day in Lake Louise and Yoho, a day on the Icefields Parkway, then a full day around Jasper before heading home.
There are tonnes of great stops and GuideAlong will make your journey through them simple and memorable, but for photos, these are my very favourite shots along the way:
Day 1 – Canmore & Banff
1 The Three Sisters Viewpoint at Policeman’s Creek, Canmore
If you are lucky enough to have clear skies on your first morning, stay in Canmore and take an easy 0.8 km out-and-back trail to the Three Sisters Viewpoint at Policeman’s Creek. Park your car about a half hour before sunrise at the off leash dog area just east of the Canmore Municipal Heliport on the Bow Valley Trail. Cautiously and safely walk across the Bow Valley Trail and over the train track then follow Cougar Creek (with the creek to your left) until you reach a short trail that will lead to the viewpoint. The whole walk from your car should take about 7 minutes so you’ll have about 20-25 minutes left to set up before sunrise hits the spectacular Three Sisters Mountains.
2 Johnston Canyon, Banff
We then head to the Bow Valley Parkway in Banff National Park for maximum early morning wildlife viewing on this scenic road.
Beginning in 2022, the east end of the parkway will be closed annually for most of May, June and September to help protect the wildlife in the area. If it’s closed, don’t worry, you’ll still be able to access my favourite photo spots by joining the Bow Valley Parkway at Castle Junction.
The Johnston Canyon Trail to Lower Falls is an easy 2.3 km out-and-back walk from the Johnston Canyon parking lot on the Bow Valley Parkway. At the falls, you can duck under a short rock tunnel to get this amazing shot. The location is great in any season, but if you’re shooting in winter or spring, make sure to wear your microspikes.
3 Castle Mountain, Banff
There are 2 places to get a great shot of Castle Mountain. The first is the Castle Mountain Viewpoint pullout on the north side of the Bow Valley Parkway. Not to be confused with the 7.2 km out-and-back Castle Mountain Lookout Trail which offers views from Castle Mountain, the viewpoint for this shot of Castle Mountain is about 10 paces away from your car and well worth the stroll.
The second spot is the next pullout heading northwest towards Lake Louise. It’s a stop on the south side of the Bow Valley Parkway where you can see Vermilion Pass across the Bow River. Just park in the pullout and shoot over the Parkway back towards Castle Mountain.
4 Morant’s Curve, Banff
It’s worth stopping for a shot at the site of the famous image by Canadian Pacific Railway staff photographer Nicholas Morant. You will find this spot on the Bow Valley Parkway just southeast of Lake Louise. This is a great shot at any time of year, but know that the trains are much more frequent in the summer. In April, the trains seemed to pass every 2 hours or so in opposite directions so when you notice it passing along the Bow Valley Parkway earlier in your day, simply check the time so you can predict future passings at the curve.
5 Vermilion Lakes, Banff
We then hop on the Trans-Canada Highway and head back towards the picturesque mountain town of Banff. There is a viewpoint of Vermilion Lakes from the highway itself, but I prefer to drive down Vermilion Lakes Road and shoot right from the water’s edge. Vermilion Lakes is actually 3 lakes and all provide beautiful vistas.
I love the reflections of iconic Mt Rundle with reeds and willow as foreground elements. This is a great shot at sunset. If you’re visiting in the spring, it’s also one of the first lakes to defrost (as it’s fed from a warm spring), so you’ll get those wonderful reflections when other lakes are still snow covered and frozen.
6 Lake Minnewanka, Banff
The Lake Minnewanka Scenic Drive offers great views of Two Jack Lake and Lake Minnnewanka. In the Spring, you can see cracks in the ice of Lake Minnewanka that make a nice foreground element for shots of the spectacular mountain views.
7 Surprise Corner, Banff
In the 1880s, the Banff Springs Hotel was opened by the Canadian Pacific Railway as part of its network of grand railway hotels to boost tourism to the region and encourage the use of its newly completed railway line uniting Canada from coast to coast. The natural splendour of Banff is unmistakable, but seeing this landmark hotel reminds us of Banff’s connection to Canada’s very early days. I love this shot of the hotel from the Surprise Corner Viewpoint located across the Bow River on Buffalo Street.
Day 2 – Lake Louise, Moraine Lake & Yoho
8 Moraine Lake, Banff
No image screams “Rockies” as much as the Valley of the Ten Peaks and Moraine Lake. This shot is definitely season-dependent as the access road is only open from May to October due to avalanche risk. Even then, to get this iconic sunrise shot, you’ll need to get there really early. When we arrived at 5:30 am in August, it was already packed and we were very lucky to get a parking spot way down the road. This shot is taken from the Moraine Lake Viewpoint at Rockpiles, which is a short walk from the lake end of Moraine Lake Road on a well-marked path. I also like the shot from right outside the Moraine Lake Lodge with its brightly coloured canoes in the foreground.
9 Consolation Lakes, Banff
While you’re visiting Moraine Lake, it is definitely worth a hike on the Consolation Lakes Trail, which is an easy 7.6 km out-and-back trail that shares a trailhead with the Rockpiles. The vistas on this trail are most definitely some of my favourite photo spots in the Canadian Rockies. These shots of Consolation Valley are taken from where the trail meets the first of the lakes shooting north into the valley over Babel Creek and west up towards Mount Babel.
10 Lake Louise, Banff
Lake Louise is beautiful at any time of year but the crowds can be insane in the summer with shuttles set up from distant parking lots. Although you won’t get the beautiful turquoise hues when the lake is frozen over, it’s still worth a visit in the winter or spring to take a shot from lake’s edge in front of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.
11 Emerald Lake, Yoho
One of my very favourite spots to shoot in the Canadian Rockies is Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park in British Columbia. Only about a 30 minute drive from Lake Louise, the shot above is taken from the bridge next to the Emerald Lake Lodge’s Cilantro Cafe looking southeast towards beautiful Mt Burgess. Walking along the lake’s edge, you can get lots of great shots of the glorious turquoise lake.
12 Natural Bridge, Yoho
Another gem in this area is the rock formation of Natural Bridge on the Kicking Horse River, which is located about 10 minutes back up Emerald Lake Road towards Field on your return to Lake Louise. Beautiful any time of year, this shot is especially magic when the river is raging.
Day 3 – The Icefields Parkway
Before heading out on what is arguably the World’s Most Beautiful Mountain Drive, I like to shoot one last sunrise as we leave Canmore, then fuel up the car at the Samson Mall in Lake Louise and grab a bagged lunch and latte from the Trailhead Cafe for the long drive.
13 The Three Sisters Viewpoint at Bridge Road, Canmore
After the Three Sisters Viewpoint at Policeman’s Creek and Moraine Lake, my third favourite sunrise shot is the view of the Three Sisters over the Bow River from the boat launch just south of Bridge Road in downtown Canmore. If you cross the Bow River heading east on Bridge Road and park at the Public Boat Launch Parking Lot immediately to your left, it’s only a few paces down to the river’s edge for this great morning view. Particularly memorable when enjoyed with an early morning latte from Beamers on Main and 7th.
14 Herbert Lake, Banff
Right as you leave Lake Louise and head out on the Parkway, gas tank full and likely second latte in hand, you will pass Herbert Lake, which is usually calm enough for that perfect shot of mountain reflections with wildflowers in the foreground.
15 Mosquito Creek, Banff
There’s just something about the blue sky, orange rock, green trees and turquoise water that draws me to this picturesque mountain creek. This shot was taken right from the Icefields Parkway just west of the bridge that crosses the creek.
16 Peyto Lake, Banff
At the highest point on the Icefields Parkway, you will pass Bow Summit and the easy 2.4 km loop trail to the spectacular Peyto Lake Panorama Overlook.
Whether the lake is a beautiful turquoise in summer and fall or white from ice and snow in the winter and spring, its unmistakable wolf head shape is perfect for photos. Especially with a glorious cloud-free blue sky. You’ll definitely need your microspikes if you’re visiting in winter or spring, but it’s well worth the effort. This photo was taken right below the platform at the upper viewpoint.
17 Waterfowl Lakes, Banff
Waterfowl Lakes is a great spot for a shot of Mount Chephren reflected in the lake with grasses in the foreground, and a regular home for grizzly bears.
18 Mount Athabasca & Mount Andromeda Viewpoint, Jasper
Just past Big Bend heading towards Jasper on the Icefields Parkway, you’ll have a great view of Mount Athabasca and Mount Andromeda. This photo was taken right from the Parkway by the Parker Ridge Trailhead parking lot.
19The Columbia Icefield and the Athabasca Glacier, Jasper
Draped over the Continental Divide along the border between Alberta and British Columbia, the Columbia Icefield is the largest icefield in the Canadian Rockies (230 sq km) and the Althabasca Glacier that flows out of it is breathtaking in any season. You can take a tour and walk right on the glacier, but this shot was actually taken from the Icefields Parkway itself.
20Tangle Creek Falls, Jasper
Continuing towards Jasper on the Icefields Parkway, you’ll pass Tangle Falls. Simply park in the pullout on the left of the Parkway and safely cross the road to get this great long exposure shot.
21 Sunwapta Peak Viewpoint, Jasper
A great spot to stop and eat your bagged lunch, this shot of Sunwapta Peak over Stanley Creek from the Beauty Creek trailhead is gorgeous at any time of year.
22 Sunwapta Falls, Jasper
I’m such a fan of this glorious photo spot. How these trees have maintained their perch at the top of the falls over all of these many years is impressive. If you want the shot above of the Upper Falls, which is about a 3 minute walk from the Sunwapta Falls parking lot, you’ll need to pass over the bridge and carefully walk out onto a forest ledge to your left. Be extra careful not to get too close to the edge. The shot below is taken from the left bank before you cross the bridge. Although the Upper Falls are open all year, it’s only possible to see the water wrap around this island when it’s not frozen in the summer and fall.
Day 4 – Jasper
Jasper is another wonderfully charming town with incredible scenery that’s well worth a visit.
23 Mt Edith Cavell, Jasper
At the Jasper end of the Icefields Parkway, at the end of the scenic Edith Cavell Road (open from May to October), is the easy 1.8 km out-and-back Path of the Glacier Trail to the icebergs of Cavell Pond. It’s well worth the trip for these shots right from the trail.
24 Beauvert Lake, Jasper
Beauvert Lake is another gorgeous reflecting lake that’s particularly lovely at sunset. This shot is taken right outside the Jasper Park Lodge on the Lac Beauvert Trail about 3 km northeast of the town of Jasper.
25 Spirit Island in Maligne Lake, Jasper
Ah, the beauty of this incredible spot! Like the Three Sisters, Moraine Lake, Emerald Lake and Lake Louise, the view of Spirit Island in Maligne Lake is iconic and not to be missed. It is accessible only by boat between May and October and I’m so excited to return to the Rockies to shoot it (like I need another reason!).
Wildlife in the Canadian Rockies
You can find an abundance of wildlife throughout the Canadian Rockies National Parks including squirrels, rabbits, bighorn sheep, elk, caribou, coyotes, cougars, wolves, grizzly bears, and even moose. Not to mention all of the amazing and beautiful birds with their glorious song. Dawn and dusk are the best times for viewing, but sightings are possible all day. I’ve had particular success on the Bow Valley Parkway, the Lake Minnewanka Scenic Drive, the Icefields Parkway, and the Yellowhead Highway. So slow down and keep watch throughout your trip because you never know what you may see.
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As always, if I’ve missed any of your favourites or you have any great stories of your photo adventures in the Canadian Rockies, I’d love to hear about them in the comments below.
