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I am looking at a few places to spend about a week with my son next August (maybe June). Some friends have recommended the Canadian Rockies. I realize these two parks are VERY large with many beautiful places. There are many guidebooks. When I have planned visits to Frank Church, Sierras, and the Winds I have used large maps to get a good overview and guides to then focus on specific areas. I have used SP as well. I am looking for recommendations on maps and books to help me look at these parks. thanks

I live in the area and one of the best guidebooks I can recommend is called "Don't Waste your Time in the Canadian Rockies" which has descriptions of the the best and classic hiking trails as well as some multi-day trips. I'm assuming you're looking for hiking/backpacking info and not scrambling or mountaineering trips.

The nice thing about visiting this area is that Banff and Jasper are easily traveled through using the Icefields Parkway which will give you access to some of the most beautiful terrain in the world (yes I'm biased).

I also find the Park Canada website a good source of information. http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/index.aspx and http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/jasper/index.aspx

Anyway I highly recommend it and I doubt you'll regret visiting this area. That time of year will be busy but also likely to give you the best weather.

The Gemtrek maps are the best overview planning maps. See examples and ordering info at
http://www.gemtrek.com/banffjasper.html
This is a big area and you will need a rental car and will only hit a few of the highlights in one week.
Banff area, Lake Louise/Moraine Lake are, Icefields Parkway/Columbia Glacier and Jasper/Maligne Lake areas are all worth a day or two in overview.

The above stated materials, as well as many others, are also available from the Alpine Club of Canada's online store.

https://www.alpineclubofcanada.ca/cgi-b ... .pl#hiking

Thanks for all the advise. My son and I will be backpacking. I'm not sure it will be for 6 days or 2 different 3 day trips in the area. (At Sequoia last year I hiked 75 miles in 5 days, a bit much.)
The "Don't waste your time....." book was recommended in reviews of other books on line. I've never regretted hiking anywhere,maybe the people I hiked with. Now to find someone to carry my pack, any takers?

e-doc wrote:Now to find someone to carry my pack, any takers?

Funny you should mention that. If you check out the Alpine Club of Canada site you'll see that they actually have porter services for just that sort of thing.

http://www.alpineclubofcanada.ca/activi ... ering.html

August would be better. Google "Skyline Trail Jasper" for one of the premier backpacking trips in the Rockies. 44km long. A lot of it above treeline.

Also look into the Lake Louise Skoki area for backpacking as well.

Best regards,
Allan
http://www.truedino.com/scramble.htm

I saw a post where you have to make a reservation to backpack the Skyline Trail.

Some of the popular destinations get booked to capacity. I've never run into that problem with the exception of Lake O'Hara in Yoho. You book specific campsites, so you may have to avoid the more popular ones on some trails.

Brad Marshall wrote:

e-doc wrote:Now to find someone to carry my pack, any takers?

Funny you should mention that. If you check out the Alpine Club of Canada site you'll see that they actually have porter services for just that sort of thing.

http://www.alpineclubofcanada.ca/activi ... ering.html

I met one of these guys last year! Going up to one of the huts. On his second trip. Carrying 40 or so kilos. Boy, was he strong. Made about $400 C$ a day for being in the Mountains.

John Duffield wrote:

Brad Marshall wrote:

e-doc wrote:Now to find someone to carry my pack, any takers?

Funny you should mention that. If you check out the Alpine Club of Canada site you'll see that they actually have porter services for just that sort of thing.

http://www.alpineclubofcanada.ca/activi ... ering.html

I met one of these guys last year! Going up to one of the huts. On his second trip. Carrying 40 or so kilos. Boy, was he strong. Made about $400 C$ a day for being in the Mountains.

I think I may have just found my next job!