It may be the rugged mountain peaks and vivid turquoise lakes that draw most visitors to Alberta, but the region also provides an intriguing insight into Canadian Western culture and the long-conserved traditions of the area’s Indigenous people. Here, you can discover destinations with distinct individual draws — from the lively urban centres of Calgary and Edmonton to the vast wilderness of the Rockies. And the journey is part of the experience, with a drive along Alberta’s scenic highways seeing you wind past glaciers, lakes and summits, stopping for the vintage trains that trundle through mountain tracks and keeping an eye out for bears ambling alongside the roads. Here are five spots not to miss in Alberta.
ICEFIELDS PARK WAY
Cruise between snowy peaks along the Icefields Parkway, watching for crossing grizzlies and slow-moving moose. The route south from Jasper to Lake Louise traverses 145 miles of statuesque glaciers, sweeping valleys and glacial lakes cloistered by the pines. Pull offat Athabasca Glacier to trundle over the frozen landscape aboard an all-terrain Ice Explorer. Then, take the trail out to the spout of the crashing Sunwapta Falls and walk above the wild terrain on the Columbia Icefields Skywalk. Top offa stroll along the glass-floored walkway with a visit to Altitude, a restaurant serving seasonal favourites like bison steak and Alberta lamb. Where to stay: Glacier View Lodge sits at the edge of the Columbia Icefield, offering unparalleled views of the surrounding peaks.