Alberta: A Travel Guide
Alberta Travel Guide
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Exploring Alberta & The Rockies
Our Alberta travel guide covers all the important information you need to plan the ultimate trip to Alberta and the Canadian Rockies.
Alberta is home to the Candian Rockies, but these magnificent mountains are not all that Alberta has to offer travelers. The badlands hold some of the world’s most significant dinosaur remains, as well as a vivid landscape entrenched in time.
Northern Alberta is home to vast stretches of wilderness, open skies and opportunity to see Aurora Borealis.
And yes, the Rockies. The Rockies stretch along most of the Western border of Alberta, making the ultimate playground for adventurers and nature lovers alike.
In this Alberta travel guide you can find information on some of the best experiences and attractions in Alberta, as well as some of the best tourism operators and outfitters in the province.
Alberta Travel Guide
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Top Adventures & Activities in Alberta
Skiing & Snowboarding
Alberta is home to several amazing ski resorts, which are blessed with long cold winters and long ski seasons. The Rockies make for a backcountry skier’s playground as well.
Hiking
Open plains, lookouts and mountains make for some of the best hiking in the country. Alberta is home to the Eastern flank of the Rockies and a lifetime supply of world class hiking trails along with it.
Camping
Alberta offers a massive range of campgrounds, including backcountry sites, front-country campgrounds and RV parks. The summer months are excellent times to camp with warm, reliable weather from June through September.
Mountain Biking
Expansive views, steady hills, and open terrain make for some of the best mountain biking the country has to offer. Alberta is best known for xc biking.
Rafting
There are a few great rafting options, including the Athabasca River, Bow River and Kicking Horse River. The scenery from these rivers is unbeatable.
Wildlife Viewing
The vast open stretches of mountain wilderness are home to a bounty of animals, which can be seen while driving or hiking in certain areas.
Canoeing
Alberta has many jade coloured lakes in the Rockies and several expedition worthy rivers on the East side of the Rockies.
Wine & Beer Tasting
Hot summer days and a strong ski culture make for some incredible craft breweries. Stop in for a sip after your mountain adventure and you won’t be disappointed!
Climbing
The rockies provide excellent opportunity for sport climbers and especially for alpine climbers. There are endless possibilities for climbing in Alberta.
Golfing
Alberta is home to many world class golf courses. Stable weather, delicious beer and good company make for some amazing golfing in Alberta.
Snowshoeing & XC Skiing
Winter doesn’t mean the hiking adventures have to stop in Alberta! There are hundreds of amazing trails to snowshoe on, and great XC ski routes and clubs as well.
Top Attractions In Alberta
Banff National Park
Countless mountains provide a playground for the active traveler in Banff National Park. This is the perfect place for a mountain vacation, exploring glaciers, lakes and mountains.
Jasper National Park
Jasper National Park is North of Banff and far North of ordinary. The park boasts seemingly endless mountains, less crowded hikes, starry skies and beautiful lakes. No Rockies trip is complete without some exploration of Jasper.
Kananaskis Provincial Park
Outside the bustle of the National Parks in the Rockies, Kananaskis packs a lot of punch for its hype. This is a pristine mountain paradise with a lifetime supply of hikes and gorgeous landscapes.
Wood Buffalo National Park
Larger than Switzerland, and second largest national park in the world, Wood Buffalo is an untamed northernlandscape that plays an important role in providing habitat for Wood Bison.
Elk Island National Park
Elk Island National Park is not far from Edmonton and provides a reprieve from the urban center with countless opportunities for adventure and another great bison habitat.
The Best Places To Visit In Alberta
Calgary
Canada's Cowboy City
Calgary has been slowly reinventing itself over the past decade as a vibrant city of culture and impeccable amenities. Only 2 hours from the mountains and with a wide variety of nearby activities, Calgary is the best travel hub from your Alberta trip, and worth spending some time in!
Banff
Canada's Mountain Village
Banff is like living on a chocolate bar wrapper. Ultra-scenic mountain views, mountain-town timber charm and an impossible to-do list of adventures make Banff the ultimate place to spend time on your trip to Alberta.
Jasper
Mountains & Glaciers
Jasper is everything you need in a world class mountain town and nothing that you don’t. More laid back than Banff and still full of opportunity, Jasper should be high on your list when you visit Alberta and the Rockies.
Local Adventure Experts In Alberta
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Canadian Bucketlist Experiences In Alberta
Alberta Travel Guide
Getting To/ From Alberta
Driving in Alberta:
Alberta is easy to travel around by car. Highway 2 runs north and south, while Highway 16 and 1 run east and west. Most cities in Alberta are on Highway 2 and there are a few on highway 1.
Don’t be fooled by the straight roads in Alberta. The winds whip up over the flat land and can be tricky to drive in, even in the summer at times. Hail is also common during thunderstorms in the summer.
Flying To Alberta:
Flying to Alberta is really easy and best done through Calgary Airport (YYC) or Edmonton Airport (YEG). Calgary is closer to the Rockies and has more options for shuttles. This is the airport we recommend for most trips in Alberta.
Alberta’s Main Airports:
- Calgary International Airport (YYC)
- Edmonton International Airport (YEG)
Getting Around Alberta By Bus:
There are several bus lines that service Alberta. Travel between the main cities is relatively straight forward.
Calgary has a few great shuttle companies that service Banff and Canmore from the airport.
Alberta Travel Information- FAQ
When are the best times to visit Alberta for weather?
If you are looking for the relaxing, photogenic weather that most of us crave on our vacations you are best to travel to Alberta between the beginning of June and October. You can expect summer weather in the mountains from June to the end of September.
If winter is your thing you should come between mid December to the end of March to ensure good winter conditions.
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