Rockies Loop
A epic road trip guide covering the Rocky Mountains from Jackson, Wyoming through Yellowstone and Glacier National Park, into the Canadian Rockies of Banff and Yoho: a scenic, lake-and-mountain-filled loop of roughly 1,000+ miles.
Sights & activities
- Jackson, Wyoming: Southern starting point of the road trip. reel
- Grand Tetons (Stop 1): Scenic mountain and river viewpoint with classic Teton range reflection opportunities. reel
- Yellowstone National Park: Major national park included in the southern route segment. reel
- Glacier National Park (Stop 3): Alpine valley with glaciers and green meadows. reel
- C M Russell Museum: Cultural stop in the Montana area. reel
- Calgary: Major city checkpoint on the route to the Canadian Rockies. reel
- Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden: Cultural attraction along the route. reel
- Banff National Park (Stop 5): Turquoise alpine lake with dramatic mountain backdrop at sunrise/sunset. reel
- Icefield Parkway: Major route segment through mountain scenery in Alberta. reel
- Abraham Lake Ice Bubbles Viewpoint: Notable photo stop near the Edmonton area. reel
- Yoho National Park (Stop 7): Scenic lake with glacier-fed waters and forested mountainsides. reel
Practical tips
- Route is approximately 16+ hours of driving covering ~1,000+ miles. reel
- Best for accessing mountains, lakes, rivers and natural scenery with excellent bang-for-buck value. reel
- Includes a mix of USA national parks (Yellowstone, Glacier) and Canadian parks (Banff, Yoho). reel
- Route passes through multiple scenic viewpoints and access points to mountain activities. reel
- Plan for multiple days to enjoy stops fully; this is not a quick drive-through. reel
- A full guide was available by commenting “Rocky Mountains” on the original post. reel
← Back to the globe
Backdrop: Sergey Pesterev (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)