Overview

An incredible journey through the Canadian Rocky Mountains to the land of the gold rush, this road trip from Calgary to Whitehorse offers you a truly unique Canadian holiday with the promise of vast mountain ranges, delicious cinnamon buns and secret hot springs. Please note that this itinerary requires a northern surcharge fee to be paid with your booking.
Duration
14 DAYS
Distance
2284km / 1419mi
Start / End
Calgary / Whitehorse
Region
Alberta, Yukon
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Route - 2284 km / 1419 mi

Day Location Distance Duration
01 Calgary to Banff 127 km / 79 mi Approx. 1 hour 30 minutes
02 --
03 Banff to Jasper 288 km / 179 mi Approx. 3 hours 30 minutes
04 Jasper
05 --
06 Jasper to Dawson Creek 524 km / 326 mi Approx. 5 hours 45 minutes
07 Dawson Creek to Muncho Lake 692 km / 430 mi Approx. 7 hours 45 minutes
08 --
09 Muncho Lake Provincial Park to Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park 66 km / 41 mi Approx. 55 minutes
10 --
11 Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park to Watson Lake 208 km / 129 mi Approx. 2 hours 48 minutes
12 --
13 Watson Lake to Whitehorse 379 km / 235 mi Approx. 5 hours 10 minutes
14 --
Bow Lake, Banff National Park
Day 1 - 2

Calgary to Banff

Leaving the city of Calgary, you’ll drive through the rolling foothills of Alberta toward the awe-inspiring Canadian Rocky Mountains.
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Jasper National Park
Day 3

Banff to Jasper

Nestled among the Canadian Rocky Mountains of Jasper National Park and within the Athabasca River Valley, this scenic trip is a playground for the adventurous and a sanctuary for those desiring to relax and soak up the beauty.
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Athabasca Falls with Mount Kerkeslin
Day 4 - 5

Jasper

Sunrise at Pyramid Lake is a beautiful way to begin your day. As the sun comes up, you’ll see the magnificent glow on the top of Pyramid Mountain. It’s the perfect place to scope-out the gorgeous mountainous horizon across the lake or use it as a starting point for a day hike.
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Yukon River, Dawson City
Day 6

Jasper to Dawson Creek

Welcome to the world-famous Alaska Highway. Built during the Second World War, the Highway connects Dawson Creek, BC, to Delta Junction, AK.
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Muncho Lake, BC
Day 7 - 8

Dawson Creek to Muncho Lake

Adventure beckons thrill seekers in this area of British Columbia. But, not to worry, there’s plenty of places for a good cup of coffee or a craft brew for those who desire to sit back, relax and take in the chill mountain vibes here.
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Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park
Day 9 - 10

Muncho Lake Provincial Park to Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park

Keeping up with the relaxed vibes of your quiet nights at Muncho Lake, today you’ll head just a short distance to Liard River Hot Springs on Historical Mile 496 of the Alaska Highway.
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Watson Lake, Yukon
Day 11 - 12

Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park to Watson Lake

If you haven’t seen the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) yet, your stay in Watson Lake just might be your chance.
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Whitehorse, Yukon
Day 13 - 14

Watson Lake to Whitehorse

Welcome to the capital of Yukon, Whitehorse! Canoe the Yukon River that runs through the heart of the city or set-off on some of the incredible hiking trails at Miles Canyon.
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Trip Details

Leaving the city of Calgary, begin your trip by driving through rolling foothills toward the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

As you approach Kananaskis country, keep your eyes open for Mount Yamnuska on your right-hand side. The Stoney Nakoda First Nation named the mountain Yamnuska, derived from the Stoney word “yamnathka” which means steep cliffs or “the flat faced mountain.” Arriving in Canmore, the iconic Three Sisters grandly welcomes you on the left-hand side as you enter the town. They’re known as Big Sister (Faith), Middle Sister (Charity) and Little Sister (Hope).

Following Highway 1 further west towards Banff, notice Mount Rundle, which extends over 12 kilometres (7.5 miles) and overlooks both Banff and Canmore. The mountain’s neighbours include the Sundance Range, Sulphur Mountain and Goat Range.

Prior to arriving in Banff, make sure you’ve scouted out and reserved a spot for your evening stay. If you choose to overnight at Tunnel Mountain or Two Jack campground you can utilize local transit to visit downtown Banff, avoiding having to park in the town centre.

CanaDream Club Partners

Nestled among the Canadian Rocky Mountains of Jasper National Park and within the Athabasca River Valley, this scenic trip is a playground for the adventurous and a sanctuary for those desiring to relax and soak up the beauty.

A must-visit is the breathtaking Athabasca Falls, located just south of Jasper on the infamous Icefields Parkway. Keep your eyes peeled for moose, elk, deer, caribou, bighorn sheep, mountain goats and bears.

CanaDream Club Partners

Sunrise at Pyramid Lake is a beautiful way to begin your day. As the sun comes up, you’ll see the magnificent glow on the top of Pyramid Mountain. It’s the perfect place to scope-out the gorgeous mountainous horizon across the lake or use it as a starting point for a day hike.

Perhaps one of the best ways to scope out Jasper and the surrounding area is to head up Whistler Mountain on the Jasper SkyTram. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to see the handsome Mount Robson in neighbouring British Columbia.

Pack a picnic and spend the rest of the day at Maligne Lake where you can cruise the lake to Spirit Island, simply take in the jaw-dropping views or rent a canoe and enjoy this second-largest glacier-fed lake in the world by your own boat. We’ve connected with amazing partners as part of our CanaDream Club app - make sure to download it and take advantage of the savings.
 

CanaDream Club Partners

Welcome to the world-famous Alaska Highway. Built during the Second World War, the Highway connects Dawson Creek, BC, to Delta Junction, AK. Snap a photo at Mile 0 Post in downtown Dawson at 10th Street and 2012nd Avenue.

You can stay at Mile 0 Park for the night, wander around Walter Wright Pioneer Village or explore Rotary Lake. After a long day on the road, Mile 0 Park camping has lots of amenities, meaning you can relax and settle in for a night without having to worry about anything.
 

CanaDream Club Partners

As you begin your drive to Revelstoke, stop in Golden to replenish your cooler or have a cup of coffee. If you have an extra day or two, consider spending some time at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort where you can hike, downhill mountain bike or take an interpretive tour at their Grizzly Bear Refuge.

West of Golden you’ll be travelling through Glacier National Park, in the Selkirk Mountains through Rogers Pass. The pass is also used by the Canadian Pacific Railway and is a popular area for ski mountaineering, camping, hiking and mountain climbing.

Adventure beckons thrill seekers in the mountain town of Revelstoke. From paragliding and helicopter tours to dirt biking, hiking and golfing, there’s no shortage of activities in this mountain town. (Cruise through our CanaDream Club app to scope out our partners you’d like to adventure with.) And not to worry, there’s plenty of places for a good cup of coffee or a craft brew for those who desire to sit-back, relax and take-in the chill mountain vibes.

Keeping up with the relaxed vibes of your quiet nights at Muncho Lake, today you’ll head just a short distance to Liard River Hot Springs on Historical Mile 496 of the Alaska Highway. It’s the second largest hot spring in Canada and, since you’ve had a few long days on the road, you can soak in one of the eight pools and take a load off here.

It’s not uncommon to see moose feeding in this sensitive, lush boreal forest. Bird watchers are in a little piece of paradise here, too. Fair warning – this place has been known to capture hearts and have people from all over the world return again and again!

If you haven’t seen the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) yet, your stay in Watson Lake just might be your chance. The rolling hills of the Yukon offer an opportunity to play and take in the beauty of this northern part of Canada.

It’s also an opportunity to visit a forest of a different kind. Watson Lake is home to Sign Post Forest, created in 1942 when the Alaska Highway was being built. The US Army of Engineers put up directional posts at their camps to indicate directions and mileage for various towns and communities near and far. Today, there’s over 72,000 signs!

CanaDream Club Partners

Welcome to the capital of Yukon, Whitehorse! Canoe the Yukon River that runs through the heart of the city or set-off on some of the incredible hiking trails at Miles Canyon. Whitehorse is a town of just 25,000 that offers a thriving food scene and an incredible midnight sun.

In the 1890s the Yukon was known for the Gold Rush. During this time Whitehorse became a destination for luxurious paddle-boat cruises along the Yukon River. With the end to the rush, so did the popularity of these cruises. However, you can still visit the S.S. Klondike – a restored sternwheeler. A great stop to learn more about the Gold Rush history and this special part of Canada.

CanaDream Club Partners

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