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# trip to the northern and the Canadian rockies
- URL: https://www.arrieta.io/trip-to-the-northern-and-the-canadian-rockies/
- Published: 2026-09-18T16:29:33.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-18T16:29:33.000Z
- Description: it's not a competition, but Banff wins.
- Author: luis arrieta
- Tags: family, notes

this was our second time in the Canadian Rockies and our first trip to Glacier National Park. The flight from LAX to Calgary takes less than three hours. All logistics included, we got up at 4am on Friday and by noon Calgary time (+1 hour difference) we were already in a rented minivan driving south to Waterton Lakes National Park.

We did a short visit in Waterton to Red Rock Canyon, spent the night in town, and drove the next morning to West Glacier. I rented three nights at a spacious two-story cabin, which proved to be well worth the spend because it rained most of time, so the adults could relax with a beverage on hand while watching the kids play with puzzles and legos.

The rain did not help Glacier's case. We drove up the mountain at dawn to Logan Pass, hiked up and up but there wasn't a window to Glacier's awesomeness due to lack of visibility. On our drive down, the clouds dispersed a bit and revealed a glimpse of majesty.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/82/18/82182efc-6d17-43fb-bbd1-197df3da9a93/content/images/2026/09/2026-09-Logan-Pass.jpeg)

I took this photo while driving down from Logan Pass

Despite the fogginess of that day, the drive itself, called Going-to-the-Sun-Road, is incredible. 

After Glacier, we crossed the border again, back to Canada to spend another night in Waterton. We did an early morning hike at [Bear's Hump](https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/alberta/bears-hump?ref=arrieta.io) where we saw a black bear up high roaming the rocky side of Mt. Crandell. There were no crowds, a sensation of infinite space, and cold mountain air. As good as it gets.

But the bears. Our kids are noisy (good) but they run back and forth (not good). And it's grizzly territory. 

I did carry bear spray but I suspect it is more of a psychological safety blanket rather than a real defensive weapon.

We followed our hike with breakfast at the cozy Prince of Wales Hotel overlooking the lake.

After breakfast, we continued our journey north, then east to Canmore and Banff. 

## Banff is the place

This was our second time in Banff and my wife could not stop saying that she wants to buy a house there.

Of the 12+ National Parks we've visited in the last four years (the list includes Yellowstone and Yosemite), Banff is our favorite. It is impressive, magnificent in its scale and its beauty, but it also is (1) pleasant to travel around to its various attractions, and (2) the town has everything and not more and not less.

We never had to wait for parking, we never hit any traffic, and we could always count on finding a good restaurant (with good beer or wine) post hikes, or go on a roof hot tub surrounded by the rockies.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/82/18/82182efc-6d17-43fb-bbd1-197df3da9a93/content/images/2026/09/2026-09-Autumn-hiking-to-Grassi-Lakes.jpeg)

Hiking up to Grassi Lakes in Canmore. It's hard to notice, but there's water flowing down the rocks.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/82/18/82182efc-6d17-43fb-bbd1-197df3da9a93/content/images/2026/09/2026-09-Kai-in-Bow-Falls-Banff.jpeg)

Bow Falls, approximately a 15-minute walk from downtown Banff.

Given how easy it is to travel from LA, we may go again for Thanksgiving. The weather will be different then.