The Canadian Rockies are a must travel location for any outdoor adventure fan but can also be a really great location to visit with children. Easy to travel through with a whole range of accommodation options from camping to 5 star hotels and breathtaking scenery, the Rocky Mountains make an amazing family friendly travel destination.
They are awesome to visit in summer and winter but with very different activities on offer. Make sure you pack well for a winter trip however as temperatures get extremely cold during some parts of the year!
So what are 10 of the most amazing things to do with Children in the Canadian Rockies during summer?
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Take A Hike
There are just so many hiking opportunities in the Rockies with a range of options depending on how old your children are. Some great ones include:
- Sundance Canyon in Banff is a little longer one (8km return) but its mostly on a paved trail that is chariot and bike friendly and ends with fun bridges, waterfalls, a creek and picnic area (with washrooms).
- Fenland Trail in Banff is a 2km loop that follows 40 mile creek right into the town of Banff. Chariot and bike friendly.
- Lake Minnewanka has a hiking trail all around the lake so you can walk for as long or as short as you like. Amazing views and there are sections that are chariot and bike friendly.
- Hike from Sunshine Meadows to Rock Isle Lake in Sunshine Village Ski Hill in Banff. Take a bus first to the base of the ski hill then start the hike there. It’s not much of an elevation gain then to some beautiful alpine meadows full of wildflowers your kids will love! Its only 4km return. Or if you have older children there are some other tracks in the same area to can combine for a longer hike.
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See A Waterfall
There are so many awesome waterfalls to see in the Rockies. Watch out for lookout signs if you drive from Banff to Jasper as there are lots of great waterfalls to check out.
The Athabasca falls in Jasper are an awesome one to check out with lots of great views of the falls from paved and easy to access paths.
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Check Out The Icefields Parkway
The Icefields parkway is a 3 hour drive north of Banff and is well worth the visit. The huge Athabasca Glacia, part of the Columbia Icefields is awesome to check out and there is a range of options to experience the area.
- Take the bus to the Skywalk, which is a pretty cool glass bottom deck off a cliff edge with some amazing views. Keep your eyes out for some mountain goat too which are often spotted on the mountain side opposite the skywalk.
- You can take one of the huge red Brewster busses up on the glacier. This is a cool thing to do with your kids as they can actually walk out on the glacier safely.
- You can walk on a paved path up to the toe of the glacier. See how far it has receded in over the years.
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Climb A Mountain
Want to climb a mountain while in the Rockies? Well Tunnel Mountain right in the heart of the Banff town site is around 5km return to reach the peak and should be ok for most children over around 4 or 5. The views from the top are pretty awesome, you have a great view of the town site of Banff and the surrounding mountains.
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Check Out Some Lakes
The lakes in the Rockies are just so gorgeous and there are so many to check out. But Lake Louise, Moraine Lake and Bow Lake are some great ones to make sure you add to the list of to dos. Walk along the edge of Moraine Lake or Lake Louise for a flat easy walk with pretty scenery.
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Rent A Boat
While at Lake Louise take the opportunity to get out on the water by renting a canoe. Canoes are available right by the Fairmont Hotel and are a great way to check out the lake and glaciers from a different perspective. Do your kids love being on the water? Another boat trip to check out is the Lake Maligne Tours boat trip across this huge lake in Jasper National Park. There are also some great walking trails around the lake as well.
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Visit A Tea House
There are two gorgeous teahouses at Lake Louise that do however require a bit of a hike to get to. The Lake Agnes Tea House is the shorter of the two but its still 7km return and almost 400m elevation gain so small children may find this one a little too challenging. Unless they are small enough to fit into a kid carrying backpack. But the teahouse is so beautiful that it has to be added to this list and with boulders and a bridge over a little creek that flows down to a waterfall kid’s love this location too. Oh, and the food is all homemade (including the bread) and is delicious!
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Ride A Gondola
One of the best ways to get in the amazing views of the area is to ride in a Gondola. There are a few options for you with a Gondola in Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper for you to choose from.
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Whitewater Rafting
Ok, this may not seem like a family friendly activity however there are a number of rivers and rafting options with more mellow rapids perfect for families in the Rockies. The Kananaskies River near Banff, The Elbow River or the Athabasca River near Jasper all have rafting trips you can take the whole family on.
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Wildlife Spotting
Just taking a drive through the Rocky Mountains can be a wildlife spotting adventure for children of all ages. See bears, moose, elk, deer and more. Early morning and dusk are the best times to spot wildlife however animals may be seen near the road at anytime during the day. Keep your eyes peeled!
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This list is just the beginning. The Canadian Rockies just have so much to keep children of all ages entertained while getting in some fresh mountain air.
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