Exploring The Rockies: Best Routes For A Scenic Drive

The Rocky Mountains offer a unique road trip experience with miles of fun for the whole family. The Rockies span over 3,000 miles from New Mexico to British Columbia, Canada, and boast more than 100 distinct mountain ranges, extreme geographic diversity, breathtaking vistas, and unmatched outdoor recreation.

A road trip through the Rockies can be a tough trek, so it's important to plan ahead and be prepared for unexpected changes in weather and road conditions. The journey typically requires a minimum of five full days, with the entire length of the trip spanning nearly 2,000 miles.

There are many scenic routes to choose from when travelling through the Rockies. Here are some of the most popular ones:

- Icefields Parkway (Highway 93 North): This 144-mile scenic drive connects Lake Louise and Jasper in the Canadian Rockies, offering stunning views of snowy peaks and glaciers.

- Trail Ridge Road: This 48-mile route in Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park takes drivers above the treeline and reaches elevations of over 12,000 feet.

- Beartooth Highway: This 68-mile route from Red Lodge, Montana to Yellowstone National Park is known for its steep grades, tight turns, and breathtaking views of craggy mountains.

- Going-to-the-Sun Road: This 50-mile highway in Montana's Glacier National Park offers accessibility to various trailheads, viewpoints, and impressive architectural strategies within the park.

Icefields Parkway, Jasper and Banff National Parks

The Icefields Parkway is one of the top scenic drives in the world. This 232 km (144-mile) stretch of double-lane highway in Alberta, Canada, offers breathtaking views of soaring Rocky Mountain peaks, icefields, wildlife, birds, and sweeping valleys. The route connects two Canadian national parks, Jasper and Banff, and links Lake Louise in the south with Jasper in the north.

The Icefields Parkway is a year-round destination, with winter turning the lakes white and covering the trails in deep snow until mid-June. In late June, the lakes melt into blue-green hues, and by mid-July, most alpine hiking trails are snow-free. The summer months of June, July, and August see daytime highs of 17° to 20° C and overnight lows of 2° to 3° C. Even during the summer, snow is not unusual, and overnight temperatures near freezing are common.

The drive from Lake Louise to Jasper (or vice versa) should ideally be done over a full day, with numerous stops along the way. Some of the highlights include the Jasper Skytram, the glass-floored Skywalk, and the Instagram-famous Peyto Lake. The route also offers plenty of opportunities for hiking, with trails suitable for all levels of difficulty.

For those seeking a more relaxed experience, there are several scenic viewpoints, trailheads, and waterfalls to enjoy. The Columbia Icefield, the largest mass of glacial ice in the Canadian Rockies, is a must-see. The Athabasca Glacier, part of the Columbia Icefield, can be seen from the road, explored with a commercial guide, or visited on a special bus tour. Other notable glaciers along the route include the Crowfoot Glacier and the Saskatchewan Glacier.

For nature lovers, the Icefields Parkway offers the chance to travel through protected wildlife habitats and witness a diverse range of flora and fauna. Bears, sheep, wolves, and even elusive caribou are often spotted along the roadside, so drivers are advised to keep their eyes open and maintain a safe speed.

The Icefields Parkway is accessible by car, and a valid national parks pass is required to drive on this route. Services and amenities are limited, with only four hotels and one gas station along the entire stretch. Cell coverage is also non-existent, so it is essential to plan ahead and bring refreshments and extra layers of clothing.

Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park Loop

The Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park Loop is a combination of two national parks: Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta, Canada, and Glacier National Park in Montana, USA. The park is filled with beautiful mountain peaks, wildflower patches, and alpine meadows, and offers a unique experience in every season. The loop is approximately 300-400 miles long, and there is no officially designated route. However, one scenic section that is not to be missed is the Going-to-the-Sun Road on the US side, the only road traversing Glacier National Park from east to west. This road is a challenging drive with many hairpin turns and is usually open from summer to fall.

The Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park is a symbol of goodwill and cooperation between Canada and the United States. It is the world's first "international peace park", formed in 1932 when the two nations jointly designated the sites to commemorate the peace and goodwill shared between them. The park offers breathtaking views of snow-capped mountains, high-altitude lakes, and rivers cascading from glaciers. The area is also rich in plant and mammal species, with over 300 terrestrial species of animals, including several threatened or endangered species such as the grizzly bear, gray wolf, lynx, bald eagle, and peregrine falcon.

The parks within the loop have a long and rich history. American Indians have lived in and used these mountains for over 10,000 years, and several tribes continue to occupy traditional lands east and west of the park boundaries, considering the mountains sacred. European explorers first arrived in the area in search of animal pelts, and over time, the region's natural resources were further exploited for mining. The completion of the Great Northern Railway in 1891 allowed more people to enter the heart of northwest Montana, leading to increased settlement and the development of small towns. In 1895, Waterton Lakes became Canada's fourth national park, and in 1910, Glacier National Park became the tenth national park in the United States.

Beartooth Highway to Yellowstone National Park

The Beartooth Highway, a 68-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 212, is considered one of the most breathtaking routes to Yellowstone National Park. The route begins in Red Lodge, Montana, about an hour south of Billings, and winds through the mountains of southern Montana and northern Wyoming before reaching the Northeast Entrance to Yellowstone National Park. The highway officially opened in 1936 and climbs to an elevation of 10,947 feet above sea level at Beartooth Pass in Wyoming.

The Beartooth Highway is known for its dramatic scenery, including alpine lakes, towering peaks, and vibrant wildflowers. The highway passes through lodgepole pine forests and offers views of glacially carved cirques and snow-capped mountains. It is home to a variety of wildlife, including grizzly and black bears, elk, deer, moose, and bighorn sheep. With over 950 alpine lakes and hundreds of miles of trails, the Beartooth Mountains provide ample opportunities for outdoor recreation.

The drive from Red Lodge to Yellowstone typically takes around two to three hours, but it is important to allow extra time for photo stops and to take in the scenery. Along the way, there are several points of interest worth noting. The Vista Point Rest Area, located 21 miles from Red Lodge, offers a wheelchair-accessible trail with interpretative panels about the area's natural history and highway construction. The highway also crosses the 45th parallel, marking the exact halfway point between the North Pole and the equator.

Another notable feature of the Beartooth Highway is the Beartooth Basin Summer Ski Area, one of the oldest alpine ski areas in the country. The area offers a unique "backcountry skiing with a lift" experience and is open to the public during the summer months when there is sufficient snow. The highway also passes by The Top of The World Store, a charming shop and motel sitting at 9,396 feet above sea level. It is the only store along this stretch of the road and offers a place to stretch your legs and enjoy an ice cream or browse local artwork.

The Beartooth Highway is typically open for about five months of the year, from mid-May to mid-October, due to heavy snowfall and extreme weather conditions at higher elevations. Drivers should be prepared for potential road closures and check for current conditions before embarking on their journey. Despite the challenges of the journey, the Beartooth Highway offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience and is considered one of the most scenic routes through the Rocky Mountains.

Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park

Along the route, drivers climb some 4,000 feet, starting in montane forests of aspen and ponderosa pine, then entering thick subalpine forests of fir and spruce. At the treeline, the vegetation changes to alpine tundra, where the last stunted, wind-battered trees give way to a landscape that resembles the Canadian or Alaskan Arctic. Pikas, marmots, ptarmigans, and bighorn sheep are commonly seen here, along with around 200 species of tiny alpine plants.

The road reaches elevations of over 12,000 feet, offering exquisite views of the Rockies. There are several marked road pullovers where drivers can stop to take in the vistas, which stretch north to Wyoming, east across the Front Range cities and Great Plains, and south and west into the heart of the Rockies. Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved road in the United States, and one of the highest points that can be reached by car in all of North America.

The drive on Trail Ridge Road is a memorable adventure, but it can also be a challenging one. The road has few guardrails and no shoulders, with hairpin turns and steep drops in some places. It is not designed to be an all-season road, and winter conditions of drifting snow, high winds, and freezing temperatures occur above 10,000 feet. The road is typically closed from late October to late May or early June due to snow, ice, and winter driving conditions. When planning a trip on Trail Ridge Road, it is essential to check local road conditions and weather forecasts in advance.

Royal Gorge in Cañon City, Colorado

The Royal Gorge in Cañon City, Colorado, is a unique destination in the United States due to its deep and narrow gorge. The Royal Gorge Bridge, constructed in 1929, spans 956 feet over the Arkansas River and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscapes. Visitors can walk across the bridge, taking in the sights from above, or they can opt for more adventurous activities like zip-lining, rafting, or riding the train that runs along the bottom of the gorge.

For those seeking even more thrills, the Royal Gorge offers skydiving, climbing, and the Via Ferrata course, which involves climbing the granite walls of the gorge for a unique perspective of its depths. The Cloudscraper Zip Line, rated as the Travel Channel's #1 Colorado Bucket List experience, allows adventurers to soar across the gorge hands-free. The park also features the Royal Rush Skycoaster, which swings riders at speeds of up to 50 mph over the gorge, providing an exhilarating experience.

In addition to these adrenaline-pumping activities, the Royal Gorge region offers a variety of other attractions. Visitors can enjoy savoury meals at cozy eateries, relax at comfortable lodgings, and explore boutique shopping destinations. The area is also known for its pretty scenery, providing opportunities for wine-sipping and leisurely sightseeing.

The Royal Gorge Bridge is open daily, year-round, weather permitting. It offers a General Admission Ticket that includes access to the bridge, gondola, playland, and theatre. The gift shop, café, and rides open at 10 am, while ticketing and access to the visitor centre are available from 9 am. Reservations are not required for admissions or rides.

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