The Canadian Rockies are a no-brainer, but Alberta also offers badlands, Indigenous history, and dinosaur fossils.
The glacier-topped peaks, aqua lakes, and scenic campgrounds of the Canadian Rockies draw most of Albertaâs visitors, who come to explore Banff and Jasper national parks. And beyond those parks, this western province is worth visiting to hike through the Canadian Badlandsâ unusual rock formations; delve into the regionâs indigenous heritage; road trip along the Cowboy Trail; or visit Dinosaur Provincial Park. Albertaâs largest cities are Calgary, a 90-minute drive from Banff, and Edmonton, four hours from Jasper.
Albertaâs most popular region includes Banff and Jasper national parks, drawing visitors from around the world to Lake Louise, the Icefields Parkway, and other scenic spots. The town of Canmore, 20 minutesâ drive from Banffâs south entrance, is a good place to get supplies. Waterton Lakes National Park borders Montanaâs Glacier National Park south of Calgary and across the border in the U.S.
The gateway to the Rockies, Calgary is also a short drive from the Canadian Badlands, where you can explore unusual hoodoos and rocky canyons. The region around Drumheller and Dinosaur Provincial Park, where Canadaâs early dinosaurs were unearthed, has plenty to interest paleontology fans.
The center of the province includes Albertaâs Cowboy Trail, where cattle ranches are still active and you can trace the areaâs cowboy past. Visit Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site to learn about Albertaâs heritage as a fur trading hub, as well as its indigenous First Nations and MĂŠtis cultures.
Edmonton is the jumping-off point for both Jasper National Park and the provinceâs vast north, where remote Wood Buffalo National Park extends into the Northwest Territories. But you donât have to go far to delve into the wildâjust outside Edmonton, more than 1,000 bison roam the protected prairies of Elk Island National Park.