Frommer's Banff and Jasper National Parks

Christie Pashby is the former editor of the Canmore Leader newspaper and WildLife, a Bow Valley arts and entertainment newsmagazine. Her travel stories have also been published in The Globe and Mails, the National Post, and the Toronto Star. She was a staff reporter at the Tico Times in San Jose, Costa Rica. An avid traveler, Christie now makes her home in Canmore, Alberta, and Patagonia, Argentina.

List of Maps. 1 Welcome to Banff & Jasper National Parks. 1 Banff National Park Today. 2 The Best of Banff National Park. 3 Jasper National Park Today. 4 The Best of Jasper National Park. 2 Planning Your Trip. 1 Getting Started: Information & Reservations. Online & on Your Way. 2 When to Go. 3 Money. 4 Permits. Parks Canada's Annual Pass. 5 Getting There. 6 Getting Around. The Rental Advantage. 7 Planning a Backcountry Trip. Backpacking For Beginners: Leave No Trace. 8 Tips for RVers. 9 Package Tours, Adventure Outings & Educational Programs. 10 Tips for Travelers with Disabilities. 11 Tips for Travelers with Pets. 12 Tips for Travelers with Children. Hiking with Kids: Let the Discovery Begin! 13 Protecting Your Health & Safety. 14 Protecting the Environment. Wildlife Encounters: What to Do. 3 Exploring Banff National Park. 1 Essentials. Numbers, Please. Fast Facts: Banff National Park. 2 Tips from Park Staff. Top 10 Shops in Banff. 3 The Highlights. Arts in the National Park. Banff: Where'd That Funny Name Come From? 4 How to See the Park in Several Days. Photo Ops Galore. Banff Calendar of Events. 5 What to See & Do in Banff Townsite. The Banff Springs Hotel: Part of the Park's History. A Secret No Longer. 6 Driving Tours. The Continental Divide. Castle Mountain. Banff on a Rainy Day. 7 Organized Tours. 4 Hikes & Other Outdoor Pursuits in Banff National Park. 1 Day Hikes. Hiking To-Do List. How Far (& Fast) Can I Really Go? 2 Exploring the Backcountry. 3 Other Activities. Saddle Up & Head High. 4 Winter Sports & Activities. Winter Driving. A Word of Caution: You Are in Avalanche Country. 5 Where to Stay, Camp & Eat in Banff National Park. 1 Lodging in Banff National Park. Hostelling: Is it for You? 2 Frontcountry Camping in Banff National Park. Regular vs. Self-Registering Campgrounds. 3 Backcountry Camping & Lodging in Banff National Park. 4 Where to Eat in Banff National Park. 5 Banff After Dark. 6 Exploring Jasper National Park. 1 Essentials. All about Jasper. FAST FACTS: Jasper National Park. 2 Tips from Park Staff. Ranger Rick versus Warden Wayne. "The Buildings Should Reflect the Landscape". 3 The Highlights. 4 How to See the Park in Several Days. Jasper in the Rain. 5 What to See & Do in Jasper Townsite. Titanic Dreams. 6 Driving Tours. Frequently Asked Icefield Questions. David Thompson: Explorer & Mapmaker. Mary Schaffer: Hunter of Peace. 7 Organized Tours. 7 Hikes & Other Outdoor Pursuits in Jasper National Park. 1 Day Hikes. The View from the Top of Old Fort Point. 2 Exploring the Backcountry. 3 Other Activities. Biking Do's & Don'ts. 4 Winter Sports & Activities. 8 Where to Stay, Camp & Eat in Jasper National Park. 1 Lodging in Jasper National Park. 2 Frontcountry Camping in Jasper National Park. 3 Backcountry Camping & Lodging in Jasper National Park. 4 Where to Eat in Jasper National Park. 5 Jasper After Dark. 9 Gateways to Banff & Jasper National Parks. 1 Canmore & Kananaskis Country. 2 Radium Hot Springs, British Columbia & Kootenay National Park. 3 Golden, British Columbia & Yoho National Park. 4 Mount Robson Provincial Park. 10 A Nature Guide to Banff & Jasper National Parks. 1 The Geology. Charting the Rockies East to West. Canadian Rockies vs. American Rockies. 2 The Life Zones. 3 The Flora. 4 The Fauna. Sheepish Sheep That Jump. How Many Mammals? 5 The Future. Index. General Index. Accommodations Index. Restaurant Index. List of Maps. The Canadian Rockies. Highway Access to Banff and Jasper National Parks. Banff National Park. Banff Townsite. Lake Louise Area. Banff National Park Trail Heads. Jasper National Park. Jasper Townsite. Columbia Icefield Area. Jasper National Park Trail Heads.