Best time to visit the Canadian Rockies

Forget your SLR camera. The Canadian Rockies roll out some of the most remarkable views in the world. Just remember to invest in a good lens of at least 300mm if you want to zoom in on the caribou migrating across the opposite valley or the bear scuffling around the forest just across the river. Expect it to be freezing. Although it’s chillier in the mountains, it’s also not unusual to wind up in t-shirts and shorts by your campfire. The summer can jump to peaks of 30°C, while spring can dip below zero, so pack layers. Hike or camp solo. The Canadian Rockies are the realm of the grizzlies, so your best bet is to let your guide lead the way. But if you do go wandering with friends, keep an eye on park advisories and pack bear spray (and learn how to use it). Rangers update the signs at trail heads telling you if grizzlies are active in the area. When camping, listen to your guide’s instructions on suspending your food above ground. No one wants their alarm call to be a grizzly rummaging around their tent for a stray Hershey’s wrapper. Make the mistake of thinking it’s all about Banff and Jasper. Smaller national parks like Yoho and Waterton offer up silent trails and less flighty wildlife.

“Wildlife watching is a big aspect of tourism in Canada, and a growing one, so you need to ensure that the tour operator you are choosing is following all the guidelines, and that they are not putting either the tourist or the animal in danger. A lot of times, especially in the Rocky Mountains, tourists will, when they see a bear, just want to get out of their vehicle and get a picture. Or even worse, try and feed the bear. Independent tour guides have been known to do this in order to attract bears for the visitors.That is dangerous – not only for the person, but also the bear, because this often ends up in the bear having to be destroyed. Tourists just don’t think about the consequences of approaching animals in the wild. So make sure you travel with an expert.”