Rocky Mountaineer Vacation Sightseeing Guide

The Rocky Mountaineer is one of the finestthe beautiful Fraser Canyon, a natural canyon with
sightseeing trains in Canada, and a contender for thesides of up to 600 metres (1980) feet. This canyon
best in the world. Beyond the service and styleextends all the way to Hope.
offered by the Rocky Mountaineer trains, it's theFrom the town of Hope to that of Kamloops, your
sightseeing that can't be beat.journey will see you through a landscape of
Travelers who prefer the journey to be as much anmountains, countryside and lakes. You will travel
experience as the destination will surely love athrough Monck and Lac Le Jeune Provincial Parks,
journey on the Rocky Mountaineer, but beyond theclimb through the Great Bear Snow Shed, crest the
general descriptions of mountain and forest - whatsummit of the Coquihalla Pass and cross the top of
can travelers expect to see along the way?Thompson Plateau.
Rocky Mountaineer runs two trains (the RockyYou will stop for the night in Kamloops, a charming
Mountaineer and the Whistler Mountaineer) and fourtown in the Okanogan Valley. The weather is warm
routes linking the Coastal city of Vancouver toand sunny in spring and summer, and winter snow in
Calgary and Jasper in the Rockies. All the routes arenearby Sun Peaks beckons to skiiers. Kamloops also
beautiful, but a particular favourite is the Yellowheadplays host to Rocky Mountaineer's dinner theatre
Route which travels from Vancouver to Jasper. Makeperformances, the Two River Junction Musical
the most of your journey with this detailedRevue® and the Great Canadian Lumberjack
sightseeing guide to highlights along the way.Show.
For information about other routes visit RockyBack on the train after your night in Kamloops, you'll
Mountaineerquickly discover the sightseeing potential of the
From Vancouver to Calgary on Rocky Mountaineer'smountain scenery of the Canadian Rockies.
Yellowhead RouteAn early highlight will be views of Mount Robson, the
When traveling east to Calgary, the coastal city ofhighest peak in the Rockies. At a height of 3,956.5
Vancouver is your starting point. Nestled betweenmetres (12,972 feet) and dropping into Berg Lake in
the Coast Mountains (home to Whistler resort) andthe North and Kinney Lake in the South, this heavily
the big blue Pacific, Vancouver is a cosmopolitan cityglaciated mountain towers over the peaks that
that maintains strong ties to the outdoors. On clearsurround it.
days locals head outside to run the Sea Wall, hikeAs you continue traveling through the Rockies, you
Grouse Mountain, or browse the boutiques, cafes,will pass the spectacular Pyramid Falls. This waterfall
and patios lining Robson Street, South Granville, andcascades 91.5 metres (300 feet) beside the train
west 4th avenue.tracks, and to maximize your sightseeing the train will
Make the most of your time in Vancouver byslow to allow for an up-close view.
enjoying the city's restaurants, shops and galleries asA different but equally impressive vision is the
well as adventures outside - such as strolling StanleyAlbreda Glacier. Albreda, like other glaciers in the
Park, checking out the architecture in Gastown, orRockies, is a permanent snowfield (the amount of
traveling outside the city to explore the nearbysnowfall exceeds snowmelt each year). The weight
mountains.of accumulated snow compresses layers beneath it
Boarding the Rocky Mountaineer, you'll quickly leaveinto ice, which then melts, pushing the newly formed
behind Vancouver's cityscapes for the lush greenglacier downhill. This movement grinds the rocks
Fraser Valley. The Fraser Valley boasts plenty ofbeneath it into a fine powder, which, when deposited
fertile farlmand due to its proximity to the Fraserinto the lakes and rivers surrounding the glacier, turns
River.the water into a beautiful shade of turquoise blue.
The Fraser River is the longest in BC and the 5thYour arrival in Jasper National Park marks the end of
longest in Canada. As you travel alongside it, you'llyour journey by rail, but also the beginning of the
notice its waters changing from a muddy brown to asightseeing opportunities in the Canadian Rockies.
milky green. This is due to the high levels of sedimentJasper National Park was designated a UNESCO
in the water as well as plenty of rapids. The FraserWorld Heritage Site in 1907, and remains one of the
River's turbulence belies a thriving ecosystem,largest protected areas in the world. This is accessible
producing more salmon than any other river systemCanadian wilderness at its best, and the town of
in the world!Jasper makes a convenient base to explore the
The excitement of the Fraser culminates at Hell'shiking trails, lakes and wildlife of the surrounding area.
Gate, an attraction located at the narrowest point inAlthough your journey by the Rocky Mountaineer
the Fraser River. The sight and sound of theYellowhead Route may be over in Jasper, your
thundering waters only hint at the magnitude of thissightseeing experience is anything but. Consider
pass, where as much as 909,218,000 litres (200traveling from Jasper to Banff along the Icefields
million) gallons of water surge through the 33.53Parkway, the most beautiful drive in the country,
metre (110 foot) gorge each minute.before exploring the beautiful sights of Banff and
As you exit the Coast Mountains, you'll emerge intoLake Louise.