A Motorcycle Road Trip In The Canadian Rockies

This summer, I rented a Harley Davidson for a road trip in the Canadian Rockies through stunning national parks both in Alberta and British Columbia. This area is filled with scenic landscapes and diverse animals.

The motorcycle trip started in Calgary. I chose a black 2013 Street Glide, which I named “Black Betty”, from a Harley-Davidson online rental before I arrived in Canada.

She is a beast at 1600 cc. In order to practice driving her, I avoided the Trans-Canada Highway and took the scenic route 1A west towards Canmore.

Next, we drove north along the Icefields Parkway to Banff National Park . Along the way, we passed pristine turquoise-blue lakes and ancient glaciers covered in snow. There were many deer and elk along the side of the road.

I walked slowly to Jasper, enjoying the views and the cold, fresh air. Then, after grabbing a bite in the town, I found the Hosteling International Hostel to stay the night.

Bull Elk Sighting

Red Footbridge at Kootenay National Park

Saskatchewan Glacier

Climbing Parker Ridge

Downtown Banff

Golden Triangle

After reversing direction, I sped through Icefields Parkway and saw completely different sights. I stopped for a couple of hours to stretch out my legs and hiked to the top of Parker Ridge to see snow-covered Mt. Athabasca.

The impressive and slow-moving Saskatchewan Glacier carving into the valley below.

Then it was time to ride the Golden Triangle. This scenic route takes you through 3 national parks, Banff Yoho and Kootenay. The small town of Golden in British Columbia is right in the center of all the action. It is not as crowded as Banff and costs less. There are also five different national parks surrounding it.

After stopping in Golden, Black Betty, my friend, and I continued south down Route 95 to Radium Hot Springs before turning east into Kootenay Park. The road cuts right through Sinclair Canyon, before winding along the Kootenay River. The road was perfect for maneuvering my Street Glide around the curves.

After completing the Golden Triangle in Banff, I returned to Calgary to return the Harley Davidson and finish my road trip across some of Canada’s most beautiful national parks. This was a great adventure!

SEE ALSO: Vancouver Island, Canada Road Trip