Experience the Canadian Rockies by Rail!

Dolphin Vacations

By: Ardene Lamer 772-9660

There is nothing like traveling through mountains and tunnels, crossing rivers and gorges and letting someone else do the driving while you relax and enjoy the view.

Canada offers VIA Rail that spans the coasts from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans.  You can relax in your coach seat or stroll to the dining room or play cards in the dome car while surveying the majestic scenery.

I am going to highlight the Rocky Mountaineer Rail service that concentrates on rail journeys through the Canadian Rocky Mountains.  The Rocky Mountaineer offers two service levels, the Red Leaf and the Gold Leaf service.  Red Leaf passengers travel with large picture windows and reclining seats where your meals will be served.  Gold Leaf service offers an upgrade to the upper dome coach with 180-degree views and a private dining room.

The Rocky Mountaineer boasts 3 routes, the Kicking Horse Route – the southern route, Calgary to Vancouver through Kamloops; the Yellow head Route – middle route from Vancouver to Jasper via Kamloops; and the Fraser Discovery Route –the northern route from Whistler to Jasper through Prince George.

One rail tour you might consider begins from Vancouver British Columbia, home of the 2010 Winter Olympics, and ends in Jasper Alberta.

Vancouver is surrounded by water on three sides and is nestled alongside the Coast Mountain Range. Vancouver is home to spectacular natural scenery and boasts one of the mildest climates in Canada.  Across from Vancouver are Vancouver Island and the quaint village of Victoria.  Victoria is known as the city of gardens with its gardens in bloom year round.  The most famous of its gardens is Butchart Gardens and is a must see before your rail journey begins. 

Just north of Vancouver is Whistler, a resort town nestled in the Coast Mountain Range and takes about 3 hours rail journey from Vancouver on breathtaking rail.   Your rail journey will continue onto Quesnel, built on the junction of the Fraser and Quesnel Rivers.  The scenery from your rail car is fabulous. 

You will continue on the Rocky Mountaineer for your route to Jasper.  You will follow the Fraser River, so keep your eyes open for grizzly bear, moose and beaver.  You will pass the settlements of McBride and Tete Juane Cache through Yellowhead pass and onto Mount Robson, the Rockies highest peak.  From there you will pass into Alberta Canada and travel onto Jasper. 

A few ideas in Jasper would be to take a gondola up Whistler Mountain and hike the rest of the way up the mountain to the peak.  Here you may sign your name and sit and just marvel at the mountain ranges within your view.  I’d call this a “mountain top” experience.  Make sure that you wear comfortable hiking shoes.  If mountain climbing is not your forte, take in Medicine Lake or a tour boat on Maligne Lake.   

There are many Rocky Mountain Adventures for you to choose from.  If Rodeo’s are your forte, try a stop in Calgary Alberta in July during their Calgary Stampede Days.  Calgary is the gateway to the majesty of the Canadian Rockies, including Banff National Park.  We were impressed with how clean this city of 1 million persons was.  This is a great place to walk along nature trails and enjoy the big, blue wide open sky.

The best time to travel to the Canadian Rockies is from May through the middle of October, when the sun shines the brightest and the temperatures are warmer.  Call me at Dolphin Vacations 772-9660 or Ardenel@dolphinvacations.net to plan your “Trip of a lifetime” to the Canadian Rockies!