Moon Canadian Rockies: Including Banff & Jasper National Parks (Moon Handbooks)

Using Amazon and local bookstores, I checked out all the recent Canadian Rockies guidebooks I could find before choosing this one. It has good explanations of geology, flora, and fauna found in this area. We took many of the suggestions for lodging, food and things to do, and was not disappointed with any. I'm not a hiker - I walk - so I can't judge the suggested hikes, with the exception of one, rated "easy" near Banff. Not easy. For un-hikers who want to "hike" I recommend Graeme Pole's "Walks and Easy Hikes in the Canadian Rockies". It rated the Banff walk as "harder" (that is the toughest of his ratings).

Before heading to the Canadian Rockies for the first time, I spent time reviewing and reading several guidebooks. This one is notable for its really broad overview of the Canadian Rocky area and covers a wide variety of topics such as restaurants, hikes, lodging, sites to see, etc. I used it a lot during the trip and it really made a positive difference in my experience (e.g., by being able to choose great restaurants in the evening, by choosing lesser-known but really cool sites to visit, etc.). It also provided good history of the area, and descriptions of the flora and fauna, all of which interests me when I travel to an area. I used much of the information later to create a photo album with much more interesting verbiage on the places and sites.

I am an avid hiker and backpacker, and therefore did not have the expectation that such a general guide would meet all of my needs in providing detailed and extensive information about trails. This book is not intended...Read more

2007's "Canadian Rockies" is the latest Moon handbook on the swath of wonderful parks that straddle the Canadian Rockies from Jasper through Banff to Waterton on the U.S. border. Packaged in a convenient size and packed with a variety of information, "Canadian Rockies is a superb guide for planning a vacation in a area full of opportunities.

The guide covers Banff, Jasper, Yoho, Kootenay, and Waterton National Parks, along with the Kannaskis Country provincial parks just west of Calgary. Information is provided on a range of accomodations, restaurants, museums and tourist exhibits, and opportunities for recreation. The guide includes a nice selection of maps and photographs. Segments on local history provide context for each area. The guide includes information on access to the parks and cautionary warnings on interacting with the abundant wildlife.

Depending on the season, the Rockies offer hiking, camping, boating, biking, golf, or skiing at a variety...Read more