Well hello to you my reader chums! The Canadian Rockies is a dream-worthy destination with phenomenal views you're guaranteed to fall in love with. I did plenty of research before venturing to the Rockies, but there were many things I learned along the way on my travels - and I'd love to share that wisdom with you.

If you're planning a trip to the Canadian Rockies, here is everything to note before you jet off to the mountains.

Hire a car

I found our trip to the Canadian Rockies a dream come true and it made it easier and more cost effective by having our own car. The majority of the sights you'll see when exploring the national parks are easily accessible by car and without a vehicle, you'll need to pay for a tour which often can be rather expensive. The roads in Canada are really easy to navigate as they don't have roundabouts, are rather straight and very large. 

The Rockies are incredibly sparse

One of the things which surprised me about venturing around the Rockies is how sparse everything is. It's completely different to England, where you can find a corner shop or petrol station everywhere. With the roads through the Rockies, you can go 20 miles or more without seeing anywhere to stop, apart from a portable toilet on the road. One thing which excited me was how there were stop-off points on many roads to rest and take pictures of the views - and you're likely to see many cars pull over to do just that. Because of the sparseness though, ensure you're prepped with food, water and enough gas to get you from A to B.

Download your maps

Due to the vastness of the Rockies, a phone signal isn't always guaranteed and when we travelled between Banff and Jasper, I'll never forget the sign which said 'No cell service for 150km' which blew my mind. And, it wasn't the only time I lost signal on my phone, it would just disappear at random moments because, well, you're in the mountains. I would highly recommend downloading maps, ensuring you won't get lost along the way.

Bring a refillable water bottle

There were always refillable water stations at many of the hiking places we visited across the Canadian Rockies. Bring a water bottle wherever you go because it can save you a lot of money and you can enjoy fresh, cold whatever along the way. 

Buy bear spray

Bears were one of the biggest worries when visiting the Canadian Rockies and luckily we didn't see any during our hikes or visits to the lakes, but many tourists do see sightings of them on the trails and even in the towns. As a precaution, buy bear spray and read up on bears and how best to keep yourself safe. You never know when you may see one.

Be aware of wildlife

Be considerate of the wildlife in the Canadian Rockies. It's a wild and open place and you're exploring the animals' home so be respectful of that. In the Canadian Rockies, there may be bears, elks and many other wild animals and you don't want to cause them or yourself any harm.

Bring layers and wear appropriate clothing

In the mountains, the weather can change in a tick and bringing layers is so important to prepare yourself for the cold, rain or snow. I would recommend bringing thermals, a raincoat or waterproof layer, fleeces and coats. It all depends on the time of year you visit, but at night, the temperature can drop if you're visiting in warmer seasons. I visited in the autumn and it was mild in the day, but thermals were needed sometimes and my raincoat too.

Always stick to the trail

You'll see signs for this on every trail but it's so important as you never know what's beyond the trail, such as uneven terrain and wildlife. Keep your wits about you and always be aware, you are in the wilderness.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Are you excited to visit?

Thank you for reading <3