I was one of those people who thought Lake Louise and the Canadian Rockies were too pretty. Like, suspiciously photogenic.

An adventurous ice climber scales the side of a frozen waterfall above Lake Louise. It’s one of several winter activities people can do when visiting Banff National Park and the surrounding area.

We all know about hot spots like Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper – they're what help make Alberta a go-to destination. Fair enough, since they're home to some of the most spectacular scenery in Canada ...

These dramatic 181 miles of Alberta—passing through and by Jasper, Kootenay, Yoho, and Banff National Parks plus ... the opaque aquamarine waters of Lake Louise. Bike here?

Canoeing and kayaking are also allowed on the lake ... from the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge Boathouse, which is located south of the lakes. Fishing is also permitted, but a national park license ...

Winter has turned Edith Lake just outside the Canadian town of Jasper into a pale sheet of turquoise. Across the icy surface on the ­opposite shore, log cabins hunker among spruce and pine trees, ...