I planned and drove the 500 mile road trip from Vancouver to Banff during August, and I’m here to share with what I learned along the way. Although August is technially summer, alpine weather can change quickly. In the Rockies, August means 80°F in the valleys and 40°F (or lower) on the glaciers and at night in Banff. You aren’t packing for one climate; you’re packing for three.
Let’s talk style. This is a hiking, outdoor adventure, but you still want to look cute while being comfortable in all kinds of weather. It’s mountain chic and you want to look the part in all those photos you plan to take. Let’s hit the high spots first.
What to bring:
- Shoes you can walk and hike in
- Casual but stylish tops
- Leggings and hiking pants
- A practical cross body bag
- Sunscreen and sunglasses
- Your passport, even if you live in the US
- Raincoat
- Sun and rain hat
- Bear spray, if you plan to do much hiking in the mountains
What to leave at home:
- Big hiking boots
- Formal wear
- Dressy shoes
- Umbrellas (too windy in many places)
- Valuable jewelry
Now let’s talk details.
Tops for the Canadian Rockies
These tops from OGL are my absolute favorite.
OGL Move Brami Tank
OGL ProWarm Turtleneck
Jackets
Layers are the key to a vacation across the Canadian Rockies in August. You start with warm, shorts and tank weather in Vancouver and Whistler and move to pants and jackets in Revelstoke and Banff. Bring at least one waterproof rain jacket that you can layer over a jacket like this with a tank under and you’ll be set for a day of any kind of weather!
Hiking Pants
I don’t care what your GenZ kid tells you, leggings and hiking pants are still great for adventures in the outdoors. They don’t drag around in the mud and are easy to move in.
KUHL Leggings
KUHL Trekr Pant
Shoes You Can Walk In
I can’t stand hot feet, so I look for sandals I can hike in when I’m in a warmish climate. These Skechers Women’s On-The-go 600-Brilliancy Sport Sandal have never failed me, even after 20,000 steps, and they come in multiple colors. Bring more than one pair.
Bags and Accessories
A simple, cross-body bag that’s water resistant with lots of pockets is perfect for a trip across the Canadian Rockies. I recommend the MHCNLL Crossbody Bag as there are plenty of pockets, room for a water bottle and a safe place for your passport. I carry the black one, but it comes in multiple colors.
The Great Outdoor LBD
I like dresses when it’s warm enough to wear them, and this one was perfect for our day in Vancouver. No bra needed and still stylish enough for the city, but casual enough for my seaplane ride! Bonus points, I could wear the turtleneck under it with the leggings in the colder climates.
Ready to see the route? Check out my Ultimate 7-Day Vancouver to Banff Itinerary to see exactly where I wore all this gear.