Andrews, D. Larraine. The Cowboy Trail. Victoria: Heritage House, 2006. This book explores the route north through the foothills from the U.S. border in the south to Highway 16 in the north. Includes detailed information on everything from ranch vacations to toponomy.

Backroad Mapbooks. Vancouver: Mussio Ventures. This atlas series is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts, with detailed maps and highlights such as campgrounds, fishing spots, and swimming holes; www.backroadmapbooks.com.

Gem Trek Publishing. Victoria, British Columbia ]. This company produces maps for all regions of the Canadian Rockies. Relief shading clearly and concisely shows elevation, and all hiking trails have been plotted using GPS. On the back of each map are descriptions of attractions and hikes, along with general practical and educational information; www.gemtrek.com.

Gilchrist, John. My Favourite Restaurants in Calgary and Banff. Calgary: Escurial Incorporated, 2009. Every city has a food critic whom everyone knows by name. In Calgary, it’s John Gilchrist, and, as the name suggests, these are his favorite restaurants.

MapArt. Driving maps for all of Canada, including provinces and cities. Maps are published as old-fashioned foldout versions, as well as laminated versions and in atlas form; www.mapart.com.

The Milepost. Bellevue, WA: Vernon Publications. This annual publication is a must-have for those traveling through western Canada and Alaska. The maps and logged highway descriptions are incredibly detailed. Most Canadian bookstores stock The Milepost, or order by calling 800/726-4707 or visiting www.milepost.com.

Patton, Brian. Parkways of the Canadian Rockies. Banff: Summerthought Publishing, 2008. A comprehensive map and driving guide to all major highways. Includes color photography and details of many short hikes.