Banff National Park - Alberta, Canada

Banff The Banff town area is flat and easy to get around, in contrast to the beautiful mountainous scenery that surrounds it. A highlight for us was the Bow River trail which follows the Bow River down past the Bow Falls. The rapids and the falls were fabulous - the volume of water flowing over the falls was amazing. Just past the falls, the Spray River joins the Bow River on the long journey east to Hudson Bay (via the Saskatchewan River and Lake Manitoba). Overlooking this scene is the impressive Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel.

Places we visited using Banff as our base.....

Bow Valley Parkway

We took Highway 1A (the Bow Valley Parkway) on our trip towards Lake Louise. Allow time to stop at the many scenic lookouts along the way - some fabulous views with the railway track winding through the valley. We were lucky enough to see some elk grazing quietly by the side of the road. If you see the traffic in front slow down - it's a sign to keep a look out for wildlife. We had a very special treat on our drive back to Banff. We saw a small black bear with very good road sense, wait until the traffic passed before proceeding across Highway 1!

Johnston Canyon

Johnston Canyon can be reached from the Bow Valley Parkway and it is worth a visit. There is a well maintained hiking track to the Lower Falls (1.1kms which is wheel-chair accessible) and the Upper Falls (2.7kms). The Upper Falls have a spectacular 40m drop (one of the best viewpoints is through a small cave - be prepared to get a bit wet). We didn't intend to walk the entire distance but the scenery was great, so we kept going. We saw many ground squirrels and had fun following them around (...and they enjoyed following us - you never quite knew where they would pop up next!) The track didn't cause any problems for our pre-teen children. We had a hearty lunch at the cafe near the car park. There is also a slightly longer walk to the Ink Pots (series of blue-green water pools) if time permits.

Moraine Lake

This lake is a fabulous turquoise colour - surrounded by towering peaks, it is just stunning. Like most lakes in the area, there are walking tracks of varying length and difficulty. The lake does not receive as many visitors as its neighbour (Lake Louise) but it is worth the 13 km trip. We were there in summer and there was a very cold breeze coming off the lake so make sure you have a coat handy. There was also a canoe/kayak hire place down by the lake. On a warmer day it would have been fun.

Lake Louise

Probably the most well-known lake in the Canadian Rockies - with its imposing hotel (the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise). The best time to see the reflections of the mountains in the lake is in the morning (and the crowds are usually smaller). There are hiking tracks around both the north and south sides of the lake. Near Lake Louise is the gondola that travels to the top of Mt Whitehorn in summer. As well as the fabulous views, there are many hiking tracks and you can enjoy a buffet breakfast/lunch at the Lodge of the Ten Peaks.

Vermilion Lakes

There are 3 shallow lakes just outside Banff - like the other glacial lakes, their colour is amazing. They are a popular spot for canoeing and viewing of wildlife.

Lake Minnewanka

Located north east of Banff, Lake Minnewanka is the largest lake in this area. It is a popular spot for boating and picnics.

Icefields Parkway

To get a real feeling for the Rockies, travel along the Icefields Parkway (Highway 93). The 230km scenic trip starts near Lake Louise (at the junction with the Trans Canada Highway) and continues north to Jasper. There is a fabulous map on the Parks Canada website which shows the Points of Interest along this route. The road travels along a series of glacial rivers. Coming from the south you follow the Bow River towards its source in the Waputik Icefied. Further north you meet up with the North Saskatchewan River with its source in the icefields of northern part of Banff National Park. The map shows all the lookouts, mountains, glaciers, waterfalls etc. Don't miss the short hike to the Peyto Lake lookout - the views are stunning (can also be very cold as it is quite exposed). The Sunwapta Pass marks the boundary between the Banff National Park and Jasper National Park. There is not much accommodation in this area - we stayed at The Crossing (not far from the intersection with Highway 11 to Edmonton). The resort is quite isolated and is surrounded on all sides by mountains.

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