Canada

Banff National Park Travel Guide

by Brian from OutsideHow.com

Banff National Park is one of the most beautiful parks you will find in Canada. It is a national park and it can be found along the Alberta-British Columbia border about 1 and 1/2 hours from Calgary.

The park offers plenty of greenery, natural beauty in the form of mountain peaks, plenty of diverse wildlife, many hiking trails, stunning lakes, and the unique town of Banff with plenty to do and see. The atmosphere you will find there is one of a kind and it is very peaceful. It makes the park one of the best places to visit in Canada.

Best Time to Visit Banff National Park

There is no doubt, the best time period to visit Banff would be anytime between June through August. You can also visit from December through March. Typically those who are looking to spend more time outdoors are going to want to wait for the warmer temperatures.

However, the people looking to ski are likely going to want to stick to venturing out when the temperatures are the coolest.

Thus, it can depend on what you are going there to do. No matter when you end up choosing to visit, you should be bringing a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen because you will find the sun at these higher altitudes to be very strong.

Things To Do In Banff National Park

Lake Louise

The beautiful Lake Louise is the true jewel of the region of the Banff National Park.
Come winter, this area also becomes a ski resort, North America’s largest, and is one that is very popular with not only snowboarders and skiers but also those wanting to try other winter sports, like tubing, dog sledding, and snowshoeing. Your horse-drawn sleigh ride can be a truly magical experience.

And in summer, the lake becomes even more spectacular, when approached through the biking and hiking trails, that offer you scenic views of the towering Canadian Rockies.

Moraine Lake

Moraine Lake is just one more of the famous lakes in Banff National Park, situated in the Ten Peaks rugged valley. This body of water is entirely fed by water from a glacier and is a spot that is a highly popular photographic spot in Banff, with its turquoise blue waters that are a fantastic bright shade.

All around the lake area are many biking and hiking trails, that allow you to witness the view of the lake, also called the “Twenty Dollar View”, because it appeared on Canadian twenty-dollar bills issued between 1969 and 1979.

Canadian Rockies Whyte Museum

The Whyte Museum acts to serve as a great introduction to the area’s visitors, especially about the history of the Rockies and the people who inhabited this area over the years. Water is a natural resource that has always been important throughout civilization, and the exhibitions in the museum are mostly related to this.

Banff Gondola

You can experience the impressive views of this area, in a most relaxed way if you opt for the Banff Gondola.
You need to go just 5 minutes out of Banff to allow the gondola to take you to an observation point that is 2281m or 7484ft above sea level and overlooks six mountain ranges as well as the Bow Valley.

Bow Falls

Head to Bow Falls, if you want to avoid crowds, but you will need to go on a hiking trail that is particularly arduous so that you can appreciate the natural beauty of Banff.

It is an area that is popular with film fans as they recognize it from its appearance in Hollywood movies, like the “River of No Return”, that starred Marilyn Monroe.

Banff Centre

A cultural venue in the region, the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, was founded in 1933 to serve as an intersection between the arts and ideas. The center’s innovative programs inspire its visitors to unleash any creative potential that they have.

Keep an eye on its website, so that you do not miss the many events, that include dance, music, film and theatre performances, and also information about the schedule of the annual festivals program, especially the Banff Mountain Festival and the Banff International String Quartet Competition that celebrates film and local literature.

Columbian Icefields

The largest icefield at one place, the Columbian Icefields, are situated in northwestern region of the Banff National Park. A 90-minute tour “Glacier Adventure” is offered by Brewster Adventures in which a vehicle of special design takes you on a drive of the icefield’s surface and disembarks you directly on to one of the world’s most accessible glacier, the Athabasca Glacier.

There is the Columbia Icefield Glacier Discovery Centre that has a factual display on the history of the glacier, plus a 1km skywalk with a glass bottom, that allows you incredible views of the area 280m below.

Upper Hot Springs Pool

At over 5000 feet (1524m), and nestled in the Rocky Mountains are the Banff Upper Springs, the highest naturally occurring hot mineral springs in Canada. There are amenities here that you will find in an outdoor spa, in this natural pool that was first discovered in 1883 and has a natural heat that is near to 40C or 104F.

The springs can give you a relaxing and invigorating experience, especially in the quieter morning hours when the atmosphere is peaceful and allows you to enjoy the scenery surrounding you as you look across the Mount Rundle valley.

Cave And Basin National Historic Site

In 1883, after three railway workers came across this cave and the hot springs in it, it led to the founding of the national park system of Canada ad also led to the site being one of the most significant landmarks in the country.

There are a series of interactive exhibits here that will give you more information that include a visual experience on four screens of Canada’s protected places network, as well as a tour of the original cave, where the guide will tell you about the culture and history of this area that has a lot of history. Caves have an after-dark allure, and this can be experienced in the tours offered by Lantern Tours.

Lake Minnewanka

Just 3 miles or 5km out of Banff, this lake, Minnewanka, is Banff National Park’s largest body of water. It is a glacial lake and First Nation tribes named it the “Water of Spirits”.

The lake has a rich history, as for more than 100 centuries, people camped and hunted along its shores.

It is a spot that is popular all the year round because it offers many summertime activities like diving and mountain biking, while in the winter you can snowshoe or go cross-country skiing. You must be careful to be on the lookout for grizzly bears that come in large numbers to the area for feasting on berries.

Helicopter Tours in Banff

It is a cool thing to do to take a flightseeing tour in summer or winter over the Banff National Park. The mountains and lakes are always spectacular when you see them from the ground, so you can imagine how they will look from the air.

The weather dictates when helicopter tours can take place, but when they do, you can take flights that can last from anywhere between 20 minutes and an hour. Some of the flights can land you on the mountain top where you can have dinner, go on a hike, do yoga, or if you want, even get married. The possibilities are endless.

Banff Skiing

In winter, you can depend on Banff for some skiing and snowboarding that is world-class. Mount Norquay, Lake Louise Ski Resort, and Sunshine Village are the three ski resort that are famed, and situated within the National Park.

The smallest and cheapest is Mount Norquay that gives you, once a month, a cheap $2 ski pass. If you are a learner, this makes for a good option so that you do not waste money on a big mountain where you will not be able to make the big runs.

Both Lake Loise and Sunshime Village are big, with the first one being the biggest, and allow you to make a run that allows you to cross the continental divide so that in one run you ski in two provinces. Can anything be cooler than that?

Banff Rafting

Banff National Park and the adjacent British Columbia both have raging rivers, thus making rafting a summer activity that is fun and exciting.

Your biggest thrill can come in spring when the snow in the mountains starts to melt and the rivers have the most power. You can also go on a trip that is calm if you are more interested in scenic views than thrills.

Northern Lights Watch

A few times during the winter there is a chance that the night sky in Banff National Park will display the northern lights. Check on the space weather and the news so that you learn about recent solar activity and then find yourself a good spot, that is away from the pollution by lights, so that you can see this show of northern lights and take some awe-inspiring photos. The best spots are Bow Lake or Lake Minnewanka.

Fishing

There are several lakes within the park where fishing is permitted. The visitor center can get you a license and tell you about the rules for fishing in them. You can always try out ice fishing during the winter on frozen lakes.

Banff National Park Hotels

Moraine Lake Lodge features 33 rustic rooms with handmade wooden furniture. You can enjoy the Canadian Rocky Mountains as well as the Banff National Park from your balcony. It’s a beautiful and serene hotel.

Buffalo Mountain Lodge is the best place to take a break in winter or summer. You can enjoy any of the accommodation with spectacular views and exquisite dining.

The Post Hotel & Spa is located near Lake Louise. It is a few minutes from the ski resort. You can stay in any of the 97 rooms and enjoy exquisite dining from the various restaurants. Relax away in the indoor pool.

Emerald Lake Lodge is located close to Field with 85 rooms. Each of these rooms has rustic décor with on-site exquisite dining options.

Cathedral Mountain Lodge is found on the Kicking Horse River located near the Yoho National Park. It features 31 rooms decorated with rustic interior décor for the most unforgettable stay.

Finally, there’s Earl Grey B&B with oriental interior décor. You can enjoy delicious meals from the restaurant as you enjoy your relaxing vacation.

www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/ab/banff