BANFF AND JASPER, ALBERTA, CANADA
Of the thousands of national parks scattered around the world today, Banff and Jasper in Alberta, Canada are among the oldest in the world. Each year, millions of visitors come to Banff to marvel at the emerald waters of Lake Louise.
Stunning reflection of ten peaks at Lake Moraine and drive beneath the towering jagged peaks lining the Icefields Parkway. Snow-capped peaks, glistening glaciers and sweeping vistas are just one part of the allure of Banff National Park.
How to ge here.
Banff and Lake Louise are about 90 miles west of Calgary, Alberta. Many national and international flights fly into Alberta. You can take a shuttle bus to Lake Louise from Alberta or rent a car.
Where to Stay
Book your accommodation or campsite. Reserve a place at one of the park’s 13 campsites in advance through the Park Canda website or by calling the park office. Three campsites remain open year-round, and the rest operate from May to October or June to September, depending on location.
The town of Banff and the charmingly hamlet of Lake Louise have a huge range of accommodations for all traveller – from luxurious hotels, family-friendly condos, cozy bed and breakfasts, or budget-conscious hostels.
Top places to see in Banff and Jasper
These four places are among the most stunning locations and will take your breath away.
Lake Louise
The village of Lake Louise, just off Hwy 1, is little more than an outdoor shopping mall, a gas station and a handful of hotels. The object of all your yearnings is 5km away by car or an equitable distance on foot along the pleasantly wooded Louise Creek trail, if the bears aren‘t out on patrol (check at the visitors center).
The Bow Valley Parkway between Banff Town and Lake Louise is slightly slower, but much more scenic, than Hwy 1.
Lake Louise also has a widely lauded ski resort and some equally enticing cross-country options. Thirteen kilometers to the southeast along a winding seasonal road is another spectacularly located body of water, Moraine Lake, which some heretics claim is even more beguiling than its famous sibling.
Moraine Lake
Moraine Lake is a glacially-fed lake in Banff National Park, outside the Village of Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada. It is situated in the Valley of the Ten Peaks, at an elevation of approximately 6,183 feet .
The lake, being glacially fed, does not reach its crest until mid to late June. When it is full, it reflects a distinctive shade of blue. The colour is due to the refraction of light off the rock flour deposited in the lake on a continual basis.
The Rockpile Trail along the actual moraine is approximately 300 metres long, The view of the lake from the top of the rockpile is one of the most photographed locations in all of Canada.
That view of the mountains behind the lake in Valley of the Ten Peaks is known as the Twenty Dollar View, as Moraine Lake was featured on the reverse side of the 1969 and 1979 issues of the Canadian twenty dollar bill.
Peyto Lake
Peyto Lake is a glacier-fed lake located in Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies. The lake itself is easily accessed from the Icefields Parkway. During the summer, significant amounts of glacial rock flour flow into the lake, and these suspended rock particles give the lake a bright, turquoise colour.
Because of its bright colour, photos of the lake often appear in illustrated books, and the area around the lake is a popular sightseeing spot for tourists in the park. The lake is best seen from Bow Summit, the highest point on the Icefields Parkway.
Peyto Lake is in Jasper National park and is about an hour and half drive from the Banff national park along the Icefield parkway.
Ice field Parkway
The Columbia Icefield is located on the Icefields Parkway/Hwy 93N that runs between Lake Louise and Jasper.Distance from Banff 195km, 2 hours 40 min. From Lake Louise 130km, 1 hour 40 min, from Jasper 105km 1 hour 25 min. Driving times will vary with road conditions and traffic.
Rated as one of the top drives in the world by Condé Nast Traveller, the Icefield Parkway is a 232 km stretch of double-lane highway winding along the Continental Divide through soaring rocky mountain peaks, icefields and vast sweeping valleys.
Gorgeous reflection on the still waters of Hebert Lake on the Icefield Parkway
