Banff National Park: A Must-Visit for Mountain-Lovers
By Armaan Dhawan
Banff National Park is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful destinations in the world, and is a must-visit for anyone interested in nature. The park is 2,564 square miles, 96% of which is wilderness. Along with the neighboring parks of Jasper, Yoho, and Kootenay, Banff has been designated as a Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the park has also been a UNESCO World Heritage Site for 40 years.
Situated in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, Banff is filled with some of the most beautiful views in the world. Glacial lakes of every color of blue imaginable fill in the gaps between the massive mountains and steep cliffs. During winter, snow blankets the landscape, turning Banff into a winter wonderland, while wildlife is up and about throughout the tree-covered park in summer. Tourists visiting for the first time are recommended to go in summer, as many attractions may be closed in winter due to the heavy snowfall. However, skiing is quite popular in the area, and winter is the best time for that activity.
In addition to the beautiful views at Banff National Park, there is also a small town within the park (appropriately named Banff) where you can stay. Due to its perfect location, it also allows visitors staying outside of the park to pick up supplies or eat a filling meal without exiting Banff.
Here are some of Banff's most popular attractions:
Lake Louise: This large lake is positioned between two mountains and is known for its bright turquoise waters. Banff's Fairmont Chateau is also located on this lake, adding to its picturesque views. The lake also has some breathtaking hikes (see Attraction 5), with the best views coming from the Big Beehive viewpoint near Lake Agnes. Lake Louise, along with Moraine Lake, are the two most popular lakes in the park.
Moraine Lake: This glacial lake is one of the most beautiful in Banff, situated in a remote location in the middle of miles of forests and mountains. Multiple waterfalls flow into this azure blue lake, and due to its hard-to-reach nature, this lake is closed in the winter. In addition, to prevent overtourism, Moraine Lake is only reachable by official buses-- personal vehicles are not allowed.
Banff Gondola: This spectacular gondola ride, located right next to the town of Banff, carries you all the way to the top of Sulphur Mountain, allowing you to take in stunning 360-degree views of the landscape around the town while strolling down a boardwalk covering most of the top of the mountain.
Athabasca Glacier: While not technically located in the Banff National Park area, this attraction gives visitors the unique experience of walking on a glacier. Located in the neighboring national park of Jasper along the Icefields Parkway route, tourists begin by loading onto a massive bus that drives onto the glacier, where they get time to touch it and drink the pristine glacial water. However, due to its high demand, tourists need to book this attraction months in advance if going during peak months.
Hiking in general: Hiking across Banff can be tough due to the steep trails, but some of them can earn you some awesome views in the park. A couple that we recommend include all of the hikes at Lake Louise (Lakeshore, Lake Agnes, Plain of Six Glaciers), Parker Ridge, Healy Pass, Mistaya Canyon, and Johnston Canyon. Make sure not to miss some other easy hikes that can earn you more awe-inspiring views, such as the Moraine Lake Rockpile Trail or the short walk to the Peyto Lake viewpoint.
Lakes, lakes, and more lakes: In Banff, almost every lake is a different color and offers a different view. Our recommendation: visit every lake possible. Some of the best ones, apart from the lakes listed above, include Peyto Lake, Bow Lake, Lake Minnewanka, Vermilion Lakes, Maligne Lake, and Emerald Lake.
Cover image credit to Buffalo Jackson (Pinterest)