Banff Travel Guide

The Canadian Rockies are a majestic, mountain landscape, full of peaks, glaciers, lakes, waterfalls, canyons and caves stretching from the Montana border up to the Liard River in British Columbia. Five national parks are located in the Canadian Rockies, including Banff, Jasper, Yoho, Kootenay, and Waterton Lakes, as well as numerous other provincial parks. For many, the Canadian Rockies are the iconic symbol of wild spaces, and they are deservedly famous for their beauty. Although the Rockies are not the tallest mountain range in Canada, many people mistake them for it, as their sheer ruggedness can feel overwhelming when you're up close.

Dating back to 1885, Banff National Park was Canada's first national park and only the second national park in the world. In the 1888, the Canadian Pacific Railway built the Banff Springs Hotel to encourage tourism to Western Canada. Now, it is a world-famous icon, visited by almost 5 million tourists per year. CPR also built Chateau Lake Louise on the shores of the beautiful, emerald lake. Banff National Park is a year-round tourist destination, offering majestic scenery to hikers and skiers alike. Located only 100 kilometers west of Calgary, Banff offers its many visitors quaint shops, world-class restaurants, luxurious hotels, and curious wildlife, such as elk, deer, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, and black bears. Banff Avenue is the heart of the town, but across the river are the Banff Springs Hotel, the Upper Hot Springs, and the famous Banff Springs Golf Course. Banff National Park has three ski hills: Lake Louise, Sunshine, and Mount Norquay. The Icefield Parkway to Jasper and Highway 93 to Radium are possibly the most beautiful scenic highways in the world.

Where to Go in Banff