Explore Canada's oldest national park, spread across more than 650,0000 hectares of pristine natural environment.
Banff National Park is a dream come true for anyone who loves the outdoors, adventure sports and the sheer grandeur of the Rockies. Winter sees the arrival of the skiing season, while massively different hiking experiences can be found during snow-covered winter and verdant summertime. You can also experience the thrill of descending the mountain rapids, or follow thrilling forest trails on a mountain bike.Get your map and go tramping on the routes through the hills above Peyto Lake and Lake Moraine. Your elevation will grant you fabulous views down onto these glacier-fed lakes – a perfect spot to take memorable photographs. Lake Minnewanka is widely used for boating, and it offers plenty of opportunities for a relaxing day's fishing.Alongside the countless trails which can be followed through the mountains, there are also a number of built walkways, allowing access to hard-to-reach places. The walkway cut into the vertical walls of the gorge at Johnston Canyon is one such example.For a more relaxing day out, try a trip on the gondolas or chair lifts. Nearby Sulphur Mountain can be easily reached on the Banff Gondola, a trip which gives a wide range of panoramic views, broadening out as you climb.If skiing is your thing, there are three ski resorts in the national park. Sunshine Village encompasses three mountains, and has slopes to suit a wide range of abilities. From first-time skiers to hardened veterans, everyone's catered for here (including off-piste skiing). When you’ve built up your thirst after a hard day whizzing downhill, enjoy après-ski drinks on the side of the mountain.There are two towns in the park, Banff and Lake Louise, offering a choice of accommodation from stylish hotels to simple hostels. Fairmont Banff Springs offers that extra touch of luxury.There are plenty of options for renting skis, bikes, kayaks, fishing rods, and anything else you might need during your stay and, if you don't have a car, you can also rent one of these to drive to the surrounding attractions, or you could take one of the many regular shuttle buses.
