Destination Banff, Glacier, and Yellowstone National Parks: Banff National Park

 In the weeks before arriving in Banff, I read several travel guides, travel blogs, and watch informative and entertaining videos on YouTube. 

    Before I travel anywhere, I do a lot of homework to familiarize myself with the destination. I believe it enhances a trip because it provides a roadmap, so to speak, of places I want to see on my adventure. 

    For those who might be unfamiliar with Banff National Park, it is Canada's oldest national park, created in 1885 as Rocky Mountains Park. It is in Alberta, a western province, and about 80 miles from Calgary.

Gondola on Sulphur Mountain

    After dinner with travel companions and getting a good night's sleep, our first stop was the gondola ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain. It takes eight minutes to travel the 2,300-foot to the summit, a smooth lift that is a peaceful hum as you take in a panorama of the Canadian Rockies. For those who have the time and energy, it takes two to three hours to hike to the top. I had neither the time nor the stamina to undertake that physical challenge.

 

Boardwalk leading to weather station

    Once atop Sulphur Mountain, at 8,041 feet (give or take a few hundred feet) it rewards you with magnificent views of Bow Valley. There are boardwalks that take you to different vantage points, including Sanson's Peak, a historic site where Norman Sanson (1862-1949) traveled by foot once a week for nearly 30 years to record weather data. There is also a visitors' center with two restaurants, gift shops, restrooms and viewing balconies. 

Lake Louise

   The next stop was Lake Louise, one of the most beautiful bodies of water in the world, with its glimmering turquoise at an elevation of 5,200 feet carved out of the surrounding mountains. It's not a large lake. I hiked from one end to the other, about 1.5 miles. On the chilly lake were canoers, paddle boaters. and surfboarders. I even stopped and took a photo of a young couple braving the frigid waters (less than 60 degrees Fahrenheit in August, so not suitable for swimming). 

Athabasca Glacier

  The last full day in Banff included a drive on the scenic Icefields Parkway to Jasper National Park, where we went to the Athabasca Glacier, the most visited glacier in North America. It has been receding about 16 feet a year, so it's gradually melting away (but not in my lifetime). We also stopped at the emerald-colored Peyto and Bow lakes for those Kodak moments and to soak in the scenery. The Canadians impressed me with their apparent concern for the environment and providing a protective and natural habitat for wildlife. 

 

Street view of Banff

  As for the town of Banff, it is touristy, as expected, with lots of souvenir shops, restaurants, and motels. But it was clean and inviting. I don't recall seeing any graffiti on walls or buildings. 

    Banff National Park is a place I'd like to visit again. It's a paradise for those who love the outdoors, from hiking to skiing to bicycling. I was told they really dressed the area up for Christmas. It's certainly a destination for all seasons.

    Until the next time . . .

 

Destination Banff, Glacier, and Yellowstone National Parks: The Beginning

 Early in August my wife and I went on an 11-day tour of Banff, Glacier, and Yellowstone National Parks. Being nature lovers, it ranks as one of the most scenic trips we've had in our travels in the past few years. 

With Covid-19 still raising its ugly head around the world, we were relieved to know that Canada only required the recommended vaccines, with the understanding they could still test us upon arrival in Calgary. But our tour company required us to have a negative Covid test within 72 hours of departure. We passed that test. 

Calgary International Airport

But our tour still got off to a shaky start as American Airlines canceled our flight to Calgary about 12 hours before our departure time at Blue Grass Airport. We tried to make other arrangements but to no avail, so we left at the same time the following day. Better late than never. 

That trimmed our 12-day tour to 11 days. We were supposed to tour Calgary on the first day. Instead, the tour company provided a limousine when we arrived at the airport. The driver whisked us to our lodging in Banff, arriving about 30 minutes before the tour bus carrying our 31 fellow travelers. 

The rest of the tour was simply wonderful. The only rain came the night before our return home. It stopped soon enough for us to take a quick walking tour of Jackson Hole.

Banff exceeded expectations with its towering mountains, gleaming glaciers, lustrous lakes, and breathtaking beauty. Glacier was scenic as well as we traveled the Going-to-the-Sun road to Logan Pass, viewing the lakes, waterfalls, and occasional wildlife. And Yellowstone was like an out-of-this-world experience with its geysers, prismatic pools, canyon, and wildlife. We finished with a raft ride on the Snake River with the Grand Tetons providing a dramatic backdrop to our adventure.

Over the next few days, I'll have separate posts about our tour stops. There were a few interesting places along the way that I'll be sharing with you.  I hope you come along for the ride.

Until the next time . . .