Looking for a shortish road trip? The drive from Vancouver, B.C. to Banff, Alberta might be the thing!
Banff, Alberta is a world class resort destination throughout the year. Located in the Canadian Rocky Mountains bordering British Columbia and Alberta, Banff is approximately 1.5 hours from Calgary and a 9 hour drive from Vancouver. You could fly to Calgary and take the short route to Banff, but what would be the fun of that!
Why Would You Want To Go To Banff?
Lake Louise Blue
1) Bluest Water Ever
There is a reason Banff is the location of the most instagramable photos! You know the ones - girl sitting with her back to you in a red canoe on the bluest of waters? Having been there I can now assure you that those waters pictured are true to colour! Definitely no Clarion filter needed. The reason the water is so blue (or green or turquoise depending on your colour perception) has to do with silt that flows down to the lakes from the surrounding glacier mountains. When the sun shines on the water, it takes on that incredibly bright turquoise hue. (There is probably more detail to this explanation but I am not a geologist) July and August are the best months to see the bluest of waters. The best (and most popular) lakes to view are: Peyto Lake, Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, and Bow Lake. An important note that these lakes are packed with tourists during the summer so parking is very limited.
Map of Banff's Bluest Lakes
2) Lots Of Hikes
Because the drive from Vancouver to Banff was extremely long (9 hours) besides stopping at gas stations and numerous fast food chains for snacks, we stopped for a hike around the midway point. As you enter the Glacier Park, many of these short hikes are marked on the road. Well maintained boardwalks and lots of signs with nature facts provide a respite from the confines of the car. On the way up we went to Skunk Cabbage Trail (appropriately named) outside of Revelstoke and the way back we stopped at Giant Cedars Boardwalk. Both hikes are short (under a half hour round trip) and well groomed. Note that there is pay parking through the park at Giant Cedars. Both areas also offer washrooms and picnic facilities.
Skunk Cabbage Boardwalk
Additionally, there are lots of hikes in Banff itself. We did the Bow Lake Trail. Again, a well maintained trail, it meanders along the Bow Lake. Starting from the Fairmont Banff Springs, we walked along the golf course and past the Bow Lake Falls which are very cool and an amazing turquoise colour. Other popular hikes include the Tunnel Mountain (which can be accessed from downtown Banff), Johnston Canyon and Moraine Lake Trail.
The Bow Lake Falls
3) You Will Probably See A Bear
Banff is home to black and grizzly bears. Because sightings are frequent (and grizzlies are no joke!) we came prepared, bearing (pun intended) our bell, whistle and bear spray (which fell out of the backpack breaking the safety seal... it was then we realized we have more chance of spraying ourselves with the spray than a bear!) Some of the trails had signs warning of grizzly bear habitats. But despite our preparations the only bear we saw was a tranquilized one being loaded into a truck off the highway (poor thing).
But if you don't see a bear you will most likely see another animal since Banff is home to more than fifty species of mammals. We saw deer, big horned sheep, and lots of rabbits although we were hoping for those popular photo-opts of moose sauntering through town...
4) The Scenery
This is the part of the Banff trip that I thought might be the most overrated. Having grown up going to Whistler, I was used to snow-capped mountains. But once we were in the Rockies, I realized I was mistaken. They are totally different than the Cascade Mountains. So much pointier, chiselled, and rocky!!! You just cannot take a bad photo on the drive up.
The Banff Springs Hotel
5) The Banff Springs Hotel
I'm already a big fan of Fairmont Hotels, but the Fairmont Banff Springs was spectacular! It really does look like a castle sitting on a hill. We didn't stay there (as a room in summer high season was more than $700 a night!), instead opting for a more economical condo in the town of Canmore, about a twenty minute drive away. The hotel includes several places to dine, but if you are after gorgeous mountain views choose the outdoor patio. And if you are into golf, the Fairmont Banff Springs has a world class golf course which again affords incredible scenery.
I hope this post has convinced you to check out Banff for yourself. It really is a deserving world-class destination, not only because of the gorgeous views but also because of the variety of activities it affords. I wish I had been there longer to see more! So, in my view, Banff was definitely worth the hype.
Banff, Alberta is a world class resort destination throughout the year. Located in the Canadian Rocky Mountains bordering British Columbia and Alberta, Banff is approximately 1.5 hours from Calgary and a 9 hour drive from Vancouver. You could fly to Calgary and take the short route to Banff, but what would be the fun of that!
Why Would You Want To Go To Banff?
1) Bluest Water Ever
There is a reason Banff is the location of the most instagramable photos! You know the ones - girl sitting with her back to you in a red canoe on the bluest of waters? Having been there I can now assure you that those waters pictured are true to colour! Definitely no Clarion filter needed. The reason the water is so blue (or green or turquoise depending on your colour perception) has to do with silt that flows down to the lakes from the surrounding glacier mountains. When the sun shines on the water, it takes on that incredibly bright turquoise hue. (There is probably more detail to this explanation but I am not a geologist) July and August are the best months to see the bluest of waters. The best (and most popular) lakes to view are: Peyto Lake, Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, and Bow Lake. An important note that these lakes are packed with tourists during the summer so parking is very limited.
2) Lots Of Hikes
Because the drive from Vancouver to Banff was extremely long (9 hours) besides stopping at gas stations and numerous fast food chains for snacks, we stopped for a hike around the midway point. As you enter the Glacier Park, many of these short hikes are marked on the road. Well maintained boardwalks and lots of signs with nature facts provide a respite from the confines of the car. On the way up we went to Skunk Cabbage Trail (appropriately named) outside of Revelstoke and the way back we stopped at Giant Cedars Boardwalk. Both hikes are short (under a half hour round trip) and well groomed. Note that there is pay parking through the park at Giant Cedars. Both areas also offer washrooms and picnic facilities.
Additionally, there are lots of hikes in Banff itself. We did the Bow Lake Trail. Again, a well maintained trail, it meanders along the Bow Lake. Starting from the Fairmont Banff Springs, we walked along the golf course and past the Bow Lake Falls which are very cool and an amazing turquoise colour. Other popular hikes include the Tunnel Mountain (which can be accessed from downtown Banff), Johnston Canyon and Moraine Lake Trail.
The Bow Lake Falls
3) You Will Probably See A Bear
Banff is home to black and grizzly bears. Because sightings are frequent (and grizzlies are no joke!) we came prepared, bearing (pun intended) our bell, whistle and bear spray (which fell out of the backpack breaking the safety seal... it was then we realized we have more chance of spraying ourselves with the spray than a bear!) Some of the trails had signs warning of grizzly bear habitats. But despite our preparations the only bear we saw was a tranquilized one being loaded into a truck off the highway (poor thing).
But if you don't see a bear you will most likely see another animal since Banff is home to more than fifty species of mammals. We saw deer, big horned sheep, and lots of rabbits although we were hoping for those popular photo-opts of moose sauntering through town...
4) The Scenery
This is the part of the Banff trip that I thought might be the most overrated. Having grown up going to Whistler, I was used to snow-capped mountains. But once we were in the Rockies, I realized I was mistaken. They are totally different than the Cascade Mountains. So much pointier, chiselled, and rocky!!! You just cannot take a bad photo on the drive up.
5) The Banff Springs Hotel
I'm already a big fan of Fairmont Hotels, but the Fairmont Banff Springs was spectacular! It really does look like a castle sitting on a hill. We didn't stay there (as a room in summer high season was more than $700 a night!), instead opting for a more economical condo in the town of Canmore, about a twenty minute drive away. The hotel includes several places to dine, but if you are after gorgeous mountain views choose the outdoor patio. And if you are into golf, the Fairmont Banff Springs has a world class golf course which again affords incredible scenery.
I hope this post has convinced you to check out Banff for yourself. It really is a deserving world-class destination, not only because of the gorgeous views but also because of the variety of activities it affords. I wish I had been there longer to see more! So, in my view, Banff was definitely worth the hype.
Comments
Post a Comment