Banff National Park

The park contains 2,564 square miles of wilderness. Within the park sits the town of Banff, situated at 4,539 feet above sea level, and the picturesque mountain village of Lake Louise, sitting at 5,000 feet in elevation.

Thanks to its stunning beauty, the park has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Wherever you travel inside and around the national park, you'll find mountains and glaciers, beautiful alpine tundra, colorful wildflowers, waterfalls, and plenty of animals including deer, elk, moose, bighorn sheep, cougars, wolves, and grizzly bears.

Photo used under Creative Commons from inu-photo, on Flickr

Besides admiring the scenery and taking lots of photos of this breathtaking area, you'll find many activities to keep you and your family busy during your stay in Banff National Park.

In the winter, snow sports are the name of the game. Whether you're a downhiller, Nordic skier, snowboarder, or snowmobile enthusiast, you're sure to find some amazing terrain to keep you busy.

Downhill skiers can choose from 5 area ski resorts: Lake Louise, Sunshine, Nakiska, Fortress Mountain, and Mt. Norquay. Each offers well-groomed trails of varying skill levels, perfect for the whole family, from novices to extreme skiers.

Other opportunities to play in the ice and snow include hockey, ice skating, dog sledding, sleigh rides, ice fishing, and backcountry tours.

Lake Louise Ski Resort
Official website of The Lake Louise Ski Area. Provides information about tickets, hotels and lodging, rentals, and their ski school, as well as photos, snow conditions, and trail maps.

Sunshine Village Ski & Snowboard Resort in Banff
Offers information on snow reports and ski conditions, ski-in ski-out accommodations, lift tickets, and ski and snowboard rentals. Includes photos and trail maps.

Nakiska Ski Area
Learn about rentals and lessons, tickets and passes, ski conditions and snow reports, as well as lodging. Provides trail maps and photos.

Fortress Mountain Cat Skiing
Describes the experience and the day's schedule. Includes a snow report, equipment checklist, and booking information.

Mt. Norquay Ski Resort
Tells about ski conditions, their terrain park, tubing, and snow shoeing. Includes details about tickets and passes, snow school, rentals, and race training. With photos, trail maps, and lodging information.

Photo used under Creative Commons from laszlo-photo, on Flickr

The summer months are Banff's busiest. A large percentage of visitors to this beautiful Canadian park arrive between June and September, especially families.

Summer activities are plentiful and include hiking, backpacking, camping, fishing, and mountain biking on the many ski trails on Banff's mountains.

Families especially love canoeing and kayaking on the nearby Columbia River while whitewater enthusiasts can find plenty of exciting rapids on other area rivers.

Golfing is also popular and, at this high altitude, your golf ball will fly further than at sea level. What could be better!

Photo used under Creative Commons from Don DeBold, on Flickr

Local tour companies have come up with a number of ways to explore the beauty of Banff National Park. You can see the sights via Hummer, train, plane, on a touring bike or on a magnificent walking tour.

Your preference will probably depend on the time of year, the temperature outside, and the amount of snow on the ground.

During the very busy summer months and the peak ski season, it's tough to get a last-minute room of your choice in Banff. That means planning ahead is essential. If you choose to visit during the off-peak times, the cost is less and accommodations are easier to find.

You'll have a myriad of lodging locations from which to choose. In Banff National Park, visitors will find everything from luxurious five-star resorts to campgrounds with tents and everything in between. With a wealth of accommodations at varying costs, you'll be sure to find something that fits your budget.

Photo © Michael Shake | Dreamstime.com

Banff National Park
Provides information about things to do, places to stay, area events, and planning your trip to Banff.

Banff National Park - from Wikipedia
Learn about the history, geography, geology, climate, wildlife, and tourism at this national park.

Hiking in Banff National Park
Hike Alberta offers maps and descriptions of hiking trails at Banff.

Banff National Park Activities
Information on hiking, canoeing, mountain climbing, skiing, and many other activities in this national park.

Intro photo: Creative Commons from Alaskan Dude, on Flickr
Bow Lake, Banff National Park: Creative Commons from inu-photo, on Flickr
Victoria Peak in Banff National Park: Creative Commons from laszlo-photo, on Flickr
Lake Louise, Banff National Park: Creative Commons from Don DeBold, on Flickr
Rainbow over Mount Rundle: © Michael Shake | Dreamstime.com