49 Banff National Park Facts To Read For Your Next Nature Trip

In Canada, Banff National Park is home to the country's most spectacular alpine views.

The park is much loved by those both near and far. More than 4 million people visit the site every year to immerse themselves in the tranquillity and breathtaking views.

2,564 sq mi (6,641 sq km) of Albertan wilderness make up the territory of Banff National Park. The area is home to 53 species of mammals, 311 bird species, and 844 species of plants, spread across the park's three ecoregions.

The natural hot springs of Sulphur Mountain, which later on became so instrumental in the foundation of the park, were discovered in 1883 by three railway workers. A series of passionate conflicts passed between those who wanted to commercialize the newly discovered springs, and those who wanted to keep them protected.

After the setting up of the Banff Hot Springs Reserve and the Banff Springs Hotel, Banff National Park was advertised as a tourist destination to attract the rich gentry. Soon, people began to arrive and settle in what we now call Banff town, which is home to around 8000 residents.

Banff is surrounded by a number of other national parks, such as Yoho and Kootenay, with British Columbia on the other side of the border.

Banff National Park has long been a standard for all national parks in Canada, along with the other renowned parks that make up the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site. Read on to find out what exactly this national treasure has to offer.

Location Of Banff National Park

Banff National Park is located in southwestern Alberta in the Canadian Rockies, just 25 mi (4o km) away from Kootenay National Park. You can drive there yourself, or book a scheduled bus/private service.

If you're traveling by flight, landing at Calgary International Airport will be your first step in the journey to the park.

A scenic ninety-minute drive along the divided Trans Canada Highway takes you straight into the major settlements, including Banff town. The drive is an easy one, where you'll be accompanied by the sight of the rolling Canadian Rockies and quaint farmlands.

Alternatively, you could start from Vancouver International Airport to the west of Banff, which would give you a day's drive with plenty of time to soak up the sights.

A day tour is another great option where you can take a little more time to lose yourself in the scenery.

It's important to note that you will need a park pass to get into Banff National Park. You can get hold of a day pass or discovery pass, both of which will give you access to not just Banff, but plenty of nearby parks such as Kootenay, Yoho, and Jasper.

Traveling by shuttles or taxis is another great option made accessible by a number of services. Brewster Express, The Banff Express, RTB Tours, and On-It Transit are just a few names providing a wide range of routes and fares.

On-It Transit offers transportation from Calgary to downtown Banff on summer weekends for a price of just $10.

Banff National Park is located in the Rocky Mountains, sharing the border with British Columbia. The mountain range is home to a number of famous peaks, including the ones that make up the Valley of the Ten Peaks.

The Canadian Rockies have plenty of glaciers and icefields. Columbia Icefield is the largest one in the entire range, spanning 125 sq mi (325 sq km).

Mount Assiniboine, the highest mountain in Banff, stands at a staggering 11, 870 ft (3,618 m). Its name was given by George M. Dawson in 1885 when he saw a cloud at the peak of the summit that reminded him of how smoke would trail out of the Assiniboine people's teepee tents.

Castle Mountain is located halfway between Lake Louise and Banff and was aptly named for its castle-like shape.

Banff National Park is where you'll find some of the most famous lakes in Canada.

Lake Louise, Moraine, and Peyto are instantly recognizable names, and they also happen to be the most visited lakes in the world.

The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, a prominent landmark in Banff, is a luxury resort situated right next to, you guessed it, Lake Louise itself. The resort provides a sweeping view of Lake Louise, the Victoria Glacier, and the surrounding mountain range.

Lake Louise was known as 'Ho-run-num-nay' or Lake of the Little Fishes to the Stoney natives, and it was a native who took railway worker Tom Wilson up to Lake Louise in 1882. He was later credited with the 'discovery'.

Not too far from Lake Louise is Moraine Lake, where tourists flock to get a picture of the emerald lake with the Valley of the Ten Peaks in the backdrop.

The view of the peaks is popularly referred to as the 'twenty dollar view' as it made its way onto the back of the Canadian twenty-dollar bill in 1969 and 1979.

Moraine Lake is also popular for its hiking trails, with the Rockpile Trail being the most frequented. A hike up to Consolation Valley is an easy trip suited to all ages. You can even take your dog with you, as long as it's on a leash.

Hector Lake is the largest natural lake in Banff National Park.

The beautiful blue color that has become a signature feature of Banff National Park's lakes happens because the water comes from the nearby Victoria Glacier.

Wildlife In Banff National Park

Banff National Park's icy lakes, rocky terrain, and gleaming slopes are its brightest gems, but there is much more in store at this alpine paradise.

A little over half of Banff National Park's area is covered by dense forests of lodgepole pines, mountain spruce, and aspen.

In the 1940s, the lodgepole pines were subjected to an infestation by mountain pine beetles, affecting 17 sq mi (44 sq km) of the forest. After another outbreak in the late 1970s and the consequent establishment of management zones, the beetle population has been brought under control.

The woods of Banff woods are home to grizzly bears, timber wolves, coyotes, and cougars, though they are rarely spotted.

More common to visitors' eyes are the elk, deer, and bighorn sheep, usually seen roaming in the valleys.

Mountain goats, while in abundance, are harder to spot than their bighorn cousins as they prefer to hang around the rocky mountain slopes. You'll recognize them by their white coats, unlike the shaggy brown coats of the bighorn.

Smaller residents of the park are not to be missed either. There's a good chance that you'll see a marmot during day hikes, and shy pikas can be spotted scurrying around on the rocks.

Banff hosts very few cold-blooded species. The western terrestrial garter snake, long-toed salamander, and Boreal toad are a few species that can be found living in the wetlands.

The Banff National Park museum provides a fascinating display of the park's natural history, housing more than 5000 vintage plant and animal specimens.

Things To Do In Banff National Park

The park offers more than just hikes. Whether you're there to scale the terrain or just relax, Banff National Park has got you covered with a wide range of attractions.

If normal hiking sounds too taxing, you can try out the guided heli-hiking tours wherein a scenic six to nine minutes helicopter ride will take you to an area high up in the alpine, after which, you can continue the hike on foot.

Instead of going above ground, why not go underground instead? The guided cave tours at Banff take you through the dark limestone caves, giving you a chance to see the ancient rock formations under Alberta in person.

You can raft on Class IV rapids on the Horseshoe Canyon rafting trip. If that isn't thrilling enough, consider adding in an optional cliff jump as well.

Head over to Banff Park Museum, where you can immerse yourself in nature and history.

Banff has been a popular skiing destination since 1926 when Gus Johnson, Cyril Paris, and Cliff White carried out a ski run on a site that would later become Mount Norquay Ski Resort.

Visit the two charming teahouses of Banff National Park, both accessible through a hike from Lake Louise's shore. Lake Agnes Tea House, the older of the two, began serving tea to hikers in 1905. Both are lovely places to relax after a long climb and enjoy a plate of tea and cookies.

 TheVermillion Lakes in the Bow River valley are a popular picnic destination, but they're also an important archaeological site. Tools and animal remains from nearly 11,000 years ago have been unearthed around the lakes.

Sulphur Mountain, named in 1916 for the two hot springs located on its slopes, offers an eight-minute gondola ride during which you can marvel at the panoramic landscape all around you. The ride is open year-round and takes you up to 2,292 ft (698 m).

Once you're there, you can set off on one of the hiking trails, take a break at a restaurant, or simply soak in the hot springs.

Climate, Weather, And Best Time To Visit Banff National Park

Banff National Park is a year-round beauty and has an exciting experience to offer every season.

Summer is a popular time to visit Banff. From around June to September when the ice has melted and flowers bloom in full, the park bursts to life.

Warm summers in Banff are ideal for hiking in the mountains and canoeing out on the pristine lakes.

When the snow covers the slopes of Banff, skiing is an unmissable experience.

Of course, you can't miss the iconic hot springs. What better time than winter to soak in the steamy water and gain some respite from the chill?

The popularity of the national park means that Banff is subject to a lot of foot traffic, and it's become a point of concern.

Today the park's vast wilderness is under threat from human hands. Lineups and congestion have been reaching concerningly high levels, even after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

For many, the visitor experience at Banff National Park has involved dealing with overwhelming crowds as early as within three hours of sunrise.

The Rocky Mountains Park Act laid the foundation for emphasizing conservation, and Parks Canada is working hard to strike a balance between a good visitor experience and maintenance of Banff's pristine condition.

With the huge number of visitors that Banff gets each year, there has been a growing concern about the impact made by humans on the park's wildlife and environment.

Banff National Park started off as a 10 sq mi (25 sq km) hot springs reserve after Prime Minister John A. Macdonald succeeded in keeping aside a small reserve of the newly discovered hot springs, to protect them from commercial exploitation.

In 1984 Banff, along with six other national and contiguous parks, was designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The need to protect was reinstated with the designation of the title.

Parks Canada manages the park through an ecosystem-based approach, choosing to protect the park's ecosystem as a whole, rather than a few individual species.

Infrastructural measures, such as the construction of underpasses, allow for nature and the human population in Banff to thrive without disrupting each other's comfort and security.