Nestled high in the Canadian Rockies, Banff is a town that makes you feel at home and exhilarated with wonder all at the same time. There is no other place in the world where you can find a vibrant community of artists, athletes, families, outdoor enthusiasts, restaurateurs and hoteliers nestled in a 6,641 kilometre squared national park. This is a town that truly celebrates its heritage, lives and breathes mountain culture and never takes its backyard for granted.
With modern amenities and more than enough accommodations, restaurants and activities to choose from, Banff is a premier destination for authentic hospitality, mountain culture, relaxation and amusement. Once “Siding 29” on the Canadian Pacific Railway, the Town of Banff was intended to be a tourist town from its very inception. The park’s first superintendent, George Stewart, even oriented the town’s first street in such a way that it would offer the best possible views of Cascade Mountain.
Banff's History
With its towering peaks and stunning glacier-fed lakes, it’s hard to believe that an area as beautiful as the Canadian Rockies once lay dormant to Western eyes, known only by the native peoples that dwelled in the valleys below. It wasn’t until the 1700s that Europeans arrived, thus beginning an exciting tradition of exploration in the mountain landscape.
In 1883, two years before the completion of Canada's first transcontinental railroad, three railroad workers stumbled upon a series of hot springs on the lower shoulder of what is now called Sulphur Mountain. By 1885, after a heated ownership dispute, the springs and surrounding area were set aside as Canada's first national park. The Canadian Pacific Railway immediately recognized the tourism potential of the Canadian Rockies. In 1888, under the direction of William Cornelius Van Horne, they opened the elegant 250-room Banff Springs Hotel.
The railway then constructed a series of grand hotels, including the iconic Banff Springs, along its main line and began advertising Banff as an international tourism stopover on the steel highway that had suddenly become the fastest and most direct route from Europe to the Far East. The Rockies quickly became popular with the Victorian gentry, who came to drink in the scenery and soak in the soothing hot springs.
Soon visitors were not just stopping over - they were coming to stay. Now, approximately 8300 people call Banff their home. Residents of both Banff and Lake Louise are proud to share their local knowledge and appreciation for the nature, history and culture of this World Heritage destination. The history of the area is also captured by a number of museums, including the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, Banff Park Museum, Luxton Museum and the Cave and Basin National Historic Site
Banff National Park Facts
- Established in 1885, Banff National Park was the first national park in Canada.
- Banff National Park encompasses 6641 km2 of protected wilderness areas.
- The highest mountain entirely located in Banff National Park is Mt. Forbes, at 3612m (11, 850 feet). At 3618m, Mt. Assiniboineis slightly higher than Mt. Forbes and stands in Banff National Park, Kootenay National Park and Mt. Assiniboine Provincial Park.
- Banff National Park sees 4 million visitors each year. The peak season is July and August
- At 4,537 feet, the Town of Banff is the highest town in Canada. Lake Louise village is the highest community at 5,033 feet.
- The Town of Banff has a permanent population of about 8300. This number increases in the summer to accommodate the high tourist season.
- Many movies have been filmed in Banff National Park, including “River of No Return,” starring Marilyn Monroe.
- There are three ski resorts located in Banff National Park, with 200 kilometres of trails spread over 7,748 acres. They are Banff Mount Norquay, Sunshine Village and the Lake Louise Mountain Resort.
Summer Activites
Hiking: The hiking in Banff National Park is about as good as it gets anywhere in the world. Choose any difficulty level, length and duration and you’ve got a multitude of options. Here you can hike along the shores of dazzling blue lakes, up to quaint mountain teahouses, through carpets of wildflowers and up high to spectacular viewpoints.
Rafting & Float Trips: Go where the river meets the mountains, and see Banff at its best, with only the rush of water and the wind moving in the pines as background noise. A scenic, peaceful float trip takes you by large oar-powered rubber rafts along the sweeping curves of the Bow River, past the towering presence of Mount Rundle and much more. Along the way, guides will give an interesting interpretive talk of this beautiful area.
Banff Gondola: A ride on the Banff Gondola to the summit of Sulphur Mountain is a must for all visitors to Banff. From the top of the mountain you can see across the entire Bow Valley and Banff townsite and beyond to the surrounding lakes and peaks.
Golfing: The Fairmont Banff Springs' golf course is one of the world's finest and spectacular with its amazing backdrop. It is often shared by golfers and the local wildlife!
Horseback Riding: There is a long tradition of horseback riding in Banff National Park. The first explorers used horses to travel through the rugged mountain terrain and pack supplies into hard-to-reach areas! Today you can enjoy the quiet, leisurely pace of a horseback trail ride and take in the views while your steed carries you onward.
Heli-Hiking: One of the most amazing itineraries you could take is a heli-hiking trip to a remote lodge where you will take part in a hiking program tailored to your exact abilities, making it suitable for all ages and levels of fitness. These trips really do get you away from it all.
Shopping & Restaurants: Banff's town centre is home to a wealth of shops, restaurants and bars, so after you're done with all outdoor pursuits, there is plenty to do in and around town.
VIsit the Athabasca Glacier: Take a journey along the Icefields Parkway to the Athabasca Glacier, part of the Columbia Icefield, then take a ride on an Ice Explorer onto the glacier itself. This can be done as a day trip from Banff, or alterntively many self-drive and coach transfer passengers stop here en-route to Jasper.
Banff Hot Springs: The hot springs in Banff National Park are what first made this destination so famous. Travellers, allured here by the medicinal qualities of the hot springs, journeyed to Banff via the newly constructed Canadian Pacific Railway to take a dip in the mineral waters. Take a visit to the Upper Springs on Mountain Avenue, the only remaining hot-springs still open to the public.
Winter Activities
Skiing & Snowboarding: Banff National Park is home to 3 ski mountains - Mt. Norquay, Sunshine Village and the Lake Louise Ski Area, all linked by easy to use shuttles and accessible with a single lift pass.
Dog Sledding: Sit under a blanket on a traditional dogsled and let a team of huskies lead you on a picturesque journey through mountain valleys. This is a once-in-a-lifetime and truly Canadian activity you won’t want to miss. As part of your experience, you will meet and become acquainted the dogs that pull the sled. For added excitement, try mushing the sled yourself and guiding a team of dogs down the trail!
Snowshoeing: Strap on snowshoes and venture into the wilderness. Trained naturalists will accompany you to provide instruction on snowshoeing and to share their knowledge about the area. If you’re eager to experience more distant mountainous regions, heli-snowshoeing options are also available.
Apres-Ski: Banff's many bars and restaurants are perfect to enjoy a relaxing drink or meal after a day in the snow or out on the slopes.
More winter fun: During your winter stay in Banff you might also want to try tubing, winter caving, take a sleigh ride or a warming soak in the Upper Hot Springs.
We can help arrange all of your activities in Banff for you - just contact us.
Banff plays host to many events throughout the year - both winter and summertime. Here is what you can expect in 2015:
SnowDays - Jan - Feb (Dates TBC): Celebrate the wonders of this exciting season with SnowDays, a fun-filled month of heart pumping, mid-week activities and weekend festivals jam-packed with adventures of all kinds.
Ice Magic Festival - 15 - 24 Jan : Now in its 22nd year, this Banff National Park classic is more popular than ever. Experience Lake Louise at its winter finest during the Ice Magic Festival. Centerpiece to SnowDays, a month-long celebration of winter in Banff National Park.
springstART - Apr (Dates TBC): Leap into spring with a festival that promises to deliver a fresh perspective on Banff National Park! This April, as springtime breathes new life into the landscape, exciting new programming at springstART will highlight Banff’s cultural, historic and artistic scene.
Performance in the Park - Jun (Dates TBC): Visit Banff's Cascade Gardens to celebrate its mountain and cultural heritage and the importance of protected places while having fun in a great location, with friends, family, and great tunes. Bring your dancing shoes.
RBC GranFondo Banff - Dates TBC: GranFondo's are mass participation cycling events that have enjoyed incredible popularity in Europe for decades. Loosely translated from Italian, GranFondo means "big ride." GrandFondo's appeal to cyclists of all skill levels - everyone from the competitive to amateur. Starting and finishing in the beautiful mountain town of Banff, the 142 km route will take you into the heart of the Rockies to experience the awe-inspiring nature of Banff National Park, and discover its tradition of mountain culture.
Banff Mountain Film & Book Festival - Late Oct / Early Nov: The world’s best mountain films, books, and speakers take the spotlight for nine days each fall in Banff. Experience the adventure of climbing, mountain expeditions, remote cultures, and the world’s last great wild places – all brought to life at The Banff Centre.
Banff Christmas Market - 20 - 22 Nov: The Banff Christmas Market is a one-of-a-kind shopping experience for unique fashions and handcrafted gifts along with live entertainment and fantastic food. This is your opportunity to retreat, rest, and get it together!
Weather In Banff National Park
Weather in the Canadian Rockies is unpredictable. It’s possible to have sunshine, snow, wind or rain – all in the same day. Summers are pleasant, with low humidity, warm temperatures averaging a high of 21C (70F) and daylight hours stretching until 11 pm in June and July. Autumn brings cool nights, crisp air and warm sunny afternoons. In January, the average day time high is -7C (19F) and by April it is +9C (49F).
Travel In Banff National Park
Open in all four seasons and one of the best-maintained roads in Canada, Trans-Canada Highway 1 is one of the major transportation routes for coast-to-coast commerce and it’s also the only way to get to Banff National Park. Whether you arrive by car or hop on a shuttle bus, you’ll travel the broad, four-lane highway west from Calgary 120 km (75 mi) to get to the townsite of Banff. It is only 58 km (35 mi) further west to reach Lake Louise.
