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| Banff, Alberta Attractions
The Banff Centre
107 Tunnel Mountain Drive
Banff, AB
Telephone - 403-762-6157
Hours: Call for additional information
Admission Charged for Certain Events
The Banff Centre is Canada's only learning centre dedicated to the arts,
leadership development, and mountain culture. Serving the needs of accomplished
artists, business and community leaders, and members of the global mountain
community through year-round programs designed to enrich professional practice
beyond the realm of traditional education.
Banff National Park
Banff, AB
Telephone - 403-762-1550
Hours: Call for days and hours of operation
Admission Charged
Banff National Park is the birthplace of Canada's national park system and part
of the Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site. Discover a landscape rich in
wildlife and history.
Banff Park Museum National Historic Site
91 Banff Ave
Banff, AB
Hours: Open May 15 - Sept 30 10am ? 6pm; Oct - mid May 1 ? 5pm
Admission Charged
One of Western Canada?s oldest natural history museums is the Banff Park
Museum National Historic Site. The elegant 1903 building is a showpiece of
architecture and natural history interpretation. Banff?s mammals, birds and
insects are preserved in authentic Victorian style?displays date back to 1860.
There are knowledgeable interpreters, a reading room and hands-on discovery
room.
Banff Upper Hot Springs
101 Mountain Avenue
Banff, AB
Telephone - 403-762-1515
Hours: Open year round, call for hours of operation
Admission Charged
All the amenities of a modern facility are featured in this splendid, historic
spa and bath house. It features an outdoor hot pool, day spa, and email kiosk.
Swimsuits, towels and locker rentals are available.
Bow Falls
The falls are just a short walk from the Banff Centre at Tunnel Mountain
Admission Free
The Bow River drops approximately 30 feet near its divergence with the Spray
River.
Bow Lake
Located 93 km (58 mi) N of Banff just off Hwy 93 N (Icefields Parkway)
Admission Free
The lake is the source of the Bow River. Across the lake is part of a very large
icefield covering an area of the Great Divide. The Bow Glacier extends from this
field over the cliffs.
Bow Valley Parkway
Access the parkway 7 km (4.3 mi) west of Banff and from the Lake Louise overpass
Also known as Hwy 1A, this 51 km (30.6 mi) route is a scenic alternative to the
TransCanada Hwy between Banff and Lake Louise. There are peaceful picnic areas
interspersed between the many points of interest along the highway. At Johnston
Canyon, a self-guided tour takes you along Johnston Creek to two impressive
waterfalls. It?s a 5.6 km (3.5 mi) hike to the Ink Pots (clear greenish pools
formed by artesian springs whose water temperature remains at a constant I
degree C), which has six cool springs bubbling out of the ground.
Canadian Ski Museum West
317 Banff Ave
Banff, AB
Telephone - 403-762-8484
Hours: Summer, 7am ? 10pm, Winter, 8am ? 10pm
Admission Free
Canadian Ski Museum West explores Banff?s ski heritage and Canada?s great
skiers. There are displays of Swiss mountain guides, equipment evolution,
historic backcountry ski lodges and alpine resort development. Memorabilia from
Olympic skiers trained on local slopes is displayed.
Cave & Basin Hot Springs
311 Cave Avenue
Banff, AB
Telephone - 403-762-4900
Hours: Center open year round, swimming pool open mid-June to Labour Day
Historic and geological displays reveal the effects of the warm sulphur water on
the flora and fauna of the area. Interpretative displays and self-guiding
trails.
Cave & Basin National Historic Site
311 Cave Ave.
Banff, AB
Hours: Summer, 9am ? 6pm, otherwise: Mon. ? Fri., 11am ? 4pm, Sat. ?
Sun., 9:30am ? 5pm
Admission Charged
The Cave & Basin National Historic Site is the birthplace of Canada?s
national park system. Exhibits, guided tours and the film Steam, Schemes
& National Dreams recount how the discovery of the Cave and Basin
springs led to the creation of Banff National Park, Canada?s first. See the
Cave & Basin springs, replica 1887 bathhouse and grand bathing pavilion.
Columbia Icefield
Icefields Parkway, AB
Ice-walk tours are available April 10th until October 20th.
The Columbia Icefield is located on the boundary of Banff and Jasper National
Parks. One of the largest accumulations of ice and snow south of the Arctic
Circle, it covers an area of nearly 325 sq km. The continuous accumulation of
snow feeds eight major glaciers including the Athabasca, Dome, and Stutfield
Glaciers, all visible from the Icefields Parkway. The Columbia Icefield is a
true "continental divide," for its meltwater feeds streams and rivers
that pour into the Arctic, Atlantic, and Pacific oceans. Markers at the icefield
indicate the rate at which the toe of the Athabasca Glacier has receded this
century. Caution - The glacier is dangerous! People have been killed falling
into deep, hidden cracks called crevasses in the glacier. For your safety do not
cross the barriers.
Crowfoot Glacier
197 km (123 mi) S of Jasper/33 km (20.6 mi) N of Lake Louise
Crowfoot is one of over a hundred glaciers that can be seen along the Icefields
Parkway. Years ago, this glacier resembled a crow?s foot, with three large
toe-like extensions. The lower "toe" of this foot has receded so much
that only two toes remain.
Hector Lake
214 km (133.75 mi) S of Jasper/16 km (10 mi) N of Lake Louise.
The beautiful green waters of Hector Lake spread below a fresh carpet of lush
forest. While the southern part of the lake is forest-enclosed, the northern end
is set hard against rugged mountains, which is typical of a lake formed in a
glacial basin. One can view Mt. Balfour and the Waputik Range to the SW.
Johnston Canyon
26 km (16.25 mi) W of Banff on Hwy 1A
Follow the self-guided interpretative trail along Johnston Creek for views of
water erosion in action. A 5.6 km (3.5 mi) walk will take you to the Ink Pots.
Six cool springs bubble out of the ground year-round. The glacial sediments in
the springs create beautiful aqua colours.
Natural History Museum
112 Banff Ave
Banff, AB
Telephone - 403-762-4747
Hours: Call for days and hours of operation
Admission Charged
Displays show the cave system of the area, including Castlegar Cave located
under the Columbia Icefields. Four dinosaur skulls are included among the
numerous fossil specimens. Two slide shows illustrate the formation of the
Rockies.
Moraine Lake and Valley of the Ten Peaks
12 km (7.5 mi) E from Lake Louise access road
Formerly pictured on the back of the Canadian $20 bill, this emerald green lake
is set before a backdrop of sharp peaks. To the N is Mount Temple, the highest
mountain in the Bow Range and third highest in Banff National Park. The valley
is a good area for hiking.
Peyto Lake
190 km (118.75 mi) S of Jasper/40 km (25 mi) N of Lake Louise
The highest point on the Icefields Parkway is Bow Summit, 2088 m above sea
level. Here the road crosses alpine meadows near the source of the Bow River
before dropping into the Mistaya Valley. From the lower parking area at Bow
Summit, a short trail takes you uphill to the Peyto Lake lookout.
Vermilion Lakes
Located off Mt. Norquay just before the Banff/Norquay overpass
This 4.5 km (2.8 mi) drive branches off Mt. Norquay just before the
Banff/Norquay overpass and takes you along the three Vermilion Lakes. This drive
provides an opportunity to see a variety of flora and fauna common to marshland
areas and is popular for bird watchers, nature enthusiasts, photographers and
cyclists.
Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies
111 Bear St
Banff, AB
Telephone - 403-762-2291
Hours: Open daily 10am ? 5pm
Admission Charged
The Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies houses one of the world?s largest
collections of Canadian Rockies art, photography and literature. |
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