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GENERAL & SIGHTSEEING

The Banff Center
The Banff Centre began as a summer theatre school in 1933. Today, it is an internationally renowned cultural centre for the arts, providing resources and instruction to professional performing artists. The Banff Centre presents a number of events year-round, including music, dance, opera, theatre, films and lectures. Annual special events include the Banff Arts Festival, June through August, and the prestigious Banff Festival of Mountain Films in November.
For more information contact The Banff Centre, St. Julien Road, (403) 762-6300.

Canada Place
Canada Place is a centre where visitors of all ages can discover interactive displays which explore Canada's natural and built historical heritage, as well as the events and people who shaped them. Admission to the Canada Place exhibit is free.

Kananaskis Country
Kananaskis, to the southwest of Banff National Park, or 'K Country' as it is known, is an unspoiled paradise. Full of picture perfect mountain scenery, wildlife and flora, Kananaskis Country can be visited at any time of the year. There are excellent cross-country skiing trails, which become excellent hiking trails in the spring. There is also an excellent golf course.

Banff Park Museum
(403) 762-1558, ext. 4295.
91 Banff Avenue
Daily 10-6 (June-Sept.) Call for hours rest of the year.
Learn about local wildlife in turn-of-the-century style. This rustic building is Western Canada's oldest natural history museum, with wildlife specimens dating back to the 1860's. A National Historic Site, the museum also houses a comfortable reading room and a hands-on Discovery Room for children.

Cascade Gardens
The gardens circle the park's administration building.
Admission free.
The beautiful, fragrant Cascade Gardens at the Banff National Park Administration Building are a summer highlight. Ponds and cascading water add special interest to this lovely spot, making it a popular setting for photographs.

Cave and Basin National Historic Site
311 Cave Avenue
403-762-1557.
Visit the birthplace of Banff National Park at this historic site. See the cave, the subterranean spring discovered in 1883, and the basin, the natural pool with a replica of the original bathhouse built in 1886, where the film "Steam, Schemes and National Dreams" was produced. Upstairs, find interactive exhibits or walk the scenic boardwalks onto the marsh, an ecosystem of unusual plants, animals, birds and fish.

Luxton Museum
403-762-2388.
Journey back in time to the days before Europeans arrived and experience the rich culture of the Natives of the Northern Plains and Canadian Rockies. Lifesized scenes featuring ornamental costumes, teepees, and other artifacts depict Native arts and daily life.

Natural History Museum
112 Banff Avenue
(403) 762-4747.
Daily 10-6. 1-5 after September
The Natural History Museum traces the geological evolution of the Rockies. There are displays of rocks and minerals, fossils and dinosaur bones, flowers and plants, a film on the eruption of Mt St Helens, and a life sized model of "Big Foot," the legendary giant ape said to live in remote mountain regions.

Walter Philips Gallery
(403) 762-6281
In Glyde Hall at the junction of Mountain Dr. and St. Julien Rd.
The Walter Phillips Gallery presents the latest in contemporary art, with exhibitions by national and international artists investigating the issues and ideas of our time. The gallery maintains a permanent collection and organizes nine shows of art, video screenings, lectures and performances every year. Media include ceramics, textiles, printmaking, sculpture, and painting.

Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies
(403) 762-2291
111 Bear Street, Banff
Admission charged.
Daily 10-5
Discover the spirit of the wilderness in the heart of Banff. The Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies houses four art galleries, exhibiting works of contemporary and historic art, often incorporating a mountain theme; a heritage collection of artifacts, archives, museum shop and six heritage homes on its grounds. The museum hosts a regular program of talks, slide shows and discussions.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Movie Theaters
The Lux Cinema has four movie theatres showing the latest first-run features. Located at the corner of Bear and Wolf Streets in Banff. Call the 24 hour cinema line at (403) 762-8595.

Performing Arts
The cultural heart of Banff and the Canadian Rockies, the Banff Centre presents year-round performances and exhibitions, concerts, and events in the visual and performing arts. The Banff Centre for the Arts has for over 60 years been a major training centre for musicians, artists and writers.
In summer, the Banff Arts Festival is presented annually from May to August. The Festival is a celebration of talent featuring performances and exhibitions by the Centre for the Arts participants and guest artists in music, opera, drama, dance, jazz, vocal, writing and visual arts programs.
During the winter months, The Banff Centre offers top-notch music concerts, music theatre performances and inter-arts events.
The popular Playbill Series features a variety of entertainment by well-known touring performers.
Other Banff Centre events include the Banff Festival of Mountain Films (November), the Banff Mountain Book Festival (November) and the Banff International String Quartet Competition (every third April). The Walter Phillips Gallery holds exhibitions of contemporary art, with works by guest artists, participants of the Centre for the Arts, and touring shows.

There are many ways to experience the natural glory of Banff National Park. In summer the visitor can walk along the park's many nature trails, hike into the backcountry or climb peaks made famous by early visitors who helped fill in the map of the Rockies a century ago. In winter participate on canyon icewalks, take a horse-drawn sleigh ride, or fly across the snow in a dog sled. Banff and Lake Louise are most tranquil in the in-between seasons of spring and late fall. All museums and cultural attractions remain open during the off season.

Banff / Lake Louise Tourism Bureau
P.O. Box 1298, Banff, Alberta, T0L 0C0, Canada
Telephone (403) 762-8421
Fax: (403) 762-8163
for further information about any of the following:

Airplane Tours
Air tour companies offer year round guided air tours of the Canadian Rockies and Columbia Mountains.

Pool
Many of the local pubs and taverns offer visitors the opportunity to 'rack 'em up'. A great way to relax after a long day in the backcountry or on the slopes.

Boat Tours
Lake Minnewanka, located 15 miles northeast of the town of Banff, off the TransCanada Highway. Your cruise on beautiful Lake Minnewanka to the famed Devil's Gap will be the highlight of your trip to Banff and the Canadian Rockies. You will be welcomed aboard for 1 1/2 hour fully narrated tour of some of the most spectacular scenery found anywhere. Sixteen foot boats with outboard motors can be rented for fishing from mid-May to Labor Day.

Bowling
There are four five-pin bowling lanes located at the Banff Springs Conference Centre.

Dogsledding
The warmest and most comfortable way to enjoy and photograph the Canadian Rocky Mountains in their spectacular winter setting is to do it from a sled pulled through the forest by a team of huskies. Tours can last between 2 - 10 hours including traditional mountain snacks and refreshments to re-fuel you for the ride ahead.

DOWNHILL SKIING
NOTE: TRI-AREA LIFT PASSES allow you to ski both Banff hills and Lake Louise and include shuttle transport. They are available for 3 or more days.

Banff Mount Norquay
Mount Norquay Ski Area
Banff's Mount Norquay, located above the Town of Banff, offers the rare experience of night skiing once a week, from January until the end of March.Day time skiing starts in early December. Located only minutes from downtown Banff, Mount Norquay offers a wide range of ski terrain. Mount Norquay has 90% snowmaking capacity and offers some of the best grooming in the Rockies.

General Information

• 20 minute drive from The Fairmont Banff Springs                  
• Shuttle service provided from the hotel                  
• Tel: (403) 762-4421
• Ski Rentals available through The Ski Stop, located at The Fairmont Banff Springs.  Reservations may be made in advance through The Ski Stop

Mountain Statistics

• Vertical: 1,650 ft. (503 m)                  
• Base elevation 5,350 ft. (1,636 m)                  
• Peak: 7,000 ft. (2,133 m)                  
• Average snowfall: 120 in. (300 cm)                  
• Snowmaking: 90% of skiable terrain                  
• Trails: 25 runs                  
• Longest run: 3,828 ft. (1,167 m)                  
• Cumulative length of runs: 10.2 miles (16.4 kms.)                  
• Terrain: Expert16% Advanced 28 % Intermediate 45% Novice 11%                  
• One high-speed quad-chair lift                  
• One quad-chair lift                  
• 2 double chair lifts                  
• One surface lift                  
• Capacity approximately 6,300 people per hour                  
• Average of 120 inches (300 cms.) of snow per year                  
• The new 24,000 sq. ft. Cascade Lodge offers breathtaking alpine views

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NAKISKA
Nakiska was the spectacular venue of the 1988 Winter Olympics. Specifically designed to host the Olympic alpine events, the result was the creation of a ski area carefully designed to match the needs of today's skier. Nakiska is equipped with one of the most expensive and sophisticated snowmaking systems in the world, ensuring the highest quality of snow coverage on the mountain from early December through mid-April

General Information

• 60 minute drive from The Fairmont Banff Springs             
• Created using the latest computer technology produced by Ecosign of Whistler, the same company also designed the long, wide fall-line runs of Blackcomb.             
• Tel: (403) 591-7777

Mountain Statistics

• Vertical: 2,460 ft. (750 m)             
• Base elevation 4,920 ft. (1,500 m)             
• Average snowfall: 72 in. (250 cms.)             
• Trails: 28 runs             
• Snowmaking: 80%             
• Terrain: Advanced: 14 % Intermediate: 70% Novice: 16%             
• Longest run: 2.3 miles (3.6 kms.)             
• 2 quad-chair lifts             
• One triple-chair lift             
• One double-chair lift             
• One surface lift

Sunshine Village
Sunshine Village is located on the Continental Divide creating a vast bowl of deep snow with an average of 30 ft. of powder from November to May - the longest ski season in Canada. Throughout Sunshine's history, all development, including $11 million in resort improvements, has been carefully designed to harmonize with the natural beauty of the Canadian Rockies and Banff National Park. Still standing is the original log cabin of 1928, known as Old Sunshine Lodge.

General Information

• 25 minute drive from The Fairmont Banff Springs             
• Shuttle service provided from the hotel             
• Open from November 22 to Victoria Day (Memorial Day) weekend in May             
• Tel. (403) 762-6500          
• Ski Rentals available through The Ski Stop, located at The Fairmont Banff Springs.  Reservations may be made in advance through the ski stop
• Accessed via highspeed 8-man gondola from the parking lot to the ski lifts. 13 minute ride.

Mountain Statistics

• Vertical: 3,514 ft. (1,070 m)             
• Base elevation 5,440 ft. (1,658 m)             
• Peak: 8,954 ft. (2,730 m)             
• Village elevation: 8,954 ft. (2,273 m)             
• Average snowfall: 360 in. (914 cm)             
• Snowmaking: 100% natural snow             
• Trails: 89 runs             
• Terrain: Expert 10% Advanced 20% Intermediate 50% Novice 20%             
• Longest Run: 5 miles (8 kms.)             
• Cumulative length of runs: Approximately 52 miles (82 kms.)             
• 3 high-speed quad-chair lifts             
• One triple-chair lifts             
• 3 double-chair lifts             
• 2 t-bars             
• 2 double-chair lifts             
• One gondola             
• 13 million vertical transport feet per hour             
• Approximately 17,000 people per hour

Quick Facts

• New Goat's Eye boasts 1,900 vertical feet of powder and groomed runs             
• Known for its fluffy, 100% natural powder -- more than 30 ft. per year.

Lake Louise Ski Area
Lake Louise is one of Canada's largest ski areas with a 3,250 ft. vertical drop, spread over four mountain faces. Lake Louise Ski Area had record breaking snow conditions in 1998/99, prompting the World Cup Ski Organizers to choose Lake Louise as the host site for the 1999 Men's and Women's World Cup ski races.

With over 1,000 skiable acres, 100 named runs and 4 mountain faces to choose from, this alpine terrain offers the perfect variety for all abilities. Every chair lift has both an easy and a more difficult way down, allowing everyone from novice to expert to enjoy and explore the whole mountain, including the famed back bowls.

General Information

• 45 minute drive from The Fairmont Banff Springs              
• Shuttle service is provided from the hotel              
• Voted 'Most Scenic Ski Area In North America' by Snow Country magazine, 1994              
• Tel: (403) 522-3555           
• Ski Rentals available through The Ski Stop, located at The Fairmont Banff Springs.  Reservations may be made in advance through The SKi Stop

Mountain Statistics

• Vertical: 3,250 ft. (1,000 m)              
• Base elevation 5,400 ft. (1, 645 m)              
• Peak: 8,650 ft. (2,637 m)              
• Snowmaking: 20% of designated runs (over 400 acres)              
• Average snowfall: 142 in. (360 cms.)              
• Trails: 105 named runs              
• Acreage: 4,000 acres (1,620 hectares)              
• Terrain: Advanced 30 % Intermediate: 45% Novice: 25%              
• Longest Run: 5 miles (8 kms.)              
• Cumulative length of runs: Over 62 miles (100 km)              
• 3 quad-chair lifts              
• 2 triple-chair lifts              
• 3 double-chair lifts              
• One lower-mountain t-bar              
• One upper-mountain platter              
• One isolated children's tow              
• Lift Capacity: Approximately 16,400 people per hour

Fishing
The famed Bow River (open year round), as well as numerous lakes and streams in and around Banff National Park are home to an abundance of fish species that attract Fly and Spin fisherman from all over the world. There are several stores that can outfit you with the necessary equipment and licenses for you to fish at your leisureSummertime also offers the opportunity to rent small motorised boats on Lake Minnewanka, with or without a guide.

Golf
Teeing-off against the backdrop of dramatic mountain ranges with local wildlife standing by, is available at several courses in our area. As well as 9 & 18 hole world-class golf courses, there are also companies that can arrange tee-times and transport to a number of courses in the area.

• Silvertip Golf Course
• Stewart Creek Golf Course
• Banff Springs Golf Course
• Canmore Golf Course
• Kananaskis Country Golf Course

Helicopter Skiing
The helicopter can deliver you to the top of a remote mountain and pick you up at the bottom after an exhilarating run down untouched powder.

Helicopter Sightseeing
Fly over magnificent mountain landscapes on a helicopter sightseeing tour of Banff National Park offered year round In winter enjoy an afternoon sightseeing tours in Panorama, British Columbia.

Heli-Hiking
Experience the back country via helicopter! The helicopter can deliver you to a remote site for an half-day stroll up to a week long adventure. Sightseeing from the air is the best way to really gain perspective on the grandeur of the Rockies.

Hiking/Snowshoeing Cross-Country/Nature Tours /Hiking
One of the best ways to really get to know the national parks... Explore them on foot! Over 1,000 kilometres of hiking trails, rated from novice to expert await you in the park.

Cross-Country Skiing
Cross-country skiing in the Canadian Rockies can be anything and everything you've ever dreamed of. Every trail, every hill and every corner offers a new incredible view of the mountains. The Banff National Park and the surrounding areas offer a vast network of cross-country skiing trails. Try the smooth tracks of the nearby Canmore Nordic Centre, or gentle touring trails throughout the park.

Snowshoeing
Explore the magnificent natural world of the Rockies in a truly Canadian way, on snowshoes!

Horseback Riding
Experience the real west, for an hour, a day, or a week. See wildlife in the splendid scenery of Banff's back country, enjoy fishing, or delight in sensational photography. Relax, and savor the breathtaking Rockies from horseback.

Carriage & Sleigh Rides
Weather permitting, horse-drawn carriage rides are available for tours around the Banff town site. In winter months, enjoy a sleigh ride (approximately 45 to 60 minute) excursion to the end of majestic Lake Louise. In Banff, sleigh rides along (or on) the Bow River are available weather and snow conditions permitting.

Hot Springs & Spa
Hot springs were once considered therapeutic, the waters are now appreciated for their relaxing effect; the temperature is about 104 degrees (40 degrees Celsius). It's the perfect way to finish a day.

Mountaineering/Climbing/Hiking
Training programs are offered for beginners, intermediates and experts in the disciplines of rock and ice climbing, mountaineering, outdoor leadership, avalanche awareness and ski mountaineering.

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SHOPPING

NOTE: There are strict limits on the export of objects more than 50 years old and of historic, cultural or scientific significance.
For further information contact: The Secretary, Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board Dept. of Communications Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A OC8
Commercial Galleries & Shops

Banff Indian Trading Post
For nearly a century the Banff Indian Trading Post has provided an outlet for the Stoney Indians of Morely to sell their handicrafts. Today, the selection has been expanded to include true native artworks from tribes across Canada. Contact (403) 762-2456.

Canada House
Dealing exclusively in Canadian art for over 27 years, this tranquil gallery features an extensive selection of Canadian landscape, wildlife, contemporary, Native and Inuit paintings, sculpture, folk art, and jewellery. Friendly and knowledgeable staff are on hand, and we ship worldwide and guarantee safe arrival. Contact 1-800-419-1298.

Gallery at the Springs
Mountain art by Canadian artists, with an emphasis on works by artists living and working in the Bow Valley. Contact (403) 762-8736.

Quest for Handcrafts
Canadian crafts and art in a variety of media. Contact (403) 762-2722.

Sedna Art Gallery
Featuring Inuit sculptures and Native paintings. Contact (403) 760-8676.

Clothing

Great Northern Trading Co.
Beautiful made-in-Calgary jackets, vests and shirts incorporate southwestern and northern Canadian motifs. Deerskin handbags and fringed jackets, Cowichan-style hand-knit sweaters, Polo sportswear, polar fleece, Australian Ouck outerwear, moccasins and T and sweatshirts for adults and kids. Indian handcrafts, carved decoys, masks and totem poles, jewelry and Canadian foods.
403 762-4166
Moraine Lake Lodge near Lake Louise (May-Octand Town Centre, 201 Banff Ave, Banff Alberta T0L 0C0

Saitoh
Quality leather jackets as well as sweaters by such names as Valentine. Featured is Merino wool--so light and soft you can wear it next to your skin. Canadian and European designed fur coats, jackets and accessories by Grosvenor and others. Fur-knit jackets, scarves, ties, belts, leather bags and souvenirs.
1 403 522-3848
115 Banff Ave, 762-8858,; Chateau Lake Louise, Banff Alberta T0L 0C0

Sports Outfitters

Monod Sports
Banff's most established outdoor retailer (Est 1949). Owned and operated by the Monod brothers, former National Ski Team members and Canadian champions. Huge selection of outdoor wear and casual clothing (The North Face, Marmot, Patagonia, Dale of Norway, Woolrich, Timberland), and ski and mountaineering equipment. Large selection of Gore-Tex technical outerwear. Demo or buy the latest skis from Rossignol, Volkl, Salomon and Atomic. Guaranteed low prices.
1 403 762-4571
129 Banff Ave, Banff Alberta
Other Locations:
Chateau Lake Louise, Tel:1 403 522-3837
Banff Mount Norquay Tel:1 403 762-8208

Sports

There are many ways to experience the natural glory of Banff National Park. In summer the visitor can walk along the park's many nature trails, hike into the backcountry or climb peaks made famous by early visitors who helped fill in the map of the Rockies a century ago. In winter participate on canyon icewalks, take a horse-drawn sleigh ride, or fly across the snow in a dog sled. Banff and Lake Louise are most tranquil in the in-between seasons of spring and late fall. All museums and cultural attractions remain open during the off season.

Banff / Lake Louise Tourism Bureau
P.O. Box 1298, Banff, Alberta, T0L 0C0, Canada
Telephone (403) 762-8421
Fax: (403) 762-8163
for further information about any of the following:

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SIDE TRIPS

Jasper and Jasper National Park
If traveling to the area by railway, Jasper will be the point at which you will detrain. Several shuttle services take passengers from there to Banff and Lake Louise. Travelers may wish to spend a day or two in the Jasper area before traveling on to Lake Louise. Jasper National Park is another.

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