Banff – Exciting Little Town in the Canadian Rockies

Banff was the last stop on my Canadian Rockies tour with Collette. A 90-minute drive took us from Lake Louise to the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. This hotel stands as a landmark in the picturesque alpine town of Banff, Alberta. Canada’s “Castle in the Rockies” has been providing hospitality to guests for more than 130 years.

Moraine Lake

Before arriving in the town of Banff, we stopped at Moraine Lake. This is 8.7 miles southeast of the hamlet of Lake Louise. Glacier-fed, its brilliant blue-green color is a result of light refracting off the rock flour (fine particles of rock) in the glacier run-off which flows into the lake. At an elevation of 6,183 feet, the lake does not begin to melt until June. Water levels, and their vibrant color, peak in late June.  

Hoodoos

Next, we stopped to see the hoodoos. A hoodoo (also called a tent rock, fairy chimney, or earth pyramid) is a tall, thin spire of rock that protrudes from the bottom of an arid drainage basin or badland. Hoodoos typically consist of relatively soft rock topped by harder, less easily eroded stone that protects each column from the elements.

Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel

Fairmont Banff Springs offers all the amenities of a world-class resort, with 757 guest rooms and suites, superbly appointed accommodations and attentive, personalized service. Cozy rooms to spacious suites all have sweeping Alberta mountain views.

William Cornelius Van Horne had the vision to bring the beauty of the Canadian Rocky Mountains to the rest of the world. He commissioned blueprints for an impressive hotel to be built at the convergence of The Bow and Spray River in what is now known as Canada’s first National Park. Construction began In 1887 and the hotel publicly opened on June 1, 1888.

The Town of Banff

Visiting the picturesque town of Banff was a highlight. I was able to walk from the hotel, over the bridge and into town in about 20 minutes.

Banff is a resort town in the province of Alberta, located within Banff National Park. The peaks of Mt. Rundle and Mt. Cascade, part of the Rocky Mountains, dominate its skyline. On the main thoroughfare, boutiques and restaurants mix with château-style hotels and souvenir shops. The surrounding 2,510 square miles of parkland are home to wildlife including elk and grizzly bears.

Banff and Lake Louise have a rich heritage as one of the world’s most awe-inspiring mountain destinations. With easy access to pristine wilderness, endless outdoor adventures, and all the amenities you need, in Banff National Park you feel truly immersed in nature.

I loved walking to the town via the bridge from the Banff Springs Hotel. It took about 20 minutes but was very scenic. There was plenty to stop and see and photograph on the way. I love hats and purchased two in town.

Cascade Gardens, Banff

One of the stops I made on the way from the hotel to town was Cascade Gardens. This was a surprise find. Tranquil, terraced gardens featuring landscaped paths & sitting areas amid diverse trees & flowers. It is a beautiful and peaceful place to walk and stroll or just sit for a few moments

Ammolite Gemstone in Banff

On one of the days, our tour guide took us to a store in the town where a salesperson told us the story of ammolite.

This gem is mined along the St Mary River near Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, 211 miles from Banff. Sold around the world in high-end jewelry stores, the proximity of the source of the gem and the crafting of it into jewelry by local jewelers make Ammolite a great Canadian Rocky souvenir of your trip. However, it is pricey. It was tempting but I resisted.

Banff National Park

Location: Alberta
Date established: 1885
Size: 1,641,027 acres
Annual visitors: 4 million
Entrance fees: $9.80 per adult; 17 and under free

Simplicity marks the origin of Banff—Canada’s first national park. In 1883, on the slopes of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, three railway workers discovered a natural hot spring, and from there the park was born. Nowadays, it is one of the world’s premier destinations, spanning a region of unparalleled majestic mountain scenery. Every year, millions of visitors make the pilgrimage to Banff to take in its stunning views and activities.

Why Are the Lakes So Blue?

The breathtaking turquoise blue color of the lakes is a result of rock flour, which is glacial sediment suspended in the water.

Lake Louise is a hamlet inside Banff National Park and is located approximately 2 hours from Calgary and 45 minutes west of Banff. 

While summer hiking and sightseeing and winter skiing and snowboarding are popular, the spring and autumn months are a great time to visit both these areas.

And Finally…

Banff Springs Hotel was the final stop on this tour. The entire tour was incredible but this hotel will stay forever in my memory as the castle on the hill along with my walk over the bridge to town. It was a picture postcard.

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