Banff National Park of Canada

What to see & do

Trans-Canada Highway, Bow Valley Parkway, & the Icefields Parkway

BANFF NATIONAL PARK is the birthplace of Canada's national park system, created around the warm mineral springs near Banff townsite. Visit the Cave and Basin National Historic Site for the full story.

Established in 1885
Size: 6,641 km ² (2,564 mi ² )

A Park Pass is required for use of park facilities such as picnic areas, viewpoints and scenic drives such as the Bow Valley Parkway and Icefield Parkway. Fees go towards maintaining and improving facilities for park visitors.

Speed Limit: 90 km/hr (55 mph)
70 km/hr (43 mph) near Lake Louise

Drive with care along this busy highway. Look for two animal overpasses just west of Banff, built to allow wildlife to cross the road safely.

Trans-Canada Highway construction is underway. Obey construction speed-zone signs and flag people. Anticipate some delays.

The Town of Banff
ALL SERVICES

Explore Canada's first national park community;
population 8,721

The Village of Lake Louise
MOST SERVICES

Experience the hospitality of this hiker's haven;
population 1,500

Speed Limit: 60 km/hr (37 mph)

Experience life in the 'scenic' lane. Roadside Interpretive panels at pull-offs along the way connect you to the diversity of life and life forces that flow through the Bow Valley.

• The Bow Valley Parkway Seasonal Road Restriction from March 1 to June 25, evenings 6 pm - 9 am helps protect wildlife at a critical time of year. This voluntary travel restriction is in effect between the east exit on the 1A near Banff for 18 km to Johnston Canyon. When traveling east from Lake Louise to Banff, connect to the Trans-Canada Highway at Castle Junction to help protect wildlife. Access to Commercial facilities along the parkway during this time is best from Castle Junction.

	Interpretive Displays
Distance (km) from	Banff	Lake Louise	Picnic Site
Backswamp	3	49
Mule Shoe	6	46
Prescribed Burn	8	44
Sawback	11	41
Hillsdale	13	39
Pilot Pond	16	42
Moose Meadow	21	31
Castle Cliffs	26	24
Storm Mt.	28	24
Baker Creek	40	12
Morant's Curve	48	4

Johnston Canyon
25 km (30 min) from Banff

A paved trail and exciting cat-walks cling to the canyon walls.

• 1.1 km (20 min) to the Lower Falls
• 2.7 km (1 hr) to the Upper Falls

For safety's sake, stay on the trail and away from the edge.

Speed Limit: 90 km/hr (56 mph)

This spectacular 230-km drive along the backbone of the continent passes through remote, high-altitude terrain. Weather and driving conditions can be severe. Chains or all-season radials are required in winter. No services November to March. A park pass is required. No commercial trucks are allowed.

• Watch for reduced speed limits in congested zones and places frequented by wildlife
• Ask for the Icefields Parkway brochure, your guide to peak names, icefield names and other points of interest.

Crowfoot Glacier
34 km (25 min) from Lake Louise

A century ago, there were three "toes" of ice here. Since then the glacier has melted back and the lower toe has been lost. These days the middle toe is disappearing, too.

Bow Pass ("Bow Summit") and Peyto Lake Viewpoint
40 km (30 minutes) from Lake Louise

This is the highest road pass in the four mountain parks at 2 088 m (6 849 ft.) above sea level. A short uphill walk from the parking area leads to a view of Peyto Lake, glacially fed and brilliantly turquoise.

Mistaya Canyon
72 km (50 minutes) from Lake Louise

Only 10 minutes by trail from the road. Look for rounded potholes and a natural arch on the canyon sides

Saskatchewan Crossing
77 km (55 minutes) from Lake Louise

Fuel, food and accommodation are available from April to late October. At the viewpoint located just south of the resort, enjoy spectacular views and learn about Howse Pass National Historic Site.

Columbia Icefields
130 km (1.5 hours) from Lake Louise

There is much to see and do here. Plan to spend at least an hour. Please turn to the Jasper National Park information, pages 10 and 11.

Banff National Park Campgrounds

Campground	# Sites	Full H-U	Elec Only	Flush Toilet	Showers	Sani Dump	Dis Acc	Fire Pits $8.80	Interp Prog	Fee
Tunnel Mt Village I May 13 - Sept 30	618			X	X	X	X	X	X	$27.40
Tunnel Mt Village II Open Year Round	188		all	X	X	X	X		X	$32.30
Tunnel Mt Trailer May 13 - Oct 1	321	all		X	X	X	X		X	$38.20
Two Jack Main May 29 to Sept 8	380			X		X		X		$21.50
Two Jack Lakeside May 15 - Sept 14	74			X	X		X	X		$27.40
Johnston Canyon June 5 - Sept 14	132			X	X	X	X	X		$27.40
Castle Mountain June 12 - Sept 8	43			X				X		$21.50
Protection Mountain July 3 - Sept 1	89			X			X	X		$21.50
Lake Louise Trailer* Year Round	189		all	X	X	X	X		X	$32.30
Lake Louise Tent May 22 - Sept 28	206			X	X	X	X	X	X	$27.70
Mosquito Creek Year Round	32			Dry Toilet			X	X		$17.60
Waterfowl Lakes June 19 - Sept 7	116			X		X	X	X		$21.50
Rampart Creek June 26 - Sept 1	50			Dry Toilet			X	X		$15.70
* Soft-sided camping in winter only (mid-November to mid-April)

Open dates are weather dependent. Arrive early - sites assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.
FULL H-U = full hook-up
DIS ACC = disabled access
INTERP PROG = Interpretive program
FIRE PERMIT REQUIRED where fireboxes and firewood are provided. Boil water advisories may be posted.

CAMPSITE RESERVATIONS can be made for the blue campgrounds. To make a reservation, visit the 24-hour web service at www.pccamping.ca or dial toll free 1.877.737.3783 (1.877.RESERVE) (12 hr/day). Reservations must be made at least 24 hours in advance.

Banff Information Centre
224 Banff Avenue
403.762.1550

Lake Louise Visitor Centre
Samson Mall
403.522.3833

TTY: 1.866.787.6221

Emergency telephone: 911

www.pc.gc.ca/banff

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