The iconic landmark in Banff that everyone has to see! However since we came in early March, the…read morelake was frozen over and was a winter wonderland! Although we didn't get to see the clear blue waters of the lake, this was an entirely new view that was just as memorable! Note: You need a Banff Park Pass to enter! You can buy it online or at the booths when you get to the entrance of the park. - PARKING - We parked in the lot right next to the lake as directed by the parking attendants there. There's a lodge with bathrooms in the same parking lot too! You simply walk into the tree area, about 3 minutes, and you'll see the sign of Lake Louise and the lake beyond it! - EXPERIENCE - There are signs of thin ice, but there were so many people walking, running, and even sliding on the lake! We had shoe grips on just in case, which I think were nice to have as we walked - felt very sturdy! I did see other people without grips and they just had to walk a bit slower. They also had an ice rink and snow bar outside! - OVERALL - A beautiful sight to see, even in the wintertime!

Coming to Lake Louise was a last-minute addition on my first trip to Banff National Park. I could…read morenot come all the way here and not see this beautiful lake. Lake Louise is a turquoise-colored glacial lake that is surrounded by high peaks in Alberta's Banff National Park. It is a popular destination for tourists and outdoor enthusiasts. Lake Louise is known for its hiking trails, skiing and canoeing. Lake Louise is 30 minutes west of the Town of Banff. Parking here can be a real pain during peak season. Thankfully I was on a bus that dropped us off at the front. I came here during the summer and the crowds were crazy. But it was so worth it to finally see this lake in person. The water is crystal clear and has a greenish-blue color to it and is surrounded by a mountain range. Lake Louise lake's color is a result of natural geological processes and not artificially enhanced. In the distance you can see the Victoria Glacier. Lake Louise is named after Princess Louise, daughter of Queen Victoria. The historic Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is located at the edge of the lake and offers beautiful views for those that stay there. There are several hiking trails around the lake. I ended up walking the nature trail for a little while to get photos of the lake at different angles. It was hard to get clear shots because there were so many people. But I really enjoyed my time exploring the surrounding area. Coming to Lake Louise was totally worth it and a highlight for me on my trip to Banff National Park. Entry to Lake Louise requires a Banff National Park entry fee or pass. It is highly recommended to ride the shuttle here as parking is limited.

this is one of the most beautiful lakes that I have ever been to and it probably remain one of the…read moremost beautiful lakes that I have ever seen for a very long time.

After spending time at Lake Louise, our shuttle took us over to Moraine Lake. Seeing both of these…read morebeautiful lakes in person was awesome. Moraine Lake is only open during the summer season and requires a park shuttle to reach. It can get really crowed here. Moraine Lake is at an elevation of 6,181 ft and is situated in the Valley of Ten Peaks. There is an info sign in the front that shows you where the ten peaks are. Moraine Lake has a beautiful torquiest blue color to it. The color comes from the sunlight bouncing off the rock sediment in the lake and the surrounding glaciers. The water comes from the snow that melts in the glaciers. Moraine Lake has no dam and has not been altered by humans. The views of the lake are incredible. Because of the crowds, I hiked up to a higher point on top of a rock pile to get a better view. It was cloudy when I was here and it added to the beauty of the photos that I took. I really enjoyed my brief time at Moraine Lake and hope to come back and explore it a little more next time.

This hike is listed on a number of local websites and tourist brochures, and after talking to…read moresomeone at a visitor information center, my husband and I decided to try it out. All the descriptions list this hike as "easy", and as someone who is in pretty good shape but not an experienced hiker, I would have described this trail as being of "moderate" difficulty. The area is a little remote, and I would have felt more comfortable with bear spray or bear bells to scare off any locals. There is a small parking lot in the area, and the trail is located at the wooden trailhead sign (not the wider vehicle path heading into the forest in the opposite direction). The trail is steep and narrow in a number of sections, so much so that I wondered if we had the wrong trail at one point, and in one area the trail snakes along side of a slope with a fairly significant drop on one side and a sharp upslope on the other. Good hiking shoes are highly recommended for extra traction and stability. That being said, the views of the falls at the end are spectacular. The waterfall is roaring, powerful, and totally awesome. The return trip took us just about two hours, with about 15 minutes at the falls themselves. It's a great shorter hike, and only 20 minutes from Radium Hot Springs.

Fairly easy hike from the trailhead. Very populated trail to see the alpine lake; it's a bit too…read moreaccessible for the normal tourist so there's a high foot traffic on the trails. If you want more peace and quiet, keep going up to the Beehive but even then, you will see more people than wild animals.

It's beautiful, it's amazing, and it's located up in the mountains. You'll hike for about two hours…read moreto reach the Lake Agnes Tea House, which overlooks this gorgeous lake. The only thing prettier than one of Banff's stunning lakes is a lake IN the mountains. I highly recommend doing this trek on one of the days that the tea house is open, as it is adorable and oh-so special. It's not open every day, so check online before you go and bring cash, as they don't accept cards. Enjoy!

Same thought with Peyto Lake; too many tourons that only want an Instagram picture and climbing…read moreover railings and acting a fool. 3rd world country stuff here. If you take the trail off the beaten path, you can hike for miles without another person and get some peace and quiet to yourself! The overlook is a 2/5 for me, the trail is a 5/5!

This is a scenic and attractive lake with an entrancing deep turquoise color. It is conveniently…read morelocated right off of the Icefields Parkway about halfway between Banff and the Columbia Icefield, so there's really no excuse for not stopping for a view. There are actually two parking levels and only tour buses are allowed on the top level closer to the Kodak viewing lookout. Private cars need to park on the lower level and folks need to do a modest hike upward to the lookout. This lake is fed by a receding Peyto glacier that is in view also. We saw quite a few lakes on this trip, but they are all worth seeing and all spectacular in their own individual way, and this one was no different in that regards.

We had an amazing time visiting sites in Kootenay National Park while staying in Radium Hot Springs…read morefor a week. The is such a picturesque part of British Colombia, Canada. Our first stop was Olive Lake. A gorgeous green-blue body of water. A short trail from the parking lot. Our next stop was Paint Pots. Such a cool experience. We've never seen anything like it before. The colorful, iron-rich pools were so cool to see up close. The boardwalk to the paint pots was picturesque too. There are many stops and viewpoints along highway 93. Be sure to stop at the ranger station to get your park pass ($14/day) and map of all stops along the route. Most stops have restrooms available as well. Overall a must while visiting British Colombia, Canada. We thoroughly enjoyed exploring this area and would highly recommend.

Rumor had it that Kootenay National Park was, perhaps, the most underrated of the National Parks in…read morethe area. I'm all for supporting the underdogs (& avoiding the crowds). Compared to Banff, Kootenay was empty & there are plenty of bodies of Gatorade-like waters. We enjoyed the wide open spaces and the non-touristy vibe of the park. On our Stanley Glacier Hike, we only saw 3 other sets of people... no shoulder bumping or shuttles needed here. We opted for the annual family/group pass, a great value if you're spending a week or so in any combination of the parks &/or may come back. (& we will come back... already planning it)

Johnston Canyon may be a bit of a hike but it truly is magical. The trails are accessible for most…read morehikers and lead you to the canyon, over bridges with rushing turquoise water underneath. The Upper Falls is worth the extra kms of trail and the sounds of the powerful falls enraptures you. I love that it's challenging enough to feel like an accomplishment but still manageable for a casual day trip. It's busy during peak summer, but the views are worth it.

Just stopped here while on a tour with Vancouver Journey. We only hiked to the lower falls and in…read morethe snow/ice it takes about an hour to walk there and back. ~350 ft of elevation gain per my Apple Watch. Beautiful icy sights in late March. Definitely wear crampons! Wish we had more time to see the upper falls.

Gorgeous waterfall! A must-see for this national park. Plenty of parking available. Restrooms…read moreavailable as well. The path up to the falls is paved. You can see the waterfall very well from the bridge, but we walked all the way up. It was pretty crowded at the base of the falls. There are plenty of areas off the path to take photos with less people in them. The glacier-fed water is beautiful! A milky-blue color. That with the mountains and trees, the colors are so vivid. We also saw a mountain goat on the hillside and a rainbow in the mist. Highly recommend!

Takakkaw falls is worth the stop when visiting Yoho National Park! It's just under a mile hike to…read moreget up close to these powerful falls. I didn't go all the way up since there was a lot of spray from the water and it was quite cold. I also think the best view is before the end. There was a beautiful rainbow near the bottom of the falls. It was busy but since people come and go quickly, we had no issue getting a parking spot.

Beautiful and exhilarating, the Canadian Rockies in general, and The Three Sisters in particular…read more When asked, a local tour guide said their individual names are Faith, Hope and Charity. Very nice. The second tour guide disagreed, saying their names are Big Sister, Middle Sister and Little Sister. I found this was repeated on Wikipedia ... and is there any higher authority? Why, yes, the lady at the Canadian Tourist Information Kiosk, who said the locals, the real people who live here, refer to the Three Sisters as Beebee, Ceecee and Deedee. So, what's in a name? The Three Sisters, by any name, are Beautiful and Exhilarating. Five-Stars.

As gorgeous as they are iconic - The Three Sisters stand guard over, no that's not right... The…read moreThree Sisters are all about fun, not protection. They're an icon for a town that exists for outdoor recreation and natural beauty. While The greatest cities in the world are know for and defined by their skylines, none of them even come close to Canmore's. Whether you'd prefer to enjoy them while camping, hiking, biking, or enjoying a glass of wine with a fine meal, Faith, Charity and Hope will make your experience all that much better.