Grassi Lakes are amazing!!!! Truly emerald color and crystal clear waters. Since the easy trail was…read moreunder construction and closed, we took the difficult trail, which was much more steep. Totally worth the climb. Loved it.

So grateful for the recommendation we received from a local Calgarian Canadian to try this trail!…read moreThe views are absolutely spectacular!! This hike is located near a residential area in Canmore. Follow your GPS navigation which ultimately will take you down a single road, surrounded by tall evergreen trees, and a small dirt lot on the left for parking before you embark on the trail. A few recommendations: Park on the street as the lot fills up quick, bring sunscreen, and take the harder trail. Initially when starting the hike there will be two signs for the "Easy" and "More Difficult" trail paths. Trust me when I say the more difficult path is worth the extra strenuous steps. We had no idea that halfway through the path you stumble upon a gorgeous waterfall and incredible views of a giant lake surrounded by beautiful mountains. Then as you continue on this trail, you'll ultimately come to a clearing with emerald and turquoise lakes which is the perfect spot to stop, indulge in a quick snack, and soak in all those spectacular views. All in all if you take the not so easy trail you'll complete the entire thing within an hour and a half, including those moments where you stop and contemplate just gorgeous this country is. One final tip: bring Bear spray and attach bells to your hiking gear. The last thing you want to do is startle a bear and end up in a frightening situation. Luckily we did not see any bears on the trail, but we did see a Black Bear crossing the road as we were leaving the parking lot! We heard from locals that Canmore has a lot of Bear sightings so just plan ahead, be aware of your surroundings, and enjoy your fantastic hike on this beautiful trail!

As far as off leash parks go, this one is actually rather small, especially for the middle of…read morewilderness, like Canmore is, and kind of boring. But, when the bears aren't around, I'll go into the forest behind (which is technically not off-leash) and there's better scenery, a lake, etc. and makes for a more interesting, longer walk. Lots of people do it, but I won't say it never gets patrolled. However, the background imagery cannot be beat! I've never had issues with parking - it's very easy to find. May be a little hard to turn left into the dog park if traffic is heavy but otherwise it's a good place to let your dog blow off some steam if you're not going to take him/her for a hike. Review #2 of Yelp's 30 Day Challenge

Quite the view, too bad most of the hiking spots were closed due to bear activity. Anyways, made…read morethe best of my day by taking photos with a group of friends and chilling near the lake. Oddly enough you can swim but only at your own risk. I'd imagine it would be very cold. Parking lot is fairly big with an open field next to parking lot for your dogs. There is an outhouse next to the lake which is nice. There is Canmore which is not a far drive away from this lake. People are quite friendly. If your brace enough to swim in the lake go for it, there is no life guard on site at all or ever I suppose. I would definitely comeback again just to enjoy the scenery. Mountains in the distance, what else can you say. Benches and rocks everywhere along the lake. Recommended for any adventurist or picnic's.

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.

What an amazing time I had at this park! I am a big National Park junkie back in the U.S. and was…read moreexcited to visit my first Canadian National Park. I came with my running group and they combined our runs with various activities around the park. Banff National Park is Canada's oldest national park and was established in 1885. It is known for its mountain peaks and turquoise glacial lakes (Lake Louise and Moraine are the two popular ones). Banff offers year-round outdoor adventures like hiking, wildlife viewing, cycling and skiing. The Town of Banff has lots of shopping and restaurants for those that aren't into the outdoor activities. Banff National Park is located in Alberta's Rocky Mountains and has several large glaciers and icefields. Nearby are Yoho, Jasper and Kootenay National Parks. The Town of Banff is at the center of the park in the Bow River Valley. The park itself has a variety of recorded mammal species. Banff National Park has been successful at reducing the number of animals killed on the roads by building wildlife crossings. We drove under a number of these while driving through the park. They are such a clever idea. My running company booked three runs in and around Banff National Park. The views were gorgeous as we did our trail runs. When I first arrived, we took a tour bus to Lake Louise, Moraine Lake and Emerald Lake (in nearby Yoho National Park). I really enjoyed the beauty of those lakes and was able to do some photography work at them. They are just as pretty in person as the pictures that you see on the internet. The huge crowds in the summer was the only downer part. For activities, we canoed down the Bow River. That was a lot of fun and we got great views of the mountain ranges while on the river. We also did the Via Ferrata at Mt Norquay. It was my first time doing one of these and it was easily one of my favorite activities. On my final day, I took the Gondola to the summit of Sulphur Mountain. You can see the whole Town of Banff from there and the breathtaking mountain ranges all around. The Town of Banff has lots of retail stores, gift shops and restaurants. I ate very well on this trip. Overall, Banff was an amazing experience for me. The flight to Calgary from Arizona wasn't too long and my running company did a great job in booking all of my activities. I look forward to a trip back someday!

I started this draft in 2019. I had to go back to Banff in 2025 as I forgot why I wanted to give…read morethem 5 stars and what to write. Banff National Park is a place where everyone needs to go! They have something for everyone. Nature is at its finest here with lakes, mountains, and wildlife. Even with all the tourists, Lake Louise is awesome. The lake itself is stunning with its turquoise blue water. If you don't feel like walking, go inside the Chateau Lake Louise and have afternoon tea or go souvenir shopping at the gift shop inside the hotel. Moraine Lake is another place that is picturesque. It isn't as popular as Lake Louise, but, it is just as awesome. They have cabins and a gift shop that was closed for the season when we visited. Access to both Lake Louise and Moraine lake is limited. They don't let you drive there anymore. You need to either join a tour, or take the shuttle bus. The city of Banff is a huge populated area inside the park with many hotels, restaurants, shops and even a supermarket. Horseback riding is available. You can take a gondola ride or even go to a hot spring. Banff is a great park. Even my city loving wife, enjoyed our visit to this wonderful national park of Canada.

I can't believe there's only one other review for this beautiful park in the heart of Banff town!…read more Just a few minutes walk from downtown Banff and perfectly situated along the Bow River, Central Park is a huge park for everyone to enjoy! My first time here was actually in summer of 2019 and they happened to have live music one afternoon at the gazebo. So many people were spread out around the park relaxing on the grass, picnic blankets or sitting at one of the many picnic tables just enjoying the sunny day, hanging out and listening to the local artist/band while soaking in the gorgeous views of the mountains and Banff town! More recently, my hubby and I were back in town for the 2023 Banff Marathon/Half Marathon/10K weekend and the race hub was set up at Central Park (race packet pick up, expo, pre-race festivities, and start/finish area). We loved getting to do "Yoga in the Park" here as part of the Banff Marathon festivities and just hang out here before and after the race itself. If I lived in Banff, I'd probably be here everyday! It's just the most picturesque place to go for a run, walk, have a picnic, take your kids to play in the playground or just run around on the grass. They even have a farmers' market and craft market here from time to time (possibly weekly), and a large public washroom/restroom building by the main parking lot. Not to be missed when in Banff!

What a great place to be on Canada Day! Live music, dancing, drums, fireworks, everyone in red -…read morefrom head to toe. Great to see the community to come together to celebrate their country. Shout out to Amelie Patterson. Awesome performer- hope she comes to SF one day.

Absolutely gorgeous falls! A must-see while visiting the town of Banff. The parking lot is decent…read moresize, and well maintained. You can see the falls from the area right across the parking lot. If you want a view from above, you can take the stairs trail up to the top. Such beautiful scenery and the sound of the waterfall is therapeutic. There are places to sit and eat and enjoy the waterfall at the base and riverbank. Such an awesome viewpoint. Would highly recommend!

Great parking space. It got chilly and windy but the falls was so far the widest though shortest…read moreI've seen. The sound of the falls just couldn't be beat regardless! Great stop!

There is nothing more beautiful than visiting a glacial lake in the middle of Banff National Park…read more This lake was one of our first stops for viewing and hiking. Lake Minnewanka is 142 meters deep (465 feet) and 21 kilometers (13 miles) long. It is the closest lake to the town of Banff and it is the largest lake in the park. The color of the lake is so striking with jewel tones of emerald, it is so clear and clean. The beautiful color comes from the glacial meltwater. Minnewanka means "Water of the Spirits" and there is a legend that when the Stoney people would travel in the neighborhood of the lake, they could hear voices of the resident spirits. The lake offers plenty of recreation opportunities such as picnicking, hiking, taking a cruise, renting a canoe or kayak, rent a motorboat, or fishing for lake trout and mountain whitefish, and relaxing lakeside. Swimming is not recommended as the water is pretty frigid. The most unique thing about this lake is the town of Minnewanka Landing. In the early 1800's, it was once a thriving resort town. When the lake was dammed in 1941 to provide power to Banff and Calgary the water rose and now all that's left is a ghost town underwater. We decided to take a trail and hike. We were there in September and we were cautiously aware that bear season was approaching. We did not hike too far just about five miles around the lake's perimeter and returned as we had no bear spray. The scenery with the surrounding mountains was absolutely stunning and gorgeous. I believe the trail was the Stewart Canyon - Aylmer Pass Junction. On our way out, we got to see a couple of big horn sheep roadside. So cute! So much to see here and a great way to start our trip in Banff National Park. Love CANADA!!

I know Moraine Lake and Lake Louise get all the glory, but I actually really liked Lake Minnewanka…read more It was less crowded and there were more things to do. They had boat cruises and you could rent a canoe, kayak, or motorized boat. Also, it was convenient and fast to take the Roam Transit 6 bus here. Also, it seems like all the wedding photoshoots were here since it's less crowded and you don't have to hike very far to get really great pictures. My tip - just follow the wedding photographers, they know the best spots to get good shots. The pier was just nice to hang out and take pictures as well.

Scenic and peaceful spot just outside of Banff. Great for kayaking or SUP; water is very calm. It's…read morelocated right alongside the biking trail and is a nice change of pace.

Came here for one of the sunsets and it was nice, peaceful and of course beautiful. The water is so…read morecalm the reflection of the mountains is like a mirror image. Sitting there watching the sunlight slowly fade behinds the mountains it was truly a peaceful and calm moment for my mind.

I like fun and this was definitely a fun time. From boarding to leaving the ship ride was about an…read more1 hour and a half. My wife and friends enjoyed the whole experience. For me, anything or event that encourages picture taking is perfect. The views on Lake Minnewanka were perfect. This should be on everyone's 'must see / do list' Remember you are in a National Park, so you must get a parking pass for the park...or you WILL get a ticket. Luckily... we came by bus tour. No cars to worry about. The staff at the Lake are amazing from the moment you arrive. You can hike trails, rent canoes or kayaks or take the boat ride. Dress warmly, as it gets cold in the winter months and the water is NEVER warm! Our wonderful guide made sure to explain that to us. There was a nice vibe between the crew and visitors. Another nice piece to this trip. This was simply relaxing and what else could you be looking for on a vacation than to do something that puts a smile on your face and allows you to sit back and relax. It was nice to stand outside the back of the boat and enjoy the view. Their only restriction was to keep the count no higher than eight. Even with a full boat it worked out just fine. I can't recommend this delightful boat tour enough and encourage all to take it if time permits. KUDOs to the team at theLake Minnewanka Cruise

I think i expected more of a speed boat than a tour boat when I booked it so was a bit…read moredisappointed, but it wasn't a bad way to spend an hour. Lake Minnewanka is beautiful and we took this cruise on the most gorgeous day. We had 8 people on our boat tour, which seemed to be less than usual. Our tour guide told us all about the lake and some fun banff stories for about 30-40 minutes, then we stopped for about 5-10 min to take pics on the deck and then rode back in silence. It was a beautiful hour on the lake, but i found myself wishing we used that time to walk around town or do another hike instead. We were told parking at Lake Minnewanka is impossible (like all parts of Banff), but we did get pretty lucky with a spot right away. We also ate lunch at their snack shack which wasn't anything special (hot dog for me and a ginormous slice of pizza for my husband), but convenient. Overall, a fine experience since the weather was so gorgeous, but not one I'd repeat if back in Banff.

I visited Banff for the second time recently, and I finally made it to the gondola for their…read moreChristmas event. My entire family had a blast-this was the highlight of our trip to Canada this year. Everything was so well organized and thoughtfully arranged. My kids got to complete so many creative activities: cookie decorating, meeting Santa, crafting a gondola themed ornament, roasting marshmallows, etc. as a plus, everyone was very friendly and cheerful. The views are stunning, and while I didn't get to walk through boardwalk (not stroller friendly and I have a child in a stroller), I hope to next time!

We had a free day on my trip to Banff with my running group to pick our own activity for our last…read moreday here. I chose the Banff Gondola out of the options that they presented to us. We spent our whole week running and hiking and I wanted something relaxing to do. The Banff Gondola takes you 2,292 feet up a steep mountainside to the summit of Sulphur Mountain. The ride itself is 8-minutes long. After buying my ticket, I chilled at the Starbucks at ground level and watched the gondola take people up the mountain. There is also a gift shop here. Each gondola cabin is designed to hold up to four people and offers a 360-degree view as you ascend up the mountain. Once you arrive at the Banff Gondola Upper Terminal on Sulphur Mountain, you have four levels to explore. The forth level is the rooftop observation deck where you get amazing 360-degree views of the surrounding mountains. You can see the entire town of Banff from up here. There is also an outdoor boardwalk that leads to Sanson Peak. I probably spent a few hours up here. There is a coffee shop and a couple of restaurants at the top. I did the walk from the observation deck to Sanson Peak and back. The views are just stunning. The observation deck can get crowded and it can get a little windy at times. I spent my time taking photographs and relaxing on the benches. I then grabbed a coffee before heading back down. The Banff Gondola is a little pricey, but I am glad I picked this an option and enjoyed my time here. It was a nice way to close out my trip to Banff.