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)

This is the nicest places to stay in Bugaboo Provincial Park…read more Also known as "The Bugaboos". Climbers love crowd-isolating jargon, so you'll often hear it shortened all the way down to "The Bugs", or, worse "DA BUGZ!" It's a great place to wait out the notoriously fickle weather in the area. It's run by the delightfully-friendly Alpine Club of Canada. (it's cheaper if you're a member, and if you plan on staying here for more than 5 days, the membership practically pays for itself) It's got: Power (WUT?!) Sleeping pads Running water (they say you probably shouldn't drink it straight up, but we did, #YOLO) Pots and pans Tables Lots of climbing books to study Posters of Conrad Kain doing his famous pose Burners for cooking It does not have: Plumbing (outhouse only, sorry) Bedding (other than the squishy pads) Food for sale (although people hiking out might give you some if you're nice...) You need to bring: Sleeping bag Food Adult beverages (whisky for light weight, beer for a strong back) Climbing gear Clothes Some people choose to camp rather than stay in the hut. There are a couple of reasons they generally do this: - They are cheap - They came last minute and the hut was booked - They desperately want to have "dirtbag credentials" because they slept in a tiny, humid nylon box rather than a large, dry wooden one - They want to be much closer to the climbing routes The last point is the one I empathize most with. By staying at the hut, you are adding another 1,000 ft of gain to the beginning and end of every climbing day. Is it worth it? If the weather is iffy, I'd say: "definitely".

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.

Short (3-4 miles) but steep trail that leads up into Bugaboos Provincial Park…read more It's mainly used by climbers to access to the Conrad Kain Hut. However, the views are so stunning at the end that I'd recommend it to anyone in the area! You'll even get to climb on some steel "ladders" that have been permanently embedded in rock for the harder sections. Just be sure to wrap your car in chicken wire. Apparently porcupines will eat you out of a reliable car.

Serene, tranquil and picturesque views of waterfalls, glaciers and lake. Easy hike and walk…read more I saw a ground squirrel running twice. Do not approach and feed any wildlife. Too quick for me to capture a photo moment. I loved hiking and walking round trip at Moraine Lake. Stunning! Great cardiovascular exercise from head to toes. Designated areas for benches. If I lived closer, I'd be here often. Highly recommend.

We rode e-bikes from Samson Mall (near Post Hotel) up to Moraine Lake and it was one of the most…read morefun things I've done in a long time. Absolutely perfect September weather, magical views, pine scent in the air...and reaching really fun top speeds on the way down. Relaxing and sightseeing by the lake was wonderful. Highly recommend!

The hike to the waterfalls and the hike to the Inkpots are two different tales..but both…read morespectacular. The hike to the falls are on a paved or finely-crushed gravel path, or on a causeway that walks you above the water. Either way, it is a relatively easy walk for most able-bodied persons. The falls are spectacular, but be prepared...in August, it will be busy with people, and you will spend a lot of time brushing elbows as people head the other way. And, at lower falls, there will be a 45 minute wait to look at the falls through a natural window opening in the rock. Personally, I'm not in the "selfie" crowd, so I will make better use of my time. Upper falls is another few minutes up the trail, and is equally powerful. Obviously, since water flows downhill, you are hiking uphill from the parking lot to see the falls. Continue past the upper falls, and now you are on the way to the Inkpots. This is where you will really start working. It is wide, well marked, but with much less humanity...we were never completely alone, but usually we didn't have anyone within 50 yards of us. It is about 3.5 mi from parking to the Inkpots, and it is uphill 2/3 of the way from the falls to the Inkpots, before descending back downhill to the river and Inkpots. The Inkpots were not as colorful as I had hoped, but they were an interesting natural phenomenon that we wanted to see. There are some benches, no toilets, and the river runs nearby. the walk back was 1/3 uphill and 2/3 downhill to the falls before the final (and crowded) stretch to the parking lot. Speaking of parking, we arrived at 8:20AM and were lucky to grab the last parking spot. It fills up quickly. More parking is nearby, but it adds to your walk. A cafe/store at the start of the trail sells food, coffee, and souvenirs. Bathrooms are also near the cafe. This is a must-see destination at Banff, but in peak season, arrive early- with good hiking shoes, if going to the Inkpots- and bring your food, water, bear spray, and camera. Our round trip was 7.8 miles in 3.5 hours.

Really beautiful, easy hike to the Upper Falls! Loved every minute in our perfect September…read moreweather!!

Really beautiful, 35 min drive from the Post Hotel. We visited just as the sun was setting behind…read morethe mountains during perfect September weather. Really spectacular waterfall and enchanting surrounding vibe. Loved this short excursion!

Stunning and powerful waterfall! Gravity and force from mist and/or spray comes into contact with…read morehair and face. Easy walk. There are many vantage points for taking photos and videos. If arriving midday or afternoon, expect to see vehicles lined up on both sides of the road.

Easy and longer walk where you're able to hear the sounds of waterfalls. Calming. Able to take…read morephotos from different vantage points. Spacious area to stop and go at your own pace.

HIKE TO BOW FALLS AND BOW RIVER…read more On our first day in Banff, we joined the Bow Falls Loop Tour hosted by the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. The Tour began with a hike down a paved path leading directly from the hotel to the Falls. For those driving, there is a small parking lot that is steps from the Falls. Our guide told us that the Falls can be reached via an easy and scenic walk along the Bow River from downtown Banff. Bow Falls is a beautiful yet powerful waterfall. While Bow River appeared shallow and calm, it was deep enough for scenic float boat tours that began further downstream. A paved promenade runs along the Bow River - we walked up steps for a bird's eye view of the Falls. Our tour finished with a climb up and around the Falls before hiking on a forest trail back to the hotel.

We rented a kayak here and the staff was very friendly and helpful. It was a little cold and windy…read morethe day we went. They section off the left side of the lake for canoes and kayaks and the right side is for their boat tours. It was $96 for 1 hour for the double kayak, which is reasonable compared to lake louise and moraine lake ($170-180/ hour). The lake itself is a beautiful turquoise blue like all the other glacier fed lakes.

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!!