By Kevin Smith
The Banff National Park in Alberta – Canada, is a vast area of breathtaking beauty. The park is Canada’s first (oldest) and third-largest national park. Wildlife is abundant, including glaciers, peaks, lakes, and mountain ranges. Some of the most notable features are Lake Louise and Moraine Lake.
These are noted for their intense colours from mineral deposits left behind by melting glaciers; these melting glaciers cause the lakes to take on a beautiful turquoise blue colour. Other locations in the park include Johnston Canyon, Bow River and Banff Springs Hotel. The park was established on April 1, 1885, and named after Banffshire’s county town of Banff. The word “Banff” is derived from the Banffshire region of Scotland.
The park has been used as an inspiration for movies like Planet of the Apes (2001) starring Mark Wahlberg, Tim Roth and Helena Bonham Carter.
The Town of Banff
The town of Banff is located just outside of the national park. This town acts as a gateway for those touring the park. It is also a tourist hot spot in its own right. The town has a population of around 8,500, and the people living here are mostly hotel owners, resident employees and those working in local restaurants. The town is also a thriving tourist destination with active nightlife and many hotels, most of which have been built only recently. Since 2010, the town has been developing a new four-year operational plan to help guide its future growth. With an elevation of 1,383 m above sea level, Banff is the highest town in Canada.
Things To Do
Some things to do in Banff include hot air balloon rides, ziplining, bike rentals and sightseeing tours that give guests a close look at wildlife such as elk, deer and bears. Hot air balloon rides are relatively cheap in Banff but take up a lot of time. It only costs $190 to ride a balloon, and a flight usually lasts around 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Aerial views from the top of the mountain are one thing to do at Banff. Because there is no cell phone reception or radio signals while riding in the hot air balloon, people need to fill out an emergency form before the trip. A list of emergency contact numbers should be made and given to someone else who is coming along on the trip.
Animals To Expect
Banff National Park is home to many animals, including moose, mule deer, elk, bighorn sheep, mountain goats and monarch butterflies. Some of the most seen animals are beavers and bald eagles. The population of moose in the park is about 2,400-3,600. Also, more than 50% of the entire world’s population of Dall sheep resides in Banff National Park, where there are about 3,500-4,000. There are also around 619 black bears in the park. The number of grizzly bears is estimated at 60-70.
It is a Huge Tourists Attraction
The park attracts over 4,000,000 tourists every year. The most visited season at Banff is July to August, with more than 800,000 visitors annually. Therefore, the best time to visit Banff National Park is in summer. However, the park can be visited annually because of the well-planned facilities available for tourists. They have staff on duty 24/7, and some facilities can accommodate any vehicle, from bikes to buses. There are also numerous hotels and inns with various services, such as spas and dining establishments in Banff.
If you visit Canada, make it your goal to visit Banff National Park, we promise that you will not regret it!
Lisa Simpson