Mountains in Banff National Park
Dating to 1885, Banff National Park is the oldest national park in Canada and the third -oldest in the world. It's also one of the most popular parks in North America, attracting millions of visitors every year. Banff is defined by its seemingly endless string of broad, powerful mountains and glacially-carved valleys. The mountains help to support a thriving outdoor scene that includes hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, skiing and climbing.
Banff National Park lies in the Canadian Rockies from the Continental Divide to the Alberta/British Columbia border. Although Rocky Mountain peaks in US locations rise to heights over 14,000 feet, and the highest mountain in Banff National Park is Mount Ford at 11,580 feet, Banff's peaks look larger than their American counterparts. This is because the valleys of the Canadian Rockies were cut deeper by glacial forces and the mountains rise more drastically from floor to peak, providing stunning scenery and challenging, natural obstacles
Banff National Park is approximately 80 miles from Calgary on the TransCanada Highway. The town of Banff and the village of Lake Louise are located in the park, providing lodging and amenities. Perhaps the least-strenuous way of enjoying Banff's mountain and glacier scenery is traveling up the Icefields Parkway, which runs through the heart of the park and connects with Jasper National Park. The scenic highway offers views of peaks and glaciers, including Mount Cascade, Crowfoot Glacier and Athabasca Glacier.
Banff National Park features more than a thousand miles of trails, some of which access mountain peaks. For those who prefer an easier way to the top, a series of gondolas around the park provide the quickest way up. The Banff Gondola provides access to the top of Sulphur Mountain, where a boardwalk provides walking access to Sanson's peak. Lake Louise Ski Area also offers its gondola for summer scenic tours and hiking.
Skiing abounds throughout the Canadian Rockies and Banff National Park is home to three ski resorts with nearly 8,000 acres of terrain. Unlike many US ski resorts, winter is actually the low season in Banff National Park, so visitors will enjoy less crowded slopes. Sunshine Village and Mount Norquay are located near the town of Banff and Lake Louise Ski Area is located farther north in Lake Louise. The first skiers in the park didn't have the luxury of lift-served ski runs and ski touring is still a popular activity today. The snow pack can be fragile early in the season, and usually isn't suitable for backcountry skiing until mid-February, according to Parks Canada.
One look at some of the peaks in Banff National Park reveals that the park beckons the fingers and feet of experienced climbers. The sharp, glaciated peaks and spires, and soaring, rugged faces offer excellent climbing. The Canadian Rockies are composed of sedimentary rock, so knowing where to climb is important. According to Parks Canada, the best rock climbing in the region is on water-worn limestone and quartzite. Popular climbs include the multi-pitch route up Mount Louis and the peaks around Lake Louise. The climbing season begins in May, but peaks above 9,000 feet might not clear until late June or July.
As is true with any high-mountain environment, weather in Banff is highly variable. The winters can be very cold and harsh and the summers are mild. The average high temperature in July is just over 70 F (in the town of Banff); in January, the park's coldest month, the average low temperature dips to 5 F. The park receives plenty of snow in winter and avalanche danger can be a serious threat throughout winter and spring. When traveling through the park between November and March, be prepared for snow and winterize your car. Some roads, like the Icefields Parkway, require snow chains or snow tires.
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