Banff and Lake Louise

Sunday, September 18

We left Calgary, drove through the city and headed to Canada’s Banff National Park about an hour away.  It was advised that we drive the Bow Highway rt 1A rather than rt 1; the Transcontinental Highway because it is a more leisurely drive with many pull offs.  We took that advice and headed through the park on our way to Lake Louise.

We’re sure this is getting repetitive, you are reading the same words over and over again, beautiful, magnificent, awesome ~ but that’s just the way it is!

Banff National Park is beautiful.

along the way

Along our drive, we took about an hour hike through 

Johnston Canyon to the lower falls.  

still hiking

the lower falls

The falls were beautiful and through a tunnel in the wall of the canyon we could get within a few feet.

through the tunnel

  

falls from the tunnel

We continued on to Lake Louise.  What a beautiful place. 

along the drive

evidence of fall colors

Everything about it is beautiful; from the mountains, glaciers, lake and hotel to the flowers planted everywhere.   

Chateaux Lake Louise

Chateaux Lake Louise

love those flowers

view from the lounge out to Lake Louise and Victoria Glacier

Lake Louise and Victoria Glacier

It is also a VERY busy place.  We toured the hotel and then walked several miles along the lake.  Many people were out on the lake in canoes, horseback riding along the trails and scaling the rock cliffs beside the lake. 

along the trail

closer to the glacier

brook along the trail

tall cliff

rock climber on the cliff

see the little red spot ~ the crazy climber

riders on the trail

                                          

 

           We were also entertained by the music 

           and dancing of the First Nation.

We drove on to Moraine Lake but by then it had started raining so we just took a short walk then headed to the town of Banff.   

view driving down Banff Ave

Our hotel was right in town which allowed us to walk 

around the shops and go to the Banff Avenue Brewing Co. 

John ordered a sampler and after I had one of the 

4oz samples, I was ready for bed.  John managed 

to drink the other five.

The town of Banff reminded us a lot of Jackson and since we weren’t able to stay there we were even happier to experience more of Banff.