Banff National Park & The Rocky Mountains

Banff National Park & The Rocky Mountains

Banff National Park lies in the heart of the majestic Rocky Mountains in the province of Alberta, and showcases some of Canada's most beautiful scenery. Turquoise-colored lakes, snow-capped peaks, and glaciers are all easily accessible in this stunning park.

The jewel of the park is Lake Louise, where green waters reflect the surrounding mountains and glaciers, and visitors can stroll easily around the shores. Just a short distance is Moraine Lake, another impressive alpine lake with an even slightly more dramatic surrounding.

The Icefields Parkway, which runs from Lake Louise to Jasper, is an unforgettable drive and another major attraction in Banff. At the south end of the park is the lovely little town of Banff, providing all kinds of options for accommodation, shopping, dining, and nightlife.

Banff is also a major winter sports area and home to Lake Louise Ski Resort and Sunshine Village, two of Canada's most prominent ski destinations.

Location

Banff National Park is located in the Rocky Mountains on Alberta's western border with British Columbia in the Alberta Mountain forests ecoregion. By road, the town of Banff is 128 kilometres (80 mi) west of Calgary and 401 km (249 mi) southwest of Edmonton.
Getting There

For most travelers, the easiest way to reach Banff is to fly into the nearest airport, Calgary International Airport. The distance from Calgary to Banff is around 125 km by car. Jasper is around 290 km from Banff (3h 30 minutes by car), and 410 km from Calgary. It takes around 1 hr 20 minutes to drive from Calgary to Banff under regular conditions. Longer in the winter or if there are traffic snarls.

Many major airlines service Calgary International Airport, including Air Canada, Delta Air Lines, Horizon Air, United and WestJet.

Nearby Airports

• Calgary International Airport (138 km)