Other Activities

At the Banff Centre there is the Banff Festival of Mountain Films and the Banff Mountain Book Festival, both in November.

In January, Lake Louise acquires a special sparkle. Carvers from Japan, Jamaica, France and across North America arrive to compete in the 10th annual Ice Magic International Ice Sculpture Competition. Three days of teamwork create an alfresco art gallery of horse, lions, moose and other fantastic creatures – the ideal accessory for a 60,000 pound ice castle on the lake, constructed each December by Chateau staff. Kids and parents can create their own amazing ice crafts at the Little Chippers’ station.

Calgary is proud to be home to the “Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth” -- The Calgary Stampede! For 10 days in July each year, the city comes alive with the heritage of Western hospitality, roughest cowboys, parades and traditional pancake breakfasts.

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From Banff there are regularly scheduled evening bus trips back to Calgary to watch the National Hockey League Calgary Flames in action at the Olympic Saddledome. Also in Calgary are the Canada Olympic Park and The Glenbow Museum.

Of course, the closest excursions are into the natural beauty of Banff National Park.

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There are a few high-end boutiques at Chateau Lake Louise and a small retail mall in the village at Lake Louise. For more extensive shopping, head to Banff, home of more than 200 retail stores.

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Soak the day away in the natural outdoor hot pools of Banff's famous Mineral Hot Springs Pool. They are open daily all winter. Once considered therapeutic, the waters of the hot springs are now appreciated for their relaxing effect. Water temperature averages 104 degrees (40 degrees Celsius). For even greater relaxation, try out the spa. Sit in the steam room or let them "wrap you up" so you can snooze a while on the specially designed beds. It's the perfect way to finish a day.

In addition to the Mineral Hot Springs, massage and spa treatments are available at several locations throughout Banff and Lake Louise.

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In the fall of 1883, three Canadian Pacific Railway construction workers stumbled across a cave containing hot springs on the eastern slopes of Alberta's Rocky Mountains. From that humble beginning was born Banff National Park, Canada's first national park and the world's third. Spanning 6,641 square kilometres (2,564 square miles) of valleys, mountains, glaciers, forests, meadows and rivers, Banff National Park is one of the world's premier destination spots.

Banff National Park is a hiking wonderland, containing over 1,600 kilometres (1,000 miles) of trails, more than any other mountain park. Hikers can find anything from a one-hour jaunt up a mountain to a month-long backcountry excursion into the lonely wild regions of the park.

Banff is home to a number of outstanding geological and ecological features. In addition to the hot springs, the Castleguard Caves in the remote northwest corner of the park are Canada's longest cave system. The park also contains Alberta's southernmost herd of the endangered woodland caribou.

The park is in the Rocky Mountain natural life zone, with terrain divided into three separate eco-regions: the montane, the sub-alpine and the alpine. Each eco-region is characterized by a different plant and animal regime, as well as a different climate and elevation.

The Trans-Canada Highway, the Banff-Radium Highway, the scenic Bow Valley Parkway and the awe-inspiring Icefields Parkway are all major travel routes that bisect the park, enhancing visitors' chances of seeing the abundant wildlife inhabiting the mountain regions. Lucky travelers may see elk, deer, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, moose, black bears, grizzly bears, wolves and a host of other large and small mammals.

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