By Tobias Alt – Wikimedia

Top 10 Facts about the Banff National Park, Canada


 

Banff National Park is located west of Calgary in Alberta, Canada. It is a sprawling 2,564 square miles of natural beauty that attracts millions of tourists annually.

The snow-capped peaks, glacial lakes, mesmerising cascades and long hiking trails are some of the attractions to this Canadian national park.

Banff National Park is the oldest National park in Canada having been established in 1885. It was named after the town, Banff, that is at the Bow River Valley. 

If you love outdoor adventures, then Banff National Park would be a perfect destination with its plethora of activities.  

There’s a lot to discover about Banff National Park. Here are the top 10 facts about the park that will fascinate you.

1. Banff National Park was the first national park in Canada

By Ethan Sahagun – Wikimedia

This park became the first Canadian national park as well as the third in the world. It was established in 1885 on a 6,641 square kilometre piece of land.

In 1883, railway workers discovered a natural hot spring at the foot of Sulphur Mountain.

The government of the day took to protect this natural phenomenon. The then Prime minister set aside 26 square kilometres of the park.

Two years later, the park was expanded to 674 square kilometres and was named the Rocky Mountains Park.

A new national park Act was signed in 1930 that saw the renaming of the park to its current name Banff National Park.

2. The hiking trails at Banff National Park is more than 1,000 miles long

Hiking lovers this is for you. The hiking trails in this park range on difficulty levels and cannot be explored in just a day.

The trails are well maintained and if you are up for more adventure, you can try the off-road trails.

The trails lead to the glacial lakes like Lake Louise and Lake Agnes, others lead to the summit of the mountain that offer magnificent views of the surrounding.

These trails can be taken by persons of any age. At lake Agnes, the views of Mount Whyte and Devil’s Thumb are breath-taking.

A round trip for a moderate hike is about 8 kilometres and the best time to do this is between May and early October.

There are over 1,000 miles of hiking trail in this park alone. If you prefer a drive, then this park offers the most scenic views.

3. There is a castle-shaped mountain at the Park

By Gorgo – Wikimedia

One unique natural attraction at Banff National Park is Castle mountain. This mountain is famous for its exceptional shape.

The mountain can be seen from the Bow Valley Parkway or while on the Trans-Canada highway. It was named by James Hector in 1858. He described the mountain as a giant castle.

The mountain’s base is 16 kilometres long. Accommodation is available like the Castle Mountain Chalets. Close attractions to Castle Mountain are Bow Valley Park and Lake Louise.

Constant erosion by wind and water led to the appearance of the castle-like appearance. The mountain has alternating layers of rocks like limestone, dolomite and quartzite.   

At some point, Mount Castle was known by a different name. Between 1946 to1979 it was called Mount Eisenhower in honour of General Dwight D. Eisenhower a World War II veteran.

4. It was named a UNESCO World Heritage in 1984

Banff National Park was declared a World Heritage Site in 1984. Three other Canadian National Parks were also added to the list of World Heritage Site.

The four parks, Banff, Jasper, Yoho and Kootenay, form part of the Rocky Mountain Parks Heritage Site.

UNESCO protects more than 7,700 square miles of the Canadian Rocky’s.

There are other historical sites within the Banff National Park; Skoki Lodge, Abbot Pass Hut, Howse Pass, Cave and Basin, Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Banff Park Museum, and the Cosmic Ray Station on Sanson Peak.

5. There are several fun activities to do in Banff National Park

By Pingyu Yang – Wikimedia

At Banff National Park, there is something for everyone. In summer, you can go sightseeing, horseback riding, hiking, climbing, biking, canoeing, fishing, kayaking, or even play a round of golf.

In winter, there is a surfeit of snow sports including skiing, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, dogsledding, ice-skating, and tubing, as well as general sightseeing.

Banff town is found in the national park. The town has activities that the whole family can enjoy like visiting the museum and art galleries, visiting historic sites or taking short hikes at the trails close to the city.

6. Archaeologists discovered the presence of human activities at the Park dating to 10,000 years ago

The Banff National Park had been home to humans more than 10,000 years ago.

Several indigenous tribes like Stoney Nakoda, Ktunaxa, Tsuut’ina, Kainaiwa, Piikani, and Siksika called the area home.

These tribes used to hunt, fish, trade, travel and held cultural events. Artefacts attesting to these activities were found at the park by archaeologists.

Several areas within the park still go by their original Stoney Nakoda traditional names like Lake Minnewanka and the Waputik Range.

7. Banff National Park has a man-made lake

By Ashok93wiki – Wikimedia

One of the biggest lakes at the national park is man-made. The lake used to be a dam that supplied the people at Banff town with fresh water.

Minnewanka pier used to be a small mining town, the residents dug a dam close to a nearby river to provide water to the growing population in the town. This was in the 20th century.

The pier is still at the bottom of Lake Minnewanka. Divers enjoy exploring the pier. One of the most visited places in Banff township is the 1912 Dam Blockhouse.   

8. The most photographed lake in the Park is lake Louise

Another lake that has caught the eyes of many is Lake Louise. This lake is elevated at 5,052 feet and is the highest permanent settlement in all of Canada.

The Lake has been known as the hiking capital of Canada because of the incredible hiking trails, beautiful waterfalls, skiing and Victoria Glacier.  

The hiking trails lead past lake Agnes tea house. The points are little beehive and big beehive. These two viewpoints have some of the best panoramic views of the Canadian Rocky’s.     

This lake is one of the most visited and photographed lakes in the world. It is also home to the world-renowned Fairmont Chateau.

The lake was named after Princess Caroline Alberta Louise, Queen Victoria’s daughter. Before renaming, the lake was called Emerald Lake.

9. One can visit the Park any time of the Year

By Gorgo – Wikimedia

Banff National Park is open all year round. This means that in each season, there are different activities to engage in.

The time if your trip will all be dependent on your personal preference.

Banff’s hiking trails are open between May and October, whereas the ski season runs from mid-November to the end of May.

June and September are best for hiking since the weather is warm and dry. There are also fewer people in the park since schools are open.

The park is busiest during the holidays like Christmas, New Years, Family Day Weekend and Easter. 

10. Forbes is the highest mountain in Banff National Park

The highest mountain in Banff National Park is Mt. Forbes that stands at 11,850 feet.

Mount Assiniboine in Kootenay National Park is the tallest at 11,870 feet. Nearly all of the mountains in Banff National Park are snow-capped for the entire year.

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