Johnston Canyon may be a bit of a hike but it truly is magical. The trails are accessible for most…read morehikers and lead you to the canyon, over bridges with rushing turquoise water underneath. The Upper Falls is worth the extra kms of trail and the sounds of the powerful falls enraptures you. I love that it's challenging enough to feel like an accomplishment but still manageable for a casual day trip. It's busy during peak summer, but the views are worth it.

Just stopped here while on a tour with Vancouver Journey. We only hiked to the lower falls and in…read morethe snow/ice it takes about an hour to walk there and back. ~350 ft of elevation gain per my Apple Watch. Beautiful icy sights in late March. Definitely wear crampons! Wish we had more time to see the upper falls.

We did this for our last hike of our trip to Banff. Another couple we had met told us it was pretty…read moretough so I was a little worried, but it really wasn't bad...or perhaps I was just used to it after a week of hiking. It was steep, but not nearly as steep or long as the lake agnes tea house hike. Like everything else in Banff this hike was pretty crowded, but at least i knew we were in good company if a bear decided to join us. I forgot to bring bear spray so assumed one of the other 800 people on the trail had to have it. The view from the top was gorgeous - so we sat for awhile and enjoyed it. My legs were definitely tired when I made it down, but had enough energy to walk back to the Fairmont. For those staying at the Fairmont it's an easy walk to and from tunnel mountain.

Pretty sweet area to do some outdoor activity overlooking Banff and surrounding areas. Windy…read moremountain roads and overlooks are all around this are a.

We took the Banff Gondola up to the top of Sulphur Mountain. It was a fun ride and there's much to…read moresee at the top! There's an observation deck, which leads to a boardwalk that has amazing panoramic views of the town of Banff, Bow Valley and six mountain ranges. The boardwalk ends at the historic cosmic ray station, which is not longer in use. There is also a couple restaurants, gift shop and an interpretive center at the summit. This is a must while visiting this area. Would highly recommend!

You get to Sulphur Mountain by taking the gondola ride. It's worth the cost and time to go up and…read moresee the sights. Lots of interesting things to check on in the building and the accompanying boardwalk to the weather station. Like the rest of the Canadian National Park, the entire area has been well cared for. The gondola ride is high quality. The building and observation deck are easily accessible for people with different mobility levels (they have an elevator to take you to the several floors in the building). The boardwalk is wide and well constructed. There is plenty of signage discussing the area and the history. Worth you time to check it out.

The Banff Gondola is a to do while in Banff. If you're not a mountain climber but you want to get…read morethe effect of being right up there with them, this is the easiest way to do it. I was late a half hour from my designated time slot however the ticket desk folk were forgiving and shifted my time to match my arrival. The gondola will get you up 7,486 feet = 700 meters in the air to view the stunning Canadian Rocky Mountains. The 360 degree views are amazing and they allow you to stay up on the viewing deck/boardwalk for at least 90 minutes. It's actually a nice walk and the views change as you move along the path. The altitude might get to some folks and there's a lot of stairs to climb so if you're not active, you may need to take more breaks. Thankfully the path has a lot of benches/viewpoints along the way if you need to catch your breath. I also managed to catch some wildlife and came across a family of non-threatening mountain sheep. Disclaimer: At best stay on the wooden boardwalk. There is a portion of the trail that is outside the designated leasehold area which are not guarded by rails. I can't remember exactly where this is but you'll know when you see it. It's mostly rock/gravel covered with no railing. The drop is sudden and one wrong move will cause you to fall over 7,000 feet. Your doom is either that or risk running into a bear if you go off path. The parking situation is decent as long as you don't go during prime hours. You will have to pay a separate fee to park your car if you're driving in as this location does not honor the Parks Canada parking pass (even if it's for Banff/Lake Louise). There are dining options if you want to eat lunch or dinner up above. Sky Bistro has some pretty sick views. On the way out they have a gift shop and Starbucks. Definitely do the Banff Gondola as a half day trip. It's fun and you won't regret it.

We took the shuttle bus up from the downtown shopping area. When we got there, it was completely…read morepacked with people. It felt a bit hectic. I was worried with a 4 rider limit, that my friend and our 3 kids wouldn't be let in together. But with how tiny they are, they let us all in and I'm grateful for that. I have a slight fear of heights so going up was not a pleasant experience. Going down was a lot better for me and felt faster. Reaching up top was great! There are so many activities in every level. And a fun walk outside. They had the fire going because it was so cold. Be aware if you follow the trail to walk it gets a bit harder to breathe as you go up. But it's a fun walk. Just remember that you'll be going up both ways. So if hiking is not your thing, don't attempt it.

Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park is a wonderful alternative for canoeing if the boathouses at…read moreLake Louise and Moraine Lake get too busy. What really stands out is the value; the canoe rental rates are significantly more affordable here than at the other major lakes. The staff that operates the boat house and the attached gift shop were wonderful, incredibly friendly, and helpful. While the lake is certainly less crowded than its more famous neighbors, parking can still a challenge. Expect to spend around an extra 20 minutes to park, and be prepared to walk a short distance from your spot to the water's edge. Once you're there, it's well worth the effort. There are also several beautiful, easy-to-moderate trails circling the lake to explore the scenery on foot after your paddle. Cilantro on the Lake restaurant can get busy, but The Window walk up food counter is quick, and perfect for grabbing some food for a picnic in the canoe. Highly recommended for a more relaxed and less crowded scenic mountain experience!

I go to see three beautiful lakes on my first day in Banff National Park. Our last stop was at…read moreEmerald Lake in Yoho National Park. Yoho National Park is one of the four contiguous national parks in Canada's Rocky Mountains. Emerald Lake is a freshwater lake near the town of Golden. The lake has a emerald green color to it and is enclosed by mountains of the President Range. I had a nice time here. I did some of the hiking trials and saw a little bit of wildlife along the way. This lake is less crowed than Louise and Moraine lakes which I enjoyed. I enjoyed the views while hiking and came across a plaque about the fossil-bearing deposits of the Burgess Shale in the area. I grabbed lunch at the Cilantro on the Lake restaurant before heading out. There are canoe rentals at Emerald Lake if you want to get out on the water.

Awesome hike in the woods right next to Banff downtown. Plenty of free parking in the lot for the…read moreMarsh and Cave and Basin attractions. This trail goes way into the hills and sees waterfalls and plenty of nature. We were alone for about 8 miles of hiking, which is great to get away from the crowds. It's a very easy hike with some features deeper in the woods which makes it a captivating hike.

Came here on a weekday afternoon, sun was shining and weather was great. The beginning of the trail…read moreis flat and boring although it goes by the river which is pretty. The canyon itself was more interesting for sure though. Wasn't steep at all, didn't see many people.

Beautiful and exhilarating, the Canadian Rockies in general, and The Three Sisters in particular…read more When asked, a local tour guide said their individual names are Faith, Hope and Charity. Very nice. The second tour guide disagreed, saying their names are Big Sister, Middle Sister and Little Sister. I found this was repeated on Wikipedia ... and is there any higher authority? Why, yes, the lady at the Canadian Tourist Information Kiosk, who said the locals, the real people who live here, refer to the Three Sisters as Beebee, Ceecee and Deedee. So, what's in a name? The Three Sisters, by any name, are Beautiful and Exhilarating. Five-Stars.

As gorgeous as they are iconic - The Three Sisters stand guard over, no that's not right... The…read moreThree Sisters are all about fun, not protection. They're an icon for a town that exists for outdoor recreation and natural beauty. While The greatest cities in the world are know for and defined by their skylines, none of them even come close to Canmore's. Whether you'd prefer to enjoy them while camping, hiking, biking, or enjoying a glass of wine with a fine meal, Faith, Charity and Hope will make your experience all that much better.

We had an amazing time visiting sites in Kootenay National Park while staying in Radium Hot Springs…read morefor a week. The is such a picturesque part of British Colombia, Canada. Our first stop was Olive Lake. A gorgeous green-blue body of water. A short trail from the parking lot. Our next stop was Paint Pots. Such a cool experience. We've never seen anything like it before. The colorful, iron-rich pools were so cool to see up close. The boardwalk to the paint pots was picturesque too. There are many stops and viewpoints along highway 93. Be sure to stop at the ranger station to get your park pass ($14/day) and map of all stops along the route. Most stops have restrooms available as well. Overall a must while visiting British Colombia, Canada. We thoroughly enjoyed exploring this area and would highly recommend.

Rumor had it that Kootenay National Park was, perhaps, the most underrated of the National Parks in…read morethe area. I'm all for supporting the underdogs (& avoiding the crowds). Compared to Banff, Kootenay was empty & there are plenty of bodies of Gatorade-like waters. We enjoyed the wide open spaces and the non-touristy vibe of the park. On our Stanley Glacier Hike, we only saw 3 other sets of people... no shoulder bumping or shuttles needed here. We opted for the annual family/group pass, a great value if you're spending a week or so in any combination of the parks &/or may come back. (& we will come back... already planning it)

This hike is listed on a number of local websites and tourist brochures, and after talking to…read moresomeone at a visitor information center, my husband and I decided to try it out. All the descriptions list this hike as "easy", and as someone who is in pretty good shape but not an experienced hiker, I would have described this trail as being of "moderate" difficulty. The area is a little remote, and I would have felt more comfortable with bear spray or bear bells to scare off any locals. There is a small parking lot in the area, and the trail is located at the wooden trailhead sign (not the wider vehicle path heading into the forest in the opposite direction). The trail is steep and narrow in a number of sections, so much so that I wondered if we had the wrong trail at one point, and in one area the trail snakes along side of a slope with a fairly significant drop on one side and a sharp upslope on the other. Good hiking shoes are highly recommended for extra traction and stability. That being said, the views of the falls at the end are spectacular. The waterfall is roaring, powerful, and totally awesome. The return trip took us just about two hours, with about 15 minutes at the falls themselves. It's a great shorter hike, and only 20 minutes from Radium Hot Springs.