Banff - Moderate Happy Trails

The Canadian National Parks started because of a love of money, not wilderness. In 1883, the young country of Canada was building a long and expensive railway from the Atlantic to the Pacific. In the Rockies, three railroad workers took a prospecting break and stumbled across a basin of hot sulfur water, a cave enclosing a spring, and a green pool of warm water. The financial possibilities were quickly apparent—not only to the three workers but to many others who quickly filed claims on the land.

The government bureaucrats deferred to the politicians and railway moguls. The government decided to pay off the three men who found the hot springs and take over and develop the spot as a tourist resort. The railway could make money by bringing tourists to the Rocky Mountains. It turned out to be a good deal for all, especially current tourists. It also marked the beginning of Canadian national parks. It was the beginning of Banff.

One of the best ways to enjoy Banff National Park is on foot. The adventure can be anything from a leisurely stroll around town to a 3-hour hike to a teahouse to an overnight trek into the backcountry. I prefer the moderate half-day sojourns into the wilderness. That way I can enjoy both the beauty of the Rockies and the fine food and company in the excellent restaurants in Banff.

With more than 1300 kilometers of trails in the park, the hardest task could be choosing a trail to follow. Trails tin the valley floors are often free of snow from April to November, making Banff’s hiking season a long one. My favorite hike is the first one I ever went on in this park, the trail to Lake Agnes and the Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouses above Lake Louise.