By Jill Leviticus
Banff National Park Activities
's Banff National Park offers a variety of activities for outdoor sports enthusiasts and nature lovers. Banff, Canada's oldest national park, is located in the Rocky Mountain range, just 1 ½ hours drive from Calgary, Alberta. The park is open year-round, although some locations may be closed in the winter.
Banff Upper Hot Springs
Banff National Park was founded after Canadian Pacific Railway workers claimed to have discovered hot springs in a cave in 1883. The hot springs are still there, but you no longer have to venture into a cave to experience them. Visitors bathe in an outdoor spring-fed pool. Modern changing rooms, a steam room, massage therapies, a children's pool, gift shop, café and a seasonal snack bar are also offered.
Banff Upper Hot Springs
Mountain Avenue
P.O. Box 900
Banff, Alberta T1L 1K2
(800) 767-1611
www.hotsprings.ca
Ice Diving and Skating
If diving in warm waters isn't adventurous enough for you, you might want to consider a winter ice dive. Divers cut a hole in the ice for access and must replace the cutout area when the dive is finished. Ice diving requires a special Restricted Activity Permit from the park warden's office and anyone considering an ice dive must first speak to a warden for information about dive sites and guidelines. Ice skating is also offered at any of the park's lakes in a skate-at-your-own-risk form. The park recommends that you test the thickness of the ice before skating and avoid ice skating unless the ice is at least 6 inches thick.
Ice Diving
Banff Warden Office
Banff National Park
Box 900
Banff, Alberta T1L 1K2
(403) 762-1470
www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/activ/activ9_e.asp
Camping
Thirteen campgrounds offer 2,468 tent and RV campsites in the park. Most seasonal campgrounds open in May or June, depending on the weather at the time, and begin closing in September and October. Winter camping is available at two campgrounds: Tunnel Mountain Village II and Lake Louise Campground. Camping and fire permits are offered for sale at campground kiosks.
Banff National Park Campground Information
Box 900
Banff, Alberta T1L 1K2
(403) 762-1550
www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/visit/visit3_e.asp
Banff Gondola
The Banff Gondola takes you on an 8-minute trip to the top of Sulphur Mountain in a four-person enclosed gondola. At the top of the mountain, you'll find an observation deck, a restaurant and the Banff Skywalk, a walkway along the summit ridge. During your trip, you may spot Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, hoary marmots or Canada jays.
Banff Gondola
Mountain Avenue
P.O. Box 1258
Banff, Alberta T1L 1B2
(403) 762-2523
www.explorerockies.com/Banff-gondola
Columbia Icefield Glacier Experience
You'll get a close look at Banff's glaciers and icefields on a 90-minute tour of the Athabasca Glacier. After boarding a special ice explorer vehicle, you'll be given a guided tour of the area and learn about the formation of glaciers and icefields. Midway through the tour, you'll be given the opportunity to stand on a glacier. Tours operate from mid-April through mid-October.
Columbia Icefield Glacier Experience
Icelands Parkway, Highway 93 North
P.O. Box 1140
Banff, Alberta T1L 1J3
(877) 423-7433
www.explorerockies.com/Columbia-icefield
Resources
About the Author:
Jill Leviticus has been a writer for 20 years. She writes business, health and travel articles for several online publications and worked as a writer for a hospital and a nonprofit research foundation. Leviticus has a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Lock Haven University and works as a public relations writer.
Photo Credits:
kadellar/wikimedia commons
