Top 11 Places to Visit in
Bow Valley Parkway | Alberta
Photo by Vlad Umnov
Start your journey in Banff and finish in Lake Luise
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Bow Valley Parkway
User Review
( votes)
Don’t miss the sign 1A! The Bow Valley Parkway (Hwy-1A) is a scenic, winding route between Banff and Lake Louise, and a quieter alternative to the Trans-Canada Highway. This 48-kilometer paved road has roadside pull-offs, scenic views and picnic areas. Find the map here. Photos: Vlad Umnov
- Bow Valley Pkwy, Improvement District No. 9, AB T1L 1K2
- no data
- https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/visit/les10-top10/promenade-de-la-vallee-de-la-bow-bow-valley-parkway
Backswamp Viewpoint
User Review
( votes)
Scenic spot Nice place to have a quick stop and enjoy the scenery. The surrounding nature, mountains and Bow River are incredibly beautiful. And – if you are lucky – to meet Rocky Mountain bishop sheep. Photos and videos: Vlad Umnov
Mule Shoe Lake
User Review
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This horseshoe-shaped pond is called Mule Shoe Lake. It was once a large bend, or meander, in the Bow River. When the river found the shortcut, the meander was abandoned. This is a peaceful place surrounded by a rare montane forest. It is a great place to stop for a picnic or scenic break. Photos: […]
Johnston Canyon
User Review
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National park with hiking trails & bridges to waterfalls, ridges & blue ‘ink pot’ spring pools. The well-maintained trail winds through lush evergreen forests, with suspended catwalks guiding hikers to the lower and upper falls. Accessible year-round, the canyon transforms in the winter, offering a magical experience with snow-covered trails and frozen waterfalls. Plan […]
- Bow Valley Pkwy, Improvement District No. 9, AB T1L 1K2
- (403) 762-1550
- https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/alberta/johnston-canyon-to-upper-falls
Johnston Canyon Lodge & Bungalows
User Review
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Open May – October If you have time, stay in Johnston Canyon for one to two days. It would be a unique experience. Johnston Canyon Lodge & Bungalows has been proudly family owned and operated since 1926 and is ideally located at the trail-head of historic Johnston Canyon. We offer 42 heritage bungalow/cabin accommodations in […]
Castle Cliff
User Review
( votes)
Scenic spot The Castle Mountain Lookout hike in Banff National Park is one of the best panoramic viewpoint hikes. The mountain’s castellated, or castle-like, appearance results from erosive processes acting at different peak layers of softer shale and harder limestone, dolomite and quartzite. Photos and videos: Vlad Umnov
Castle Mountain Internment Camp
User Review
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Castle Mountain Internment Camp, established in 1915, was the largest internment camp in the Canadian Rockies. Several hundred enemy aliens, ostensibly citizens of countries at war with Canada, were held there at any one time. However, the vast majority were immigrant settlers, primarily of Ukrainian ethnic origin. The camp held immigrant prisoners of Ukrainian, Austrian, […]
- Bow Valley Pkwy, Castle Junction, AB T0L
- no data
- https://www.historymuseum.ca/teachers-zone/lost-liberties/first-world-war/internees-at-the-internment-camp-in-castle-mountain/
Castle Lookout Trailhead
User Review
( votes)
It takes an average of 3 h 11 min to complete this 7.2-km out-and-back trail. This is a trendy area for hiking, snowshoeing, and running. Photos: Vlad Umnov
- Castle Lookout Trail, Improvement District No. 9, AB T1L 1K2
- +14037621550
- https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/alberta/castle-mountain-lookout-trail
Morant’s Curve
User Review
( votes)
Scenic spot Morant’s Curve is a beautiful area that the Canadian Pacific railway passes through along the Bow River. The spot was made famous by Nicholas Morant, a staff photographer for the Canadian Pacific Railway. He took photographs for the company during the mid-20th century. Many images of the trains travelling through the curve were […]
- 45 Highway 1A, Improvement District No. 9, AB T1L 1K2
- no data
- https://banffandbeyond.com/morants-curve-the-famous-spot-along-the-canadian-pacific-railway/