Banff: Canada's oldest national park, between glaciers and turquoise lakes

Banff National Park in the Canadian province of Alberta was established on 25 November 1885 around the Cave and Basin hot springs and is Canada's oldest national park. It covers 6,641 square kilometres in the Rocky Mountains on the border with British Columbia, 110 to 180 kilometres west of Calgary. According to Wikipedia, more than 4.5 million people visited in 2025/26. The highest peak entirely within the park is Mount Forbes (3,612 metres). Lake Louise is one of the most visited lakes in the world, while Moraine Lake overlooks the Valley of the Ten Peaks; the Icefields Parkway runs about 230 kilometres from Lake Louise to Jasper.

Since 1984, Banff has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage site "Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks", which was extended in 1990. It also includes the Jasper, Kootenay and Yoho national parks and the provincial parks of Mount Robson, Mount Assiniboine and Hamber – 2.36 million hectares in total. UNESCO highlights peaks, glaciers, lakes, waterfalls, canyons and karst caves, as well as the Burgess Shale fossil site, known for the remains of soft-bodied marine animals. The park is home to grizzly and black bears, moose, elk, mountain goats and bighorn sheep; bison were reintroduced in 2017.

Autumn is especially striking: the subalpine larch is a conifer that turns yellow and sheds its needles every year. According to the travel guide The Banff Guide, the golden peak usually falls between about 20 September and 5 October and lasts seven to ten days – an early frost or snowfall can end it. The most popular route is Larch Valley at Moraine Lake (8.6 kilometres return). Private cars are not allowed at the lake; access is only by Parks Canada shuttle, private shuttle or on tours. The road closes seasonally due to snow – according to The Banff Blog, from 13 October 2026 until 1 June, making 12 October the last day to visit.