Banff National Park Biking by K Gordon Schultz April 10, 2009 written by K Gordon Schultz April 10, 2009 0 comment 0FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail 1.9K Biking in Banff – the ideal sightseeing experience BANFF, Alberta – If you are planning to take your travel vacation in Banff, take my advice and plan on gong with a guided bike tour. What better way to investigate the beautiful town and all the wonderfuvl areas that surround it. With distances too far for walking and too close for a vehicle, biking around Banff is the perfect way to explore – in ways that would be almost impossible by foot or car. With the fresh mountain air in your lungs, the freedom to stop any where you like, as well as the incomparable exercise you will get, biking is the way to go! There is hardly a better way to enjoy Banff sightseeing than to take a trip on a mountain bike. I went to Banff in the spring, having planned my trip for over a year. I knew I had to take a bicycling excursion and so I booked a guided bike tour and I must say, it was the travel vacation of a lifetime. I started out with a short tour in and around Banff itself, taking in the magnificent scenery and feeling like my lungs had never filled up with air before! This city girl was in ‘breathing heaven’! Besides the exhilaration of being fully oxygenated, I was all a-glow from this initial introduction to what must be one of the most beautiful areas on the planet. We rode along the Vermillion Lakes to see the amazing bird life – I even spotted an eagle – and then on to Bow Falls, which was the only hill we encountered that day. The view from Bow Falls provides a magnificent panorama of the surrounding natural beauty, and I remembered reading that this point was made famous in the movie “River of No Return” with Marilyn Monroe. Very glamorous! We then spun around the other side of the Bow River to “Surprise Corner” where there was a wonderful view of the Banff Springs Hotel. The next day I took the Sundance Canyon Bike and Hike excursion. This took us past the Cave & Basin National Historic Site and along the Bow River to Sundance Canyon. We put the bikes aside for a while to hike for about 1 km through the canyon, past the beaver ponds, and through the beautiful, thick forest that makes this place so utterly precious. We stopped on the way back for a picnic along the river, basking in the mountain sun. The last excursion I signed up for was the Lake Minnewanka Loop, a 16 km ride that begins along a serene back road and leads to the largest lake in the Rockies. We went past Bankhead, a ghost town that provided a stunning contrast against the sensation of such living nature, and on to Two Jack Lake. Our guide suggested that we push on to Johnson Lake, making the moderate ride a bit more challenging. Our group was up for it, and so on we went, and it was truly worth the trek. I was using all the gears on my bike, hoping my body wouldn’t pay for it too hard the next day, and found myself in utter ecstasy at each turn that brought yet another spectacular view. Needless to say, we stopped often to explore and take pictures! Not to bring a camera is a crime – you will want to have a reminder of this biking trip once you are back home. After a lovely picnic lakeside, we turned back, leisurely biking our way back to home base, realizing that we still had the rest of the day to enjoy! On my last day in the area my friend and I decided to take our own mountain bike excursion. We boarded the bus at 8:30 am at the Ski Hub in downtown Banff, our bicycles in tow, and arrived at the base of the Sunshine Ski Area. From here we took our time riding back to Banff, first along the paved road, which is an easy downhill ride of 7 kms. At the bottom is the valley and we continued along Healy Creek Road, an amazing mountain bike trail that took us to the Cave & Basin National Historic Site. We went back to the Sundance Canyon, where we had been the other day, to stretch our legs by hiking a bit. Feeling the sun on our faces and the wind in our hair, we felt like we ruled the world! Back to our bikes, we explored, hopping on and off for the rest of the day until we arrived back at home base. Truly a trip to remember and remember and remember. Guided Bike Tour: 1 to 4 hours: Bikes can be kept for the entire day. Minimum Charge is $330.00 for up to 6 people plus $30.00/bike. (Additional tour members are $55.00/person and $30.00/bike.) Self-Guided Tour: $55.00/person Includes mountain bike and the shuttle from Banff to the Sunshine Village Parking lot. The shuttle bus pickup is in front of “The Ski Hub” on Banff Avenue at 8:30am. Reservations can be made at the Ski Hub or with The Ski Stop. 0 comment 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail K Gordon Schultz K Gordon Schultz is a well-known figure in the golf community and currently serves as the President of the Canmore Golf & Curling Club in Canmore, Alberta, Canada. He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the role, having spent many years working in the golf industry. Schultz has been a member of the Canmore Golf & Curling Club for over 40 years and has been actively involved in the clubโs operations since he joined. He was elected to the Board of Directors in 2001, becoming Club President in 2005. In 2019, he was acclaimed as Club Vice-President, assuming the role of Club President again in 2022. In addition to his work at the Canmore Golf & Curling Club, Schultz is also an avid traveler. He has visited over 30 countries around the world, on all continents. But his most enjoyable travel experiences have come from within Canada, visiting many of Canada's National Parks including Banff National Park, Yoho National Park, Jasper National Park, Kootenay National Park, Grasslands National Park, Mount Revelstoke National Park and Pacific Rim National Park. Along with golf, he enjoys scuba diving, biking, hiking and relaxing with a fine Pinot Noir. previous post Pleiades Massage and Spa next post Canoeing in Banff National Park You may also like 7 Unusual Things to Do in Banff July 25, 2024 50 INCREDIBLE Things to Do in Banff in... March 6, 2023 Heli-Skiing in Canada: The 9 Best High-Flying Adventure February 16, 2023 Power Up Your Adventure: E-bikes in Banff February 15, 2023 Canoeing Lake Moraine – Discover the Canadian Wilderness January 31, 2023 Biking in Banff National Park: The 8 Best... January 9, 2023 The Best Places for Snowshoeing in Banff National... November 25, 2022 Vermilion Lakes – Everything You Need to Know... 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