Banff National Park

Travel Guide for Banff National Park & the Canadian Rockies

Menu
  • Places to Stay
    • Camping in Banff
  • Things To Do
    • Backpacking
    • Banff Wildlife
    • Biking
    • Golf Courses
    • Hiking
    • Skiing In Banff
    • Snowshoeing in Banff National Park
    • Summer Sightseeing Tours
    • White Water Rafting
    • Zipline Tours
  • Plan Your Trip
    • How To Get Here
    • Shuttle Service to Banff
    • Banff National Park of Canada Maps & Guides
    • Maps of Banff and Area
    • From Vancouver To Banff By Train
  • Eat & Drink
  • Shopping
  • Canadian Rockies
    • Webcams in Banff
    • Real Estate in Banff
  • Contact
    • Have a Picture You Want to Share?
  • Book Hotel
Menu


Discover Banff Tours

Posted on April 28, 2010August 5, 2022 by K. Gordon

Guided Tours in Banff National Park

Ever since the amazing beauty of Banff National Park were first discovered, people have been flocking here to experience for themselves its natural wonders, this includes Native Americans thousands of years ago, although they may not have had the concept of vacationing that far back.

For people visiting Banff, the question can often be is how to get around, and how to see all the highlights – especially if you have limited time and/or you don’t have you haven’t rented a car.



But there’s no need to worry, there are plenty of Banff guided tours available.

Go Go Gondola

The high point of this tour (literally) is certainly the Banff Gondola at Sulphur Mountain. Sulphur Mountain is the birthplace of Banff National Park. Workers on the Canadian Pacific Railway, with the help of explorer and amateur comedian Joe Healy discovered natural hotsprings. After a protracted legal battle over who actually owned the rights to the area.

Spend just 8 minutes on the Banff Gondola and you’ll be near the summit of Sulphur Mountain, 2,281 metres (7,486 ft) above sea level. From there you’ll have the opportunity to get great panoramic photos, and views, of Banff and Banff National Park.

Once you’ve taken in the amazing beauty up here, you can grab a snack at the summit restaurant, or pop into the gift shop to pick up some great Banff Gondola swag.

Emeralds in the Wild

The only thing that matches the beauty of Banff’s mountaintops are its emerald colored lakes.

Emerald Lake provides a beautiful example of one of the more interesting phenomena that occurs in the Canadian Rockies. The highest peaks of the range capture weather that comes in from the Pacific Ocean to the west. Clouds get hung up on the peaks and discharge their moisture down the slopes of the mountains.



Where the slopes gather water, you get patches of coastal rainforest, quite different from the landscape elsewhere in the Rockies. Western red cedar trees and devil’s club, a large plant with thorns and maple-like leaves, are common in the rainforest patches. One of the most well-known such patches is the west side of Emerald Lake.

It’s quite obvious to even the most casual observer, the great difference between the west side and east side of the lake. The vegetation, the water, the atmosphere; all of it points to the difference. There are interpretive signs posted around the lake to further explain it.

But, of course, Emerald Lake is much more than an interesting quirk of weather. Down at the lakeshore, for example, you can also learn about the Burgess Shale, a quarry visible from the shore via a telescopic lens. An exhibit will tell you all about the fossils found in the quarry. Besides a guided tour you can take from the Burgess Shale Research Foundation, this is the closest you can get to the quarry.

Come to the lake in late May or early June, when the snow is melting , and you’ll see spring flowers come into bloom. Bright yellow glacier lilies herald the coming of the new season. Hot pink calypso orchids come shortly thereafter.



Two other great lakes you’ll want to check out in the Rockies are actually very close to the town of Banff. These include Two Jack Lake and Lake Minnewaka.

Related Articles

Shop Banff

Banff Sponsors

 

Search for Banff Info

Our Banff Activity Partners

Wild Warter

Yamnuska Mountain Adventures

Valley Zipline Adventures

Great Divide Nature Interpretation

WOW Banff

Golf Canada's West

The Banff Newsletter

Keep up to date on all the hotel deals, things to do, and latest news in Banff!
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Banff Sponsors

 

Banff Sponsors

 

Find It Fast!

  • Ultimate Canadian Rockies Vacation Planner
  • A First Timers Guide to Banff National Park
  • Shuttle Service to Banff
  • Plan Your Trip to Banff
  • How to Get to Banff
  • From Vancouver To Banff By Train
  • Banff Alberta Maps & Guides
  • Maps of Banff and Area
  • The Must Dos in Banff Town
  • Webcams in Banff

Follow Us

Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Pinterest

Accommodations in Banff

  • Where to Stay in Banff National Park
  • Banff Bed & Breakfasts
  • Hotels in Banff
  • Banff Inns
  • Banff Lodges
  • Banff Hostels
  • Banff Campgrounds

Banff Activities

  • Things To Do in Banff
  • Zipline Tours
  • White Water Rafting in Banff
  • The Complete Guide to Wildlife Viewing in Banff National Park
  • Backpacking
  • Biking
  • Fishing
  • Golf
  • Hiking

Plan Your Trip to Banff

  • Ultimate Canadian Rockies Vacation Planner
  • A First Timers Guide to Banff National Park
  • Shuttle Service to Banff
  • Plan Your Trip to Banff
  • How to Get to Banff
  • From Vancouver To Banff By Train
  • Banff Alberta Maps & Guides
  • Maps of Banff and Area
  • The Must Dos in Banff Town
  • Webcams in Banff
© 2023 Banff National Park • Advertise With Us • Privacy Policy

As an Amazon associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. This site also participates in various other affiliate programs, and we may get a commission through purchases made through our links. Please read our complete Privacy Policy for more information.

hotels

deals

shuttles

activities