The Bow Valley Parkway is a 48-kilometre stretch of highway between Banff and Lake Louise that parallels the Trans-Canada Freeway. It’s been referred to as the alternate scenic route between Banff Nationwide Park’s most beloved cities. On the drive you’re handled to first fee views of Fortress Mountain and Morant’s Curve – a beautiful part of freeway close to Lake Louise that’s good for practice recognizing. And for anybody in search of distinctive lodging, you’ll discover a assortment of historic cabins that harken again to the period of 1920’s and 30’s motor bungalow camps together with a wealth of pure points of interest.
The Parkway is located in a wildlife hall and as such, is among the greatest locations to see animals in Banff Nationwide Park, significantly early within the morning. That’s a part of the explanation for a 60 kph pace restrict. Elk, mule and white-tailed deer, coyotes together with each black and grizzly bears are sighted recurrently – at the very least in season. Purchase a lottery ticket if you happen to see a wolf or moose.
As soon as the snow has melted, the Parkway is a well-liked spot for highway cyclists with e-biking changing into more and more standard due to accessible bike leases in Banff. For some time throughout COVID, the Parkway was closed to car visitors, so cyclists acquired a beautiful style of car-free biking. Thankfully, shoulders are broad and car speeds are low, so it’s nonetheless a fantastic possibility.
The Parkway Cabin Assortment on the Bow Valley Parkway
There are three distinctive roofed lodging choices, the Parkway Cabin Assortment, alongside the Bow Valley Parkway: Johnston Canyon Lodge and Bungalows, Fortress Mountain Chalets, and Baker Creek Mountain Resort. All of them provide the traveler a quaint and charming cabin expertise within the pure mountain atmosphere of Banff Nationwide Park.
Cabins are outfitted with kitchens, wood-burning stone fireplaces, non-public porches with chairs and generally picnic tables, together with a number of actions which can be actually proper outdoors the entrance door. All are canine pleasant. You may stay up for a extra private, rejuvenating trip due to their off the crushed monitor places.
Johnston Canyon Lodge and Bungalows presents premiere entry to Johnston Canyon together with a incredible view of Pilot Mountain. You’re handled to wonderful Fortress Mountain views at Fortress Mountain Chalets, positioned on the nook of the Bow Valley Parkway and the Banff Windermere Freeway (Hwy 93). Baker Creek Mountain Resort is nearer to Lake Louise and as such presents views of beautiful Mount Temple.
Johnston Canyon Lodge and Bungalows
In case you’re driving west, Johnstone Canyon Lodge and Bungalows are the primary of the Parkway Cabin Assortment you attain. They’re positioned adjoining to the favored Johnston Canyon path on 5 acres of blended pine and spruce forest with mountain views. Notice that they’re open seasonally from mid-Could till mid-October.
Johnston Canyon Lodge and Bungalows has been household owned and operated since 1926. They’re the oldest of the Parkway cabins. The unique buy was a teahouse (for $3000) and from these beginnings, a bungalow motor camp with established with small cabins. In the present day you’ll be able to select from 42 cabins in numerous configurations together with bungalows, studio cabins, and cottages.
On the property there are three locations the place you should purchase meals. The BlackSwift Bistro (named for the endangered Black Swift that nests within the creekside partitions of Johnston Canyon) presents an outside patio that overlooks the creek. Their Market Cafe is the place to select up a scrumptious latte and baked good earlier than you head out for a hike. And if you happen to’re simply ending the hike up Johnston Canyon, you may get a espresso or ice cream proper beside the path at The Shack.
Fortress Mountain Chalets
You’ll discover Fortress Mountain Chalets on the nook of the Banff Windermere Freeway and the Bow Valley Parkway. You may need handed the property quite a few instances – maybe stopping to get gasoline or to select up some snacks, wine, or meals, however maybe you, like me, didn’t respect that there have been 18 cabins, and a handful of lodge rooms behind the workplace constructing within the shadow of beautiful Fortress Mountain.
John and I have been lucky to spend an evening in a deluxe one-bedroom chalet. To say it was roomy could be an understatement. We loved an open idea dwelling space with a kitted-out kitchen, a wood-burning hearth and many snug seating. As well as, we had a large toilet with each a bathe and soaker tub plus my favorite Rocky Mountain Cleaning soap Firm soaps. Our bed room featured a queen mattress together with bedside tables. It was all very snug.
Exterior our cabin was a gazebo with BBQ’s and seating – together with a fireplace pit and firewood. Within the Osprey Lounge you’ll discover foosball, and desk tennis along with a visitor laundry and a gymnasium – although why you’d use that’s past me when there may be a lot accessible proper out your entrance door. We even had snowshoes ready for us – since there are trails inside metres of the cabin. The beginning of the cross-country ski path can also be actually out the entrance door and throughout the freeway, a one-minute stroll away at most.
One among their good touches was a canine mattress, a few canine bowls together with treats and poop luggage. They actually do consider the whole lot. The shop at Fortress Mountain Chalets can also be well-stocked. In case you’ve forgotten any fundamentals like milk, eggs and cheese, wine and even some tenting gear, you’ll discover it right here.
Baker Creek Mountain Resort
Baker Creek, named for an 1880’s classic prospector trying to find gold abuts the forested property, positioned simply quarter-hour away from Lake Louise. A group of 16 cabins scattered within the woods and a constructing with quite a few lodge suites are all only a quick stroll away from Baker Creek and the enduring purple chairs and hearth pits that the resort is understood for.
Baker Creek is the youngest of the three resorts making up the Parkway Cabin Assortment. It dates again to 1949 when cabins have been supplied as an in a single day cease on what was the unique Trans-Canada Freeway however is now the Bow Valley Parkway. The resort modified fingers in 2011, when then house owners Mike and Jan, retired after 25 years of rebuilding the unique bungalow model camp right into a noteworthy mountain resort.
In the present day Baker Creek Mountain Resort is a first-rate vacation spot for each {couples} and households. It exudes a romance and attraction which we loved in a newly renovated two-bedroom loft cabin with a ladder. A 20-foot vaulted ceiling gave an airiness to the cabin and the river rock wooden burning range a coziness. Different notable options have been a library wall with board video games and a few well-chosen books like “When Trains Dominated the Rockies: My Life on the Banff Railway Station” by Terry Gainer. There was additionally a transportable report participant and a stash of vinyl albums to take heed to. A luxurious moist bar rounded out the kitchen space.
If we have been visiting at a hotter time, we’d have availed ourselves of the non-public deck with out of doors chairs. In our case, we saved the fireplace stoked and the wine poured. We might have skated on a small rink that youngsters will love. We did cross-country ski on the track-set trails which can be positioned only a one-minute drive away. Snowshoes and fats bikes can be found freed from cost to friends to allow them to discover the property.
For meals, you’ll be able to decide up meals and snack gadgets within the workplace, together with wine and alcohol, however I’d counsel bringing a collection of meals with you. Eating in Lake Louise is an alternative choice – although by someday in 2023, a brand new restaurant on the property ought to be open.
What to do on the Bow Valley Parkway year-round
Search for trains at Morant’s Curve
Morant’s Curve is called for CP Railway employees photographer, Nicholas Morant who took pictures for CP to make use of to advertise the railway. You usually get one of the best photographs within the morning when the purple CP trains are set off to perfection, significantly in winter towards a snowy-white backdrop.
Morant’s Curve is simple to seek out however there isn’t a lot parking. It’s seven kilometres west of Baker Creek Mountain Resort. There’s a small car parking zone on the fitting. Stroll throughout the freeway to the perspective. There’s a great probability you’ll see folks ready….and ready some extra.
Many of the trains you see are freight trains – and there’s no rhyme nor cause to their schedule. We waited about 40 minutes however folks beside us have been on the two-hour mark by the point we left. You’ll want persistence or a little bit of luck to get one of the best photographs with trains in them.
Go to a number of the reveals alongside the Bow Valley Parkway
Alongside the size of the Bow Valley Parkway are 14 reveals, marked by an enormous “E” earlier than you get to them. They cowl the whole lot from a number of the animals you may meet on the Parkway to the Period of the Car to a monument to the Fortress Mountain Internment Camp, a spot the place hundreds of immigrants, most of Ukrainian origin, have been imprisoned as enemy aliens between 1914-1920. All are price a cease.
Hike up Johnston Canyon
Johnston Canyon wants no introduction. Climbing up Johnstone Canyon in any month of the 12 months is among the hottest actions in Banff Nationwide Park. It’s enjoyable for each age group and thrilling on the ethereal catwalks. Surroundings alongside its size is phenomenal. In winter, you could be handled to ice climbers on the higher frozen waterfall.
In case you’re visiting in winter, I’d advocate sporting microspikes. Typically the path is extremely slippery whereas at different instances it’s simply packed snow. In summer time and winter there may be the choice to increase the hike and proceed to the Ink Pots, one thing I’d encourage you to do you probably have the time.
Summer season solely actions on the Bow Valley Parkway
Cycle the Bow Valley Parkway
Final summer time I cycled the Bow Valley Parkway on an e-bike. I had a blast – although I didn’t really feel like I acquired a lot train. You may lease bikes on the practice station in Banff from Banff Cycle after which cycle on a multi-use pathway to satisfy up with the Parkway. We rode to Johnston Canyon and again over a leisurely few hours with picture stops. In case you’re on a human-powered bike, double the time. Don’t overlook that you would be able to purchase snacks on the Market Cafe at Johnston Canyon Lodge.
Go for a hike
There are a number of wonderful day hikes which can be accessed from the Bow Valley Parkway. They’re so as from east to west as follows:
- Cory Cross Loop – 11 km and 900 m elevation acquire to Cory Cross, 12.9 km and 1000 m elevation acquire round Mt. Edith. Permit 4 – 6 hours for the circuit.
- Johnston Canyon and the Ink Pots – 11.8 km return with 215 m elevation acquire. Permit 2 – 4 hours.
- Rockbound Lake – 16.8 km spherical journey with 760 m elevation acquire; permit 4.5 – 6 hours.
Winter solely actions on the Bow Valley Parkway
Fats bike at Baker Creek
You may lease fats bikes at Baker Creek Mountain Resort and cycle a unfastened community of trails on their property or head out onto the Parkway. The Parkway might be a great weekday possibility however I’d keep away from it on the weekend due to visitors and icy roads.
Snowshoe or hike to the Ink Pots
You may snowshoe to the Ink Pots from the Moose Meadows trailhead, just a few kilometres west of Johnston Canyon. I’d advocate doing that on the weekend because it isn’t as busy as Johnston Canyon.
The path, rated reasonable, good points 335 metres over 5.9 kilometres a method. To do the return outing with time on the Ink Pots permit 4 – 5 hours. The surroundings when you attain the Ink Pots is totally wonderful.
Extra snowshoe trails alongside the Bow Valley Path
I discovered snowshoe trails although I didn’t use them straight throughout the freeway from the Fortress Mountain Chalets property. They give the impression of being to be numbered so I wager you may wander round within the woods for an hour or two, maybe assembly up with trails coming from the Rockbound Lake Trailhead.
Hike as much as Silverton Falls
John and I walked as much as Silverton Falls, a two-tiered waterfall from the Rockbound Lake trailhead. The path to the falls was well-trodden however there may be some avalanche hazard on the steep slope proper earlier than you attain the falls. You must know what you’re doing and have the fitting gear to proceed or flip round if you attain the steep slope. It could be a wonderful selection in the summertime.
Cross-country ski on track-set trails parallel to the Bow Valley Parkway
My eyes have been opened this 12 months after I discovered about track-set cross-country ski trails within the woods parallel to the Bow Valley Parkway. They run from Baker Creek Mountain Resort to the Fortress Mountain Chalets so an up and again would have you ever snowboarding 30 kilometres. Thankfully, there isn’t a number of elevation acquire.
Baker Creek Mountain Resort takes accountability for the part from their resort to Fortress Mountain Lookout. Fortress Mountain Chalets takes care of the part from Fortress Mountain Lookout east to the junction with the Banff Windermere Freeway. You may rely on the paths being track-set after a snowstorm, and periodically in between, relying on staffing. I did see trails all the way in which to Johnston Canyon however they didn’t look to be track-set.
The Bow Valley Parkway expertise
I’ve pushed the Bow Valley Parkway on quite a few events however I hadn’t spent the time to discover it in-depth. What all kinds of year-round actions there are with the additional benefit of the distinctive Parkway cabin assortment to offer an unforgettable Canadian Rockies expertise. A giant thanks to the Parkway Cabin Assortment for internet hosting me, however it’s best to know that each one ideas and opinions are mine alone. Get pleasure from!
Location map of the Bow Valley Parkway
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