CP train from Storm Mountain Lookout While I’m on the topic of Lake Louise, I’ll pass this on. If you’re travelling to Lake Louise from the east (Banff side), I suggest you take the Bow Valley Parkway (hwy. 1a). You will enter the parkway a few kilometers west of Banff off the trans-Canada; the turn off is well marked. This route parallels the trans-Canada all the way to Lake Louise and offers many interesting pullouts along the way. This is the route that I almost always take, both ways, when travelling between Banff and Lake Louise. I’ve spotted many bears over the years, blacks and grizzlies along the way.
There are three campgrounds on the Bow Valley Parkway; the Johnson Canyon campground, the Castle Mountain Campground and the Protection Mountain Campground. Note: the Johnson Canyon Campground is closed this year for renovations. The very popular Johnson Canyon hiking trail is, however, open and is a busy as ever. Again, an early morning arrival might get you a spot in the parking lot. From what I’ve seen, if you need to park along the roadway the walk to the trail head is a major hike in itself.
There are numerous scenic/picnic areas and informational pullouts along the parkway. One of my favorite geological features in the mountains are the Castle Cliffs. There is a pullout just west of Castle Junction where you can get a great shot of this impressive mountain. Other stops include the Castle Mountain Interment Camp Monument (the monument commemorates immigrant prisoners of Ukrainian, Austrian, Hungarian and German descent that were held in the area during World War I), the Storm Mountain scenic pullout and picnic area and the famous Morant’s Curve. You’ve probably seen at least one incredible photograph of the CP train shot from this location as it winds its way along the Bow River. I have met visitors from all over the world at this spot as they wait, with cameras ready and sometimes for hours, for a train to pass.
There are many other features along the Bow Valley Parkway that make it the preferred route between Banff and Lake Louise.
Google Bow Valley Parkway to discover all of the attractions along this route.
There are three campgrounds on the Bow Valley Parkway; the Johnson Canyon campground, the Castle Mountain Campground and the Protection Mountain Campground. Note: the Johnson Canyon Campground is closed this year for renovations. The very popular Johnson Canyon hiking trail is, however, open and is a busy as ever. Again, an early morning arrival might get you a spot in the parking lot. From what I’ve seen, if you need to park along the roadway the walk to the trail head is a major hike in itself.
There are numerous scenic/picnic areas and informational pullouts along the parkway. One of my favorite geological features in the mountains are the Castle Cliffs. There is a pullout just west of Castle Junction where you can get a great shot of this impressive mountain. Other stops include the Castle Mountain Interment Camp Monument (the monument commemorates immigrant prisoners of Ukrainian, Austrian, Hungarian and German descent that were held in the area during World War I), the Storm Mountain scenic pullout and picnic area and the famous Morant’s Curve. You’ve probably seen at least one incredible photograph of the CP train shot from this location as it winds its way along the Bow River. I have met visitors from all over the world at this spot as they wait, with cameras ready and sometimes for hours, for a train to pass.
There are many other features along the Bow Valley Parkway that make it the preferred route between Banff and Lake Louise.
Google Bow Valley Parkway to discover all of the attractions along this route.
