The Rocky Mountains - Fabulous Western Canada: Capture the Excitement of the Great West! - page 119

defi nitely worth a look. Like gigantic
stalagmites, these windswept pillars of
sand, silt, gravel and dissolved lime-
stone stand like sentinels guarding the
surrounding forest.

ing effect even a small torrent of water
can have on all kinds of rock. The fi rst
waterfall, called the Lower Falls, is only
1.1km along the trail, and the path here
is easy, though a bit slippery in spots.
The second, called the Upper Falls, lies
another 2.7km farther. This canyon is a
veritable bird sanctuary, and bird lovers
can often spot some dippers here, as
they live in the canyon year-round
and like to dive into the icy waters in
search of insect larvae. Black swifts
also abound, as they build their nests
in the shady hollows of the canyon.
They arrive in mid-June and stay until
the beginning of fall, long enough to
raise their young before heading back
south to the warmth of the tropics. The
second waterfall is the canyon's high-
est, and this is where visitors can mar-
vel at what are known as “shimmering
walls.” A sign explains the phenomen-
on, which results from the combination
of several varieties of algae saturated
with minerals. When the sun hits the
wall the effect is spectacular. The trail
continues over another 3km to the Ink
Pots, which are formed by seven cold
springs, in different shades of blue and
green.

Bow Valley Parkway

To get from Banff to Lake Louise, travel-
lers can take the Bow Valley Parkway,
which weaves its way along the moun-
tains and affords exquisite views of
the Bow River. It is important to drive
slowly here, as animals often approach
the road at sunrise and sunset.

The Bow River Valley was fi rst created
by the torrential currents of the Bow
River, which originated from the thaw
fl ow of surrounding mountains some
140 million years ago. The river, which
no longer depends on thaw fl ow, con-
tinued its journey across the glacial
debris, progressively eroding the rock
along the edge of the valley and giving
it its rounded shape.

A stop at beautiful Johnston
Canyon , located about 20km be-
yond Banff, is a must. A small dirt trail
has been cleared through the canyon,
where visitors can behold the devastat-

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The thundering waterfalls of Johnston Canyon. © Philippe Renault