BANFF NATIONAL PARK - Canadian Rockies: Including Banff and Jasper National Parks - page 31

PARK ENTRY
Permits are required for entry into Banff National Park. A National Parks Day Pass
is adult $9.80, senior $8.30, child $4.90, to a maximum of $20 per vehicle. It is in-
terchangeable between parks and is valid until 4pm the day following its purchase.
An annual Discovery Pass, good for entry into national parks and national
historic sites across Canada (including two within Banff National Park), is adult
$67.70, senior $57.90, child $33.30, to a maximum of $136.40 per vehicle.
All passes can be bought at the eastern park gate on the TransCanada Highway,
the park information centers in Banff or Lake Louise, and at campground kiosks.
For more information, check online at the Parks Canada website ( www.pc.gc.ca ) .
PLANNING YOUR TIME
If you are planning to visit the Canadian Rockies, it is almost inevitable that your itinerary
will include Banff National Park, both for its many and varied outdoor attractions and for
its central location. The park can be anything you want it to be, depending on the time
of year you visit and what your interests are. The main population center is Banff, which
has all the services of a large town, as well as attractions such as the landmark Fairmont
Banff Springs hotel and the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies. The park holds
three lakes that you won't want to miss for their scenic beauty: Lake Louise, Moraine
Lake, and Peyto Lake. All three are easily accessible by road but also offer surround-
ing hiking, and the former two have canoe rentals. Hiking is the park's biggest attraction,
and many visitors plan their itinerary around it. I'd suggest mixing it up—choosing from
the hikes that reflect your fitness level and combining them with visits to the major nat-
ural attractions. For example, when in the vicinity of Lake Louise, walk the Lake Agnes
Trail, and while at Moraine Lake, plan on visiting Larch Valley. For the more adven-
turous, Bourgeau Lake is a stunning day-hike destination. Keen hikers with more time
should also consider including Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park, which is renowned
for its network of trails.
You can book one accommodation for your entire stay or spend an equal number of
nights in Banff and Lake Louise. If you have a family or like the convenience of staying
put for your entire vacation, it is practical to book a room in either Banff or Lake Louise
and use it as a base—spending your days in the park but also venturing farther afield, with,