BANFF NATIONAL PARK - Canadian Rockies: Including Banff and Jasper National Parks - page 32

for example, one day scheduled for Yoho National Park and another for a Canmore/Kana-
naskis combo.
Unless you're a die-hard skier or snowboarder, summer is definitely the best time of
year to visit. The months of July and August are the busiest, with crowds decreasing expo-
nentially in the weeks before and after these two months. June and September are wonder-
ful times to visit the park. Aside from the crowd factor, in June, wildflowers start blooming
and wildlife is abundant. September sees temperatures ripe for hiking, and the turning col-
ors are at their peak. In either month, discounted accommodations are a welcome bonus. In
May and October-November, the park is at its quietest. Temperatures in any of these three
months are generally too cool for hiking (although welcome warm spells are common).
The park's three alpine resorts begin opening in December and remain in operation until
April or May. While skiing and boarding are the big wintertime draw, plan on expanding
your experience by joining a sleigh ride, learning to snowshoe, or heading out for some ice
fishing.
THE LAND
The park lies within the main and front ranges of the Rocky Mountains, a mountain range
that extends the length of the North American continent. Although the mountains are com-
posed of bedrock laid down up to one billion years ago, it wasn't until 100 million years
ago that forces below the earth's surface transformed the lowland plain of what is now
western Canada into the varied, mountainous topography we see today.