Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
contained alpine resort accessible only by gondola from the valley floor. But for a
few short months each summer, the area is clear of snow and becomes a wonderland
for hiking. Large amounts of precipitation create a lush cover of vegetation-over
300 species of wildflowers alone have been recorded here.
From Sunshine Village, trails radiate across the alpine meadow, which is covered
in a colorful carpet of fireweed, glacier lilies, mountain avens, white mountain
heather, and forget-me-nots (the meadows are in full bloom late July-mid-August).
The most popular destination is
Rock Isle Lake,
an easy 2.5-kilometer (1.6-mile)
jaunt from the upper village that crosses the Continental Divide while only gaining
100 meters (330 feet) of elevation. Mount Assiniboine (3,618 meters/11,870 feet),
known as the “Matterhorn of the Rockies,” is easily distinguished to the southeast.
Various viewpoints punctuate the descent to an observation point overlooking the
lake. From here, options include a loop around Larix Lake and a traverse along
Standish Ridge. If the weather is cooperating, it won't matter which direction you
head (so long as it's along a formed trail); you'll experience the Canadian Rockies
in all their glory.
It's possible to walk the six-kilometer (3.7-mile) restricted-access road up to
the meadows, but a more practical alternative is to take the Sunshine Meadows
Alpine Shuttle along a road closed to public traffic. This service is operated by
White Mountain Adventures
(403/762-7889 or 800/408-0005,
www.sunshinemeadowsbanff.com
). Through a June-September season, buses de-
part Banff at 8:30am daily (adult $55, child $30, round-trip) and the Sunshine Vil-
lage parking lot on the hour 9am-5pm daily (adult $26, child $15, round-trip). The
shuttle returns from the alpine meadow hourly 9:15am-5:30pm, with the 2:30pm
and 5:30pm departures continuing to Banff. For $35 extra, you can explore the
meadows with a naturalist, who will lead you through all the highlights. Advance
reservations are required for both the bus and guided hike. To get to the base of the
gondola from Banff, follow the TransCanada Highway nine kilometers (5.6 miles)
west to Sunshine Village Road, which continues a similar distance along Healy
Creek to the Sunshine Village parking lot.
Western Slope of Mount Rundle
• Length: 5.4 kilometers/3.3 miles (2 hours) one-way
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