We got up at 6:45 this morning. Our aim was to be at the Banff Gondola by 8am to avoid the crowds. We were the third car in the parking lot! The ride to the top of Sulfur Mountain took 8 minutes; fortunately the windows were closed. Although it was fogged in over the mountains, the sun did peak out the clouds and the visibility improved.
When we returned to our hotel, we went with Judy and Marty for a drive to Lake Minnewanka. The lake is beautiful aqua blue caused by mineral deposits in the water. We took a mile round trip hike to Stewart Canyon following the shore of the lake. It was just gorgeous. No bear or coyotes on this hike.
Our next stop was the Cave and Basin National Historic Site in Banff. This site commemorates the birthplace of Canada’s national park system.
We went into a cave with a hot springs. In 1885, three railroad men were touring the area and discovered the hot springs. Hot springs were being discovered in other areas and so the Banff Hot Springs were established, then renovated in 1913. The site is now much more than a cave and hot springs; there are all kinds of displays highlighting the many national parks in Canada.
We got to see lots of Banff snails living in the hot spring water and they cannot be found anywhere else in the world! Sorry no pictures-they were about the size an unpopped popcorn kernel.
Our final destination was the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. We walked around this huge stone hotel. It reminded me of Downton Abbey’s Highclere Castle. We were thinking of eating dinner here, but somehow it just didn’t seem fitting in our sneakers and jeans that we’ve been wearing for the last several days. It is amazing to see the work that went into making this grand hotel back in 1888 and to see it so well preserved and maintained.
All in all, we had a great day full of beautiful scenery and interesting sights. Our Toyota RAV4 is heading to Lake Louise and Jasper tomorrow.
I love your pictures and the history of the hot springs and hotel!! Do you have pics of the inside of the hotel?
I didn’t take any. I must have been getting tired by then.
Very nice trip you are on! We stayed two nights in Glacier N.P. and drove into the park at dusk to see LOTS of animals. Loved Banff but hated that most of the businesses downtown had been bought up by Orientals. The locals were not happy! Bob
We really enjoyed what we saw and did in Glacier. Two days just isn’t enough time to do it justice! Banff was nice too. Loved looking out over the town from Sulphur Mt.