Banff National Park and surrounding areas

[wild_turkey 3159]

Just got back from our first trip there. If you like the mountains and you have not been, do yourself a favor and book a trip asap. I love the Tetons and RMNP and I’m tempted to say Banff surpasses them in beauty. It felt like endless miles of massive snow-capped mountains with sheer cliff faces.

 

It’s incredibly easy to get there from Texas. Nonstop flights to Calgary from DFW and Houston are roughly 3 hours, then you rent a car and drive ~1.5 hours to Banff.

 

We visited Moraine Lake and Peyto Lake on a day when it was snowing. Did some light hiking.

imgur>

 

Next day we went to Lake Louise and hiked Plain of Six Glaciers, Beehive, and Lake Agnes. Perhaps my favorite hike I’ve ever done. Roughly 10 miles total, 30% through snow, got to the end and drank a beer while watching avalanches fall all around the canyon.

imgur>

imgur>

 

This was a quick trip so we did not have time to go to Yoho or Jasper, but we will certainly go back when we have a full week to spend.

 

Now it’s off to St. Barth. What a week.

[wild_turkey 3159]

Repost because imgr doesn’t work.

Just got back from our first trip there. If you like the mountains and you have not been, do yourself a favor and book a trip asap. I love the Tetons and RMNP and I’m tempted to say Banff surpasses them in beauty. It felt like endless miles of massive snow-capped mountains with sheer cliff faces.
 
It’s incredibly easy to get there from Texas. Nonstop flights to Calgary from DFW and Houston are roughly 3 hours, then you rent a car and drive ~1.5 hours to Banff.
 
We visited Moraine Lake and Peyto Lake on a day when it was snowing. Did some light hiking.



 
Next day we went to Lake Louise and hiked Plain of Six Glaciers, Beehive, and Lake Agnes. Perhaps my favorite hike I’ve ever done. Roughly 10 miles total, 30% through snow, got to the end and drank a beer while watching avalanches fall all around the canyon.





 
This was a quick trip so we did not have time to go to Yoho or Jasper, but we will certainly go back when we have a full week to spend.
 
Now it’s off to St. Barth. What a week.

[CooterBrown 18006]

It's on my list for next year. There's also a direct from Austin > Calgary on WestJet.

 

[Firemans4Horn 18046]

Awesome. Hiked in Glacier last year and met quite a few people who said the Canadian Rockies/Banff were much more impressive. 

[DaysOff 7947]

Pic 4

Enhance

[Sal 1088]

Looking at doing Calgary, Banff, and Jasper in early June and interested in doing some of the scenic hikes, such as the Beehive and Plain of Six Glaciers. Which areas are most likely to be open, and which do I need to avoid due to snow and ice?