Sunshine-Meadows-Larch

Hiking Banff National Park – Sunshine Meadows

While Sunshine is most well-known for skiing, the summer gondola and shuttle bus service make Sunshine Meadows one of the most accessible alpine hiking areas in the Canadian Rockies from late June through late September. For some, its a starting point for backpacking adventures to Mt. Assiniboine or the Egypt/Pharoah Lakes area. For dayhikers like us, prime times to visit Sunshine Meadows are during peak wildflower season (usually towards the end of July) and peak larch viewing season (usually towards the end of September). Our most recent larch season visit was timed just about perfectly and reaffirmed that it’s well worth the effort to do at least one golden larch hike each fall.

Legacy-Trail

Cycling from Three Sisters to Cascade Ponds

Constructed to celebrate the 125th anniversary of Banff National Park, the Banff Legacy Trail comprises a significant part of any bike ride between Three Sisters in Canmore and Cascade Ponds just outside of Banff. The ride west has a slight incline and is often against the wind. The ride east is a little easier. But be sure to check the weather forecast before heading out. Getting caught in a thunderstorm while riding a bike is not a great situation!

Hiking Banff National Park – Bow Falls to Hoodoos Trail

Our Family Day long weekend included an inside/outside day in Banff: a morning looking at photographs while wandering the galleries at Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies followed by an afternoon making photographs while exploring a new-to-us trail just outside of the Banff townsite. We accessed the easy Bow Falls to Hoodoos trail from Surprise Corner, a tiny parking…

Lake-Minnewanka

Snowshoeing Banff NP – Lake Minnewanka and Stewart Canyon

Below freezing temperatures and slippery conditions make it harder to get out and about at this time of year. But a daily dose of Vitamin N(ature) is one of my priorities, so I make a point of getting out there almost every day. Dressing in layers, taking along in a pair of MICROspikes, NANOspikes or snowshoes and heading out with family or friends are three ways to increase the likelihood of enjoying being outside in mid-winter. Add some fantastic Banff NP scenery to the equation and it’s a guaranteed winner!