Banff National Park – An Overview

The town of Banff is nestled between snowy mountain peaks.

An Introduction to Banff National Park

By Michele Kadison
Staff Writer
Rockies.com

BANFF, Alberta (Rockies.com) – Welcome to Banff National Park – home to thriving wildlife, flowered meadows, huge icefields and some of the most sweeping vistas to be seen anywhere in the world.

Not bad for something that began as a little reserve around hot springs.

Banff encompasses 6,641 square kilometers (2,654 square miles) of terrain in the Canadian Rockies – and you will be hard-pressed to find more beautiful terrain anywhere else. From the pristine waters of Lake Louise to the staggering glacial views along the Icefields Parkway, Banff National Park has it all.

Banff National Park is Canada’s oldest park (and second only to Yellowstone National Park for oldest in North America). In 1885, Canadian Prime Minister John A. Macdonald set aside 26 square kilometers around hot springs found in what would become Banff because of competing claims over who owned them. The Rocky Mountains Parks Act of 1887 expanded the park to 674 square kilometers and designated it Rocky Mountains Park – and thus Canada’s first national park was born.

The park was an instant hit with wealthy European travelers – and their North American counterparts – who rode the transcontinental railroad that runs through the park. The park’s size was expanded several times in the first half of the 20th century, with today’s borders being set in 1949.

Today, Banff National Park is the most visited tourist destination in Alberta, averaging nearly four million visitors per year. It’s been estimated that tourism contributes C$6 billion annually to Canada’s economy.

If you’re looking for magnificent mountain views, beautiful meadows, skiing, fishing, wildlife adventures or just a relaxing vacation, Banff National Park is the place to be.

For more information on Canadian Rockies Accommodations: Click here!

For more information on Canadian Rockies Activities: Click here!