Banff National Park in Alberta Canada is a beautiful place any time of year. Winter coats the mountains in a thick layer of snow and makes for a uniquely stunning backdrop. The first national park created in Canada, we had the opportunity to pass through here last summer on our drive back from Alaska. We were excited to go back at the end of our contract in Washington, and explore the park in a new season.

Day 1 – The drive from Spokane to our cabin took about 7 hours. Passing through the border was simple this time, only requiring that we show out passports and state our destination. This trip was spur of the moment, so we searched for a place to stay as we drove and found Castle Mountain Chalets listing on AirBnB. They were the perfect distance between Banff and Lake Louise and one of the few listings that offered pet friendly accommodations. (I would not recommend waiting until the last minute to make lodging reservations, but there are more options available in the winter than in the busy summer months.) We purchased our parks pass for the four days on our way into Banff at the small fee stand right outside the park, and then settled into our cabin for the night. Our one bedroom chalet had a wood burning fireplace, a full kitchen, and a huge whirlpool tub. It was warm and inviting, the perfect place to relax before exploring the park.

Day 2 – We started off the day by driving to Lake Louise for the sunrise. We woke up at 5am, and realized after arriving at the lake that we had woken up about 2 hours earlier than we needed to. A thick fog rolled in so we walked around the beautiful ground of the lakeside Fairmount Hotel for a bit, and then headed back to the chalet for breakfast, and chalked the sunrise up as a loss. Next, we headed into Banff’s beautiful downtown area and walked around the shops. It’s a requirement when you visit to try a Beavertail. This delicious pastry is shaped likes its namesake and comes coated in cinnamon and sugar. Our next stop was Surprise Corner. This stop gained its name for the seemingly out of nowhere, stunning view it offers of the historic Fairmount Banff Springs Hotel, which is rumored to be haunted. Then we headed to Morant’s Curve, (named for Nicholas Morant who often took promotional photos for the railway here) and waited for the train to pass by. We got lucky and only had to wait for a short time, but some people wait for hours here to capture the infamous photo of the train cars coming around the picturesque curve.

Our final stop for the day was at Sulpher Mountain. We made reservations for a sunset time of the Sulpher Mountains Northern Lights Gondola Ride and chose the option that includes a buffet dinner at the top of the mountain. The gondolas fit from two to four people and offer unbeatable views of the city and the mountain as you ride up to the summit. Once we arrived at the top of the mountain we followed the tiered stairs to even more incredible views as the sun set over the peaks. Then we headed to the buffet where we enjoyed a great assortment of foods and wonderful service. The whole experience was amazing, and we ended the night by enjoying the outdoor fire pits, and the lights show put on throughout the building. The experience cost us about $100 CAD per person, but was of our favorite memories from the trip.

Day 3 – The day started off with another sunrise viewpoint. This time we scheduled better and arrived just in time for sunrise over Lake Louise. The colors weren’t the most vibrant this morning, but the view was still spectacular. We got a chance to watch some ice skaters circle the frozen pond, and then enjoyed the view of the ice castle built on the lakeside. Our next stop was Johnston Canyon where we hiked the 2.5 km in and out trail to the Upper Canyon Falls. The pathway winds through the canyon and overlooks the frozen river. Microspikes are suggested for this hike, but we managed in our hiking shoes with only a few slips. The falls were frozen and we were excited to see ice climbers making their way up the tall spires. We stopped by the lower falls on our way back. There is a unique cave there there that passes through the rock wall to a smaller waterfall on the other side on the mountain.

The final stop on our trip was at the Banff Upper Hot Springs. Here we paid the $17 CAD per person admission fee (this includes a locker rental), and then headed into the 104 degree outdoor pool. The natural hot waters are funneled into a large manmade pool where you can soak in the relaxing minerals and enjoy the great views of the mountains that surround you. The warm waters were so relaxing after our hours of hiking, and made the perfect last stop on our trip.

Day 4 – Before heading home we decided to venture into Banff one last time for breakfast. After perusing restaurant reviews, we decided to head to the buffet at the Fairmount Banff Springs Vermillion Room. The recommendations did not lead us astray and we enjoyed the huge spread of food in the hotels beautifully decorated surroundings. The food included everything from three types of eggs, to fresh fruit, and a great variety of pastries. The hotel itself is a stunning destination, and we enjoyed walking through the historic areas that are open to the public after eating.

Our four days in Banff were wonderful! The views of the snowy mountains were stunning, and every location we visited was better than the next. The park is so different from summer to winter, and I’m glad we got the chance to see it in both seasons!