Banff National Park

11.07.2022 Monday

We leave the city and head towards the Rocky Mountains. Even from Calgary, we can see the snow-covered mountains on the horizon. After the prairie with its many meadows and fields, this is a welcome change.

First, we want to spend a few days hiking in Banff National Park. In Banff City, we get an overview and study maps. The route planning for the next few days is fixed, so we take an evening stroll along the promenade. With all the hustle and bustle, you can tell that this national park is the most popular among the locals, who are currently on vacation, and among all other tourists from around the world. It feels like every third person here is German. 😀

12.07.2022 Tuesday

For our first hike, we have chosen the Upper Snowpick Trail, with a length of 4.4 km and an elevation gain of 120 meters, reaching a total altitude of 1,680 meters.

We make sure that the hike is family-friendly and motivates everyone to participate. The trail is protected from the sun in the forest, making it pleasant in these temperatures. However, we are also accompanied by mosquitoes. But since we are well-equipped by now, the little bloodsuckers no longer bother us.

The ascent at the beginning is steady and is rewarded with a great view halfway through the trail. Then it goes downhill steadily on the circular path. At the end of the trail, there is a meadow where a prairie dog is waiting for us.

Jessie manages 2.5 km with an elevation gain of 100 meters in 1 hour. Benedikt completes the entire route in 2 hours, of course.

13.07.2022 Wednesday

After getting into the hiking spirit yesterday, today we head to the Ink Pots, located at an altitude of 1,800 meters. Colorful lakes and bubbling springs await us there.

The 11.4 km long hike goes through Johnston Canyon, and we will climb 365 meters in elevation. This hike is popular among tourists, which is immediately noticeable by the hustle and bustle already at 8 am in the parking lot. The first half of the trail follows paved paths along and over the river, with several waterfalls to admire. As we go higher, the number of people decreases. The kids are highly motivated and turn the hike into a game of running up the mountain. They recreate the Calgary Stampede, with Jens as the horse and the kids as the cowboys. I watch as a spectator and position myself along the route to cheer them on enthusiastically.🙌

With all the fun, we easily jog half of the trail uphill in record time. Jessie covers 3.2 km with an elevation gain of 175 meters in 45 minutes, a new personal best for our little one. The rest of the trail goes steeply uphill through the forest and then downhill. At the end of the forest, a beautiful mountain panorama with a large river and colorful small lakes opens up. We take a lunch break after 5.7 km.

14.07.2022 Thursday

A highlight in Banff National Park is supposed to be Moraine Lake. Yesterday afternoon, we wanted to visit it, but the parking lot was full and the access road was closed. After some research, we found out that the parking lot is already full shortly before 4 am, as many people want to experience the sunrise. We tried our luck at seven in the morning, but the access road had already been closed.

So we continued to Lake Louise. Here, too, there were already a lot of tourists. After breakfast, we set off for the next hike. We pass Lake Louise and head to Lake Agnes, a glacial lake in the mountains. The trail is 7.4 km long, and we have to climb 435 meters in elevation.

Once away from the lake, the crowds here also become noticeably smaller. It starts with a steep climb up the mountain through pine forests. The sun shines and slowly warms up the air. Through the trees, you can catch glimpses of snow-covered mountains and the turquoise blue Lake Louise. Jessie lets me carry her for the last kilometers to the destination. She managed 3.4 km, again under 1 hour, with significantly more altitude gain than usual.

Once we reach the top, we have another stunning view of the lake and the many mountain peaks. After a short break, we descend steeply over slate stones. When we reach the bottom, we watch the canoes and cool our feet in the lake.

We spend the afternoon in the car, resting during lunch and taking a short nap. After that, it's playtime, which Benedikt enjoys very much.

At half-past six, we try our luck again at Moraine Lake. But once again, disappointment, the parking lot is full. We wonder if it's even worth going there. But why should access to nature be denied to us!? So we try one last time. After a stop at the Lake Louise Mall, we try again at half-past seven, and this time we finally get lucky. The access road is 15 km long, arousing our curiosity about what awaits us. Finally, when we arrive, it's only a 300-meter walk. At the viewpoint, we enjoy a beautiful postcard view of Moraine Lake.

A beautiful day comes to an end, and we are excited to see what the next few days in other national parks will bring us.