Day 14: Banff National Park and Calgary

Today we leave Banff National Park. Before that, we make a final visit to Lake Minnewanka. We are on time and get an RV parking spot. Now we start our hike to Steward Canyon, which is 1.2 kilometers away. The lake is calm and the first day tourists arrive with a lot of luggage. They bring everything to enjoy the day at the lake. From mosquito tents, grills, food, swim rings, boats, everything is there. We use the hiking trail and enjoy the beautiful weather. Then we reach the bridge over Steward Canyon. We continue walking and quickly come across a fork in the road. The path into the forest is partially closed. There are warnings about bears in the area. It is advised to hike in groups of at least 4 people, not to bring dogs, and to carry bear spray. We choose the path along the canyon. The river flows about 7 meters deep below us. The rocks on the left and right have different structures. The water is clear and shallow. We hike for a while. Erik starts to make a fuss again and we turn back. In total, the planned 3 kilometer tour has become 5 kilometers. Then the kids briefly play by the water and we leave the national park afterwards. The nature of the park is impressive, but unfortunately there are too many people at the hotspots. They push everywhere, are loud, and sometimes spoil the mood. Fortunately, most of them are lazy, so you can explore the most beautiful places with a little distance. The drive to Calgary is short and we arrive there at noon. We now use the time to replenish our supplies, clean the camper, and wash our things. Our campsite is private, so we are tightly packed with other campers. Campfires are prohibited. The kids take advantage of the outdoor shower and cool off. In the evening, we sit together and relax.