Day 12: Banff National Park - Lake Louise

Our day starts at 7 o'clock and after having breakfast we drive a few kilometers to Banff RV parking and look for the shuttle bus to Lake Louise. I assume that we have already purchased the tickets, but I am proven wrong. I have only booked the shuttle bus between Lake Louise and Lake Moraine, but not the bus from Banff to Lake Louise. Fortunately, we can still purchase 5 tickets and start our tour at 9:15 am. After about 1 hour, we reach the lake and board the next bus to Lake Moraine. Arriving at an altitude of 1887 meters, we immediately see the turquoise blue lake. The view from a slightly higher platform is breathtaking. Then we hike along the lake for 1.5 km to the other side of the lake and see the glacier. The landscape is picturesque. We take a break and Erik, David, and Regina test the icy cold water with their feet. The temperature can only be estimated, but we believe it is below 10°C. Then we hike the 1.5 kilometers back. The shuttle bus now takes us to Lake Louise at an altitude of 1731 meters. We have lunch and explore the second lake. We start a hike to a viewpoint overlooking the lake. The path leads uphill. After about 25 minutes, we reach the destination, and with an ascent of 157 meters, the route is quite challenging. Erik complains about the hike; he would rather soak his feet. The return journey is quick, and we reach the lakeside promenade with many other tourists. After a break, of course, for soaking our feet, we take the shuttle bus to the Visitor Center. The children receive their Junior Park Rancher badges. Now the return trip by bus is a bit tricky. There are reservations that have priority, and the bus arrives at the station already full. So we ride back to the lake stop and stay on the bus. Luckily, the bus driver takes pity on us. We reach Banff around 7 o'clock. In the evening, a herd of deer with fawns crosses the square.