This beautiful region can be your destination for nature’s visual extravaganza. The Canadian Rockies are the birthplace of a hundred rivers. The region’s lakes reflect a kaleidoscope of every color in the blue-green spectrum: jargon jade, calypso, rapture blue, emerald, Aegean, truly a painter’s dreamland.
Many times, these mountains have been stand-ins for the Swiss Alps. Four contiguous national parks Banff, Yoho, Jasper and Kootenay, all UNESCO World Heritage sites, lie within the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia, and are surrounded by millions of acres of wilderness areas, forest reserves and provincial parks.
Bow Lake in Alberta’s Banff National Park.
Cindy Loose tells us of her visit to the country’s oldest national park, Banff. It is here that the famous Bow River flows popular for trophy-size trout, is a beautiful blue, surrounded by tall evergreens. Angling in the river requires procurement of permits first.
The town of Baniff sits in the midst of a national park and is a busy center of chic stores and restaurants. About 30 miles from downtown Banff is the beautiful Lake Louise.
Lake Louise in Banff National Park
At one end is the towering face of the 11,350-foot-tall Mount Victoria, which straddles the Continental Divide. The elegant Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise sits at the other end, its manicured gardens a draw for both tourists and moose. The other two sides of the lake are lined with trees and hiking trails, one of which leads to a teahouse. Even if it’s too expensive to stay in do plan a meal here. Canoing is a good option to enjoy the beauty of the lake.
Moraine Lake in Banff National Park
A drive of about 16 miles farther, is the Moraine Lake. It has deep blue waters, sheltered by mountains, and accentuated by an island covered with tall, green trees. Walking and hiking trails are a signature of Moraine Lake in Banff National Park.
This is just a small part of the Canadian Rockies, it holds many more treasures that you can enjoy exploring.
Source: Washington Post
