Re-discovering the Magic of Banff

We don’t need to tell you why Banff is one of the most visited destinations in Canada. Roam with us, were re-discovering the magic of Banff.

One thing I do need to add right at the beginning. We made this second trip in 2022. It’s now 2025, so I’m writing this from memory.
It’s being posted now, because we’ve just created this new website and we want to add all, or most of our travel adventures here for you to read about.
So let’s get to it.

Arrival in Calgary

Upon our arrival in Calgary, we had to stay overnight in a hotel. We chose the Calgary Airport Hilton because it was close, literally in the airport. We couldn’t get a flight that would time our arrival with the pick-up time of our Cruise America van, so that’s why we came a day earlier. We didn’t want to waste a minute once those mountains were in sight. We were too excite to get at re-discovering the magic of Banff.

We got a good deal on our Cruise America van, so we went with them, instead of Canadream.
There was no real difference, aside from the fact that it was huge. Really intimidating for Sher it was. But we managed with that beast.

The Campsite

We stayed at Bow River Campground this time around.
It’s a nice campground, with a great view, including the Bow River that runs through it. or along side it.
It should be noted though, that there’s a road or highway that also runs along side it. It’s not like you’re on top of the highway, but you can hear the cars as they pass. It’s not too distracting, especially if you don’t dwell on it.
And if you’re anything like us, you won’t be spending much time there. We had our coffee along the river in the AM, and that’s pretty much it.

First stop, Canmore

What a nice little town Canmore is. The size is a bit deceiving though. The ‘uptown’ area will make you think there’s not much more to it, but there is. Including Policeman’s Creek Boardwalk. I’m not sure why they call it that, we didn’t see any Policeman, only a creek.

The uptown area has some nice gift shops and restaurants for your pleasure. We didn’t eat there, but we did take a walk through and popped into a gift shop where we spent a good amount of time and came out with a souvenir of our trip for my son.

I wanted to check out Canmore Engine bridge, but I either forgot about it or we ran out of steam, I’m not sure which…

Lake Louise – Morant’s Curve

Our 2^nd full day consisted of a trip to Lake Louise, were we hiked up to the Lake Agnes Teahouse, and Emerald Lake.

I never miss an opportunity to talk about how the hike to the Tea House (which was closed) almost killed me.
Not really, but it felt like it. I should have done more exercise prior to this trip. It wouldn’t have been so brutal on this guy if I had.
After numerous stops for water, snacks and just rest, we finally made it. I was in such rough shape that I couldn’t even really appreciate Lake Agnes or the surroundings. I was cramping up bad and couldn’t even eat. I think it was here that we discovered my altitude sickness. Not a serious case but certainly something to keep in mind.

Morant’s Curve

A quick note to say that with respect to Morant’s Curve, timing is everything. And ours was not great. We waited I think close to an hour for it. We did manage to catch the train going in the opposite direction, compared to the amazing images you’ve likely seen.
Nevertheless it was fun waiting and hoping to catch that epic scene.

Emerald Lake – Vermillion Lakes – Natural Bridge

I’m sure you’ve seen many images of Emerald Lake. It’s beautiful as any picture you’ve seen.

This was our plan for our 2^nd of 3 full days in Alberta. It was also our second time at Emerald Lake. The first time was just as amazing and documented here.
I wish I could say it was incident free, however it was not. I’m not sure if even now is a good time to talk about it, It made it more memorable, and no one was hurt.
Apparently no images of this incident exist…

Suffice to say, Emerald Lake is even more spectacular when covered in fresh snowfall.

Natural Bridge

This was also our second time to Natural Bridge. It’s an amazing piece of nature located in Field BC.
I found it a bit difficult to take photos, due to the lighting and snowfall, but it’s really not hard to capture its beauty. It’s kind of in your face.

We passed by Vermillion Lakes at the end of the day, in hopes of catching another glorious sunset.
We weren’t completely successful, but it’s always a great experience to just be there. And this time we were able to capture some snow in the reeds, which was the icing on the cake for me.

Peyto Lake

Peyto Lake became our favourite location on this trip to Banff. It’s more amazing than even words can express.

We spent the entire day there. Reaching for sunrise, and staying until sunset. You’ve never seen anything like Peyto Lake.

With a quick trip to Bow Lake and Waterfowl Lakes while we waited for sunset at Peyto.
It was our first time to Peyto Lake and it will ALWAYS find a spot on our itinerary when we visit Banff.

This was another day where I was feeling horrible, but I made the most of it.
The sunrise and sunset were pretty decent. Though Sher stayed longer during sunset than I did.

Shout out to the couple taking engagement photos while we were there. And shout out to the couple that seemed to follow us around the entire trip. We ran into this couple first during the hike to the Lake Louise Teahouse, then Peyto Lake, then the airport. This was actually kind of funny.

The End

This brings us to the end of our Banff 2022 trip. It was nothing short of amazing.

Stay tuned for Banff 2025 when we’ll be re-discovering the magic of Banff…again.

Until then…

Partially frozen lake with turquoise water, surrounded by snow-covered mountains and evergreen trees.

A partially frozen lake surrounded by rocky terrain and evergreen trees, with snow-covered mountain peaks in the background under a cloudy sky. The lake reflects the mountains and trees along its shoreline.

Dry grass field with evergreen forest and rocky mountains under a blue sky with clouds

A landscape featuring a dry grass field in the foreground, a dense forest of evergreen trees in the middle, and rocky mountains with some snow patches under a blue sky with scattered clouds in the background.

Elk with large antlers grazing on grass in snowy rocky terrain with sparse vegetation.

An elk with large antlers is grazing on sparse grass in a snowy and rocky terrain.

Male elk with large antlers standing in a snowy forest with tall trees and fallen branches.

A male elk with large antlers is standing in a snowy forest with multiple tall trees and some fallen branches on the ground.

Mountainous landscape with evergreen trees, dry grass, yellow-orange leaves, and a path.

A mountainous landscape with a cloudy sky is visible in the background. In the middle ground, there are dense evergreen trees and some yellow-orange shrubs. In the foreground, there is dry, brown grass with a few yellow and orange leaves on branches close to the camera. A narrow pathway runs along the right side of the scene.

Curved railway track beside river in dense evergreen forest with snowy foggy hills.

A curved railway track runs alongside a river surrounded by dense evergreen trees with foggy hills in the background. The scene appears to be in a mountainous forest area during a light snowfall.

Rocky shore beside a turquoise lake with a wooden cabin, forest, and snowy mountains.

A rocky shoreline leads to a clear turquoise lake with a small wooden cabin on the opposite shore. Behind the cabin, there is a dense forest of coniferous trees and snow-covered mountains under an overcast sky.

Calm lake reflecting evergreen forest, snow-capped mountains, and clouds under a clear blue sky.

A calm lake reflects the surrounding dense evergreen forest, snow-capped mountains in the distance, and scattered clouds in a clear blue sky.

Wooden boardwalk winding through evergreens and autumn foliage under cloudy sky.

A wooden boardwalk pathway winds through a forested area with evergreen trees and autumn-colored foliage under a cloudy sky.

Calm lake with clear water showing submerged rocks, snow-covered pine trees, and overcast sky.

A calm lake with clear water revealing submerged rocks in the foreground, surrounded by snow-covered pine trees under an overcast sky.

Lodge-style building by a pond with evergreen trees and snow-capped mountains under cloudy sky

A lodge-style building is situated near a small pond surrounded by tall grasses and evergreen trees, with snow-capped mountains and a cloudy sky in the background.

Stone and wooden cabin in snowy forest with a person walking on a fenced path nearby.

A stone and wooden cabin is situated in a snowy forested area with evergreen trees. Snow covers the ground and parts of the cabin and surrounding vegetation. A person is walking on a path near the cabin, and a wooden fence lines the path. The scene has a wintery and peaceful atmosphere.

Railroad tracks extending into autumn forest with snow-capped mountains and cloudy sky.

A straight railroad track extends into the distance, flanked by autumn trees with yellow and orange leaves. Snow-capped mountains and a cloudy sky are visible in the background.

Tall brown grass stalks with a blurred lake and mountainous landscape under an overcast sky.

A close-up of tall, brown grass stalks with a blurred background of a lake and mountains. The sky is overcast, and the overall atmosphere appears calm and serene.

Turquoise lake with rocky shore, surrounded by misty snow-dusted mountains under cloudy sky

A serene turquoise lake is surrounded by steep, forested mountains partially covered in snow under an overcast sky with thick clouds. The foreground shows smooth rocks along the lake's edge.

Person standing on rocky shore near a partially frozen lake with pine trees and snow mountains.

A person stands on rocky terrain near a partially frozen lake surrounded by green pine trees, with snow-covered mountains reflected in the calm water in the background.

Turquoise lake with rocky shore, evergreen trees, and snow-dusted mountains under a gray sky.

A serene turquoise lake is surrounded by rocky shores and evergreen trees, with snow-dusted mountains rising steeply in the background under an overcast sky.

Snow-covered mountains and evergreen trees reflected in a calm lake under a misty sky.

A snowy mountain landscape with a calm lake in the foreground reflecting the rugged peaks. The mountains are partially covered with snow and surrounded by dense evergreen trees. The sky is overcast with a misty atmosphere.

Elk with large antlers standing partially hidden among trees in a snowy forest.

A large elk with antlers stands partially obscured among trees in a snowy forest.

Wooden cabin by snowy forest on the edge of a turquoise lake with reflections.

A small wooden cabin is situated on the edge of a forest bordering a calm, turquoise lake, with the trees and cabin reflected in the water. The sky is overcast, and there is a light dusting of snow along the shoreline and trees.

Mountain lake with turquoise water, rocky shore, yellow flowers, and snow-dusted mountains under misty sky.

A tranquil mountain lake with turquoise water is surrounded by rocky shores and snow-dusted mountains. Yellow flowers are in the foreground with a misty, overcast sky above.

Railroad tracks extend through autumn trees toward mountains under a cloudy sky.

A railroad track stretches into the distance, surrounded by autumn-colored trees on both sides, with a mountain range visible under a cloudy sky in the background.

Mountain lake with clear water reflecting snow-capped peaks and pine forests under a cloudy sky.

A clear mountain lake bordered by rocks in the foreground reflects snow-capped mountains and pine forests under a partly cloudy sky.

Small water body with brown grass and evergreen trees near buildings and snowy mountains.

A landscape featuring a small body of water surrounded by brown grass and evergreen trees. In the background, there are buildings partially obscured by trees, with snow-capped mountains under a cloudy sky.

Lake with golden grass patches and snow reflecting snow-capped mountains and evergreen trees under a cloudy sky

A calm lake is surrounded by golden grass with patches of snow, with evergreen trees on one side. Snow-capped mountains are visible in the background under a cloudy sky. The lake reflects the mountains and trees.

Snow-covered evergreen forest surrounds a blue lake with mist over snowy mountains.

A snowy mountainous landscape with a forest of evergreen trees surrounding a large, calm lake. The sky is partly cloudy, with mist or low clouds hovering over the mountains in the background.

Snow-covered evergreen forest with snowy mountain peaks under a clear blue sky.

A snowy mountain landscape featuring evergreen trees in the foreground and snow-covered peaks in the background under a clear blue sky.

Partially frozen lake reflecting snow-covered mountains and evergreen forests under cloudy sky

A partially frozen lake reflects snow-covered rocky mountains and dense evergreen forests under a cloudy sky.

Calm lake with grassy shore reflecting forested hills and snow-capped mountains under clear sky

A calm lake reflecting nearby grassy shores, forest trees, and mountains with some snow on their peaks under a clear sky.

Clear blue lake with rocky shore, dense evergreen forest, and snow-capped mountains under partly cloudy sky

A clear blue lake is bordered by a rocky shoreline with a dense forest of evergreen trees behind it. Snow-covered mountain peaks rise in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

Snow-covered pine forest with mountains and clear blue sky in the background.

A snowy mountainous landscape with pine trees in the foreground and snow-covered peaks under a clear blue sky.

Blue lake surrounded by evergreen forest and snow-dusted rocky mountains under a clear sky

The image shows a clear blue lake surrounded by dense evergreen forests and snow-dusted rocky mountains under a bright blue sky with some clouds.

Evergreen forest with snow-covered rocky mountains under a partly cloudy blue sky.

A landscape image featuring a dense forest of evergreen trees in the foreground, with snow-covered rocky mountains in the background under a partly cloudy blue sky.

Person in a pink hat and gray jacket leaning on railing overlooking autumn landscape with cabins and mountains

A person wearing a pink hat and gray jacket is leaning on a wooden railing, overlooking a landscape with autumn-colored bushes, a log cabin, tall evergreen trees, a small water body, and snow-capped mountains in the background under a cloudy sky.

Snow-covered cabin beside a turquoise river with pine trees and snowfall in a winter landscape

A snow-covered cabin sits beside a calm, turquoise river surrounded by tall pine trees also covered in snow. Snow is actively falling, and the reflection of the trees is visible in the water. The scene conveys a serene winter landscape.

Calm river surrounded by evergreen and autumn trees with snow-capped mountains under cloudy sky

A calm river flows through a landscape of evergreen trees and autumn-colored shrubs, with snow-capped mountains visible in the background under a cloudy sky.

Lake with yellow grass patches and snow near evergreen trees, reflecting snowy mountains under cloudy sky

A tranquil lake is surrounded by patches of yellow-brown grass with some snow on the ground. In the background, there are snow-covered mountains partially shrouded in clouds, and on the right side, a dense cluster of evergreen trees lines the shoreline. The sky above is mostly cloudy, and the lake surface reflects the surrounding landscape.

Person standing on snow-covered rocks by a river with evergreen trees in the background.

A person is standing on snow-covered rocks by a river with a forest of evergreen trees in the background. The sky appears overcast, and the scene has a cold, wintry atmosphere.

Snow-covered pine trees and houses on an island reflected in a lake with a wooden bridge.

A snowy landscape featuring a group of pine trees and houses on a small island reflected in a calm, clear lake. A wooden bridge extends to the right, connecting the island to the mainland. Snowfall is visible throughout the scene.

Red Canadian Pacific train on curved snow-covered tracks beside a frozen river and forest.

A red Canadian Pacific train travels on curved tracks through a forested area during snowfall, with a partially frozen river visible on the left side.

Person with backpack sitting on rock by partially frozen lake reflecting snow-covered mountains and evergreen trees.

A person wearing a black jacket and backpack is sitting on a rock by a partially frozen lake, surrounded by snow-covered mountains and dense evergreen trees. The mountains are reflected in the lake's water.

Small lake with evergreen trees, dry grass, buildings, and snow-capped mountains under cloudy sky.

A landscape featuring a small body of water surrounded by dry grass and evergreen trees, with buildings partially visible behind the trees. Snow-capped mountains are in the background under a cloudy sky.

Row of wooden houses surrounded by autumn foliage and snow-covered mountains under cloudy sky

A row of wooden houses is situated in a mountainous area with autumn foliage in the foreground and snow-covered peaks in the background under a cloudy sky.

Person standing on wooden dock over lake with mountains and cloudy sky in the background

A person wearing a jacket, pants, and a hat stands on a wooden dock extending into a large body of water, with snow-capped mountains and a partly cloudy sky in the background.

Snowy mountain view with a winding lake and dense evergreen forests under a partly cloudy sky.

A snowy mountain landscape overlooking a large, winding lake surrounded by dense evergreen forests. The sky is partly cloudy with patches of blue, and the distant mountains are partially covered in snow. The foreground features a snow-covered rocky area with footprints.

Mountain peak glowing orange at sunrise reflected in calm lake with grassy shore.

A mountain is illuminated by the setting or rising sun, casting an orange glow on its peaks. In the foreground, a calm lake reflects the mountain and the sky, with tall grasses along the water's edge. The sky is clear with a gradient from light near the horizon to a deeper blue higher up.

Snowy cabin and pine trees on a peninsula with a bridge over a calm lake in winter.

A snowy winter scene featuring a wooden cabin surrounded by snow-covered pine trees on a small peninsula. A long bridge extends from the right side of the image to the cabin, both reflecting in the calm, blue water of a lake. Snow is falling gently, and the sky is overcast.

Rocky shore in foreground with a calm lake reflecting forested mountains and cloudy sky.

A serene lake surrounded by rocky shores in the foreground and forested mountains on both sides, with a cloudy sky overhead. The lake reflects the mountains and sky, creating a calm and peaceful atmosphere.

Wooden boardwalk through autumn field with trees, mountains, buildings, and a cloudy sky.

A wooden boardwalk winds through a grassy field with yellow and orange foliage, leading towards a forested area and snow-capped mountains in the background. The sky is cloudy with patches of blue. Some buildings are visible near the tree line on the right side of the image.

Snow-covered mountains and evergreen forest surrounding a calm blue lake under a partly cloudy sky.

A snow-covered mountainous landscape with a dense forest of evergreen trees in the foreground. A lake with calm, blue water lies in the middle ground, and low-lying clouds partially obscure the mountain peaks in the background. The sky above is mostly clear with some scattered clouds.

Lake surrounded by snow-dusted mountains under a partly cloudy sky with reflected rocks at shore.

A large lake is surrounded by snow-dusted mountain peaks under a partly cloudy sky with a patch of blue. The shoreline in the foreground has some rocks and a small pool of water reflecting the sky.

River reflecting cloudy sky with autumn trees, dry grass, and snow-capped mountains in the background.

A calm river flows through a forest with autumn-colored trees on one side and dry grass on the other, with snow-capped mountains and a cloudy sky in the background.

Red Canadian Pacific train on curved railway tracks in snowy forest near a frozen river.

A red Canadian Pacific train is traveling on curved railway tracks through a forested area during snowfall. Evergreen trees surround the tracks, and a partially frozen body of water is visible on the left side. The sky is overcast, contributing to the wintry atmosphere.

Snow-dusted pine tree overlooking a bright blue lake surrounded by forest and mountains.

A scenic view of a deep blue lake surrounded by dense pine forests with snow-dusted tree branches in the foreground. In the background, towering mountains partially covered with snow are visible under a partly cloudy sky.