(My solo road trip of western Canada – Saturday 3rd/Sunday 4th October)
Well, this is the end of a truly enthralling adventure. I am so thankful that I had this opportunity and I fully appreciate how fortunate I was to be able to take this on. Continue reading “The end of this epic road trip! Banff Downtown/driving to Calgary Airport”
(My solo road trip of western Canada – Wednesday 23rd September)
Banff was truly brilliant and set me up for the next part of my adventure and that was the drive towards Jasper National Park. The drive through the Icelands Parkway is said to be one of the most scenic and breathtaking views you can experience and honestly, there were times when I was left totally speechless and I could not even string a sentence together to myself…and that is saying something! The plan for this part of the trip was to stop at as many places as possible and to cover as much distance as I could before my next stop which actually was not hours and hours away but I was aware that there was much to see.
Bow Lake is a small lake in western Alberta, Canada. It is located on the Bow River, in the Canadian Rockies, at an altitude of 1920 m. It is one of the lakes that line the Icefields Parkway in Banff National Park and Jasper National Park along with many other such lakes.
Herbet Lake
Bow Lake
http://albertatravel.org/Bow_Lake.htm
Num-Ti Jah Lodge
(My solo road trip of western Canada – Wednesday 23rd September)
Someone in Banff told me that if I visit Lake Louise and I have time I should do the hike to Agnes Lake and then have some tea at the lovely Agnes Tea house…I obliged and it was a bit of a treat to be honest. The hike was not too demanding and lovely throughout, a few steep switchbacks, great views and gorgeous trees. Just before you go up the steps to the lake and the tea house, you are greeted with a waterfall which is a pleasant surprise. The tea house is beautifully made and the lake is small but very pretty. The walk after that was to Little Beehive where you a re blessed with some incredible views, especially of Lake Louise.
Lake Agnes is a small mountain lake in the Banff National Park of Alberta, Canada. It has a surface of 0.52 km² and is located approximately 3.5 km (one-way) hiking distance from Lake Louise. A teahouse is situated along the eastern shore at an elevation of 2134 metres (7002 ft). A hiking trail continues down the northern shore, making a 180° turn before ascending to the Big Beehive. Just before the trail starts the arc, a scrambling route up Mount Niblock can be found. The Little Beehive can be ascended to the east of Lake Agnes. At the top, there are excellent views of the Continental Divide.
Lake Agnes was named in honour of Lady Agnes Macdonald, second wife of Canada ‘s first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald. Lady Agnes visited the small lake in 1886, and her words, “This is lovely!” still ring true today. Hikers are treated to a mixture of trail that begins in old-growth forest of spruce and fir before leading to an open view of the waters below (the magical blue of glacier-fed Lake Louise )
Time: Half-day (approx. 4-hour return trip)
Distance: 7 km (4.5 miles) return
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 367 m (1,204 feet)
Map: Lake Louise, 82 N/8 East
http://www.lakeagnesteahouse.com/getting-here.php
http://www.banff.com/banff-hiking/lake-agnes-teahouse/
(My solo road trip of western Canada – Wednesday 23rd September)
While I was searching and planning my trip, one of the most common places I came across known for its sheer beauty, especially at particular times of the day was Lake Louise, it was something I was very much looking forward to.
Continue reading “Banff National Park: Lake Louise and Mirror Lake”
(My solo road trip of western Canada – Tuesday 22nd September)
I was told by so many people who I had spoke to before and during my trip that I must visit Moraine Lake, I think you will agree through the photos and the videos that they gave me the correct information, Continue reading “Banff National Park: Lake Moraine…very, very special!”
(My solo road trip of western Canada – Monday 21st September)
Ok, I got up this morning hyped up for a hike, I had drove past Sulphur Mountain yesterday and chose this to be my first hike of the trip, it was excellent and well worth it…much more than I expected. Continue reading “Banff National Park: Sulphur Mountain and Upper Hot Springs”
(My solo road trip of western Canada – Monday 21st September)
Well here I go, the first of my lakes which I believe is the biggest of the lakes in this area. It’s actually huge and quite magnificent, the weather, air and environment was spiritually uplifting and I was so happy to be here and reminding myself of how fortunate I was to be here.
Lake Minnewanka (“Water of the Spirits” in Nakoda) is a glacial lake located in the eastern area of Banff National Park in Canada, about five kilometres (3.1 miles) northeast of the Banff townsite. The lake is 21 km (13 mi) long and 142 m (466 ft) deep, making it the longest lake in the mountain parks of the Canadian Rockies (the result of a power dam at the west end).
Aboriginal people long inhabited areas around Lake Minnewanka, as early as 10,000 years ago, according to stone tools and a Clovis point spearhead discovered by archaeologists. The area is rich in animal life (e.g. elk, mule deer, mountain sheep, bears) and the easy availability of rock in the mountainous terrain was key to fashioning weapons for hunting.
http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/ab/banff/visit/les10-top10/minnewanka.aspx
Vermillion Lakes
The Vermilion Lakes are a series of lakes located immediately west of Banff, Alberta, in the Canadian Rocky Mountains.
The three lakes are formed in the Bow River valley, in the Banff National Park, at the foot of Mount Norquay. They are located between the Trans-Canada Highway and the Canadian Pacific Railway tracks. A hot spring is found at the third lake.
Cascade Gardens
Cascade Gardens in Banff National Park is a well-landscaped garden with a varied mix of annuals and perennials surrounding the park administrative building.
Parks Canada took over the Brett Sanatorium and Hotel built in the 1880s, when it burned down in 1930 and converted it into the present day gardens. Ontario architect, Walter Beckett, planned the Parks administrative building and the gardens in the ~12 acre site, which was completed in 1935.
http://banffandbeyond.com/escape-the-crowds-of-banff-avenue-in-cascade-gardens/
Fresh handmade pizza from Panago…very tasty, I chose my own, the sauce is butternut chicken Mmmmm!
(My solo road trip of western Canada – Sunday 20th September)
Driving to Banff was truly incredible, very exciting and I was experiencing a mix of emotions. I had heard so much about Banff and there was so much to do and explore. Continue reading ” Road to Banff, Tunnel Mountain and Downtown”
(My solo road trip of western Canada – Sunday 20th September)
Hi everyone, this is the beginning of my 14 day solo driving trip of Western Canada starting and ending in Calgary. Continue reading “Calgary sunset welcome, drive to Canmore and Bow ValleyTrail…”
