BANFF NATIONAL PARK, Canada — This park will redefine your image of mountains.
If you imagine hundreds of Timpanogos peak-caliber mountains clustered along a nearly 200-mile stretch, you'll have some idea of the awesome majesty of the Canadian Rocky Mountains.
There are more than two dozen peaks here that tower 9,800 feet above sea level or more. The tallest is Mount Forbes at 11,850 feet.
Waterfalls that fly off nearly vertical rock, ice fields and pristine water dominate the landscape.
If Western Canada has a crown jewel, this is it. Located some 1,000 miles from Salt Lake City and about 90 miles west of Calgary, this area features amazing eye-candy views.
There are almost 2,600 square miles of mountains, valleys, glaciers, forests, meadows, lakes and rivers along the Alberta flank of the continental divide.
Founded in 1885, the park is Canada's oldest. Its name comes from the town of Banff, which took its moniker from Banffshire, Scotland. That was the birthplace of two of the original Canadian Pacific Railway directors, who put the area on the map.
According to Rockiesguide.com, approximately 8 million people enter the park each year. However, only half of those are considered park visitors because the main road through the park is Highway 1, part of the Trans-Canadian Highway.
A superb two- or four-lane road traverses the center of the park at a relatively low elevation. It's at 4,500 feet above sea level in the town of Banff.
The best starting point for a visit to the park is Banff. Ride the Banff Gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain (7,500 feet) and you'll get a great orientation of the southern Rockies here.
This gondola is steep, much like Utah's former Bridal Veil Tram. The Banff Gondola, which climbs almost 2,200 feet during the two-hour excursion, offers bird's-eye views of the surrounding peaks. The gondola ride costs $29 Canadian for adults and $14 for children ages 6-15.
Banff, which is located inside the park's borders, is a classic tourist town.
Johnston Canyon is another must-see attraction in Banff Park. It is a 25-minute drive from the town of Banff along the Bow Valley Parkway.
Catwalks inside the canyon allow hikers to traverse a narrow path along many waterfalls or cascades. A hike of 0.7 of a mile leads to a lower falls, and a 1.7-mile hike accesses the upper waterfall. (There are five lesser waterfalls in between.)
It's 3.6 miles along a more rugged upper trail to reach the Ink (hot) pots of the canyon.
Because there's usually mist along the trail, it's a good half-day excursion for any rainy day in Banff. There's lots of shade and moderate temperatures here. Johnston Canyon is closed in winter, but it still attracts an estimated 1 million hikers each year.
Johnston Canyon Resort is located at the mouth of the canyon, offering lodging, as well as snacks, to hikers.
Lake Louise is another must-see.
According to Lakelouise.com, "Lake Louise, with its blue-green water set against the stark backdrop of Victoria Glacier, is probably the most beloved and most photographed scene in the Canadian Rockies."
Located about 40 miles north of Banff, Lake Louise is sometimes called Canada's "Diamond in the Wilderness" and is relaxing, exhilarating and romantic.
Canoes can be rented for about $40 per half hour in the summer and are a great way to enjoy the lake. Otherwise, visitors congregate around the east edge of the lake to soak up the view, which is reminiscent of Switzerland.
Lake Louise also has a ski resort, its own gondola ride and some major hotels. In fact, at an elevation of 5,039 feet, Lake Louise is Canada's highest town.
However, Lake Louise can get crowded. Finding a parking place can be difficult, especially on weekends. Much of the rest of Banff offers a lot more solitude.
Moraine Lake is about a 20-minute drive away and offers more solitude and pristine nature.
From Lake Louise northward is the Icefields Parkway, which stretches 142 miles to Jasper. About half of it resides in Banff, the rest in Jasper National Park.
Ancient ice fields and lakes, almost as picturesque as Lake Louise (though much less crowded), dominate the highway views.
"Weeping Wall," a cascade of water, is another highlight. The famed Columbia Icefield, 113 miles from the town of Banff, is actually just across the park border in Jasper National Park.
Wildlife is plentiful in Banff National Park, too.
The daily entrance fee for Banff is $19.60 Canadian. A yearly Canadian National Parks Pass costs $136.40.
Additional lodging is located in the town of Canmore, about 10 miles east of Banff.
For more information, go to www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/index.aspx.
Lynn Arave visited Banff from June 12-14. E-mail: lynn@desnews.com