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Parks Canada ready for ‘busiest weekend’
Parks Canada is excited to welcome visitors this coming holiday weekend. With so many great opportunities for visitors we have something to offer everyone in Banff, Yoho and Kootenay national parks.
Summer is Banff, Yoho and Kootenay national park’s busiest season with the majority of people visiting from June through August; while all holiday weekends are especially busy, the August long weekend is usually the busiest, with the majority of people visiting from June through August.
The key to an enjoyable visit is to plan ahead. Pre-purchase your Park pass online, make reservations for accommodation, meals and activities and check road and weather conditions before leaving home. If you come here often, consider exploring some of the less visited but equally stunning trails and attractions in Banff, Yoho and Kootenay national parks this holiday weekend.
Banff National Park
Hiking –Grab your boots and explore the classic Healy Pass trail or earn a breathtaking view at Castle Lookout. For more hiking ideas, maps and the trail condition report stop by the Banff or Lake Louise Visitor Centres between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. or visit www.parkscanada.ca/banfftrails before heading out.
Campgrounds –All campgrounds, with over 2,000 campsites, are open. Make a reservation, relax and enjoy a few starry nights around the campfire in Banff National Park. Most campgrounds in Banff are reservable and filling up fast.
Equipped Campsites – No gear? No problem! Banff National Park and MEC have you covered. Parks Canada offers basic camping gear on-site at Two Jack Main Campground. Equipped Campsites feature a six person tent (set up), sleeping pads, stove and propane, lantern, broom and dustpan, Learn to Camp session, and camping permit. Gather your friends and family, stoke up your fire and settle in for an unforgettable mountain getaway.
Red Chairs – Summer is the ideal #timetoconnect with your national parks. While exploring Banff, expect to stumble across Red Chairs at some of the park’s most stunning viewpoints. Some are easy to find, while others provide more of an adventure. All set the stage for enjoyment and great photo opps. Take a moment to #sharethechair with those at home.
Banff Upper Hot Springs – Experience the attraction that has been drawing visitors to Banff National Park for over a century. Take time to relax while soaking in spectacular alpine vistas. Vintage swim suits are available for rental and make for great selfies! Open daily 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Enjoy a free shuttle to the Banff Upper Hot Springs and/or Banff Gondola with pre purchased tickets for the Gondola attractions.
Lake Louise Area— Lake Louise in Banff National Park is Parks Canada’s most visited destination. Expect traffic delays and diversions from the Village of Lake Louise to Upper Lake Louise and Moraine Lake from July through September between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Parks Canada recommends the following in order to help avoid traffic congestion and delays:
– Lake Louise visitors who are not a registered hotel guest in the area should consider visiting early or late for the best experience.
– Registered hotel guests may also wish to arrive outside of the peak periods from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and have reservation information available to present to traffic flaggers in the case of a temporary road closure.
A frequent visitor? Check out some of the area’s hidden gems this weekend. Get a bird’s eye view of Lake Louise from the gondola at the Lake Louise Ski Area, hike to Arnica or Boom Lake or enjoy a refreshing swim in Herbert Lake. For more ideas of some off the beaten track adventures please visit Banff Lake Louise Tourism at https://www.banfflakelouise.com/RediscoverLakeLouise.
Cave and Basin National Historic Site –– Explore the Birthplace of Canada’s National Parks. Enjoy games, guided tours, movies and interactive exhibits as well as the fully accessible underground Cave and bubbling thermal waters. Open daily 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Café and gift store are open all day.
Kootenay National Park
Camping– Grab your tent or load up the RV. Kootenay National Park’s campgrounds provide opportunities to relax and enjoy time with the family. Redstreak, Kootenay’s largest campground has 242 full, partial and unserviced sites along with easy access to the services and amenities in the village of Radium Hot Springs. Looking to get a bit more off the grid? McLeod Meadows and Marble Canyon campgrounds have unserviced tenting and RV sites close to some of Kootenay’s best trails and viewpoints. Arrive early. Camping at Marble Canyon and McLeod Meadows campgrounds is available on a first come, first serve basis. Reservations are strongly recommended for Redstreak Campground and can be made online at reservation.pc.gc.ca or by calling 1-877-737-3783.
oTENTiks – No tent? No problem! Parks Canada invites you to leave the stress of setting up your tent at home and rent one of ten oTENTik tent-cabins. Equipped with comfy foam mattresses, an indoor sitting area, a beautiful deck and an outdoor fireplace for cooking the oTENTiks offer the best of a home away from home and traditional camping experience. Reservations are strongly recommended in July and August and can be made online at reservation.pc.gc.ca or by calling 1-877-737-3783.
Kootenay App – Driving through Kootenay? We have an app for that! Search “Explora Kootenay” in ITunes and Google Play to download Kootenay’s new driving tour app. Get insider tips on places to stop in the park and hear stories about Kootenay from past and present Parks Canada staff. Remember there is no cell phone service in Kootenay National Park. Please download the app before you visit then leave it running as you drive through the park. Your phone’s GPS will trigger the stories as you travel!
Red Chairs – 2016 is your #timetoconnect in Canada’s national parks. Grab a friend, explore, relax and snap a selfie on one of Kootenay’s Red chairs. Located on the Marble Canyon and Juniper trails these red chairs provide a great view of some of Kootenay’s iconic scenery.
Hot Springs – Relax and soak in some history. A dip in the Radium Hot Springs (lead image) is a time-honoured visitor tradition in Kootenay National Park. The pools are open from 9 a.m. until 11 p.m. throughout the summer. Locker, towel and swimsuit rentals are available on site.
Hiking – Whether you are looking for a hike the whole family can enjoy or want to challenge yourself on an epic backcountry adventure Kootenay is the place to be! Take a gentle stroll along the Olive Lake boardwalk or watch water roar through an impressive gorge from one of seven bridges on the Marble Canyon trail. Grab your hiking boots and challenge yourself on an epic full day adventure on the Floe Lake or Kindersley-Sinclair trails. Don’t forget to visit www.parkscanada.gc.ca/kootenaytrails or stop by the Kootenay National Park Visitor Centre between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. for a trail report before you head out.
Burgess Shale guided hikes – Stanleycar-who? Kootenay is home to some of the world’s most bizarre looking and ancient marine creatures. Enjoy a guided hike through a reborn forest, admire wildflowers and learn about the Stanleycaris, one of the new Burgess Shale species recently discovered in Kootenay National Park. Reservations must be made online at reservation.pc.gc.ca or by calling 1-877-737-3783 in advance.
Interpretive programs and exhibits – Learn how wildlife crosses the road safely, try your hand at geocaching, take a time travel tour or share stories around a campfire. Join a Parks Canada interpreter for daily interpretive programs throughout July and August. Pick up a brochure at the Kootenay Visitor Centre and don’t forget to check out the new wildlife crossings exhibit at the Radium Hot Springs pools!
Xplorers Program – Hey Kids! Do you like to explore? Pick up your free explorer’s booklet from a Parks Canada interpreter or the Kootenay National Park Visitor Centre. Complete a minimum of three activities and bring your book back to receive a prize!
Yoho National Park
Burgess Shale guided hikes – Adventure or learning? You can have your cake and eat it too on a guided hike to the restricted Burgess Shale fossil sites. Reserve your spot on one of Parks Canada’s guided hikes to Walcott Quarry or the Mount Stephen fossil beds. Admire Yoho’s stunning landscape, get your heart pumping and learn how the fossilized remains of some of the world’s most bizarre looking marine creatures ended up at the top of a mountain.
Camping – Unplug and spend some relaxing with the family. Soak up the summer sun in Monarch campground, watch the sunset over mountain peaks from Kicking Horse Campground or enjoy an afternoon hike from Takakkaw Falls campground. No matter where you stay, Yoho’s four rustic campgrounds keep you close to all of the adventure. Campsites are available on a first come, first serve basis.
Red Chairs – Grab a friend and #sharethechair! Connect with your friends and with the outdoors as you explore some of Yoho’s iconic scenery. Admire the power of water tumbling over Takakkaw Falls from a front row seat or relax or soak in the view after a hike to Yoho Lake. Don’t forget to snap a selfie and share your memories on Facebook or Twitter!
Community of Field – Take a stroll through this charming mountain community. Pick up a historic walking tour map from the Visitor Centre, stop in at one of the shops or restaurants in town or enjoy a picnic by the pond. Don’t forget to pick up a souvenir from the Friends of Yoho store.
Hiking – Yoho is a hiker’s paradise. Whether you are looking for a trail the whole family can enjoy or a chance to get your heart pounding, the park’s 400 km of trails have you covered! Enjoy a stroll around Emerald Lake, one of the jewels of the Canadian Rockies, discover Yoho’s railway history on the Walk-in-the-past trail or challenge yourself on the high-elevation Iceline trail. Trail conditions change throughout the season so don’t forget to stop by the Yoho National Park Visitor Centre between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. or visit www.parkscanada.gc.ca/Yohotrails for a full trail report before you head out.
Picnicking – Don’t forget about lunch! Pack a picnic lunch and enjoy a scenic drive on the Emerald Lake or Yoho Valley Roads. The Emerald Lake, Takakkaw Falls, Faeder Lake and Finn Creek Day Use Areas are great places to enjoy a picnic and enjoy some time outdoors. While you are in the area, stop by the Visitor Centre and let the kids run in the playground or check out the Burgess Shale fossils and Spiral Tunnels exhibits.
Xplorers Program – Hey Kids! Pick up your free Xplorers booklet from a Parks Canada interpreter or the Yoho National Park Visitor Centre and start discovering Yoho National Park. Complete a minimum of three activities and bring your book back to receive a prize!
Interpretive programs– Learn to camp, go bats… for bats, join a high-tech treasure hunt, hold 505 million year old fossils or take a guided hike. Join a Parks Canada interpreter for daily interpretive programs throughout July and August. Pick up a brochure at the Yoho Visitor Centre.
Parks Canada
