A
bustling town with its beautiful luxury
hotel of Banff Springs, Banff is a year-round
resort located in world-renowned Banff National
Park. Because it is a National Park, you
will need to purchase a park permit if you
are planning to explore outside of the city
of Banff. Permits are available at any of
the park gates (on just outside of Lake
Louise at the entrance to Icefields Parkway). More...
A bustling town with its beautiful
luxury hotel of Banff Springs, Banff is
a year-round resort located in world-renowned
Banff National Park. Because it is a National
Park, you will need to purchase a park permit
if you are planning to explore outside of
the city of Banff. Permits are available
at any of the park gates (on just outside
of Lake Louise at the entrance to Icefields
Parkway).
Banff offers plenty of summer outdoor activities
such as hiking, camping, kayaking, canoeing,
mountain biking or road cycling, which are
the best ways to see some of the spectacular
scenery in and around Banff National Park.
For road cyclists, the Icefields Parkway
is considered one of the most spectacular
rides in the world. It runs from Lake Louise
all the way up north to Jasper, where the
views of glacier fields and mountain peaks
are awe-inspiring. In addition to the spectacular
ride along the Icefields Parkway, Banff
offers a few lesser rides within its vicinity.
For instance, on the Lake Minnewanka ride,
you can spot elk, deer and big horn sheep,
and occasionally, a black bear or even a
grizzly. As matter of fact, in addition
to enjoying the views of spectacular snow-covered
peaks and emerald lakes, the likelihood
of spotting wildlife on any of the rides
around Banff is very high. Less...
The best time to visit Banff is during the summer
months (June – August) when the temperatures
are comfortable for cycling. If you want
to avoid the high tourist season, then late
May through mid June is a good time to come
to Banff. Less...
Climate and Weather
Because of its low humidity, temperatures always
seem comfortable during the high season
between June and early September. July is
the warmest, with average highs of 22°C
in the town of Banff. January is the coldest
month with average lows of -15°C, though
the mercury can drop into the minus thirties.
The weather can change dramatically throughout
the day. The dryness of the air causes temperatures
to vary considerably from night to day.
The temperature on a summer night can drop
to a few degrees above freezing, even if
daytime temperatures climbed into the upper
twenties/eighties (Celsius/Fahrenheit).
Of course it can rain every few days, so
keep that in mind. Another weather related
factor to consider is head winds; if the
wind is blowing, it can slow you to a crawl.
The length of the day in Banff varies greatly
throughout the year. Daylight can last as
little as eight hours in December. However,
at the end of June, the sun rises at 5:30
am and sets at 10:00 pm. Less...
How to Get There
Banff National Park is located in the Canadian
Rocky Mountains on the Alberta side of the
Continental Divide. It is situated about
130 kilometers (80 miles) west of Calgary,
and 400 kilometers (250 miles) southwest
of Edmonton.
If you are traveling by air, you will most
likely arrive at Calgary International Airport.
From the airport, your best transportation
option is a rental car, taxi, or the bus.
The buses to Banff and Lake Louise run year
round.
If you are driving into the park, the Trans-Canada
Highway (#1) runs west from Calgary into
the park and through Banff and Lake Louise,
then continues west towards Vancouver.
Tour buses operate within the Four Mountain
Parks (Banff National Park is bordered by
Yoho, Kootenay and Jasper National Parks).
There are also several car rental agencies
in Banff. Less...
Accommodations
Banff is
a world-class resort and as such it offers
plenty of world class accommodations, ranging
from fancy (and really fancy) hotels and
B&Bs to small, functional establishments.
However, it is recommended you make reservations
ahead, especially if you are traveling during
high season (Mid June – August). Less...
The Roads
The quality
of roads is quite good. The occasioanl hazard
you are likely to encounter will be in form
of a wildlife rather than road damage, although
there will be few rough spots on the road
as a result of the harsh winter weather. Less...
What
You Need To Know
Cycling in
Banff, Alberta can be demanding on your
body, especially if you are not used to
cycling in altitude. If you are unaccustomed
to altitude, it is recommended that you
acclimate for few days before attempting
some of the more demanding rides.
Keep in mind that mountain weather can change
rapidly. A warm and sunny morning can quickly
change into torrential thunderstorm or even
a snowstorm. Beware of lightning (best if
you set out to ride early in the morning
as most thunderstorms in the mountains occur
in early afternoon). Additionally, it is
always wise to check the weather forecast
before setting out on a long ride. With
frequent afternoon mountain thunderstorms
and sudden temperature drops, hypothermia
can become a critical issue very fast.
Wear proper UV protection for skin, lips,
and eyes. Due to its altitude and plenty
of glaciers to reflect the Sun's rays, Banff
has a high UV index. Less...
