Another incredible destination on our Summer 2019 RV Road Trip was Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. Our family arrived in Banff National Park after our less than two hour drive from Calgary, and, upon getting set up at our amazing campground, Tunnel Mountain Village Campground, decided to take a walk to get our bearings. After a short walk, we realized there was shuttle service from our campground into town, and decided to jump aboard. Our family had fun shopping around town in Downtown Banff and checking out the local scene before heading back to camp that evening. The logistics of being able to take the shuttle to town, as well as to many of the hiking trailheads around Banff, was invaluable, and we utilized this service during our entire trip.
Our first full day in Banff dawned bright and early, as we spotted a herd of about 30 cow elk grazing outside the RV when we woke up that morning.
After breakfast and elk-watching, we made our way via shuttle into town to travel from there to Johnston Canyon. It was a 30 minute shuttle ride out to the trailhead, and we enjoyed the gorgeous views along the way, and even saw a grizzly bear on our journey
At Johnston Canyon, our family hiked to both the Lower and Upper Falls. It rained a bit along the way, but was never enough to be too much of a nuisance. We got wet at both falls from the spray, and were thankful for the rain gear we had brought along for the day.
After our hike, we returned to town for ice cream at “Cow.” We would all highly recommend a stop there for a sweet treat the next time you are in Banff.
From downtown Banff, our family walked about 30 minutes across town and up the hill to the Fairmont Banff for some appetizers and drinks, and really enjoyed the live music there also. The views from the hotel were spectacular.
On our second day in Banff, we began our day with a hike up Sherman Canyon at Lake Minnewanka. Just as we had done the first day, we were able to take the Banff Shuttle from our campground at the trailhead, transferring one time in town to a secondary shuttle line to get us there. The kids were all in great moods, and we ended up taking the trail much longer than we had originally planned. The views up the canyon and of the lake along the way were breathtaking.
Our hike concluded at a spot where we were able to get down in the river (it was FREEZING) and put our feet in. The kids had a great time exploring, and resting in the sun after what had been a long journey. Skipping rocks, also a favorite activity on our hikes, was also enjoyed at this spot.
After our hike, our family took the shuttle from the lake back into town and over to the Rimrock Resort, where we met up with some friends of ours who were staying there as they began a journey with Backgrounds Outdoor Adventure Group. We had a wonderful time catching up with them! That evening, we enjoyed dinner outside and Justin built a killer campfire to end our evening. We also had some more visitors to the campground!
The Visitor Center in town was a wonderful last stop on our visit to Banff, and we visited on our way out of the park on the morning of our departure. Based on our incredible experience in Banff National Park, we know that we will likely be back again before too long!
