Banff National Park, Alberta

By Caroline Shin
Staff Writer

Allured by the magnificent Banff National Park in the sprawling Canadian Rockies and seeking important visitor information? Well, look no further.

Banff's Moraine Lake is a visual splendor.

A Little Bit of Banff History: One autumn day in 1883, three Canadian Pacific Railway construction workers discovered a cave containing hot springs on the eastern slopes of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. This accidental find became a traveler’s goldmine: Banff National Park, spanning 6,641 square kilometres (2,564 square miles) of valleys, mountains, glaciers, forests, meadows and rivers, is Canada’s first national park and the world’s third.

Fortunately for our world travelers, Banff National Park, along with the following facilities and services, is open year-round.

Banff accommodates its tourists.

* Information Centres
* Accommodation and Travel
* Upper Hot Springs
* Transportation
* Emergency Contacts
* Disabled Accessibility

Banff National Park Information Centres

Banff Information Centre
224 Banff Avenue, in the Town of Banff
Hours of Operation 2009:
* Winter (Jan 1 to May 14): 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
* Spring (May 15 to June 17): 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
* Summer (June 18 to Sept 9): 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
* Fall (Sept 10 to 23): 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
* Winter (Sept 24 to May, 2010): 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
* Closed December 25

Lake Louise is startlingly beautiful.

Banff National Park: Lake Louise Visitor Centre
Box 213, Lake Louise, AB
TOL 1E0, Canada
It is located in the village of Lake Louise, next to the Samson Mall.
Hours of Operation 2009:
*  Winter (January 1 to April 30): 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
* Spring (May 1 to June 18): 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
* Summer (June 19 to Sept 6): 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
* Fall (Sept 7 to Sept 12): 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
* Fall (Sept 13 to Sept 26): 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
* Winter (Sept 26 to March 31, 2010): 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
* Closed December 25
Please note: From October 10 to April 30, the Lake Louise Visitor Reception Centre is closed from 12:30 to 1:00 pm.

Banff National Park: Accommodation and Travel

Banff Accommodations and Banff Travel provide up-to-date information on accommodations, activities and tours in Banff National Park.

Banff Accommodations: toll free (866) 512-2633 or local (403) 762-0267.
Banff Travel: toll free (888) 819-0836 or local (403) 763-2002.

Banff National Park’s Upper Hot Springs

A special zone of relaxation and decompression in Banff National Park, the Upper Hot Springs presents one of the main attractions at Banff.

Banff Upper Hot Springs: Hours of Operation 2009

The Banff Upper Hot Springs and Radium Hot Springs are open year-round. Miette Hot Springs is open from early-May to mid-October annually. Extended hours offered during holiday periods; please check with each
facility for details.

*September 8, 2008 to May 14, 2009
Sunday to Thursday: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

*May 15, 2008 to September 13, 2009
Daily: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.

*September 14, 2009 to May 20, 2010
Sunday to Thursday: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Last admission 1/2 hr before closing time.

Transportation in Banff National Park

Banff: The municipal Roam bus provides environment-friendly transportation to the main attractions of the Banff townsite. Please note that parking is limited in the town of Banff. To save you some hassle, you should leave your vehicle elsewhere-at your hotel or campsite or at the edge of town-and walk or take local transit. The municipal bus service operates between May and September.

Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper: For those who want to get around the area, there is bus service that connects the towns of Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper throughout the year. Contact the Tourism office of Banff and Lake Louise for more information.

Insider Tip: Lake Louise and Moraine Lake
The luminous Lake Louise and Moraine Lake of Banff National Park attract adoring crowds. It is best to visit these lakes in the early morning or evening to avoid the human and vehicular congestion.

Emergency Contacts at Banff National Park

* Ambulance, RCMP (police), Fire: 911
* Park Wardens – 24 hours (403) 762-4506
* Banff Mineral Springs Hospital (403) 762-2222
* Lake Louise Medical Clinic (403) 522-2184

Disabled Accessibility at Banff National Park

Banff National Park offers a variety of wheelchair-accessible services and facilities.