Banff

On the cutting edge of a new trend in the 1880s, Banff was the first national park in Canada and only the third in the world. The rugged beauty of the Rocky Mountains warranted protection, and the discovery of hot springs by Canadian Pacific Railway workers in 1883 made this particular location the place to start.

The name of Banff comes from the birthplace of two CPR directors – Banffshire, Scotland.

Banff National Park
Established in 1885, Banff National Park covers 6641 sq. km/2564 sq. miles, includes the towns of Banff and Lake Louise, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its natural setting of ancient mountains (45-120 million years old), meadows, waterfalls, canyons, rivers and over 1,000 glaciers makes it a playground for nature lovers and adventurers.

Hiking, river rafting, horseback riding, mountain biking, caving and camping in summer and skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and sledding in winter – Banff offers it all and more. There are 1600 km/1000 miles of hiking trails, 2468 campsites, Canada’s longest cave system, the Castleguard Caves, and the three ski hills of Sunshine Village, Mt. Norquay and Lake Louise.

Town of Banff
At 1383 m/4537 feet above sea level, Banff is the highest town in Canada and the urban hub of Banff National Park. It is full of unique boutiques, restaurants, nightclubs, resorts and spas. The commanding Banff Springs Hotel, the largest hotel in the world when built in 1888, overlooks the town and is a National Historic Site.

Banff hosts the internationally renowned Banff Summer Arts Festival in July and August, and the prestigious Banff Mountain Film and Book Festivals in November.

Where It’s At
Banff is located in Alberta close to the BC border. It is less than 300 km/185 miles from Three Valley Gap and Revelstoke. Close by are Kananaskis Country, Canmore and Calgary, as well as Yoho, Kootenay and Jasper National Parks and the Columbia Icefields.

Four million people visit Banff every year.

*All facilities are a division of Three Valley Lake Chateau Ltd.