Banff and Lake Louise have been welcoming international visitors for more than a century. In 1883 the attempts of three Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) workers to stake a claim to the natural hot springs they had discovered bubbling from the base of Sulphur Mountain led to the establishment of Canada's first national park.
Today, Banff National Park (6,641 square km / 2,564 square miles) is one of four adjoining mountain parks comprising more than 20,235 square km / 7,813 square miles of spectacular Canadian Rocky Mountain landscape. For current visitors, bathing in these same hot springs is but one of many activities offered in Canada's foremost National Park. When you visit the Banff/Lake Louise area you will see why each year more than 4.5 million visitors come to enjoy the unique feeling of the Canadian Rockies and to experience why the United Nations in 1985 declared our area a "World Heritage Site."
Banff National Park is a year round playground in the Canadian wilderness. A four season recreational area that offers everything from 7,558 acres of downhill skiing/snowboarding terrain to hundreds of miles of mountain trails. Explore our landscape by bus or car, canoe or raft, on foot or skis. Enjoy the many sightseeing opportunities or photograph some of the most spectacular scenery and wildlife on Earth.
To learn more about the Canadian Rockies, click here. For information on where to go in winter, click here.
For contact information for rooms and ski packages, click through to Reservation Services. For information about what to see and what to do in and around Banff, go to Activities and Entertainment. For a list of restaurants in the area, check out Eating and Drinking establishments.
Here are some more links to help you plan your stay in the Banff and the Canadian Rockies:
• Arrival and Transportation Information
• Business Listings and Emergency Services
• Visitor Information
• Search for Flights and Hotels
• Search for Vacation Rentals
Previous Destinations:
• Cape Town, South Africa
• Sydney, Australia
• Japan
• The Bahamas
• Zurich, Switzerland
• Fairbanks, Alaska
• San Diego, California
REMINDER: PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS
Traveling abroad? It's important you know your passport, visa, and health requirements, which vary by destination. Make sure you get all the information you need well in advance of your trip.
As of January 1, 2008, passports will be required for all U.S. citizens traveling to or from the United States via land as well as air or sea, regardless of destination. As of January 8, 2007, passports will be required for all U.S. citizens traveling to or from the United States via air or sea, to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.
For more information on travel requirements, contact the U.S. embassies of the countries you're visiting. A complete list of U.S. embassies worldwide can be found at the Department of State Web site.
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