After Calgary, we kept moving to our northernmost stop for the year, Banff!

The campground we stayed at was Tunnel Mountain which was very close to the townsite. There were no hookups at this campground, so it was quiet but with the clouds and work we had to run the generator a little bit. We were very embarrassed about making so much noise!

Townsite

The townsite was much larger than Waterton, with lots more shops and restaurants. We spent several afternoons just visiting the town. The public transit was also very good throughout Banff, so we could easily take the bus to get into the town.

The gondola took us to the top of Sulphur Mountain. The cabins were small, and Melissa pushed her fear of heights a little. Once at the top, there was a fancy building and coffee shop. There is no skiing on this mountain, only a hiking trail to reach the peak.

Johnston Canyon

One day we took a day trip further into Banff to hike Johnston Canyon. We arrived super early because it was one of the most popular hiking trails. We were the 5th car in the parking lot, so we did a good job of leaving on time!

The hike was awesome! Up to the first waterfall, it was a paved, meandering, walkway close to the water and deep inside a ravine. Going early was worth it, we mostly had the hike to ourselves and it was very peaceful.

We brought the dogs and took advantage of the solitude to get some shots with them!

On the way back the crowds started to form, while it was not crazy yet, the walkway is narrow in parts and would easily turn into a traffic jam.

At the trailhead, there is a little gift shop and café set up. Not exactly what we are used to from US National Parks but we took advantage and watched the busses of tourists roll in.

Lake Louise and Moraine Lake

One of the last places we visited was Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. Again, super popular areas. We didn't want to deal with too many crowds and schedules so we chose to take our truck instead of a bus. Even with your car, there is no way to park close, you have to schedule a shuttle from the parking lots at the ski resort.

We started at Lake Louise, where we took a hike up to a stunning viewpoint that overlooked the lake. The hue of the glacial waters was an unforgettable deep blue, and we couldn't help but be mesmerized by the beauty of it all. We then moved on to Moraine Lake, where we went on a leisurely walk around its perimeter. We watched as people slowly maneuvered their canoes across the lake's glassy surface. The entire area was serene and peaceful.

Like everywhere else in Canada, one of the longer hikes around the lake included a pastry shop at the top of the mountain. Every morning someone hikes fresh supplies up and you can have a coffee and croissant at the top of the mountain.