Highway 1A Bow Valley Parkway

This is an just an alternate highway to Lake Louise, but you can travel at much slower speeds and you may have a chance of seeing wildlife. If you see other cars stopping, especially tour buses, that usually means there is something out there. Early in the morning you might have a bigger chance to see wildlife. Please don’t get out of your the car if you see animals, or think there may be some close by. It is very dangerous.

Get on Highway 1 from Banff going West and you will see Vermillion lakes on your left hand side. Soon you will see the big sign on your right that syas 1A and Bow Valley Parkway. Take the turnoff to the right and off you go. You can drive until Castle Mountain junction and get back to Highway 1 or keep driving on the 1A to Lake Louise and the Lake Louise Ski Area.

The 1A is open all year round, but it is not recommended during the Winter due to the snow conditions and lack of traffic when something happens. During the Winter months Parks Canada asks all the travellers, including cyclists, to refrain from travelling on the Bow Valley Parkway between Johnston Canyon and the Parkway’s East entrance off the highway between during set times in the evenings. This is to create traffic-free periods for wild life.

Cave and Basin National Historic Site of Canada »
Banff Upper Hot Springs »
Surprise Corner »
Vermilion Lakes »
Highway 1A (Bow Valley Parkway) »
Johnston Canyon »
Banff Sightseeing Gondola »
Lux Cinema »
Banff Centre (pool, gym, climbing wall) »
Bow Falls »
Whyte Museum »
Banff Park Museum (National Historic Site) »
Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum »
Banff Avenue »
Bow River Sidewalk »
Norquay Drive »
Cascade Pond »
Minnewanka Loop »
Hoodoos »
Tunnel Mountain Drive »