Because you have to…… Lake Louise is the most photographed lake in the Rockies. We are meeting up with our friends Moe and Paul at Lake Louise campground where we will be staying for 4 nights while exploring the area. They will be with us for a couple nights before driving back to Calgary to get a flight home to Ottawa. We had called in advance to book a site as Chris had read that the campground is always full. Good thing we did.
From Canmore we head into the mountains along Hwy 1 toward Lake Louise. Sadly, the mountains are shrouded by clouds and mist and we get only glimpses now and again of the peaks. Close to Lake Louise we pass by large overflow parking areas with shuttles and we begin to see why booking ahead is recommended. The overflow is packed. We arrive in town and head directly to the campground. At the gate we are sent away and told to come back at check-in time 2 hours later. We head back to the main road and park at a convenient RV and truck parking area near the Husky gas station. We thought we would kill time by checking out the town, but we soon find out that there is no town to speak of. Lake Louise consists of a visitor information centre and a few shops and restaurants just off the Hwy. There is a liquor store and small grocery which is handy, but really no town. The lake is up a mountain road one way, and the ski hill the other.
Back at the campground, the sign indicates they are full up. They sites are side by side where 2 campers share an area, but unfortunately the part of the campground we are in does not allow campfires. We also find out quickly that we are also right beside a train track, where there is a level crossing and therefore the frequent trains have to blow the whistle. Miko is not too happy with that. Needless to say, we did not sleep well.
Next day the skies are clearer. We finally get to see the majestic peaks of the Rockies. A hike is in order and Moe and Paul who have lived in the area and know it well, suggest a drive along the Bow River Parkway and a hike to Johnston Canyon and the Ink Pots. It is one of the more popular hikes in the Rockies, but we arrive early enough to get parking spot. It’s a breathtaking and easy hike along trail and boardwalk through the canyon, where each glimpse of the falls is more spectacular as you walk along. After the canyon falls the trail continues upward through forest for about 5KM then down into a valley where you discover the mysterious ‘ink pots’ or mineral pools which are different colours and have circles of bubbly sand at the bottoms. I’ve never seen anything quite like it. The hike back is just as interesting and thankfully mostly downhill. The pictures will tell the tale.
Bow River Valley
Johnston Canyon
The Ink Pots
After the hike, a well deserved soak in the Banff Springs is in order. A quick drive further along the parkway takes us into Banff and after a brief drive through town, we head to the hot springs above. It isn’t terribly crowded and we enjoy a relaxing and soothing soak before heading back to the campground.