Banff National Park

Lake Louise offers breathtaking scenery.

Tangle Falls is impressive.

Banff National Park, established in 1885, is home to 2,564 square miles of valleys, mountains, glaciers, forests, meadows and rivers in the spectacular Canadian Rockies.

Banff, part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site, is recognized internationally as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site.

There are 13 campgrounds and more than 2,400 campsites in the park. The campgrounds range from fully-serviced sites with interpretive programs to more rustic campgrounds.

Visitors can now make reservations at some of their

favorite campgrounds. For those who prefer not to reserve in advance, quality campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Visitors outside North

America can make reservations by calling 905-566-4321.

Local bus service is provided in summer months in the town of Banff, which is often busy with vehicles and visitors especially in summer. Bus service between Banff and Lake Louise is available.

Visitors cannot yet reserve campsites in Canadian national parks, all sites are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

Visitors to the park enjoy a variety of activities, including more than 1,000 miles of hiking trails, soaking in Upper Hot Springs, boat tours on Lake Minnewanka, skiing, horseback riding and scenic driving.

Admission is charged upon entry to the park. All backpackers are required to obtain a wilderness pass, which can be purchased at any Visitor Center.

Bighorn sheep, deer, coyotes, black and grizzly bears are frequently seen in the park. Among the biggest mammals in the park are elk, which are a vital part of Banff's ecology. They are the main herbivore, or plant eater, in the park and in turn are a major food source for predators such as wolves and cougars.

In five hot springs in the park is an inconspicuous little snail found nowhere else in the world. In 2000, the Banff Springs Snail (Physella johnsoni) was listed as "endangered" by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada.

Wolves have only recently returned to the park after a long absence. There are currently 35 to 40 wolves residing in the park in four different packs, including two packs in the Bow Valley between Banff and Lake Louise.

The largest Canadian cat found in the park is the mountain lion or cougar. Although rarely seen, signs indicate that there is a small but healthy population of approximately 10 to 20 animals in the park.