Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks:
A Magnificent Land of Alpine Lakes, Hanging Glaciers, Hot Springs and Wildlife
Part 1 - Banff National Park

Photography by David Muenker — Text by Rose Muenker

When you spot the "Castle in the Rockies" amid towering natural grandeur, you know you're just minutes away from Banff, the southern gateway of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks. Lumbering glaciers, majestic mountains and turquoise lakes beautify this UNESCO World Heritage Site while black bears and other wildlife add to the fascination. Opportunities to explore the parks are limitless, from scenic drives to hiking and rafting.

Four national parks and three provincial parks, along with the Burgess Shale Fossil Site, form the official UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks. They are:

• Banff National Park
• Jasper National Park
• Kootenay National Park
• Yoho National Park
• Mt. Assiniboine Provincial Park
• Mount Robson Provincial Park
• Hamber Provincial Park
• Burgess Shale Fossil Site

The official name of the "Castle in the Rockies" is the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel.

Read about Alberta's UNESCO Trail, a scenic drive that connects five World Heritage Sites.