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HGG Photo Journal | Banff, Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Grassi Lakes (PIC HEAVY)
Posted on 8/3/19 at 7:59 am
Posted on 8/3/19 at 7:59 am
Here are some pics from a recent visit to Banff National Park and also Kananaskis Country. For our itinerary, we did this:
Day 1 (started at 7am): Lake Louise, Johnston Canyon
Day 2 (started at 9am): Rawson Lake
Day 3 (started at 5am): Moraine Lake, Grassi Lakes
What I would do if we did this again:
Day 1 (start at 5am): Moraine Lake, Lake Louise
Day 2 (start at 9am): Rawson Lake
Day 3 (start at 9am): Johnston Canyon, Grassi Lakes
::::::: LAKE LOUISE :::::::
We arrived early but not early enough. Parking is pretty limited at the top of the mountain where Lake Louise actually is. So, we parked at the bottom (AKA "the village") and hiked up to the top. We didn't do the tea house trail because we were too tired from hoofing it up to the top from the onset. Mistake. We had lunch at the Fairmont right on the lake. Food was awesome and the view even better.
::::::: JOHNSTON CANYON :::::::
We took the advice from a local and showed up at 5pm...we parked right near the entrance and essentially had the trails to ourselves. I would suggest following this advice. The canyon is FULL of waterfalls and rapids, you can feel the temperature drop bigtime as you get closed to a waterfall.
::::::: TOWN OF CANMORE :::::::
We stayed at this little hotel because it was clean, cheap, and had an outdoor hot tub which was CLUTCH after hiking all day. Overall, the town of Canmore is awesome with a bustling food scene. A river runs right through the middle and everything is walking distance. It's nestled in a valley so the views all around you are spectacular.
::::::: RAWSON LAKE (KANANASIS COUNTRY) :::::::
This hike took most of our day. Total round trip was aounr 10 miles. We stopped for lunch along the way and took our time getting to the backside of the lake. We saw a moose and 2 grizzly bears but they were so far my iPhone camera wouldn't have been able to capture them. Most of the hike (going) is uphill so prepare yourself if you are a novice like us.
Something was peculiar about this overturned tree, not sure what prompted the photo but I took one anyway.
Day 1 (started at 7am): Lake Louise, Johnston Canyon
Day 2 (started at 9am): Rawson Lake
Day 3 (started at 5am): Moraine Lake, Grassi Lakes
What I would do if we did this again:
Day 1 (start at 5am): Moraine Lake, Lake Louise
Day 2 (start at 9am): Rawson Lake
Day 3 (start at 9am): Johnston Canyon, Grassi Lakes
::::::: LAKE LOUISE :::::::
We arrived early but not early enough. Parking is pretty limited at the top of the mountain where Lake Louise actually is. So, we parked at the bottom (AKA "the village") and hiked up to the top. We didn't do the tea house trail because we were too tired from hoofing it up to the top from the onset. Mistake. We had lunch at the Fairmont right on the lake. Food was awesome and the view even better.
::::::: JOHNSTON CANYON :::::::
We took the advice from a local and showed up at 5pm...we parked right near the entrance and essentially had the trails to ourselves. I would suggest following this advice. The canyon is FULL of waterfalls and rapids, you can feel the temperature drop bigtime as you get closed to a waterfall.
::::::: TOWN OF CANMORE :::::::
We stayed at this little hotel because it was clean, cheap, and had an outdoor hot tub which was CLUTCH after hiking all day. Overall, the town of Canmore is awesome with a bustling food scene. A river runs right through the middle and everything is walking distance. It's nestled in a valley so the views all around you are spectacular.
::::::: RAWSON LAKE (KANANASIS COUNTRY) :::::::
This hike took most of our day. Total round trip was aounr 10 miles. We stopped for lunch along the way and took our time getting to the backside of the lake. We saw a moose and 2 grizzly bears but they were so far my iPhone camera wouldn't have been able to capture them. Most of the hike (going) is uphill so prepare yourself if you are a novice like us.
Something was peculiar about this overturned tree, not sure what prompted the photo but I took one anyway.
This post was edited on 8/3/19 at 3:08 pm
Posted on 8/3/19 at 7:59 am to HoustonGumbeauxGuy
::::::: MORAINE LAKE :::::::
We got there at 5:30am and there were already over 50 people perched on the "rock pile" to get that money shot of the sunrise hitting the mountain peaks. Parking is VERY limited and the road coming into the park is usually closed by 7am due to traffic coming in.
::::::: GRASSI LAKES :::::::
This is a fairly easy hike. They have both easy and hard trails to go up and back down. We took the easy trail up and the hard one down so we could see the various views. Worth it. The lakes at the top are fairy tale beautiful, so clear it was unreal. As with previous pics, lots of waterfalls in July from the melting snow...the sound was very relaxing. Once at the top, there was a shear face that several people were climbing.
We got there at 5:30am and there were already over 50 people perched on the "rock pile" to get that money shot of the sunrise hitting the mountain peaks. Parking is VERY limited and the road coming into the park is usually closed by 7am due to traffic coming in.
::::::: GRASSI LAKES :::::::
This is a fairly easy hike. They have both easy and hard trails to go up and back down. We took the easy trail up and the hard one down so we could see the various views. Worth it. The lakes at the top are fairy tale beautiful, so clear it was unreal. As with previous pics, lots of waterfalls in July from the melting snow...the sound was very relaxing. Once at the top, there was a shear face that several people were climbing.
This post was edited on 8/3/19 at 3:06 pm
Posted on 8/3/19 at 8:09 am to HoustonGumbeauxGuy
If you go to Louise later in the day, 5pm or later, there is a quarter of the people there. No issue rolling up and parking.
This post was edited on 8/3/19 at 8:11 am
Posted on 8/3/19 at 10:34 am to kciDAtaE
Crowds form early at Moraine for the sunrise. We got there at 5AM and the parking lot was nearly full
This post was edited on 8/3/19 at 10:36 am
Posted on 8/3/19 at 10:51 am to GynoSandberg
Same here.... it was nuts how early it got crowded.
Posted on 8/3/19 at 10:53 am to HoustonGumbeauxGuy
Nice marmot
Great pics man. Banff is a bucket list place for me.
Great pics man. Banff is a bucket list place for me.
Posted on 8/3/19 at 11:47 am to HoustonGumbeauxGuy
Nice pics. I just got back from Banff and Jasper this week. Absolutely loved it. I'm going to make a trip report as well. Place is too amazing not to share. Now I just have to comb through over 500 photos!
Posted on 8/3/19 at 3:09 pm to AUFANATL
quote:
Now I just have to comb through over 500 photos!
I have never taken so many photos in 3 days as I did here. Ever.
Posted on 8/3/19 at 5:38 pm to HoustonGumbeauxGuy
Great shots
I too took many pics, I wouldn’t know where to start so I never made a thread
Get out to the Icefield Parkway if you can, they have some great stops along the way - namely Bow Lake and Peyto
I too took many pics, I wouldn’t know where to start so I never made a thread
Get out to the Icefield Parkway if you can, they have some great stops along the way - namely Bow Lake and Peyto
Posted on 8/3/19 at 6:03 pm to GynoSandberg
Ya I’ve heard Peyto Lake is amazing...planning to hit hat up in 2 weeks.
Same for the glacier
Same for the glacier
This post was edited on 8/3/19 at 6:03 pm
Posted on 8/3/19 at 8:20 pm to HoustonGumbeauxGuy
Great pics. Heading up in September. Been looking forward to this trip more than usual.
Posted on 8/3/19 at 9:39 pm to HoustonGumbeauxGuy
Peyto is awesome, just so packed
I liked Bow (pictured above) bc no one was out there, you can walk down to the shore. Great views. They also have a little coffee shop on site with some cabins
We drove to the glacier, in hindsight it wasn’t something we should’ve wasted time on. Did see some wildlife on the drive though
Posted on 8/3/19 at 9:52 pm to GynoSandberg
Awesome pics. Are those elk or moose?
Posted on 8/3/19 at 10:05 pm to HoustonGumbeauxGuy
Those are big horn sheep I believe
Did see some elk in downtown banff one morning eat out of the flower pots
Did see some elk in downtown banff one morning eat out of the flower pots
Posted on 8/4/19 at 7:07 am to HoustonGumbeauxGuy
Great post. Thanks for sharing.
Posted on 8/5/19 at 11:37 am to HoustonGumbeauxGuy
thanks for sharing, looks amazing. Would love to visit some time.
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