The Unforgettable Wonder of the Canadian Rockies

Mountains make us feel so insignificant

Beaming glacier-covered peaks, pristine lakes, crystal water streams and waterfalls, all of this bundled in one part of the earth is quite a spectacle and leaves you short of words to describe the amazement.

There is a unique charm and wonder in the Canadian Rockies. Their popularity soared due to the expansion of Canadian Pacific Railways (CPR) in the west. To attract tourists from across the country, rail routes were built across the scenic lakes and peaks surrounded by picturesque settings.

Canada’s first National Park- Banff national park

While laying tracks in the Rockies, CPR workers came across hot water and steam flowing out of a cave on the slopes of Sulphur mountain, now known as the Cave and Basin National Historic Site. The hot and mineral-rich pools provided relief to the weary bodies of workers.

The discovery of these pools was an important moment in Canadian history. Due to a dispute in the ownership, the government had to intervene which led to the creation of a reserve to protect the springs and it’s surrounding area, and thus the formation of Canada’s first national park -Banff National Park.

Banff national park was named after the town of Banffshire in Scotland, which was the birthplace of the CPR’s first president George Stephen.

The Banff springs hotel

Now known as The Fairmont Banff springs, was the vision of CPR’s vice president William Cornelius for a luxury stay in the Rockies. Also a National Historic site of Canada, it was the largest hotel in the world when it first opened in 1888. This Architectural marvel is a sight to behold. It’s aptly called the ‘Castle of the Rockies’.

The Bow falls

Walking up to these cascading falls along the banks of the bow river was filled with breathtaking views of the river, the falls and the surrounding mountains.

The Johnston Canyon

Carved by thousands of years of water erosion, it is a popular natural attraction in Banff national park. The hike up to the falls is quite a thrill offering breathtaking views of the canyon and the flowing stream on the downslopes. There is also a small cave that gives you closer access to the falls.

Lake Louise

Our next spot was Lake Louise, a beautiful glacial lake nestled between towering mountains. There was so much peace in simply observing the calm lake and the turquoise colour of the water. The pine trees add rustic charm and rocks are placed around the shore so people can sit and enjoy.

The Quaint town of Canmore

This idyllic town with its unique charm is at the heart of Canada’s Rocky Mountain Region. Local shops and restaurants with majestic mountains in the backdrop and a laid-back atmosphere make it a perfect setting.

Also came across a beautiful art gallery by local artist, Ken Hoehn and was left mesmerized by the incredible pieces of art. It is one of the most amazing art galleries I have ever seen.

The more I was wandering around the town, the more I fell in love with it. Also, the famous 3 sister mountains are an integral part of Canmore. We didn’t have time to stop by the park, but captured some beautiful views on the way.

The Icefields parkway

Is one of the most beautiful and scenic drives in the world, from Banff to Jasper with a multitude of lakes and hikes to stop en route.

There were many small glacial-fed lakes, some with crystal clear water and the mirror reflections in the water were simply unbelievable. Here are some pictures.

The Beautiful town of Jasper

Our next stop was the beautiful town of Jasper. As soon as we reached we couldn’t fail to notice how different it was from the other towns. It was far less crowded and retains a traditional small-town relaxing and raw feel.

We stopped by a small but busy restaurant and the food was simply amazing. Even spotted some elks on the highway, our first wildlife spotting of the trip! Many people had stopped on the highway to watch the animals graze - such a simple act yet so much wonder. An Interesting fact about elks- Male elks have antlers that grow in spring and shed in winter.

By evening we reached our hotel. There was a beautiful and calm lake on the property and the scene above the lake was reflecting in the water. It was amazing, something one can gaze at for hours.

Maligne lake

One of the most stunning and calm lakes, encircled by the beautiful Rockies makes it one of the most photogenic locations in the region. Spirit island, a sacred area for the local indigenous communities, located on the shore of this lake offers picturesque landscape views.

The Serenity of the area amongst the Majestic Rockies is hard to go unnoticed. This was the last stop of our trip and there couldn’t have been a better way to end our trip.

It’s hard to describe the true immensity of the Rockies

The Canadian Rockies are nothing short of stunning and our trip was memorable for all the right reasons.

Gazing out at the breathtaking size of the Rockies, the azure and cyan-colored lakes and the most breathtaking streams and waterfalls made an unforgettable experience long after returning home.

It’s inspiring how nature can make us feel small, unimportant, and grateful all at the same time, something we should feel more often than not.

I would like to share some of the amazing posts I read recently.

This article by Drashti Shroff on why social proof is the strongest asset for effective digital presence.

This article by Brother Frank on how failure helps accelerate growth.

Hope you find them helpful as much as I did.

I would also like to thank Dr. Preeti Singh for being a huge inspiration to write posts on Nature.

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