Three National Parks in Nine Days: Revelstoke, Lake Louise & Banff

We’ve just spent the past nine days exploring three of Canada’s most iconic national parks—Revelstoke, Lake Louise, and Banff. The Columbia and Rocky Mountains that frame these parks can only be described as majestic, towering, rugged, snow-capped, dramatic, serene, soaring, breathtaking, monumental, and awe-inspiring—and the list could go on and on.

Canada’s national park system began in 1885 with the creation of Banff National Park, sparked by the discovery of hot springs near Banff Station. In 1911, the Dominion Forest Reserves & Parks Act established the world’s first national park service—today’s Parks Canada. Since then, the system has grown to balance conservation and tourism, while more recently working in partnership with Indigenous communities to protect traditional rights and cultural practices.

Revelstoke

On our way to Revelstoke we stopped at the historic site of “The Last Spike.” On November 7, 1885, the final spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway was driven here, completing the dream of a railway linking the country from sea to sea. Considering the distance, terrain, and timeframe, it was an extraordinary engineering feat—one that helped shape and unite Canada.

"The Last Spike" Monument

Fran at "The Last Spike"

There are some unconventional vehicles for going through the mountains!!

Revelstoke itself, once called Farwell, grew during the Columbia River gold rush of the 1860s but truly came into its own with the arrival of the CPR. In 1886 the town was renamed in honour of Lord Revelstoke, a banker who supported the railway. Forestry and later hydroelectric development drove the economy, and the completion of the Trans-Canada Highway in 1962 opened the area to tourism. Today, Revelstoke is known for world-class skiing, its unique history of ski jumping (introduced by Norwegian immigrants in the early 1900s), and its location within one of the planet’s rare interior temperate rainforests.

Our Airstream "Tug'n" in the lower left of the picture in Snowforest Campground, Mt Revelstoke National Park

We were lucky to snag a campsite (on opening day back in January) at Snowforest Campground in Mount Revelstoke National Park, tucked partway up Revelstoke Mountain and surrounded by dramatic peaks—and plenty of bear warnings. From there, we drove the 26-kilometre Meadows in the Sky Parkway to the summit, where sweeping vistas and fields of wildflowers rewarded us.

Fran preparing to do the ski jump run on Mt Revelstoke

The peak of Mt. Revelstoke

The town of Mt. Revelstoke

The Columbia River is the largest river flowing into the Pacific Ocean in North America

Us at the peak. We climbed the last kilometre, thin air and all...😆

Driving this section of the Trans-Canada is an experience in itself. Every turn reveals another snow-capped mountain, another valley, another marvel of engineering carved through impossible terrain. Frequent stops are practically mandatory to soak in the splendour.

Lots of avalanche tunnels - glad it is summer

An engineering marvel

Lake Louise

The history of Lake Louise reaches back long before the arrival of the railway, to the Stoney Nakoda people who lived in the region. In 1884, the CPR built a station here, naming the settlement Laggan and the lake Emerald Lake before renaming it in honour of Princess Louise, daughter of Queen Victoria. Chateau Lake Louise soon followed, attracting visitors from around the world. The lake’s signature turquoise colour comes from glacial “rock flour” suspended in the water, which refracts sunlight into a luminous blue-green glow.

Nearby Moraine Lake is equally famous, set in the Valley of the Ten Peaks. Fed by snowmelt and glaciers, its astonishing azure colour is the result of light reflecting off glacial silt. The lake is untouched by human alteration—no dams, drains, or diversions. Because of its fragile ecosystem, access is carefully managed: the road is open only during summer and closed to private vehicles, with Parks Canada shuttles providing transportation.

We saw these grizzlies on the shuttle to Moraine Lake

This black bear snuck up on us

Sun rose on Moraine Lake

This is how it looks - no Photo Shopping...

Another grizzly sighting 

Lake Louise - the view from Chateau Lake Louise

We camped at the Hard-Sided National Park Campground, a reminder that this is true bear country. Tent campers are directed to a separate, electric fenced campground. On our shuttle to Moraine Lake, we were lucky enough to spot grizzly bears—a thrilling highlight.

Our mountain view from our campsite at Lake Louise National Park, Hard Sided Campground.

Are you hooked on this scenery yet?

The crowds here are immense, but the organization is impressive. Shuttle systems minimize human impact while still allowing visitors to experience these extraordinary landscapes. And it’s easy to see why people travel from across the globe—the scenery speaks for itself.

Banff

Our final stop was Banff National Park, the birthplace of Canada’s park system and one of the most visited national parks in the world. We stayed at Tunnel Mountain Campground, a vast site with over 700 campsites, yet still surrounded by jaw-dropping mountain views rising far above the treeline.

Banff is a model of visitor accessibility, with an inexpensive and efficient public bus system linking the town with popular attractions like the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain, the hot springs, and even nearby Canmore. For hikers and cyclists, Banff is paradise—endless trails wind through valleys, forests, and alpine meadows, offering something for every level of ability.

Banff scenery

Main street in town of Banff

Banff gondola to top of Sulphur Mountain

Views from the top of Sulphur Mountain

Bow River flowing through Banff

Banff Springs Hotel

Waterfalls on Bow River

Elk grazing in our campground

Reflection

As we reflect on our time in Revelstoke, Lake Louise, and Banff, it’s impossible not to feel grateful for the vision of those who established Canada’s national parks more than a century ago. Thanks to their foresight, generations today—and tomorrow—can stand in awe of these landscapes.

For us, these three parks are not just a highlight of our journey, but a bucket-list experience we would recommend to anyone.