Famous Lake Louise

A one hour drive (for most people) north of Banff is Lake Louise, another famous place to tour in the Canadian Rockies. We chose to travel the slow, scenic route via Route 1A. Castle Mountain was one of the high points of our trip along with glaciers, serene lakes, and waterfalls. If you visit this famous tourist stop, be sure to stock up on gas, food, and other supplies before arriving. It was the most expensive place we visited in Canada, and we limited our stay to three days.

By the time we got to the park campground, there were no sites with amenities. But that was not a problem, as we arrived with a full tank of water, and our solar panels provided all of the power we needed. We had our trusty generator, but the bright sunshine and long days were kind to our solar panels.

Lake Louise was clearly visible from our gondola all the way up and down the mountain. Our ride began with a sumptuous, complimentary buffet breakfast. At the top, we took a guided hike, learned about the wildlife on the mountain, and enjoyed a welcome cup of coffee at the cafe. While Lake Louise gets most of the press, we thought Emerald Lake and Lake Moraine were equally charming. Takakkaw Falls was spectacular and provided a windy, free "shower!"