Two Jack Lake is on the Lake Minnewanka Scenic Drive loop and is a pleasant place to bring a picnic lunch.

There are picnic tables available along the shore.  Off in the distance is Mount Rundle.

After lunch, take a walk along the shore to stretch your legs before heading to the next destination.

Camping is available here too at the Two Jake Lakeside Campground and Two Jack Main Campground.

I think Johnston Canyon in Banff National Park is an exception to this rule.

A visit to Johnston Canyon Trail is worth it, even in the peak afternoon hours, despite its popularity.

Why?

As a traveler, I know I can’t see every popular destination in the morning.  I have to pick and choose.

I needed to dedicate my morning time slot to Banff’s Sulphur Mountain Gondola.  Johnston Canyon Trail would have to be in the afternoon.

It was a great choice to do the Banff gondola in the morning and the just-as-popular Johnston Canyon in the afternoon.  The lines at Banff Gondola were almost non-existent in the early morning and we had a gondola to ourselves.

Johnston Canyon Trail in Banff National Park has a lot to like.  It is close by (18km from Banff townsite), easy to hike (well worn walkway, takes an hour to get to 2nd waterfall) and very scenic (waterfall and river views).

Johnston Canyon also has enough room to handle the volume of visitors – the exception being the parking.  Unlike other attractions, there are no admission lines.  Just get out of your car and start walking.  Everyone is spread out.  It is an enjoyable experience absent of the “sardines in a can” feeling.

As you can see from the picture below, when I got there mid-afternoon, the parking lot was full and lots of cars had to park on the street.  It was still worth going to in the afternoon.  Even though we parked in the road, it was only a short walk to the path.  The trail wasn’t as crowded as the amount of cars park on the road would seem to indicate.

Parking lot full at Johnston Canyon, Banff National Park

So if you see cars in the road at Johnston Canyon like pictured, do not despair.  Hike and enjoy.

Related posts:

1. Photo of the Day: Johnston Canyon Trail in Banff National Park
2. Canadian Rockies Itinerary Tips for the Jasper Tramway and Banff Gondola

My advice is to do the ride to the top of the mountain during the first day of your vacation that the weather is clear.

Why?

Firstly, if you wait until the last day of your trip to do the Jasper Tramway or Banff Gondola (Sulphur Mountain Gondola) or other mountain ride, it may be too foggy or raining hard or even snowing hard.  You’ll get to the top and will either have an obstructed view or won’t be able to see anything at all.

During my last trip to Jasper, we took a chance on the Jasper Tramway on a foggy day with low-hanging clouds.  It worked out ok, but it was too cloudy for hiking at the top and the view while riding the tramway car was obstructed, as you can image from the pictures below.

Secondly, seeing the views early in your trip gives you perspective.  You’ll better appreciate the vastness of the Canadian Rockies.

Here’s one of the views from the trail on the top of Sulphur Mountain, a worthy excursion after reaching the summit on the Banff Sulphur Mountain Gondola ride.

Thirdly, in the case of the Jasper Tramway or the Banff Gondola, once you are dropped off at the upper terminal, if the weather is good, you can explore the summit area for even more great views.

That being said, a little cloudiness is to be expected.  As long as the clouds are above the mountains, the views are spectacular.  If you are in doubt, you can always call the information desk at the popular Jasper and Banff attractions to find out the current weather conditions at the top of the mountains.

Related posts:

1. Tip: Johnston Canyon Trail in Banff National Park

A stop at Sunwapta Falls offers the traveler a view of a rushing waterfall in a scenic setting. A short path along the edge has plenty of viewpoints.

I’ve been having fun lately editing photos from my last trip to Jasper National Park.  One thing I’m experimenting with is converting color photos to black and white.  Then, adjusting the photos to try to capture the essence of the scene.

In this first photo, the fallen tree outline on the bottom gives a sense of the scale of the falls. Enlarge the photo and you can almost hear the falls.

Sunwapta Falls (black and white) - click image to enlarge. If you like it, feel free to make it a desktop wallpaper.

This second photo shows the river draining into the very start of the Sunwapta Falls.

Sunwapta Falls (black and white) - click image to enlarge

Try converting your travel photos to black and white. It can be addicting.

Related posts:

1. Photo of the Day: Johnston Canyon Trail in Banff National Park

You won’t find a whole lot of mention in the travel books about the Sally Borden Fitness and Recreation Centre as it is not really a tourist attraction.  It is more of a place where the locals go to get away from tourists.

As it turns out, there are a lot of reasons to visit the Sally Borden facility.

• Are you looking for less-crowded indoor activities in Banff due to rain or inclement weather?
• Did you go to Banff Upper Hot Springs during peak hours and saw the line and said “what now?”
• Is your hotel pool is too small, too crowded, too noisy, or just plain non-existent?
• Are you looking for indoor rock climbing, yoga classes, a “real” fitness centre or other fun activities away from all the tourists?

If you answered “Yes” to any of the above questions, the Sally Borden Centre is a good option.

Located on the outskirts of the town of Banff, the Sally Borden Fitness and Recreation Centre is a fully-equipped exercise and recreation facility.

What I like most is the huge swimming pool.  I think it is Olympic sized or at least close to it.   I thought there was something different about the water too, at least when I was there.  It felt clean and refreshing.  Maybe they use less chemicals than the traditional hotel pool.  The pool is great for doing laps.  And after swimming, there’s a whirlpool and for the kids, a wading pool.

I liked the weightlifting and exercise equipment.  It was what I’d expect from a real fitness center.

Activities

If you are looking to spend a day being active, there’s plenty to do.  Beyond the swimming pool and exercise equipment, there’s a steam room, rock climbing gym, indoor running track, squash court, gymnasium, exercise classes, yoga classes, massage, training sessions and other services.

Getting There

The Centre is easy to go to from the town of Banff.  It took me about 10 minutes to get to from Banff Hot Springs on the other side of town.

The Sally Borden building is in the middle of the Banff Centre, a arts and cultural facility with lots of events.  It feels like you are in a college campus and parking is similar.  If you are lucky, you can park in a small row of parking spots next to the Sally Borden building, then climb the steps up to the Sally Borden building.  Otherwise, there are a few parking lots further away that are a short walk to the Sally Borden building.

Hours and Events

Before going, it is good to check out the hours.  There are classes and events going on so not every activity is open at all times or open to the public.

The best bargain is to get a day pass and go on a day with bad weather and stay several hours trying everything out.  The day pass drop-in rate is very reasonable and you can stay all day and have access to more.

For hours, rules, and a schedule of activities, see the Sally Borden Fitness and Recreation Centre website.

All-in-all, the only major trade-off is the likelihood of cooler weather in September compared to July and August – though a given September day can be warmer than an August one.

Visiting Jasper National Park in September offers several advantages compared to the peak months of July and August while still being somewhat of a peak month like its cousin June.

Here is a list of pros and cons of Jasper National Park in September:

Pros of visiting Jasper National Park in September

Cons of going to Jasper National Park in September

Hope that covers it.

Anyone else know of more pros or cons?  Leave a comment and I’ll add them.

There are a million great photos of the waterfalls and Johnston Creek that show why.

This Photo of the Day is a photo of a fragment of the experience of Johnston Canyon, the edge where the water meets the limestone.  The smaller details can be easy to miss:  the rushing water of Johnston Creek, the jagged limestone rocks along the creek shaped by countless years of erosion, and the plants growing on the rocks.

Now multiply this by a hundred and you’ll get a sense why Johnston Canyon is amongst Banff National Park’s most popular hiking trails.

click image to view full size

View the image full size and set as a desktop wallpaper in preparation for a trip to Banff National Park.

Related posts:

1. Tip: Johnston Canyon Trail in Banff National Park
2. Photo of the Day: Sunwapta Falls black and white

Shortly thereafter, I did several day hikes in Jasper and Banff National Park.  I loved having the trekking poles.

If you are planning to at least a few day hikes in Jasper National Park, I think that hiking poles are a great accessory.

I feel like my balance is better.  My knees feel supported.  It seems like my chance of stumbling is reduced.  I have more endurance.  I am a happy hiker.

Me hiking on a rainy day on the Sulphur Skyline Trail near Miette Hot Springs in Jasper National Park

It may sound strange, but I sometimes find myself walking rough terrain without looking down.  Instead, I’m somehow feeling the terrain with my poles and able to step softly.  Without poles, I’m watching my ever step.

On steep hills, I push on the poles with my arms and it seems to reduce the stress on the leg muscles, allowing my to hike further.  This was useful on the Sulphur Skyline Trail near Miette Hot Springs.  At the time, it was one of the longer hikes I’ve done.  The trail is uphill the first half until the summit and the trekking poles made a big difference.

The poles I used helped on the descent too.  I have antishock ones – which basically means a spring is inside the poles like a shock absorber on a car.   The antishock is nice when going downhill and putting a lot of force on the poles.  I also like the antishock feature because sometimes the ground is hard.  It softens the blow.

Recommending a brand is tough because this is new to me.  Shop around.  Some sporting goods stores sell trekking poles.  If found mine online.

Trekking poles can be inexpensive at $30-50 for a basic pair.   Expect to spend $50-100 or more for an ultralight weight pair or special features.

When shopping for a pair, consider the size and weight.  Most collapsible poles are small enough to fit in a suitcase.  Measuring before buying will help ensure fit.

A year later, I still use the poles for day hiking.

Hope this info helps make hiking a more enjoyable activity!

I mean getting to know the real Jasper.

Jasper National Park is different than most other parks in that Jasper has a full municipality within it, Jasper town-site.

In it are a small population of people who call Jasper National Park home.  To have a home in Jasper means to work in Jasper and be dedicated to Jasper.

Jasper even has its own newspaper, The Fitzhugh, “Jasper’s Independent, Locally Owned Newspaper.”

Check out the online version of the Fitzhugh.  I also recommend picking up a printed paper while in Jasper to read while settling down in the evening in your hotel room.

I assure you that by reading the Fitzhugh you’ll learn things about the inner workings of Jasper that you won’t find anywhere else.  Between Jasper and the neighboring parks and towns, the Fitzhugh brings to light what’s going on – beyond the attractions.

You’ll feel connected to the people and the issues.  When you know what goes on behind the scenes, you’ll realize how important it is that the right decisions are made to support Jasper National Park’s future.

The Fitzhugh often mixes in Jasper history topics too, which I like.  If you want to learn even more about Jasper’s history, also consider a visit to the Jasper Yellowhead Museum or reading my unique posts about Jasper Nation Park history here on JasperJournal.com travel website.

And as far as scenic roadways go, the Icefield Parkway is tops.  You’ll never have a long drive that is so enjoyable. Seriously – unless you are afraid of a little bit of heights and a whole lot of snow-covered mountains and magical blue-green lakes and even glaciers and maybe even some wildlife sightings.

I don’t recommend rushing on the Icefield Parkway on the way to or from Jasper or Banff townsites.  The Icefield Parkway is a destination in itself.  It is nice to stop in the rest areas along the way to take in the scenery.  You may even want to make time for the many excellent hikes along the way.

Here’s a few pictures (click to view larger) from along the Icefield Parkway in Banff National Park in the area south of the Jasper National Park border.

Mountains along the Icefield Parkway

Icefield Parkway in Banff National Park

Icefield Parkway in Banff National Park

Related posts:

1. Trekking Poles are the Secret Weapon of Happy Hikers in the Canadian Rockies and Beyond