Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada Banff National Park Established in 1855, Banff national park is Canada's oldest national park. Although the park is more than 6000 square kilometers in area, there are only two population centers, Banff and Lake Louise. Even in these centers the development is controlled by the national park, with residents not owning land but only leasing it from the park. In both of these centers it is not uncommon to encounter elk wandering around, munching serenly on whatever happens to be handy.
Humans are only there on sufference.
The park is rife with mountain trails to walk, mountains to climb, and caves to crawl through. In the winter avalanches are a possibility, and care should be taken to consult the park wardens regarding your chosen destination.