Highway 1A, the Bow Valley Parkway , provides a slower and more relaxed alternative. From the town of Lake Louise the Icefields Parkway heads northwest to Jasper, Alberta and the Trans-Canada Highway heads west over the Kicking Horse Pass through Yoho National Park and past the Spiral Tunnels to Golden, British Columbia . A relatively minor road also leads from the town of Lake Louise to the actual lake of Lake Louise and a spur road goes off this road to Moraine Lake . The Canadian Rockies surrounding the town of Banff are both majestic and magnificent. However, we found the actual town of Banff to be rather less than pleasant.
Parking is often difficult and traffic is often congested.
The shops in the town are mainly aimed at tourists and their prices tend to be high, as do accommodation rates and the prices in restaurants. The town of Canmore , some ten miles east of Banff, is well worth considering as an alternative. For an alternative view on Banff, visit Digital Banff , which offers useful information about the town for visitors.