Lake Louise in Banff National Park
Lake Louise, one of the main attractions in Banff National Park, is only an hour from Golden by bus or car, and people come from all over to admire the alpine lake’s turquoise blue color, a result of its glacial origins. Mount Victoria and the Canadian Rockies loom in the distance, creating a dramatic backdrop. Many prefer to visit in late summer when the weather is warmest and the lake’s color is at its most vivid. Winter is a wonderful time to go, too, to enjoy snowshoeing and sleigh rides around the banks.
Takakkaw Falls in Yoho National Park
Takakkaw Falls, the second-highest waterfall in Canada, is a one-hour drive from Golden. Aptly named with the Cree word for magnificent, it is 373 metres high with two dramatic drops. Though visible from the Yoho National Park parking lot, most visitors take a closer look by way of the 1.4-kilometre Takakkaw Falls Hike. The path is well-maintained for wheelchairs and strollers. To make a day of your visit, follow the Iceline Trail, which leaves from the parking lot and either follows a 14.2-kilometre out-and-back path or a 20-kilometre loop. Both routes pass glacial lakes, scenic lookouts, and alpine streams.
Golden Museum and Edelweiss Village
Visit the Golden Museum, located one block off Main Street, to learn more about the local contributions of the Swiss mountain guides that the Canadian Pacific Railway once hired in the early 20th century to grow tourism. Their families joined them here, settling in Edelweiss Village, a group of chalets just outside town, and today many of their descendants live in the area. Near the museum, you can walk across the Golden Skybridge, which at 130 meters is said to be the highest suspension bridge in all of Canada.