Banff Audio Tour

Things to do on the Tour Include:

• Welcome

  Embrace the natural beauty of Banff with its majestic mountains, tranquil pockets of nature, and opportunities to explore hiking trails and scenic viewpoints.

• Surprise Corner Viewpoint

  The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, steeped in history and rumored to be haunted, offers panoramic views from the Surprise Corner Viewpoint.

• Wildlife Corridors

  The importance of valleys as wildlife corridors becomes evident in Banff, where human activity often intersects with animal habitats.

• Bow River

  The Bow River, central to the region's history and ecosystem, faces water scarcity due to factors like climate change, population growth, and dam usage.

• First Nations or Native Americans

  First Nations" and "Native Americans" both refer to indigenous groups of North America, but the distinction is based on regional origin and preference.

• Tunnel Mountain

  Tunnel Mountain, with its alternative name "Sleeping Buffalo Mountain," carries the history of indigenous names and European influence.

• Hoodoos Viewpoint

  Learn about hoodoos—rock formations shaped by erosion—en route to the Hoodoos Viewpoint, where these geological wonders stand.

• The Métis

  The Métis people, known for their early buffalo hunting laws and integral role in the fur trade, played a significant part in the region's history.

• Kiguli Pithouses of Banff

  The Salishan-speaking Indigenous people used pit-houses known as kiguli for winter dwellings, contributing to the region's archaeology.

• Lake Minnewanka Scenic Dr

  Lake Minnewanka's history spans indigenous legends, a vanished resort village, and intriguing tales of a possible lake monster.

• The Stoney People

  The Stoney people, a plains tribe, inhabited the region before facing challenges due to European arrival.

• The Lake Minnewanka Monster

  Eerie stories surround Lake Minnewanka, from indigenous legends to tales of strange lake creatures.

• The Abandoned Mining Site

  Bankhead, once a bustling mining town, declined suddenly, with tales of curses and tragedy shaping its legacy.

• Chinese Workers of Bankhead

  Chinese workers, part of Bankhead's diverse workforce, faced discrimination and exploitation during their time there.

• Fire and Flood

  Banff's history includes both destructive wildfires and the controlled burns that contribute to the park's ecosystem health.

• Logging's Impact

  Canada's logging industry has ecological consequences, endangering species like Methuselah’s Beard Lichen and Whitebark Pine due to habitat loss and pollution.

• Northern Lights

  The Northern Lights, caused by solar wind interacting with Earth's magnetic field, can be witnessed in Banff's skies, often during October, November, and April.

• Mount Norquay Lookout

  The Mount Norquay Lookout offers a picturesque panoramic view of Bow Valley, the Canadian Rockies, and Banff town.

• Mount Norquay

  Mount Norquay is named after John Norquay, a prominent figure with diverse skills, who reached its summit in 1888, leaving a significant legacy.