Banff National Park, a Scenic 60+ Minute Drive
Established in 1885, Banff National Park is the oldest national park in Canada. Located in Alberta's Rocky Mountains, just an hour's drive west on scenic paved roads to the east gate, this large internationally acclaimed park of mountainous terrain, glaciers, ice fields, dense coniferous forests, and alpine landscapes is a must-see.
Some of Our Favourites
Popular Cycling Route - Just Outside the Gate
Popular Cycling Route - Just Outside the Gate
Popular Cycling Route - Just Outside the Gate
Horse Creek Grand Valley Loop - This 42.74 km loop has an excellent road that follows a beautiful rolling valley northward of HW 1A. The scenery is delightfully rolling hills and ranchlands, and the pavement is smooth for your 241 ft climb. Horse Creek Grand Valley Bottrell Loop - A bit longer at 72.58 km with a 326 ft climb, you can check out the heritage-style country store in Bottrell or maybe stop there for a picnic at the creekside, wooded campground. These beautiful rides through the foothills can be windy, mainly from the west but occasionally from every direction, so be prepared for the extra push.
Big Hill Springs - 20 Minutes
Popular Cycling Route - Just Outside the Gate
Popular Cycling Route - Just Outside the Gate
Check out Big Hill Springs Provincial Park. It's a provincial park in the foothills of Alberta's Rocky Mountains, about 40 kilometres northwest of Calgary, about 20 minutes from here. A series of springs and small waterfalls flow year-round over rocky terraces covered with a lush growth of mosses, shrubs, and grasses. Beautiful picnic site. (Currently closed due to renovations - summer 2021)
Winchell Lake - 15 Minutes
Popular Cycling Route - Just Outside the Gate
Winchell Lake - 15 Minutes
This 12-acre lake is approximately 30 km NW of Cochrane and consists of a small day-use area that provides access to good sport fishing opportunities. A boat launch is available for public use. The lake is stocked annually by AEP with trout and aerated in the winter through ACA’s Lake Aeration Program."
Grotto Mountain Pond & Canyon Hike - 30 Minutes
Grotto Mountain Pond & Canyon Hike - 30 Minutes
Grotto Mountain Pond & Canyon Hike - 30 Minutes
Grotto Mountain Pond is a beautiful 30-minute drive from here. Fishermen will find a variety of fish, including rainbow trout, whitefish, and brown trout. Whether you’re fly fishing, spinning or baitcasting, your chances of getting a bite here are good. So grab your favourite fly fishing rod and reel, and head out to Grotto Mountain Pond. There is a popular, medium-difficulty hiking trail through Grotto Canyon; the trailhead also leads from a day-use picnic area.
Ghost Lake - 15 Minutes
Grotto Mountain Pond & Canyon Hike - 30 Minutes
Grotto Mountain Pond & Canyon Hike - 30 Minutes
Ghost Lake is a popular recreational and sporting destination for Albertans. Clear and inviting water encourages boating, sailing, windsurfing, swimming, waterskiing, and so much more in the warmer months. In the winter, In winter, Ghost Lake is a draw for skaters, ice boarders and ice fishing enthusiasts. Ghost Lake provides year-round fishing of over 11 indigenous species, including lake trout, mountain whitefish and rainbow trout.
Perrenoud Wildlife Habitat - 5 Minutes
Bragg Creek Provincial Park - 40 Minutes
Bragg Creek Provincial Park - 40 Minutes
A Walk in the Park - Perrenoud Wildlife Habitat is a gently rolling forest donated to the Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation in 1980 by George Emil Perrenoud for a wilderness park for the benefit of the residents of the Province of Alberta. Come on out and enjoy this lesser-known park on one of the backroads off Grand Valley Road, west of Highway 22. All roads leading to the park are paved and well-maintained year-round. Due to deadfall in some areas, care and attention are needed if heading off the hiking and game trails.
Bragg Creek Provincial Park - 40 Minutes
Bragg Creek Provincial Park - 40 Minutes
Bragg Creek Provincial Park - 40 Minutes
Bragg Creek Provincial Park is a provincial park in the Rocky Mountains at the eastern edge of Kananaskis Country. The park is near the Elbow River and includes facilities for picnicking, extensive hiking and cycling trails, and fishing.
Birding
Here at Sign of the Pines
Grand Valley Road & Springbank Raptor Route
Grand Valley Road & Springbank Raptor Route
Love birdwatching? You'll be amazed at the number of species you can expect to see here. Everything from eagles, great grey owls, woodpeckers, barn swallows, purple finch, crossbills, blue jays, whiskey jacks, hummingbirds, geese, mallards, mountain bluebirds, goldfinch, grouse... the list goes on.
Grand Valley Road & Springbank Raptor Route
Grand Valley Road & Springbank Raptor Route
Grand Valley Road & Springbank Raptor Route
Eagles, osprey, hawks, falcons, bluebirds, swans, great blue herons, cranes, and owls.
Water Valley & Winchell Lake Area
Grand Valley Road & Springbank Raptor Route
Water Valley & Winchell Lake Area
Sandhill Cranes, raptors, crossbills, warblers, owls, hummingbirds, Northern Waterthrush, vireos, grouse, and flycatchers.
Wildlife Watching
Here at Sign of the Pines
Water Valley & Winchell Lake Area
Here at Sign of the Pines
Love to photograph wildlife? We've got some here! Moose, whitetail deer, red fox, coyotes, wolves, black bear, grizzly bear, cougars, marmots, skunks, red squirrels... the list goes on.
Grand Valley Road
Water Valley & Winchell Lake Area
Here at Sign of the Pines
Elk, hundreds of elk...
Water Valley & Winchell Lake Area
Water Valley & Winchell Lake Area
Water Valley & Winchell Lake Area
Everything we see here, plus a lake and fish.
And, so...
Your yurt awaits
A unique and affordable off-grid adventure for couples or families who love nature, art and horses within a one-hour scenic drive to the Banff National Park east gate.