Banff is Canada’s oldest national park and sits on the western side of Alberta, about a 4 hour drive from the border.  It has glaciers, mountains, lakes, and rivers that make up some of the best views you can find in North America.  And the park is completely dog-friendly.

Katie and I have been meaning to go for ages.  We got our chance over 4th of July weekend, when we took a quick roadtrip up there with Sherlock.  Joining us on this excursion are Katie’s parents, her sister Julie (I swear she follows us everywhere), and her new fiance Chris.

After 14 hours of driving, we arrived in Banff on July 5th and set out on our first hike up to a waterfall.

Katie’s parents hauled their kayaks from Omaha, so they enjoyed some time on the water.

Near Lake Louise we found a 10-mile loop trail that winded up to a nearby peak.  We didn’t think Sherlock could make the trek, so Katie’s parents stayed behind and explored the town with him while we set out.

The next day, we enjoyed the scenery of Banff some more and a few of us even sighted a bear along the road.

After three busy days in Banff, we were headed back to the US next where we would be visiting Glacier National Park in northern Montana.