Trip Report: Banff

Forget wildlife. None to be found (seems like those "wildlife on road" signs are false advertising).

There was some nice stuff on the icy hike to the Lower Falls in Johnston Canyon. Icefield Parkway and Lake Louise were pretty barren, though I did shoot a Great Grey Royal Canuckie near the Bow Lake pulloff.

Pretty much another wasted trip.

Sorry to hear your trip wasn't more rewarding.

Most of the wildlife along the roads has been killed off by motorists who don't pay attention to those "wildlife on road" signs.

It is a major problem, and will only get worse as the government plans to twin the highway all the way through the park to appease long-distance truck drivers, downhill skiers, and others who see the park speed limits as a hindrance.

Bummer, Dick. I had a similarly unrewarding trip to Rocky Mountain NP last November. But there will be other photo shoots for both of us!

Just to make sure: You did know that Hwy 1 from Canmore to the Castle Mountain Junction has wildlife fences on both sides, didn't you? I've never seen any wildlife on that stretch of road. The 1A (Bow Valley Parkway) is better, as there are no fences, but I've never seen much there either--I did once see a couple of elk with radio collars and/or big yellow ear tags...

Banff has nice scenery, but for wildlife, you've got to go to Jasper!

-Paul

I'm a bit confused if you're being sarcastic or not because I've found both Banff and Jasper outstanding locations for shooting. While sometimes the wildlife may be uncooperative, there are scenics anyone could die for. Jasper--I know a bit better than Banff--has extremely reliable wildlife. If one location doesn't work, there's always others. In other words, there's always something to shoot there.

Now, if you didn't see anything then that's got my attention as something unusual going on.

Cheers

Tom,

I've driven Hwy 1 many, many times, and have never seen any wildlife in the fenced region; not even behind the fence. I've driven Hwy 1A a fair number of times, and have only seen elk (tagged) once or twice.

I did once see some elk right at the end of the fence at Castle Mountain Junction on Hwy 1. I also saw a grizzly crossing Hwy 1 just south of Lake Louise (well outside the fenced region) last summer. But that's pretty much it for large animals along the highway. In my experience, Banff just doesn't compare to Jasper that way. Dick's experience matches my own.

I've only driven the whole Icefields Parkway a few times, but I don't remember seeing large numbers of animals there either, though the odds are better than on Hwy 1. (Last summer, I did see bears, a few bighorns, mtn goats, and a pine marten on the Icefields Parkway, but really nothing in numbers.)

In summer, the rodents are easy to find in Banff--if you want shots of Golden Mantled Ground Squirrels are guaranteed in Johnston Canyon. At this time of year, the only active rodents are the ubiquitous red squirrels.

Scenery is another question--Banff certainly isn't lacking in that respect.

-Paul

I'd have to pretty much agree with Paul's assessment on your chances of seeing wildlife. My experience is pretty similar to Pauls. As far as landscape scenery - well, that's abundant everywhere and at every scale. Note that I don't really seek out wildlife but always enjoy the chance encounters.

Wildlife in and around Banff is often a crap-shoot. One day you're up to your neck in elk and deer, other days you're lucky to see an ant.

Best bets around Banff are the Bow Valley Parkway, and Minnewanka loop. Even on the worst day I've usually seen 1 or 2 scraggly looking Bighorns on the Minnewanka loop.

Jasper on the other hand is almost guaranteed, just check the Wildlife forum.

Paul, Eric, and Steve are all right, of course... I was just off on a rant there.

Elk sightings used to be fairly common between Banff and Lake Louise before the fence went up, and you might see the odd grizzly on the Sunshine road, but your best bets for wildlife are from Bow Lake north to Jasper.

Paul Skoczylas wrote:Just to make sure: You did know that Hwy 1 from Canmore to the Castle Mountain Junction has wildlife fences on both sides, didn't you? I've never seen any wildlife on that stretch of road. The 1A (Bow Valley Parkway) is better, as there are no fences, but I've never seen much there either--I did once see a couple of elk with radio collars and/or big yellow ear tags...

Banff has nice scenery, but for wildlife, you've got to go to Jasper!

-Paul

Paul, I knew about the fences. I drove the Bow Valley Parkway up to Lake Louise and back each day. Also down to Vermillion Lakes, up to Minnewanka, back to Lake Louise, up the Icefields Parkway almost to Columbia Icefields and then over to Emerald Lake Lodge in Yoho.

I did a little sunset at Vermillion Lakes and some storm cloud skies at Emerald Lake. The best stuff was at Johnston Canyon although I felt the Upper Falls would be a bit dangerous.

As for wildlife, I stand corrected. I saw plenty of in in Banff--mainly 21 year old college kids who were unable to stand let alone drive.