Banff National Park, Canada

Banff National Park, Canada's first national park established in 1885, encompasses 2,564 square miles of spectacular Rocky Mountain terrain. The park features an extraordinary landscape of jagged mountain peaks, massive glaciers, dense coniferous forest, alpine meadows, and turquoise lakes. Its crown jewels include Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, whose striking blue-green waters derive from rock flour carried by glacial melt. The Icefields Parkway, one of the world's most scenic drives, connects Banff to Jasper National Park, passing numerous glaciers and peaks exceeding 10,000 feet. The park provides habitat for abundant wildlife including grizzly bears, black bears, wolves, elk, and bighorn sheep. The charming town of Banff offers historic sites like the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel and the Cave and Basin National Historic Site, where the discovery of hot springs led to the park's creation. Year-round activities from skiing and snowshoeing to hiking and paddling make it Canada's most visited national park.