A Hidden Highway

Looking down main street in Banff.

Yesterday, we arrived in Banff just in time to watch the 49ers game, so we postponed writing yesterday’s entry until today. We're taking a day off to enjoy this awesome town of Banff.

We had been riding Highway 1 for three straight days. The road features stunning scenery and ample space for bikes, but by the time we reached Lake Louise, we were ready to escape the road noise from passing trucks and cars. 

Fortunately, the ride from Lake Louise to Banff was on the Old Highway 1A, a wildlife corridor that prohibits trucks and limits car traffic. Almost half of this section of the road allows only cyclists and foot traffic. The ride to Banff was relatively short—just over 30 miles—and it felt like one of those journeys you never want to end. It was like riding on a hidden highway deep in the Canadian Rockies: quiet, serene, and a space where the sounds of nature resonate, giving you a true sense of being a small part of the vast surroundings. The colder weather over the past few days resulted in a burst of autumn colors, and as the aspen trees along the road shed their bright leaves, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for what felt like a momentary ride through paradise.

The Higway 1A (Bow River Parkway) all to ourselves among the yellow aspens.

I also continue to appreciate the Canadian National Park system for its commitment to preserving this pristine part of the world. There is a fantastic network of walking and cycling trails. Although Banff town is experiencing the effects of overtourism, the vastness of the surrounding land makes it easy to find solitude in nature. It’s clear why people want to make this area their year-round home.

The Bow River in Banff.

Today, we took a pleasant walk along the Bow River, reminiscing about our time here with our families in the 1970s. We enjoyed a gorgeous stroll to Bow River Falls and the Banff Springs Hotel, both places we visited with our families over 50 years ago.

Tomorrow, we will continue to enjoy the Rockies and ride on another hidden highway that prohibits motor vehicle traffic to Canmore. There, we will take another day off to soak in the beauty of the Rockies before we leave the mountains and head to Calgary and the Canadian prairie land—a landscape quite different from what we’ve experienced so far.

Until tomorrow!