At the northern end of the Bow Valley Parkway you will come to Lake Louise, the other hub of Banff National Park. The area boasts its own visitor centre, located in the village near the highway, along with ample stores and hostelries. But despite these distractions, you will be drawn a couple of miles west to the Lake.

It is the definitive scene of the Canadian Rockies – a stunning, turquoise-green body of water framed by old-growth fir and spruce and backed by snow – and glacier-girded mountains. You definitely should admire it, shoot photos of it, canoe on it, and walk alongside it on the 3-kilometre Shoreline Trail, but do not let the lake overwhelm you; some residual energy will be needed to explore the area’s other appealing sites.

Several outstanding trails take in the lake’s shoreline or provide views of Lake Louise; they also spotlight some of the region’s assets. The 3.5-kilometre ascent to Lake Agnes rewards hikers with the promised views and a teahouse at which to relax.