Banff - City of Canada

Banff is the largest town in Banff National Park, in Alberta's Rockies, Canada. It is also the first incorporated municipality located within a national park in Canada. At 1,463 m , it is the town with the highest elevation in Canada. It is surrounded by mountains, notably Mount Rundle, Sulphur Mountain, Mount Norquay, and Cascade Mountain; and situated above Bow Falls near the junction of the Bow and Spray Rivers. Banff is located 126 km west of Calgary and 58 km east of Lake Louise, on the Trans-Canada Highway. The Town is a member of the Calgary Regional Partnership.

Banff is a resort town and one of Canada's most popular tourist destinations, known for its mountainous surroundings and hot springs. It is a major destination for outdoor sports and features extensive hiking, biking, scrambling and skiing areas within the region. Two ski resorts are located in close proximity Sunshine Village and Ski Norquay.


Banff was first settled in the 1880s, after the transcontinental railway was built through the Bow Valley. In 1883, three Canadian Pacific Railway workers stumbled upon a series of natural hot springs on the side of Sulphur Mountain. In 1885, Canada established a federal reserve of 26 km around the hot springs, and began promoting the area as an international resort and spa as a way to support the new railway.In 1887, the reserve area was increased to 673 km and named "Rocky Mountain Park." This was the beginning of Canada's National Park system.

According to the 2007 municipal census, the Town of Banff's permanent population was 8721. However, this figure includes a seasonal shadow population of more than 1000. The town's growth in recent years has led to concerns among some environmentalists who fear that it will harm the wilderness of the surrounding national park. The federal government has attempted to address these concerns by restricting development in the town, and mandating that only people who can demonstrate a "need to reside" may take up permanent residence in the community.

Tunnel Mountain is situated within the townsite and is very popular for quick hikes one can reach the summit in less than half an hour. It was named Tunnel Mountain because surveyors initially wanted to make a tunnel for the Canadian Pacific Railway right through the mountain, instead of following the Bow River Valley.

Banff is home to the well-known Banff World Television Festival, Banff Mountain Film Festival and Rocky Mountain Music Festival.