Nestled in the heart of Banff National Park along the Trans-Canada Highway, the town of Banff sits roughly 126 km west of Calgary and 58 km east of Lake Louise, perched between 1,400 and 1,630 metres above sea level in the Canadian Rockies. It holds the distinction of being the first municipality to incorporate within a Canadian national park, a milestone reached in 1990 when it transitioned from direct federal administration to its own governing body. The town is also a member of the Calgary Regional Partnership.
A History Rooted in Railway and Hot Springs
Human presence in the Banff area stretches back at least 10,000 years, with the site once serving as both a wintering village and trading post for Interior Salishan peoples. The Nakoda and Blackfoot peoples have also historically lived at and near the present location. The modern town began to take shape in the 1880s following the construction of the transcontinental railway through the Bow Valley. In 1883, three Canadian Pacific Railway workers discovered natural hot springs on the slopes of Sulphur Mountain, a find that set off a chain of events with lasting consequences. By 1885, the Canadian government had established a federal reserve of 26 km2 around the Cave and Basin hot springs, promoting the area as an international resort to help sustain the newly built railway. That reserve grew to 673 km2 in 1887 and was named Rocky Mountain Park, marking the beginning of Canada’s national park system. The name Banff itself dates to 1884, when George Stephen, president of the Canadian Pacific Railway, named the area after his birthplace near Banff, Scotland. A darker chapter in the town’s history involves an internment camp at Banff and Castle Mountain, which operated from July 1915 to July 1917 and held mostly Ukrainian immigrants who were used as forced labour to build park infrastructure. In 1985, the United Nations designated Banff National Park, as part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Outdoor Recreation, Tourism, and Local Character
Banff ranks among Canada’s most visited tourist destinations, drawing visitors with its dramatic mountain scenery, hot springs, and extensive opportunities for hiking, biking, scrambling, and skiing. The nearby ski resorts of Sunshine Village, Ski Norquay, and Lake Louise Ski Resort all fall within the boundaries of the national park. The town’s early development centred on its railway station, growing as a service hub for park visitors throughout the late 19th century. The Canadian Pacific Railway promoted the Banff Springs Hotel as an international tourist destination, contributing to the town’s reputation that endures today. One of the most prominent local figures in Banff’s history was Norman Luxton, known widely as Mr. Banff, who published the Crag and Canyon newspaper, constructed the King Edward Hotel and the Lux Theatre, and founded the Sign of the Goat Curio Shop.