Information
Banff's showpiece Banff Information Centre is an excellent joint park/Banff and Lake Louise Tourism Bureau venture at 224 Banff Ave (daily: mid-May to mid-June 8am-6pm; mid-June to early Sept 8am-8pm; early Sept to end of Sept 8am-6pm; Oct to mid-May 9am-5pm; Parks Canada information tel 762-1550: town and accommodation information tel 762-8421, recorded message tel 762-4256; National Park information, also at www.parkscanada.pch.gc.ca/banff . The centre has information on almost any park-related or town-related subject you care to name, including bear sightings, trails and the weather, and all manner of commercial tours and outdoor activities. It is also the place to pick up a park permit if you haven't already done so . Among their many free handouts, make a point of asking for the Banff and Vicinity Drives and Walks and The Icefields Parkway for maps of park facilities, the Backcountry Visitors' Guide for an invaluable overview of backpacking trails and campsites, and Trail Bicycling in the National Parks for conditions and a full list of mountain-bike trails . To the centre's rear there is a selection of maps and guides you can consult free: excellent topographical maps can be bought from the "Friends of Banff National Park" shop (tel 762-8918) on the left, but note that many of the shorter and more popular trails are well worn and signed, so you won't really need detailed maps unless you're venturing into the backcountry. This is also the place to pick up details or book a place on the various events offered by the "Friends", which in past years have included free guided walks daily in the summer to Vermilion Lakes (10am, 2hr 30min), a Discovery Tour of the Cave and Basin Hot Springs (45min) and a Park Museum Wildlife Tour (45min); places on walks are limited, so preregister at the store in the information centre. The Tourism Bureau will point you in the right direction when it comes to accommodation hunting; it maintains a constantly updated vacancies board (though staff aren't allowed to make specific recommendations) and a free courtesy phone. There are also several fee-based alternatives .
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