Banff: Lake Louise and Moraine

Lake Louise was indeed beautiful. But it was also teeming with tourists in a well-designed tourist trap, so we hit it out of there as fast as possible. The views from Parker Ridge of a waterfall and this gigantic, sprawling Saskatchewan glacier by the Columbia Icefield were well worth the hike up.

Lake Moraine, not far from Lake Louise, is the magnificent view featured on the Canadian $20 bill.

Once again, the local grizzly was spotted just before our arrival. She had just swum across the lake the day before, making officials ban groups of 3 or less from hiking in her territory.