The Bow Valley Parkway A1 and Johnston Canyon, Canada: Sept 2011.

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A grey, cold and wet day greeted us for the short journey to Lake Louise but the tip we were given to take the scenic route A1was good advice. The speed limit varies between 30 to 60 km/h so you can take everything in and also not miss any stops, because there are plenty.

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The first was Mulshoe meadow where there are frequent wildlife sightings but not for us but it did have the best Aspen forest we have seen.

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One of the most significant landmarks here is Castle mountain, it’s about a km long and almost 3,000 m high and you can see why it got it’s name.

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We tried to take very turn off on the 45 km journey and the absolute highlight was Johnston Canyon, no great fanfare about it but over 1 mil people visit it each year and with good reason. The water is crystal clear and the sights of nature as spectacular but in a small subtle way, even down to the moss, logs and lychen.

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There are 7 waterfalls along the 20 km long Canyon but we only got to a few and they were small but powerful and in winter they freeze in flow position and mountaineers climb them.

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And of course there has to be the obligatory tourist shot with the Park Bear.

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