May 2019

Alberta is filled with picturesque viewpoints and photogenic vantage points. A few members of the Ski Independence team were away on a fam trip to Alberta a few weeks ago and visited a few of these amazing places. They've given us a shortlist of their top 5 places that'll look great on any Instagram feed.

#1 Sky Bistro on top of Sulphur Mountain

Credit: Brewster

The Sky Bistro is a very unique dining experience, not only because of delicious food and exceptional service that is provided, but also because of spectacular views you get to enjoy whilst having your lunch or dinner up on the mountain. It’s almost impossible to focus on the menu with the distraction of the snowy peaks of the Canadian Rockies, the turquoise Bow River in the Valley, the play of the light, and the clouds moving constantly around you. From the top of the Sulphur Mountain and Banff Gondola you can see stunning views over the surrounding mountains, the town of Banff and Bow River in the Valley. Why not visit late evening and experience the cloudless sky filed with stars that present you with a spectacle of nature that is so hard describe in words.

#2 Winter Wonderland at Lake Louise

If you would like to capture true Canada in one picture this is the perfect place to do so. Picture this: Lake Louise surrounded by pine forest and dramatic Canadian Rockies, with Victoria Glacier in the background. If this doesn’t sound like the perfect place I don’t know what does. In the winter you can capture people ice-skating on the frozen lake, and in the summer you’ll get canoes paddling across a turquoise blue lake. If you’re looking for somewhere to stay, the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise offers one of the best hotel room views there is. Situated just at the foot of the lake, it has the best location to enjoy the view from the cosiness of a room.

#3 Athabasca Glacier at Icefield Parkway

Credit: Stevin Tuchiwsky @stevint

Icefield Parkway is one of Canada’s most scenic roads, with plenty of photo opportunities on the way between Banff and Jasper. If I had to choose just one (as hard as it is) it would be the Athabasca Glacier. It is magnificent, huge and can be a little overwhelming (in a good way). Even on a hot day you’ll feel the chill coming from the ice which is thousands of years old. Athabasca Glacier is receding about 16 feet (5 meters) per year - so the time to picture it is now.

#4 Lookout Mountain

The view from the top of the Lookout Mountain in Sunshine Village lives up to its name. It’s worth taking a short break from skiing to embrace the stunning scenery. To get there, take the Great Divide Express Quad chairlift, and hike up a short distance to the viewpoint. From there, on a clear day you can see famous Mount Assiniboine standing out above countless peaks. Mt Standish, one of the slightly lower peaks in Sunshine Village, is another good picture opportunity spot. On the top of this peak you’ll get the chance to be in 2 provinces at the same time! You can stand with one foot in Alberta and the other in British Columbia. This is where the Great Continental Divide is, and as the locals proudly say: depending on which side you spill your water it will either go to Pacific Ocean on the West Coast or all the way to Atlantic Ocean on the East Coast.

#5 Banff Hot Springs

Credit: Travel Alberta / Roth and Ramberg

Banff National Park and the town was founded after discovery of the natural hot springs on the side of Sulphur Mountain. The hot springs is still one of the many reasons why so many people come to visit each year. One of the best photo opportunity spots is at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. The outdoor hot pool has the most stunning view overlooking Bow River in the Valley surrounded by the snowy mountains.

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