The best waterfalls in Banff

Everyone who comes to Banff has the same two names on their list: Lake Louise, Moraine Lake. Fair enough, they're stunning. But it means a lot of people walk right past Bow Falls without even noticing it's there — even though it's basically inside Banff townsite.

Bow Falls isn't big. It's not going to be the highlight of your trip. But the spot itself is kind of special: you're standing there watching the Bow River tear through the valley, with the Rockies' snowy peaks stacked up behind it. It's also shown up in a few film shoots over the years, if you're into that kind of trivia. If you've got even twenty minutes to spare, it's worth the detour.

I hadn't planned to go. I was driving from Canmore toward Johnston Canyon and stopped first at the Banff Gondola to ride up Sulphur Mountain.