Peaks
Mount Mercer
2,970 m
Park geography
A comprehensive analysis of mountain terrain, glacial systems, and regional geography
Banff National Park: geography
Location: Canada. Recorded area: 6,641 km².
Canada's first national park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site protecting iconic Rocky Mountain landscapes, glaciers, and diverse ecosystems
Banff National Park
Banff National Park is Canada's first national park, established in 1885 as the Banff Hot Springs Reserve and later expanded through the Rocky Mountains Park Act of 1887. Located in Alberta's Rocky Mountains approximately 110-180 kilometres west of Calgary, the park encompasses 6,641 square kilometres of mountainous terrain featuring glaciers, ice fields, dense coniferous forests, and alpine landscapes. The park is part of the larger Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site, recognized by UNESCO in 1984 for outstanding natural universal values including mountain peaks, glaciers, lakes, waterfalls, canyons, and fossil beds. The main commercial centre is the town of Banff in the Bow River valley, while the village of Lake Louise serves as another key access point. The park shares boundaries with Yoho National Park to the west, Kootenay National Park to the south, and Jasper National Park to the north, creating a contiguous protected corridor through the Canadian Rockies.
- Location
- Canada
- Park type
- National park
- Established
- 1885
- Area
- 6,641 km²
- Highest point
- 3,612 m
Location overview
Regional placement and provincial boundaries within Canada
Geographic Location of Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada
Banff National Park is positioned within the province of Alberta in western Canada. The landlocked terrestrial reserve operates fully inside national borders without coastal, island, or transboundary status.
- Countries
- Canada
- Regions
- Alberta
- Primary location
- Canada
- Geographic setting
- Inland
Boundary and coordinates
Mapping the 6,641 square kilometer land area and geographic footprint
Geographic Boundaries and Land Area Map of Banff National Park
Interactive mapping displays the physical footprint and spatial context of the protected reserve. Geographic measurements outline the estimated land area, center coordinates, and spatial spans for regional analysis.
- Boundary area
- 6,859.7 km²
- Boundary perimeter
- 756 km
- Northernmost point
- 52.2715° N
- Southernmost point
- 50.7051° N
- Easternmost point
- 115.1649° W
- Westernmost point
- 117.3171° W
- Geographic centre
- 51.543° N, 116.1237° W
- North–south span
- 174.3 km
- East–west span
- 149.5 km
Elevation and terrain
Recorded mountain relief facts and internal natural water features
Banff National Park Elevation Profile and Mountain Terrain Geography
Recorded elevation data establishes a maximum peak height of 3612 meters across this mountain park terrain. Linked feature cards supply names and spatial types for glaciers, lakes, and rivers located within the protected boundary.
- Maximum elevation
- 3,612 m
- Highest point
- 3,612 m
Selected named natural features
Viewpoints
Lower Waterfowl Lake Viewpoint
Peaks
Engelhard Tower
3,210 m
Peaks
Little Temple
2,588 m
Peaks
Pipit Peak
2,940 m
Peaks
Bobac Mountain
3,088 m
Environmental setting
Subpolar relief, major watersheds, and diverse alpine habitats
Banff National Park Environmental Classifications and Physical Setting
Recorded landscape features, habitat types, and climate zones combine to frame the physical setting across the terrain. Stored categories link directly to relevant atlas destinations where available.
- Relief
- Mountain
- Climate
- Subpolar
- Water
- Major water bodies
- Forest cover
- Mostly forested
- Seasonality
- Year-round
Landscape features
Mountains · Valleys · Canyon · Forest · Wetland · Lakes · Rivers · Waterfalls · Glacier · Cave · Karst · Cliffs · Tundra
Habitat types
Alpine meadow · Boreal forest · Glacial habitat · Karst habitat · Lacustrine habitat · Riverine habitat · Wetland
Park atlas
Compare adjacent protected landscapes and trace the broader regional spread of conservation areas throughout the Canadian Rockies.
Discover Nearby National Parks and Protected Areas Beyond Banff National Park, Canadian Rockies
From Banff National Park, explore a curated selection of other national parks and protected areas located in the surrounding Canadian Rockies region. Compare their unique alpine environments, track contiguous conservation landscapes, and gain deeper geographic insights into this iconic mountain range.
National parkAlberta
Park boundaries overlap#1 closest
Northwest
Jasper National Park
Explore Alberta's regional park context and natural terrain.
Jasper National Park, in Alberta, Canada. Landscapes: mountains, valleys, and glaciers.
- Area
- 10,878 km²
- Established
- 1907
- IUCN
- II
- Visitors
- 2.4M annual
National parkBritish Columbia
Park boundaries overlap#2 closest
South
Kootenay National Park
Explore Kootenay National Park's mapped terrain and regional geography.
Kootenay National Park, in British Columbia, Canada. Landscapes: mountains, valleys, and cliffs.
- Area
- 1,406 km²
- Established
- 1920
- IUCN
- II
- Visitors
- 574.1K annual
National parkBritish Columbia
Park boundaries overlap#3 closest
West
Yoho National Park: Mapped Protected Area in British Columbia's Geography
Exploring the park's protected boundaries and terrain.
Yoho National Park is presented here as a distinct national park within British Columbia's vast geographic framework. This page provides a structured view of its protected land status, allowing for detailed exploration of its mapped boundaries and surrounding natural landscapes. Understand Yoho National Park's place in the Canadian atlas through its specific geographic features and protected area context.
- Area
- 1,313 km²
- Established
- 1886
- IUCN
- II
- Visitors
- 663.9K annual
National parkColumbia-Shuswap Regional District
44 km away#4 closest
West
Glacier National Park: A National Park within Canada's Protected Landscape Atlas
Explore its mapped boundaries and regional geography.
Glacier National Park represents a significant protected area entity within the broader Canadian geography. This page offers an atlas-oriented perspective on its identity as a national park, focusing on its mapped geographic spread and role as a conservation landscape. Users can explore the park's place within the Columbia-Shuswap Regional District and understand its distinct contribution to the national protected area framework.
- Area
- 1,349 km²
- Established
- 1886
- IUCN
- II
- Visitors
- 4M annual
Wildlife reserveAlberta
About 85 km away#5 closest
East
Inglewood Migratory Bird Sanctuary: Federal Wildlife Reserve and Riparian Corridor Map
Protected riparian ecosystems along the Bow River in Alberta.
Analyze the geography of the Inglewood Migratory Bird Sanctuary, a federal wildlife reserve in Calgary, Alberta. This site preserves rare cottonwood floodplain forest and river habitats that serve as a critical stopover for migratory birds, offering a unique look at how protected landscapes persist within urban environments.
- Area
- 1.11 km²
- Established
- 1929
- Relief
- Lowland
- Scope
- Terrestrial
National parkBritish Columbia
91 km away#6 closest
West
Mount Revelstoke National Park
British Columbia's National Park Atlas Entry
Mount Revelstoke National Park, in British Columbia, Canada. Landscapes: mountains and forests.
- Area
- 260 km²
- Established
- 1914
- IUCN
- II
- Visitors
- 775.2K annual
State or regional parkBritish Columbia
About 128 km away#7 closest
Northwest
Pyramid Creek Falls Provincial Park: Mapped Geography and Protected Natural Landscape
Glacial cascades and North Thompson River valley terrain
This protected area centers on a vertical, two-stage waterfall spilling from a hanging valley high above the North Thompson River. Characterized by its glacier-fed creek and steep forested slopes, the park functions as a key geological landmark within the rugged, mountainous interior of British Columbia.
Wildlife reserveAlberta
141 km away#8 closest
Northeast
Red Deer Migratory Bird Sanctuary: Geographic Overview and Protected Wetland Map
Aspen Parkland terrain in central Alberta, Canada
The Red Deer Migratory Bird Sanctuary preserves a key wetland corridor defined by the Gaetz Lakes oxbows. This protected reserve offers a look at the native Aspen Parkland ecoregion, blending shrubland and forest patches that provide essential sanctuary for migratory waterfowl. The mapped area illustrates how this federal reserve maintains a natural landscape mosaic amidst the surrounding urban geography of central Alberta.
- Area
- 1.3 km²
- Established
- 1924
- Water
- Major water bodies
MoriAtlas Explorer
Banff National Park
Explore the map, landscapes, and protection details for Banff National Park.
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