Canoeing on the Bow River or Lake Louise is the quintessential Canadian activity; a peaceful paddle offers some of the most beautiful scenery in the park and excellent opportunities for viewing wildlife.

In the Town of Banff, paddlers of any level may rent canoes at the canoe docks at north end of Bow Avenue. From the canoe docks, paddlers who put in directly may choose to explore up a gentle leg of the Bow River or have the option to follow 40 Mile Creek into the Vermilion Lakes.

Experienced canoeists may wish to paddle any of three different legs of the Bow River: 

• Lake Louise to Castle Junction 
• Castle Junction to Banff 
• Bow Falls to Canmore

To read about these, please visit Parks Canada's website.

Canoes are also available to rent at Moraine Lake and Lake Louise. Hourly rentals allow visitors to paddle up and down these lakes, enjoying majestic views from a unique vantage. Information on canoe rentals is available through the Banff Lake Louise Tourism website.