Island Travel
Bankhead: A Vanished Mining Town in Banff National Park
2025-07-07
Explore the echoes of a bygone era in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, where the remnants of a once-bustling coal mining settlement now stand as silent witnesses to history's passage amidst the breathtaking scenery of Banff National Park.

Unveiling Bankhead: A Journey into Banff's Industrial Past

Exploring Bankhead: A Historical Journey Through Banff's Untouched Wilderness

Banff National Park, a jewel in Canada's natural crown, is renowned for its majestic vistas, diverse ecosystems, and profound historical roots. Established in 1885, it stands as Canada's oldest national park, home to a spectacular thermal spring nestled within the Canadian Rockies. This park, with its imposing mountains and crystalline blue lakes, draws millions of visitors annually. Yet, beyond its well-trodden paths lies a serene, less-explored destination: Bankhead Ghost Town, offering a tranquil escape from the bustling crowds.

Bankhead Ghost Town provides an insightful window into Alberta's heritage, inviting exploration of its antiquated structures and relics left behind by a coal mining community from over a century ago. It's an enriching and enjoyable excursion suitable for all ages, serving as an ideal stopover while discovering the wider expanse of Banff National Park.

Reaching Banff and Bankhead is straightforward. Calgary, the nearest major city with an international airport, is approximately 90 miles away from Banff National Park. From the airport, a car rental and a journey along Trans-Canada Highway 1 will lead you there in just over an hour. For an optimal experience of Banff National Park's splendor, plan your visit between June and October. If a snow-laden winter wonderland for skiing, snowboarding, and ice skating appeals more, consider a trip between January and March. First-time visitors to Banff might find lodging in downtown Banff convenient, given its proximity to dining, shopping, and attractions. Elkhorn Lodge offers a comfortable, budget-friendly, and highly-rated option. For those seeking seclusion, a rustic cabin at Storm Mountain Lodge & Cabin, nestled between Banff and Lake Louise, provides a peaceful retreat.

The Fading Legacy: Unearthing Bankhead's Remarkable History

Bankhead, nestled at the base of Cascade Mountain, emerged as a coal mining settlement in 1903. Its primary purpose was to supply coal for the locomotives of the Canadian Pacific Railway and the boilers of the Banff Springs Hotel. At its zenith, Bankhead boasted a population exceeding 900 residents, who lived and worked there, extracting more than 200,000 tons of coal each year. Compared to its neighbor, Banff, Bankhead was notably more advanced and affluent, featuring electricity, a municipal water system, and a sewer network. However, with the closure of the mine in 1922, the town's prosperity dwindled. Many structures were dismantled or relocated, leaving behind a ghost town where a once-thriving 20-year history had unfolded.

The most effective way to experience the ghost town is by traversing the Lower Bankhead Trail. This easy, family-friendly 0.7-mile loop is largely level, save for the 70 steps one must descend (and later ascend) to access it. The trail begins at an elevated platform offering a magnificent panorama. Upon reaching the base of the steps, you'll encounter the Bankhead coal mine lamphouse, where miners collected their numbered lamps at the start of each shift. At day's end, the lamps were counted to ensure everyone had returned safely. Beyond the lamphouse, a large concrete edifice with numerous windows comes into view. Here, you'll also find an old mining railcar, alongside pumps and motors used to circulate oxygen through the extensive underground tunnels where coal was extracted.

Embark on a Historical Trek: Discovering the Bankhead Ghost Town

At the midway point of your excursion, you'll encounter the vestiges of the Bankhead Power House, which employed compressors, generators, and steam engines to supply energy not only to the coal mine but also to residences and businesses in both Bankhead and Banff. Shortly thereafter, you'll discover a crumbling wall and foundation, all that remains of the Bankhead boiler house. This was the site where steam was generated by burning coal, powering the machinery used within the mine.

Among the most intact structures in the ghost town is the briquette building, where coal was compacted into briquettes for use as fuel in locomotive engines and for heating homes. Nearby stands the 98-foot-tall tipple building, the tallest structure in the vicinity at the time, where workers meticulously separated coal from rock. Adjacent to the tipple is an enormous mound of coal, dust, and rocks—a byproduct of the mining operations. Before making your way back to the steps leading to the viewpoint, capture a moment in front of the rusted coal mining train engine and coal mine cars, a perfect souvenir of this engaging and historical hike.

Another family-friendly hidden gem within Banff National Park is the Cascade of Time Garden. This four-acre garden, set against the stunning backdrop of Cascade Mountain, bursts into bloom with thousands of vibrant flowers during the summer months. It offers a peaceful retreat for the public, free of charge. You can visit nearby Banff (just 0.70 miles away) for supplies and enjoy a family picnic in one of the many pavilions or seating areas.

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