The Bow Valley Parkway is the slower, more rewarding alternative to the Trans-Canada Highway between Banff and Lake Louise. It follows the Bow Valley through forest, meadows, and wildlife habitat, with pullouts that make the mountains feel less like scenery through a windshield and more like a place you can pause in.
Johnston Canyon is the best-known stop, but the road itself is the attraction. Drive or cycle it patiently, watch for seasonal closures and wildlife restrictions, and give yourself time for short walks rather than treating it as a shortcut.