Banff 
Some of Alberta’s most iconic views are also the most relaxing!
You might have already noticed a few pairs of Adirondack Chairs around National Parks in Alberta, as they’re usually near popular and beautiful scenic locations. But some of the famous Red Chairs aren’t as obvious and can only be reached by following trails. In most of the parks’ cases, you don’t have to travel far on the trail to find the chairs and therefore the views.
You can find many on the Icefields Parkway, within the Jasper, Waterton, and Banff sites, as well as a few at Elk Island, and one in central Alberta.
Banff National Park
1. Lake Minnewanka Road
The drive along Lake Minnewanka Road is scenic enough, but along the way you have a handful of gorgeous lakes, walking trails, and picnic areas for enjoying the natural beauty. Enjoy those views a bit more with a rest on the big red chairs! When you turn off Highway 1, the Cascade Ponds Picnic Area will be the first Red Chair stop, which overlooks a beautiful meadow and forest, with the Rockies in the backdrop.
Continue along the Lake Minnewanka Scenic Road to Two Jack Lake where you might spot swimmers and boaters in the summer, with the lake’s steeper cliffs in the foreground. Lake Minnewanka’s Red Chairs are your final stop on the drive, in a quieter part of the popular destination.
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2. Valleyview Picnic Area
Taking an epic bike ride along the Banff Legacy Trail? Along with picnic areas along the trail, you can also take a rest at the Valleyview Picnic Area in the Red Chairs. The set looks out over a densely forested valley with the trees leading up the mountains.
3. Town of Banff
Exploring the Banff townsite can take all day, with places like the Banff Springs Hotel, the Cave and Basin, the local dining, the trails, and the shops.
Kick your feet up at four different Red Chair locations around the town and relax among these unique views. All four of the town’s pairs of Red Chairs offer exceptional views overlooking hoodoos, the Bow River, or the valleys and trees. These locations are also likely to bring you close to other places you’d like to explore.
Locations:
Cave and Basin National Historic Site
4. Bow Valley Parkway
There are many reasons to take a drive along the Bow Valley Parkway, including photography, wildlife viewing, hiking, biking, and finding quiet places to relax. The Muleshoe Lake and picnic area are one of the quieter and more secluded viewpoints in the National Park, and offer a beautiful look at this small lake, bordered with thick ancient aspens (the trees themselves aren’t ancient, but their roots are!).
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5. Icefields Parkway
Similar to the Bow Valley Parkway, the Icefields Parkway is worth a drive for several reasons. However, this is a long drive and can lead you to Jasper National Park. You’ll have countless opportunities for exploration between the Icefields, the glacial lakes, the fishing spots, and the paddling spots, but for a bit of peace, quiet, and beautiful views, there are two Red Chair locations waiting for you. The Glacier Lake Trail chairs will require a hike along a beautiful riverside trail, while the Silverhorn Creek chairs are closer to your parking area.
Jasper
1. Maligne Lake
Take a seat, kick your feet back, and relax among the northern Rockies and their best viewpoints. If you’re exploring the Maligne Lake Area, you can stop off at the picnic area’s chairs for sweeping views of the massive lake. To find them, follow the path along the north shore of the lake.
2. Town of Jasper
Off in a quieter area of the Jasper townsite are Patricia and Pyramid Lake, each with its own opportunities for recreation and accommodations. They both also give you quiet red chair spots only a few minutes’ walk from the two lake hotels. You’ll find one pair at the Pyramid Lake Overlook Trail, and the other at the Cottonwood Slough viewpoint beside Patricia Lake. Find the Old Fort Point with a walk from town over the Athabasca River.
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3. Icefields Parkway
The three pairs of red chairs along the Jasper side of the Icefields Parkway all require a bit of a hike before you sit and kick back on the Adirondack. The Wilcox Pass chairs are at the end of the 11.5km out-and-back hike, where you can look out over the valley of the Athabasca Glacier.
The Valley of the Five Lakes trail brings you to an incredibly peaceful spot overlooking the fourth lake.
The Mount Christie Viewpoint chairs are the easiest to access and are a quick turn off the parkway.
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Elk Island National Park Red Chairs
1. Astotin Lake & Shoreline Trail
Don’t worry about finding your seat at Elk Island, as there are three pairs of Canadian Red Chairs along the shores of Astotin Lake. Two pairs are close to the parking lot, and face directly west over the lake where you can take in gorgeous prairie sunsets. The third pair require you to follow the shoreline trail to a peninsula lookout.
Waterton
1. Middle Lake
Where in Waterton will you find Red Chairs? Make your first stop the Middle Lake Boat Launch, which you will need to pass on your way into Waterton National Park on Highway 5. Take a stop at the area for not just views of the lake, the mountains, and the forests, but the Prince of Wales Hotel in the distance to complete the cool view.
2. Marina Point
Marina Point is Part of Waterton’s International Peace Park, a waterfront area near the town’s main roads, dining, and accommodations. The chairs are at the end of a small peninsula and dock area, and are where you will find a perfect sunrise with the chairs facing east. Turn around, and you can view the town with all the mountain glory surrounding it.
3, Townsite Campground
The Waterton Townsite Campground is a beautiful lakeside area from where you can take off on long or short hikes. After the hiking, biking, or touring, stop by the lakeshore trail to enjoy the insane beauty of the park, the rocky yet forested shore, and distant mountain scenery. Details
Locations:
Rocky Mountain House NHS
David Thompson Trail
You can plan for many great experiences at the Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site, visit to use the trails, or launch onto the river from here. And while you’re exploring on your own, or after guided adventures, take a stop along the David Thompson Trail for views of history, trees that seem to go on forever.
Bar U Ranch National Historic Site
Discover the spirit of the Old West at Bar U Ranch National Historic Site, where ranching life from the late 1800s comes alive. Try your hand at roping, saddling, or bridle repair, and enjoy cowboy coffee by the campfire. Ride a Percheron horse-drawn wagon and explore historic ranch buildings.
Hike scenic trails like Pekisko Creek, the Viewpoint Trail, or the Riparian Trail, and relax in iconic red chairs with stunning Rocky Mountain views, an unforgettable Alberta experience rich in history and adventure.
