
Yes - there is a Gondola ride up, for the faint-hearted!! (we can boldly say that now). But there are other advantages to not taking the Gondola, you can experience nature first hand, see sights and views on every bend and turn of the switch backs, not to mention, give yourself a good bit of cardio...and feel the exhillerating sense of achievement and accomplishment once you reach the summit.

But the feeling once you reach the summit, is in-describable. The panorama of mountains, some still snow-capped (in July), awaiting you at the top is worth every second of the steep climb. The freshness of the cool crisp air on top takes away your fatigue in an instant and instead rejuvinates your mind, body and spirit. It is a spot where you can feel the power and magnificence of the mammoth mountains surrounding you.
A restaurant and gift shop are located at the summit along with a viewing platform, picnic tables and interesting interpretive signs. A wide self guided interpretive walkway leads along the top of the peak past the concrete foundation of the Cosmic Ray Station and on to the turn-of-the-century weather observatory on Sanson's Peak on which you can follow in the footsteps of Norman Sanson, who walked to the top of the mountain about every week for 30 years to check the weather! .

The trail offers breath-taking picturesque views of the valley and surrounding mountains. And this (being our 'first' conquest), gave us bragging rights for a long time to come. At 2270 m, Sulphur is the highest mountain in the Banff area with a fairly tough hiking trail to the summit. But at every point, when you stop to look, you feel you are on top of the world...and the world couldn't have been a better place.
TIP: If you chose to hike Sulphur Mtn, you can take the Gondola ride back down for half-price! Some articles have reported that the ride back-down in such instances is free, but we found that to be in-correct. Still, its a time and money-saver, no doubt.
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