In 1934, Harold C. Becket wrote that Banff was “to have a geological garden which will be the only one of its kind in the world. It will depict in rock, plants and models the evolution of life…the Cascades of Time.”

Today, that mandate continues at the Cascade Gardens, which have remained a favorite attraction since they were completed in 1936. Becket indeed created in his garden a journey through time.

A series of pools were to represent the main geological periods during which the rocks of the Rocky Mountains were formed. Cascades of water – “The Cascades of Time” – would connect these pools made from rocks of an appropriate age.

Due to a lack of funding and various geological errors, the Cascade Gardens are a different reality than what Beckett had hoped for. They are, however, a rare example of landscape design and coordination with a building, which was planned by the same architect.

You’ll find flagstone paths, terraced gardens, tranquil pools, scenic vistas, regal pavilions and a colorful array of over 50,000 flowers. July to early September is the best time of the year, as the flowers are in full show.

The Gardens are located on the grounds of the Banff National Park Administration Building on the south end of Banff Avenue.