A couple weeks ago I decided to drive out to Red Rock Coulee at 6am to photograph the sunrise. On my last visit a few years ago I captured the sunset, and my recent travels through the mountains had me energized to focus on some of the natural landscapes in my own backyard. I was really happy with the shots I came away with, and even more, I loved having the location to myself to explore and hike that morning.
Located at the top of Sulphur Mountain in Banff National Park, and reached by a short hike after riding the Banff Gondola, the Sulphur Mountain Cosmic Ray Station has been a National Historic Site since 1982. It was originally constructed in 1956, along with 9 other sites across Canada to monitor cosmic rays, however this station was viewed as most important because of its elevation (7,490 feet). The Cosmic Ray Station ceased operation in 1978, and today is a great location to take in a view.