We visited four national parks in the Canadian Rockies last summer! This is only part one of the Canadian Rockies Travel Guide. For this blog post, we will be featuring our trip to Banff National Park. Here, we’ll be sharing all the great experiences of our trip plus important tips and top Banff travel destinations!
Banff is one of the most beautiful national parks in Canada, and arguably the most beautiful in the world. It has some of the tallest mountain peaks in North America and the most serene turquoise lakes. There are so many things to do as well: hiking, camping, canoeing, and so much more! Where should you go on your trip to Banff? How do you get there? This blog post will tell you all you need to know about the one of the greatest national parks in Canada.
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12 Places to Visit in Banff National Park
1. Icefields Parkway
The Icefields Parkway, also known as Highway 93 N, was named the “most scenic drive on Earth”! As someone who experienced the drive, this statement is 100% true. The highway links Lake Louise in Banff with Jasper National Park and takes a minimum of 3 hours to complete, but we recommend spending a day enjoying the drive.
Along the parkway, there are many stops you can make for hiking opportunities, waterfalls, lakes, mountains, glaciers, and so many more attractions! We probably spent about a day driving on the parkway while stopping at various destinations along the way. You definitely won’t be able to resist taking photos and appreciating the scenes as you drive by!
We probably took thousands of photos during our trip to the Canadian Rockies, and we also had an amazing camera! We used the Sony Alpha a6100 Camera to take many of the photos included in this blog post.
2. Lake Louise
Surrounded by towering snow-capped mountains, Lake Louise is a beautiful turquoise green lake located in Banff National Park. The tallest mountain there is Mount Victoria, rising about 11,400 feet high. The unique color of the lakes in Banff National Park comes from the rock flour deposited by the surrounding glaciers.
Lake Louise is a popular sight, so make sure to get there early because the parking lot does fill up fast and early! We almost weren’t even able to get in!
Besides admiring the beautiful shimmering lake, you can also go canoeing for $125 an hour, and it’s a wonderful experience. Canoeing gives you a fantastic view of the lake and surrounding mountains.
While we didn’t have time to go canoeing, we did take the hiking trail around the lake. There are several trails, including Lake Agnes Teahouse trail and the Place of Six Glaciers trail. Both start at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and take around 3-4 hours to complete. Overall, my time at Lake Louise was definitely one of the most memorable parts of my Banff trip!
If you’re looking for a place to stay, consider the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, one of the most iconic hotels in Canada. You can enjoy breathtaking views of Lake Louise from the hotel. It’s also a great place to eat, if you’re not staying there.
3. Moraine Lake
After Lake Louise, you can take a quick 8-mile drive to Moraine Lake. If you’re set on visiting Moraine Lake, make sure to get there early, though, because the parking lot is small and fills up very fast.
Once you arrive, you can take an easy 1-mile trail to a viewpoint, where you’ll get a gorgeous view of the azure blue Moraine Lake. On the walk, you can opt to climb up the Rockpile Trail for the best view. We got so many stunning pictures of the lake!
Moraine Lake is located in what is called the Valley of the Ten Peaks–can you guess why? The lake is surrounded by ten tall mountains each reaching almost 10,000 feet!
4. The Town of Banff
The Town of Banff is a little resort town located within Banff National Park. It’s a popular stop for many tourists who want to visit the Canadian Rockies, and the town itself has all kinds of shops, restaurants, and even museums. You will definitely find some good souvenirs while there!
Interestingly, this town is elevated 4,537 feet above sea level and is the highest town in Canada! You can find more information on Banff here.
5. Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel
The Fairmont Banff Springs is a very famous luxury hotel in the town of Banff. Even though we did not get to stay at the hotel, it is one of the best top-rated hotels in the world with a fantastic view and scenery. Prices to stay at the Fairmont Banff Springs for one night range from about the $300s to high $500s. It is pretty pricey, so we did not stay there, but we got some pictures of the famous hotel!
6. Banff Hot Springs
The national parks in Canada are commonly known for their hot springs. Banff has nine naturally occurring hot springs in total. Right by the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel is the Upper Banff Hot Springs. The tickets for adults cost $8.30, seniors cost $7.30, youth $6.30, and children under age 3 are free.
The springs are very popular among visitors. Though the place was a bit crowded, we had a great experience! The water is sourced from a crack called the Sulphur Mountain Thrust Fault and is rich with minerals. You should definitely check Banff’s hot springs, one of the most iconic hot springs in the Canadian Rockies!
7. Bow Lake
Bow Lake is a small, but beautiful lake, located on the Bow River. If you’re visiting Lake Louise, you can easily travel to Bow Lake because it’s only 30 minutes away. The water of the lake comes from the Bow Glacier’s meltwater. This lake is a great place to take a stroll, have a peaceful picnic, or simply relax. The glacier featured above in the picture is called the Crowfoot Glacier because it’s shaped like a crow’s foot.
8. Bow Falls
Bow Falls is a waterfall near Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel and golf course. Like many features in Banff National Park, Bow Falls was carved out by glaciers. The falls have fantastic scenery, so don’t forget to take lots of pictures!
9. Tunnel Mountain
Tunnel Mountain is a mountain located in the Bow River Valley. You can hike on this 2.6-mile trail to various places with spots overlooking the town of Banff and the famous golf course in the Banff Springs Hotel. The scenery is amazing, so bring your camera!
10. Lake Minnewanka
Lake Minnewanka is a glacial lake and is the second longest lake in the four Canadian Rocky national parks. It’s only three miles away from the Town of Banff, so don’t forget to check out this gorgeous lake! There is also lots of wildlife around here, including elks and deer.
11. Johnston Canyon
From its rivers to the trees, the Johnston Canyon Trail is beautiful! The trail is not too long and not too short. It’s a perfect walk for families; basically anyone! The only downside to this trail is it’s a little hard to get a parking spot since the parking lot is small. Try getting to the trail early, when it’s less busy.
12. Peyto Lake
Our last stop is Peyto Lake! This turquoise lake was one of my favorite attractions in Banff National Park. Peyto Lake is as beautiful as Lake Louise. During the night, there is a chance you can see the Northern Lights.
To get to the lake, you can take a two-mile hike to the Bow Summit lookout where you can view Peyto Lake from above, and it’s free. There, you can get a panoramic view of the spectacular lake and the surrounding mountain range.
We highly recommend you visit in early summer because the surrounding meadows will be filled with wildflowers—a postcard-worthy sight!
When to Visit Banff
We recommend taking your Banff National Park trip in the summer, especially since it can get quite cold near the glaciers and lakes at those higher altitudes during the colder months. Summer is more popular than winter, mostly due to the fact that the rivers and lakes are frozen during the colder seasons. Many roads become impassable. Even in the summer, it can get quite cold at higher altitudes and near glaciers. So be sure to bring extra layers: jackets, gloves, boots, and all those essentials!
What to Bring
- Hiking gear: Unless you’re planning on taking one of the more challenging and strenuous hikes on your Banff National Park trip, all you really need for hiking is some good hiking boots, thick socks, and a backpack!
- Sneakers: In Banff, you’ll definitely need a pair of sneakers. There’ll be lots of walking involved. Be prepared!
- Cold-weather clothing: It can get super cold in Banff during the winter, and even in the summer, so you definitely need your cold-weather clothing!
- Bathing suit: If you’re planning on visiting the hot springs, you’ll need one.
- Snacks: If you’re skipping out on lunch, you have to remember to bring a bunch of snacks with you!
- Camera: The scenery in Banff is something you must have a memory of. Here’s a link for the camera (Sony Alpha a6100) we used to take our photos!
Where to Stay
There is a range of accommodations in the Canadian Rockies. If you ever plan on visiting multiple national parks in the Canadian Rockies, plan a home base that is a convenient distance from all attractions.
On our trip, we stayed in two different locations. The first place we stayed at was the Fire Mountain Lodge in Canmore. It has two-bedroom suites that cost $250 per night. It’s located right outside of Banff. Accommodation in the town of Banff is often scarce during peak season, which is why Canmore was a convenient alternative for us.
The second location was a chalet in Golden, British Columbia. We booked it on Vrbo for about $500 a night. Although a bit pricey, it was a huge house and a great option for families or larger groups. We had a great experience staying there! Golden was also a convenient distance to all parks in the Canadian Rockies.
Some of the other options are the Juniper Hotel and Banff Rocky Mountain Resort. The Juniper Hotel costs $147 per night and includes dining and provides a quintessential view. The Banff Rocky Mountain Resort is $267 per night during peak season. It includes dining, an indoor pool, and a tennis area. It’s super cozy and has a good homey feel to it.
Where to Eat
There is a range of restaurants in Banff. A popular place to eat is the Bison Restaurant, which features seasonal Canadian cuisine with amazing mountain views. The restaurant itself is beautiful! The food is fresh and delicious!
Another fantastic restaurant in Banff is The Maple Leaf. It has game stroganoff and really good seafood. If you love seafood, The Maple Leaf is a fantastic restaurant for you!
To conclude, Banff National Park has some of the most unparalleled breathtaking mountain vistas and lakes in the world. It’s definitely a must-see when you visit the Canadian Rockies. Plus, you’ll have plenty of photo opportunities! If you’re looking to vacation in Canada, Banff is a fantastic place to go, so on your next summer trip, remember to visit Banff!
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