Canadian Rocky Mountains Banff National Park, Alberta Canada Things to do Road Trip itinerary
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Things to Do in Banff National Park, Alberta Canada Road Trip

Sherianne Higgins·
CanadaOpt Outdoors
·5 mins read
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Banff National Park, Alberta Canada Road Trip

Alberta Canada is beautiful and there are so many things to do in Banff National Park! The area offers a perfect road trip opportunity of snow-covered mountain peaks, pine fresh air, distant glaciers, brilliant turquoise lakes, alpine meadows, and a charming resort town.  Banff National Park is in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. It is the oldest of Canada’s National Parks and became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984. This is Grizzly Bear country. Get excited if you are driving and traffic suddenly stops; start looking for grizzlies along the side of the road.

Read Fairmont Banff Springs Afternoon Tea in the Rockies
Read Calgary Stampede The Greatest Show on Earth

Bow River Banff National Park, Alberta Canada Things to do Road Trip itinerary
Bow River

Things to Do in the Town of Banff

Banff is a small resort town within Banff National Park. 3 million people visit this charming town yearly and it is a great base with many things to do when visiting the area.

Take a city sightseeing tour

Shop for souvenirs along Banff Avenue

Take a bike ride to Minnewanka Lake

Go for a covered wagon ride and enjoy a cookout

Hike up Tunnel Mountain

Go canoeing n the Bow River

Take a gondola up Sulphur Mountain for impressive views

Soak in Banff Upper Hot Springs

Take a ghost tour

Take a walk along the Bow Falls Trail and relax by the river

Explore Fairmont Banff Springs, the Castle in the Rockies

Have Afternoon Tea at the Fairmont Banff Springs

Banff Main Street Banff National Park, Alberta Canada Things to do Road Trip itinerary
Main Street Banff

Walk the Johnston Canyon Trail

Johnston Canyon Trail is one of the most popular hikes in Banff National Park and no Alberta Canada road trip would be complete with a stop here. The trail leads through a pine forest to a series of catwalks attached to a narrow deep rock canyon. As you follow the catwalk Johnston Creek’s crystal clear turquoise water rushes beneath you, it is breathtaking. The best view of the lower falls is from the bridge. Cross the bridge, duck under a tunnel, and find yourself on a small metal platform directly in front of the falls. You will be amazed by the power of the falls, and you will get wet!

Johnston Canyon Trail Banff National Park, Alberta Canada Things to do Road Trip itinerary
Johnston Canyon Trail

There are three popular hikes at Johnston Canyon Trail.  The lower falls trail is a simple 30-minute walk. Continue on to the upper falls for a moderate hike with incline. The falls can be viewed from the base or above. The third hike takes you to the inkpots; seven jewel-colored, cold mineral springs, and a meadow. Be sure to wear hiking shoes and layers, the area is shaded and can be cool. There are no services in the area, bring water and snacks. Arrive early, the area is popular and the parking lot is small. Be prepared to get wet! Do not veer off the path. If you slip and fall into the creek you will be swept away.

Johnston Canyon Trail Falls Banff National Park, Alberta Canada Things to do Road Trip itinerary
Johnston Canyon Trail Falls

Canoe Moraine Lake

Moraine Lake sits in the Valley of Ten Peaks and is surrounded by pine trees and snowcapped mountains. The lake is fed by glacier water and is bluest after the glacier begins to melt in June and July. This is a great spot to relax and spend an afternoon canoeing on the lake. Be sure to take the Rockpile Trail for gorgeous views. There are many well-marked hiking trails in this area. Observe the signs and bring bear spray!

Moraine Lake Banff National Park, Alberta Canada Things to do Road Trip itinerary
Moraine Lake

Hike Lake Louise

Lake Louise is an icon of the Canadian Rockies. The beautiful Fairmont Chateau sits at the foot of majestic snow-covered mountains and Victoria Glacier is in the distance feeding the turquoise lake. Explore the upscale Fairmont Chateau and canoe on the lake. Take the 4.5-mile hike to Lake Agnes Tea House for tea above a waterfall or hike to the Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House for tea with a view. The Lake Louise Station Restaurant is a great place for lunch while watching the trains go by.

Lake Louise Banff National Park, Alberta Canada Things to do Road Trip itinerary
Lake Louise

Have more time in the area?  Plan your visit during the Calgary Stampede or drive along Icefields Parkway to Jasper to view the Columbia Icefield and Glacier Skywalk.

Be sure to check the Banff National Park website for current events

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Plan Your Trip Banff National Park

Canada Travel Guide

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Book Your Accommodation in Alberta Canada Now

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Best Banff National Park Attractions and Day Tours

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Have a great vacation!

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19 Responses

  3. Road trip is one of the best trip in the world.There you share some place to road trip.That was one of the adventure and dangerous travel. I all ready traveling many places but I go those places. Are you give me some more information about this places.

  4. Banff is one of our favorite spots in Canada! A couple of our favorite spots were the Johnston Canyon and Moraine Lake—they are just so pretty! I wanted to go all the way out to the inkpots at Johnston Canyon, but we didn’t have time. Maybe on our next visit! You captured some gorgeous photos—I especially love the one of Lake Louise!

  5. I’ve been fascinated with this part of Canada since the early 1970s when a cousin brought me a souvenir from Banff. I was about 8 or 9 at the time and still have it. But I have yet to visit. Moraine Lake looks phenomenal.

  6. I have always wanted to visit Banff! We previously took a 6 month road trip across the southern US and we have been talking about a similar trip that would cover the northern US and southern Canada.

    Johnstone Canyon looks like a spectacular hike. Hiking along the catwalks and ducking through tunnels to find a secret waterfall… how can you beat that!?!

    Moraine Lake is probably top of my list for places I would love to see in Banff. All the pictures of it are amazing including yours!

    Time to get back to planning that next North American road trip…

  7. I kid you not, when I opened this page, I had to show it to my roommate and I said, “Sh*t! We really have to go there!”

    I mean, I came from a tropical country that has a lot of natural beauty but Canada is really one of the list. And to know that all these are just from Banff National Park, blows me farther away!

    Great photos! Hope you had a great time! Oh, and when’s the best time to pay a visit there?

    1. I was there in July and also attend the Stampede Rodeo in Calgary. It was hot, but not horribly hot

  8. Banff National Park has always been on my bucketlist – we drove into Canada a couple of years ago, but did Vancouver Island instead of the rockies – which was amazing, but I WANT to get back! Alberta will be firmly #1 on the list. Johnston Canyon Trail, Morraine Lake, and Lake Louise are all incredible spots to include on a road trip – thankyou for the info!

  9. My daughter lives in Calgary, an hour away wo we have explored Banff many times, including the Glacier Skywalk, the Icefields Parkway and Jasper…even Yoho and Kootenay NPs. But you mentioned one that we have failed to do…the Johnston Canyon trail and the jewel pots! Gotta go back now!

  10. Great pictures. Love to check out the Grizzly Bear country. The turquoise waters and the huge mountains kinda reminded me or Taroko gorge in Taiwan. Similar awesomeness!

  11. Whoa a scenic place with lots of photo opportunity! A drive through the park sounds so exciting!
    Trying to imagine an encounter with grizzly bear… they are quite dangerous I have read.

  12. This is such a nostalgic post for me. When I was a little kid, my family used to go to Banff for hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter. I remember many hikes to Moraine Lake which is one of the most beautiful spots on earth if you ask me.

    How did you find the tourist situation when you were there? I know it got very overcrowded for several years – is it still packed with busloads of tourists or was it quiet when you were there?

    J

    1. It wasn’t packed at all. I expected it to be horrible because I went during Stampede but maybe everyone stayed in Calgary

  13. Oh, this brings back so many great memories of our trip to Banff and Lake Louise. I think that is some of the most gorgeous scenery ever, and we loved having tea in that adorable tea house after a long hike. I definitely want to go back after seeing your photos here.

  14. Hi Sherianne,

    Brilliant. And Grizzly bear country too? This region really does have it all.

    Stunning shots and the more I see on Banff, the more the place grows on me. Fab scenery, wildlife, isolated setting, a paradise.

    I really feel Canada in general is one of the most underrated lands on earth. We just landed and accepted a house sit for Thailand in February – love my SE Asia – but are pondering trips to other spots after the sit. Gotta think long and hard about a Canada sit or trip.

    Thanks for the rocking share.

    Ryan

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