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Planning a Visit to Banff National Park
Banff National Park is Canada’s first National Park. Banff is well known for its castle in the sky and the widely photographed Lake Louise. You will find snow-covered mountain peaks, a charming resort town, distant glaciers, and brilliant turquoise lakes. Grizzlies, black bears, deer, moose, and mountain goats live in Banff National Park. Popular activities include hiking, biking, horseback riding, kayaking, paddle boarding, and white water rafting. Winter activities include skiing, cross-country skiing, ice skating, snowshoeing, tubing and tobogganing, ice skating, dog sledding, and sleigh rides. Plan your visit with this Banff National Park Travel Guide.
You are excited to visit Banff National Park and want to know the best time of year to visit, where to stay, what not to miss, and where to eat while there. Researching the best things to do while visiting Banff National Park while working full time is overwhelming and you don’t have hours to spend on the internet. Save time and plan an unforgettable trip full of top activities with this Banff National Park travel blog. Enjoy your time out of the office!
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Where is Banff National Park
Banff National Park is located in the Canadian Rockies in Canada’s Alberta Province. The best way to explore Banff National Park is by self-drive. The closest international airport is in Calgary Canada. From Calgary rent a car and drive 1.5 hours to Banff. Alternatively, shuttle service from Calgary to Banff is provided by the Brewster Express, Sundog Tours, the Banff Airporter, or the On-It Transit Service. Once in Banff ROAM Transit will connect you to popular sites.
Facts About Banff National Park
Banff National Park is Canada’s first national park, over 4 million people visit it every year
It is the oldest of Canada’s National Parks and became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984
Banff is 4,000 square miles with 1,000 miles of hiking trails
The boundary of Banff and Jasper National Park is a triple divide, meaning a raindrop may go to the Atlantic, the Pacific, or the Arctic Ocean
There are over 1,000 glaciers in Banff National Park
Banff’s mountains are 120 million years old
Banff has the world’s only distillery located in a national park
Lake Louise is the most photographed lake in the world
Best Time of Year to Visit Banff National Park
July and August are the busiest times and peak season. Summer temperatures range from 60-75 degrees F. Early June and late September are shoulder seasons. Most of the trails are dry from June to September. Leaves begin to change color in September and October is a great time for viewing the night sky. Winter begins in mid-October and continues until April or mid-May. The best skiing is from December to March. Moraine Lake and most campsites are closed in the winter; many roads or hikes are not accessible. April and May are great for spotting wildlife, wildflowers are in bloom and waterfalls are full of rushing water.
Accommodation in Banff National Park
Camping in Banff National Park is by permit and fills quickly, be sure to make a reservation. Lodging is available in Banff, Lake Louise, and Canmore.
Hikes at Banff National Park
Hike the Via Ferrata at Mt Norquay, a 1.3-mile loop trail
Tunnel Mountain Trail, 2.7-mile out-and-back
Hike 3.6-miles RT to Consolation Lakes
Stuart Canyon, 4.2-mile out-and-back trail
Hike 4.2 miles RT to Lake Agnes and have a cup of tea
Larch Valley Hike, 5.5-mile out-and-back trail
Hike 6.6 miles RT to the Plain of Six Glaciers teahouse
Sunshine Meadows Trail, 11.6-mile out-and-back trail
Aylmer Lookout Hike, 14.4-mile out-and-back trail
Things to Do at Banff National Park
Photograph Fairmont Banff Springs, “Canada’s Castle in the Rockies”, from Surprise Corner
Tour Fairmont Banff Springs and enjoy afternoon tea in the Rundle Bar
Take a walk along the Bow Falls Trail and relax by the river
Ride the Banff Gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain and check out the ridge-top boardwalk
Banff Norquay Sightseeing Chairlift
Soak in the Banff Upper Hot Springs
Stop for lunch in a brewpub and shop for souvenirs along Banff Avenue
Enjoy dinner with a view on the roof of The Elk and Oarsman
Go white water rafting on the Kicking Horse River
Photograph the mountain reflection in Two Jack Lake early in the morning
Enjoy a cruise on Lake Minnewanka and learn the history of the area
Scuba dive in Lake Minnewanka
Hike the Johnson Canyon 2.5-mile steel catwalk to the lower waterfall
Drive the scenic Bow Valley Parkway
Photograph the train coming around the corner at Morant’s Curve
Kayak or canoe Lake Louise or Moraine Lake
Photograph Moraine Lake from the top of the Rockpile Trail
Photograph the reflection of Mount Rundle in Vermillion Lakes
Walk the Lake Louise Lakeshore Trail and photograph the hotel from across the lake
Enjoy lunch overlooking the lake at the Fairmont Lake Lousie
Photograph Victoria Glacier across from Lake Louise
Ride the Lake Louise Gondola
Have lunch in a dining car at the Lake Louise Station restaurant
Learn Banff National Park history at Cave and Basin National Historic Site
Take a Covered Wagon or Horseback Ride on the trail along Bow River and enjoy a cookout
Go canoeing on the Bow River
Bike the Spray River Loop or the Legacy Trail from Banff to Canmore
Drive the scenic Icefields Parkway stopping at the viewpoints
Learn First Nations History at Buffalo Nation Luxton Museum
Be sure to check the Banff National Park Service website for current events
Tips for Visiting Banff National Park
Know ahead of time Banff is not a budget destination, kayak rental is over $100 an hour
Give yourself time to adjust to an altitude of over 5,000 feet
The town of Banff has free 9-hour parking at the train station with a free shuttle into downtown
Use Roam Transit to travel between Banff, Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, and Johnston Canyon
Lake Louise parking lot fills early (by 6:30 am) and is expensive, park in the overflow parking at the Lake Louise Gondola and pay to shuttle in
The road to Moraine Lake is open from mid-May to mid-October, it fills and closes quickly
Where good hiking shoes, many trails are steep and uneven with loose rocks
Practice Leave No Trace Principles
Have more time in the area?
Supplement this Banff National Park travel guide by planning your visit during the Calgary Stampede or drive along Icefields Parkway to Jasper National Park to view the Columbia Icefield and Glacier Skywalk. Do not miss my 10 -day Alberta Canada, Canadian Rocky Mountains Road Trip Planner
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