The ULTIMATE Itinerary for Banff You Should Follow

Are you planning a trip to the Canadian Rockies and need a helpful Banff itinerary? Then you are in for a trip of a lifetime because Banff National Park is truly one of the most spectacular places in the entire world. The first time we visited Banffwe knew it was something special. It was so special that we decided to move to Alberta years ago and haven’t looked back.

Whether you’re visiting Banff for onetwothree daysor longer than a weekyou’ll still need to have a general plan to see as much as you would like in your time here. No matter how many days you have hereit still won’t be enough to uncover the beauty of this placebut you’ll at least get a taste of the highlights.

Here is our ideal Banff itineraryincluding things to dotravel and packing tipsand the best time to visit Banff. This itinerary for Banff is primarily summer-focusedbut you can also use it for inspiration for trips all year round. If you are visiting during the winterit’s best to follow our winter itinerary for Banff.

Banff Itinerary – Day 1

Welcome to Banff National Parkone of the most beautiful places in the world! I know you’re on vacationand you probably want to sleep a bitbut trust meit’s worth it to get up and make the most out of your time in Banff because there is a lot to see and do! Let’s get into day one on your Banff itinerary.

• Walk Around Downtown Banff
• Check Out Bow Falls
• Hike Up Tunnel Mountain
• Hike or take the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain

---

Stroll Down Banff Ave

Your first introduction to Banff should include a stroll down Banff Avenue. It’s hard to believe there is a town in the center of one of the most beautiful national parks on earthbut there isand walking around Banff is a must for any visitor.

There are plenty of shopscafesand restaurants to enjoy in Banffand you have unreal views of Cascade Mountain the entire time. But reallyI just love strolling and admiring the mountain views from down low. If you visit Banff in the summerthere are plenty of places to soak up some vitamin D. Find an amazing patio where you can enjoy a beer under the sun!

Time for lunch! Grab a tasty lunch in Downtown Banff. Some of our favorite places for lunch are Nourish BistroThree Bears Breweryand Touloulous.

---

Putter Through Cascade Gardens

If you’re strolling around Downtown Banff in the summeryou can’t miss a stop at Cascade Gardensright at the end of the road. It’s located at the end of Banff Avenuenearly impossible to miss. From the gardenyou get great views of Mount Rundle and Cascade. This should go without sayingbut please don’t pick the flowersapparently it happens a lot!

---

Check Out Bow Falls

Bow Falls are a must-see Banff waterfall and are only a short walk away from Downtown. From Cascade Gardensyou can take a quick and easy walk along the Bow Falls Trail. From May to Novemberthe falls are typically free-flowing. Howeverif you visit in the winterit’s a completely different sight.

Depending on when you see them in the winterBow Falls may be frozenbut we’ve been lucky and seen their beautyhalf in ice and half in water – a splendid experience! There are nice walkways and viewpoints for visitors so they can view safely.

---

Hike Up Tunnel Mountain

Tunnel Mountain is right in the heart of Banff. It’s beloved by locals for its accessibilityand you can hike it year-round. It may be one of the smallest mountains in Banff National Parkbut it still offers tremendous views of the surrounding valleys and Mount Rundle.

The hike moves slowly up the mountain through several switchbacks and offers various viewpoints out into the Bow and Spray Valleys. It’s a great Banff hike for sunrise or sunset and rarely disappoints. The best part is it’s only 4.5 km round trip and shouldn’t take more than one hour up. It’s also one of the easiest hikes you can dowith only 266 meters of elevation gain.

---

Enjoy Sunset on Sulphur Mountain

One of the best places to catch the sunset in Banff is from the top of Sulphur Mountain. The Banff Gondola runs all day to take visitors up and downmaking it the easiest mountaintop to catch the sunset from in Banff.

If you’re up for some activityyou can also hike up Sulphur Mountain for free. Save some moneyand get your legs moving! The peak can be reached in under two hours through a path of easy but relentless switchbacks. If you want to hike up and take the gondola downyou can purchase one-way tickets for half price (unfortunatelyit doesn’t work the other way around).

Day 2 – Moraine Lake & Lake Louise

• Morning at Moraine Lake
• Canoe on Lake Louise
• Hike Around Lake Louise
• Dinner at The Fairmont

---

Spend the Morning At Moraine Lake

Moraine Lake is the most popular thing to do in Banff and arguably the most famous sight to see in Canada. This iconic lake is a picturesque picture of Canada (seriouslyjust Google image “Canada” and see what comes up). With the ten peaks rising high over the glacier watersMoraine Lake is a highlight of any trip to Banff.

Moraine Lake is about an hour’s drive away from the Town of Banff and only twenty minutes further than Lake Louise. With its popularity and millions of Instagram location tagsyou used to have to arrive well before 6 am to grab a parking spot between June and September.

HoweverParks Canada restricted personal vehicles at Moraine Lake a few years ago. So now the only ways to get to Moraine Lake is with the Parks Canada Park & Ride Shuttlestay at the Moraine Lake Lodgetake the Roam Transit Busor use a private tour/shuttle like the Moraine Lake Bus CompanyFairview Limoor Radventures Earlybirdhave a blue accessibility tagor to bike/hike in. If you’d like to catch sunrisethere are still many ways to see sunrise at Moraine Lake.

We think this decision is a great choiceas Moraine Lake wasquite franklyloved to death. Members of our private Facebook group have noted that they were getting to Moraine Lake as early as 3 am in the past to ensure a parking spot. Every yearit seemed that you had to get to Moraine Lake earlier and earlierand it was all becoming a bit too much.

We break down exactly how to get to Moraine Lake in our latest update.

No matter how you get to Moraine Lakewe recommend enjoying the scenery and making time for a Moraine Lake hike to Consolation Lakesor even up through the Larch Valley. Alternativelyyou can spend your time canoeing in paradise.

Just note that if you think you’ll make your visit to Moraine Lake quieter and easier by visiting in the off-seasonyou may want to think again. Moraine Lake Road is the only road to Moraine Lakeand it is open only from June 1 to October 13th (closes on October 14th2025). After thatthe road gets covered in snowand the avalanche risk is high until the next summer rolls around.

---

Head to Lake Louise

After you visit Moraine Lakeyou’ll probably want to head to Lake Louise. Lake Louise is the other iconic lake that millions from around the world flock to Banff to see. It should be on everyone’s Banff itinerary as it is certainly a highlight of any trip to Canada.

Lake Louisewhile not as scenic as Moraine Lakeis still pretty darn mesmerizing. This glacier-fed lake sparkles bright turquoise blue under the sunand the mountains rising up around it provide the perfect backdrop for any photo. If you’re already visiting Moraine Lake for the dayyou might as well get to Lake Louisetooas it’s just a short drive away and is easily connected for free via the Parks Canada Lake Connector Shuttle. Alsonearly every Moraine Lake tour runs to Lake Louise right after visiting Moraine Lake.

Keep in mind that Lake Louise is frozen solid from late October to early Junebut unlike Moraine Lakeit is accessible year-round.

Once at Lake Louisewe recommend canoeing on the iconic lakeespecially if you skipped the experience at Moraine Lake. Canoeing on Lake Louise is run by the Fairmont Boathouseand is not a cheap experience. Though how often do you get to say you’ve paddled on a brilliantly blue glacial lake?

---

Hike Around Lake Louise

If you want to go for a hike while visiting Lake Louise (and I highly suggest you do)numerous hikes range in difficultyleaving right from Lake Louise. The most popular and easiest hike is to the Lake Agnes Tea House. This is an easy hikeand many hikers can reach Lake Agnes in around two hours. Howeverbe warnedits ease and beauty make it a busy one! To escape some of the crowds (and get better views)keep climbing to the Big or Little Beehive.

Another longer option is Devil’s Thumb, but this should be attempted by seasoned hikers as there are some scramble sections. Other hikes that you can enjoy in the area are the Fairview Lookout (easy)Plain of Six Glaciers (moderate)and Mount St. Piran (hard).

---

Dinner at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise

The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is the most iconic hotel in Banff National Park. It’s easily one of the best places to stay in all of Albertaand it overlooks the beautiful lake. If you book early enough and score yourself a room here in the summerenjoy it!

However you don’t have to book a night here to enjoy it! After enjoying Moraine Lake and Lake Louise during the dayyou can now relax and have dinner at the Chateau and enjoy an evening in the Fairmont. Keep in mind that reservations are highly recommended for any Lake Louise restaurant at the Chateau.

Day 3 – Explore Banff

• Sunrise on Vermilion Lakes
• Stand Up Paddleboard on Two Jack Lake
• Mt. Norquay Via Ferrata
• Scenic Cruise Around Lake Minnewanka
• Dinner and Drinks in Banff

---

Sunrise on Vermilion Lakes

Vermilion Lakes is one of my favorite places to go to in Banff for both sunrise and sunset. If you’re up for another early morningmake your way here with a coffee. Mount Rundlearguably the most famous mountain in the parktowers over the lakecreating an epic backdrop at any time of the year.

It’s the perfect place to come early morning and enjoy your coffee before a great breakfast in Banff or travel to sunset with a few beers. You can also take a canoekayakor paddleboards out here and enjoy the water as the lakes are pretty calm and a great place for a chill ride – even for beginners!

Coffee recommendation: Whitebark. Breakfast Recommendation: Tooloulous

---

Stand Up Paddleboard on Two Jack Lake

Just a ten-minute drive away from Vermilion Lakes is Two Jack Lake. Two Jack is one of the most photographed lakes in the Canadian Rockies due to its proximity to Banffand its stunning Mount Rundle Views. In the summerit’s a popular spot to come with a stand-up paddleboard or kayak.

Keep in mind there is nowhere to rent watercraft hereso you’ll have to come with your own or rent one in Canmore at Bow Valley SUP or in Banff at the Banff Canoe Club.

---

Scenic Cruise Around Lake Minnewanka

One of the top things to do in Banff National Park is enjoy Lake Minnewanka. This glacial lake is right next door to Two Jack Lake. It is 21 km long and 142 meters deepmaking it one of the largest lakes in the Rockies.

Mount Inglismaldie and Mount Aylmertowering over Lake Minnewankaare seriously impressive all year round. Oh yeahand there’s also a Canadian resort ghost town under the lake! In the summerit’s a busy place to hike around and go canoeing onor you can book a scenic cruise back to Devil’s Gap and enjoy the scenery from the water!

---

Evening Hike at Johnston Canyon

Johnston Canyon is one of the top attractions in Banff and can attract quite a crowd in the summer. That’s why we suggest ending your day hereas visiting after 5 pm provides the best chance for a crowd-free experience.

A summer hike is visceral as the roaring water reverberates through the canyon and into your chest. As a hikeryou get up close and personal with the canyon thanks to a series of suspended walkways. Along the wayhikers catch scenic glimpses of the mountains, multiple waterfallsand a chance to spot wildlife.

The waterfalls in the canyon are roaring come July as the snow melts high in the surrounding mountains. No matter the seasonit’s an easy hike in Banff along a well-maintained trail suitable for all ages. If you find yourself with spare timecontinue on to the Ink Pots for an extended hike.

---

Adventure Option: Mt. Norquay Via Ferrata

If you’re a beginner hiker but want to see what hiking in the Rockies is all aboutI highly suggest the Mt. Norquay Via Ferrata. This is an assisted climbing experience up Mount Norquay. Four different routes vary in length and difficulty. It’s perfect for any visitor to Banff and has many different options for families.

---

Dinner and Drinks in Banff

The sun has set over Banff National Park. It’s time to refuel for the day at one of Banff’s many places to eat. A few of our favorites are:

Fat Ox

One of our favorite new restaurants in Banff with a great atmosphere and high-quality ingredients to create the ultimate “Italian Alpine” menu.

Three Bears Brewery

Our favorite spot in Banff for pizza and beer!

Block Kitchen and Bar

A small restaurant with some of the most innovative dishes and drinks in the valley. Reservations are not accepted here and it is tinybut if you manage to get a table you won’t be disappointed.

Nourish Bistro

This healthy cafe is the perfect lunch spot in town with reasonably priced lunch combos and coffee.

Banff Sushi

We love sushiand we love a good dealso Banff Sushi is a slam dunk for us. The novelty of the sushi train was definitely appreciated and brought us back to Japan as we nabbed tantalizing bites of sushi off the Canadian train engine. If you like sushithis may be one of the best deals in Banff.

Day 4 – Icefields Parkway

• Drive the Icefields Parkway
• Stand Up Paddleboard on Bow Lake
• Take in the Views at Peyto Lake
• Have Lunch at Athabasca Glacier
• Columbia Skywalk
• Drive on to Jasper

---

Drive the Icefields Parkway

Whether you decided to stay in Banff or Lake Louise last night it’s time to wake up early as this day is going to be jame packed. Enjoy your coffee with a viewand then get ready to head out for a road trip on the Icefields Parkway. The Icefields Parkway is one of the most beautiful road trips you can take in the entire world.

The Icefields Parkway (Highway 93 North) connects Lake Louise with the Town of Jasper in Jasper National Park. The drive itself is stunningbut there are so many pull-offs along the way. Bow LakePeyto Lakeand Herbert Lake are just to name a few. I won’t break down every single stop to make hereas there are so many. InsteadI’ve created a full Icefields Parkway guide. It’s important to note that this drive will take you the entire dayand you still won’t hit all the stops (hence why we say wake up early)!

---

Swing By Bow Lake

You can’t miss Bow Lake on your way up the Icefields Parkway. It’s a huge lakeand many people stop here to admire the view.

This is one of the best places to enjoy the water if you have a stand-up paddleboardcanoeor kayak. Note that there is nowhere to rent these watercraft along the Icefields Parkwayso you’ll either have to have your own or rent one for your trip to Banff if you have a rental car. Banff Canoe Club and Radventures offer daily stand-up paddleboard rentals. Or if you think you would like to paddle on all the lakes in the Rockies on your tripwe recommend buying a stand up paddleboard.

If you have lots of timethere are also some phenomenal hikes and scrambles around Bow Lake. The easiest and quickest is the hike to Bow Glacier Fallsbut longer day hikes we love are Helen LakeThe Onionor Mount Jimmy Simpson.

---

Take in the Views at Peyto Lake

Peyto Lake (PEE-toh) is a glacier-fed lake in Banff National Park. It is probably the third most popular lake to visit in Banffafter Louise and Morainebecause of its unique shape and absolutely mind-blowing blue water.

Peyto Lake is easily accessible from the Icefields Parkway. To get a great viewyou only have to park and hike up an easy 10-minute path to the viewpoint. It’s the perfect place to come and enjoy the stellar views in both winter and summerand there is a nice viewing platform to see the lake.

Peyto Lake is just past Bow Lake on your left-hand side when driving from Lake Louise to Jasper. It’s a busy stopso if you want to avoid the crowdswe recommend getting an early start before 8 a.m. in the summer.

---

Have Lunch at the Athabasca Glacier

As you continue driving the Icefields Parkwayyou’ll take in all the incredible views ahead of you. There are plenty of sightsbut I won’t list them all here as I encourage you to check out our step by step guide to the Icefields Parkway so you can determine where you want to stop.

Around the 130 km mark from Lake Louiseyou’ll reach the Columbia Icefield Glacier Discovery Centre. Hereyou can step insideuse the restroomshave lunchand embark on an excursion.

Athabasca Glacier is a popular place to stop along the Icefields Parkway. You can see Mount Athabasca here and even walk on Athabasca Glacier with a tour. Most visitors book the Columbia Icefield Adventure Tourwhich combines the Ice Explorer vehicle experience that takes you to the glacier with the Columbia Icefield Skywalk!

---

Ice Explorer Experience

The Ice Explorer is the most popular tour and experience on the Athabasca Glacier. The tour takes visitors high up the Glacier and drops them off on the Glacier to experience it firsthand. This is done with massive trucks that drive up and down the steep moraines of the Glacier before driving to a designated area where passengers can get out and touch and drink from the glacier. It’s one of the top tours in the Canadian Rockiesand a ticket also includes the Columbia Icefield Skywalk.

---

Columbia Icefield Skywalk

If you’re already at Athabasca Glacieryou may as well enjoy an experience just a couple of kilometers down the road to the Glacier Skywalk. Hereyou can step out on a cliff-edge walksee the glaciers around youand enjoy views of the Sunwapta Valley.

The Columbia Icefield Skywalk has views of wildlifewaterfallsand fossils. It’s a funfamily-friendly thing to do in Banff. Howeverin my opinionyou can get the same experience for free by going on a beautiful hike in Banff National Park.

If you’re an avid outdoor person and hikerthe Skywalk can feel like a lame way to waste money. Howeverif you have never experienced walking on glass and descending down a valley floorit may be an exhilarating experience.

---

*Alternative Suggestion*

You don’t have to take the massive Ice Explorer vehicles to walk on the Glacier. Insteadyou can book an Ice walk tour if you are fit and able. An Ice Walk tour is a much more personal experiencewith a certified guide that will safely take you walking on the glacier and provide insights and explanations of what you are looking at.

We highly recommend booking an Ice Walk tour and not trying to walk on the glacier yourselfwhich can be very unsafe. If you want to actually repel into a crevasse on your glacier experience, Rockaboo is the only guiding company certified to do that.

---

Continue to Jasper

NOTE: Jasper National Park suffered extensive wildfire damage in July 2024 and many businesses and sights are closed and rebuilding. They are now welcoming visitors back to their townbut please keep the wildfire in mind when building your itinerary. If you would like an alternative suggestionanother option is to venture into Yoho National Parkhere is an example one day itinerary.

After Athabascayou have the option to stay the night on the Icefields Parkway at the Glacier View Lodgeor you can push on to Jasper. As you leaveyou’ll exit Banff National Park and enter Jasper National Park.

The views continue thoughand the drive is just as stunning as it was in Banff. A few of the best stops ahead of you include Tangle Creek FallsAthabasca FallsSunwapta Fallsand Horseshoe Lake. After visitingcontinue on to Jasper Town and relax here for the night.

Day 5 – Explore Jasper

• Explore Downtown Jasper
• Maligne Lake and Spirit Island
• Jasper SkyTram
• Overnight in Jasper or Camp Along the Way

---

Stroll Downtown Jasper

Wake up in downtown Jasper after staying at a cute Jasper cabin or hotel and have a coffee and baked treat at Bear’s Paw Bakery or have a delicious breakfast in Jasper. Take a stroll around town and enjoy the fresh mountain air. After your morningyou’re going to want to hop in the car and get ready for another beautiful road trip. Set the GPS for Maligne Lake and start driving down Maligne Lake Road.

---

Maligne Lake and Spirit Island

A great place to visit in Jasper is Spirit Island in Maligne Lake. As you may have guessed by its nameSpirit Island is a serene and revered placeespecially for the area’s indigenous people. Due to its sacrednessthe island is off-limitsbut boat tours are availablewhich will take you close enough to appreciate its splendor.

The cruises run daily and often in the summer. The standard cruise allows for 15 minutes near Spirit Islandbut Pursuit sells Premium Cruiseswhich allow for 30 minutes at Spirit Island and run once a day. We highly recommend booking the Maligne Lake Cruise well in advanceas it’s a very popular thing to do in the summerand cruises do sell out every summer.

---

Drive Back to Downtown Jasper

After your time at Maligne Lakeit’s time to get in the car again and drive back to Jasper on the same road you came on. You’ll do this on Maligne Lake Roadone of Canada’s most gorgeous roads. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife; we almost always see moose on this road.

If you missed a stop at Medicine Lake on your way to Maligne Lakenow is your time to stop and see it. Medicine Lake is part of the Maligne Valley watershed and is nearly 7 km (4.3 mi) long. In the summerit looks like a normal Canadian lakebut it’s actually called the disappearing lakeas in the winterthe water completely disappears.

---

Spend an Evening Up the Jasper SkyTram

Going up the Jasper SkyTram is one of the best ways to end your day in Jasper. It’s here you can enjoy unparalleled views and on a clear dayyou can even see Mount Robson (the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies) in the distance.

Once you load onto the Jasper Gondolayou’ll begin the thrilling ride up to the Summit Station at 2,263 meters (7,425 ft). The two cozy trams hold 20-24 people and bring you up 2,263 meters in 10 minutes. On the way upthe views become expansive as you leave the tree line and enter the alpine. Once at the topwe recommend a quick hike up to Whistler’s Summit via the Whistler’s Summit Trail.

---

Option: Stay Longer in Jasperor Drive Back to Banff Via the Icefields Parkway

We recommend staying three days in Jasper, as there is so much to do and we crammed a lot into the day above. Some even prefer Jasper over Banff! With more time in Jasperyou can enjoy a canoe on Pyramid Lakeraft on the Athabasca Riveror have lunch on Lac Beauvert. Howeverif you are short on timeyou can drive back to Banff either in the evening or in the morning!

As mentionedthis is an itinerary to give you ideas and not set in stone. The perfect itinerary depends on your timeline. If you plan to spend more time in Jasperyou can follow our ultimate three-day Jasper itinerary.

---

Overnight in the Town of Banff or Canmore

After your time in Jasperit’s time to head back to Banff the same way you came. Stop at any sights along the Icefields Parkway you missed the first time. We recommend you either drive back and stay in Downtown Banffor switch it up and stay in Canmorewhich is the neighboring mountain town.

---

Day 6 – Explore Canmore

Today is the day to head to the town right next to Banffand that is Canmore. I personally love Canmore more than Banff (and not just because I live here) because it feels less like a tourist destination and more like a place where real day-to-day operations happen. Of course we recommend spending longer in Canmorebut if you only have one day in Canmore, here is how we would spend it.

• Hike to Grassi Lakes
• Explore Downtown Canmore
• Walk Around Policeman’s Boardwalk
• Sunset Paddle Around The Reservoir

---

Morning Hike to Grassi Lakes

With clear water and mesmerizingly blue waterGrassi Lakes is remarkable and easy to reach on a short hike. Though there are other trails in the areathese are clearly markedand great for all ages making them one of the best things to do in Canmore.

About five kilometers south of townthe lakes are easy to get toand you may want to consider packing a few some food for a picnicas it’s one of the most picturesque places around Canmore. Stunning views of a nearby waterfall and the town of Canmore below present plenty of photo opportunities.

Grassi Lakes is easy enough for just about anyone to complete. I would feel comfortable bringing older parents or healthy grandparents on this short hike. Be forewarned that its ease makes it particularly busyand we recommend starting your hike first thing in the morning to avoid crowds.

---

Explore Downtown Canmore

Strolling Downtown Canmore is like strolling Downtown Banff—without the masses. Stroll Main Street and pop into the art galleriesor grab a coffee at Eclipse. We also always love running into Stonewaters for home decor inspiration!

For lunchhead downtown to one of Canmore’s many restaurants. I love sitting outside at The Tavern or Communitea as they have fun patios in the summer. They have great food and awesome drink specials. Though if you’re really looking for a good patio experience in CanmoreThe Wood has the best views in Canmore. Grizzly Paw Brewery and Pub is another popular optionas it’s right on Main Streetbut it’s more expensive and offers less good foodin my opinion.

If you visit in the summeryou’ll be pleasantly surprised to find that Canmore restricts vehicles on Main Streetcreating a fabulous motor-free environment.

---

Walk the Policeman’s Creek Boardwalk

If you want to spend a quiet morning or afternoon strolling through naturehead to the Policeman’s Creek Boardwalk. The elevated walkway offers year-round access without the need for wadersbootsor snowshoes. It’s accessible from downtownand the trailhead is near the intersection of Main Street and Spring Creek Drive.

The four-kilometer Canmore trail is well-marked and easy to follow. It will bring you right back to your starting pointso you won’t have to drop breadcrumbs or call for a helicopter rescue.

The boardwalk’s pleasant mix of town and country is the best of both worldsand you’ll think you’re much farther away from civilization than you really are. Don’t miss the Giant Head Statue near The Drake at the beginning or end of your walk!

---

Sunset Paddle Around The Rundle Forebay Reservoir

The Rundle Forebay Reservoiror “Canmore Res,” is a local place to head in the evening and take a swimpaddleboardor kayak and watch the sun go down over Ha Ling Peak and the Little Sister. It’s a quiet place to relax in nature and is perfect for a picnic dinner. Please make sure to clean up after yourselfevery time I visitthere is trash left about carelessly.

You can rent paddleboards from Bow Valley Sup in Canmore!

---

Adventure Option: Sunset on the EEOR

If you have timeand are up for a mountain summitthis adventure lies just outside of Canmore. East End of Rundle (EEOR) is one of the most popular hikes in Canmore and is a beautiful hike up that offers visitors astonishing views over Canmorethe Bow Valleyand Ha Ling Peak. Althoughjust because East End of Rundle (or EEORor “Eeyore” as locals like to call it) is close to town doesn’t mean it’s an easy climb up to the summit – quite the opposite actually.

EEOR trail is a 5.8 kilometer out and back trail. It’s certainly a steep and strenuous uphill battle for almost the entire hike. There are hardly any flat partsand the climb starts right from the car park. There is some light exposure and some scrambling required to reach the actual summitbut nothing too scary or difficult for the average to the advanced hiker.

To hike to the summit and back should take you anywhere between 3-5 hoursdepending on your pace and fitness. If you can get up there for sunsetyou’ll be rewarded with beautiful views over Ha Ling and Whiteman’s Pondthough to get a good view like in the photo aboveyou only have to hike halfway to the “viewpoint.” Bring a headlamp if hiking this towards the end of the day.

Not feeling EEOR? Similar hikes nearby are Ha LingWest Wind RidgeRimwall SummitLittle LougheedReads Towerand Windtower. Easier hikes nearby would be Chester Lake and Rummel Lake.

Day 7 – Explore Yoho or Kananaskis

If you have extra time in this areayou are doing Banff the right way. We recommend you venture to neighboring Kananaskis Country or Yoho National Park and explore what these other parks have to offer.

• Hike in Kananaskis Provincial Park
• Head to Yoho National Park
• Sunset Picnic on the Smith Dorrien

---

Hike in Kananaskis Country

Kananaskis is another Alberta Park that is just as beautiful as Banff. Located closer to Calgaryit’s a quieter areausually filled with more Albertans than foreigners. There are some amazing lakes and fantastic hiking opportunities here. Keep in mind that you need a Kananaskis Conservation Pass to enjoy Kananaskisas it is a provincial park and not a federal park. This is in addition to the Parks Canada Pass that you need to visit Banff.

---

Head to Yoho National Park

Yoho National Park is just past Lake Louise and close to GoldenBritish Columbia. It offers fantastic sightseeing opportunitiesbeautiful lakesand awesome hikes. The most famous sight in Yoho is Emerald Lakewhich most visitors want to see while in the park. If you have the time and capacitywe highly recommend adding a day to explore Yoho National Park.

---

Sunset Picnic on the Smith Dorrien

The dirt road that leads up past Grassi Lakes and the Canmore Nordic Center is Smith Dorrien Trail. It’s an unpaved road that is open year-roundavalanche conditions withstanding. As you make your way up the pass between Mount Lawrence Grassi and Mount Rundleyou’ll find some seriously impressive views.

Once through the passyou’ll enter Kananaskis Countryan Alberta Provincial Park. Along the driveyou pass superb lakes like Goat Pondand impressive mountain vistas. Keep your eyes peeled as you’ll likely spot some wildlife too; we’ve seen almost everythingsuch as bearsmooseelkdeergoatsbighorn sheepand coyotes.

---

How Many Days Should You Spend in Banff?

This itinerary focuses on a seven-day Canadian Rockies tripwhich is the average amount of time a visitor typically plans their trip. That being saidwe think anywhere between 5 and 7 days is sufficient time to get a taste of what the Rockies offer and see the highlightsthough you will 100% leave wanting to return. We promise you won’t be disappointed if you can spare 8 to 10 days and stay in Jasper or Canmore longer.

---

When is the Best Time to Visit Banff?

High season (June-SeptemberDecember-February)

Banff National Park has a high season for winter enthusiasts and those after that perfect North American summer getaway. The first is much quieter than its summer counterpartbut around the holidaysprices riseand crowds flock to Banff. Those after a ski vacation should visit Banff in February. During these two winter timesyou’ll find higher accommodation prices.

Howeverthat’s nothing compared to summertime in Banff. Numbers balloon between June and Augustand while I would love to say that because of thisit’s not a good time to visitI would be lying.

July and August bring about the best weather in the park. Long days and sunshine await you during the summer. The wildflowers are in full bloomand it’s a great time for anyone looking for a summer adventure. Howeverthe crowds can be insaneespecially Downtown and at Lake LouisePeyto Lakeand Lake Moraine.

---

Shoulder Season (MayLate SeptemberOctober)

The shoulder season months are still a wonderful time to visit Banff National Park. May is still winterand there is still snow on the ground. The glacier lakes will be frozenbut the summer crowds have not appearedmaking it a great time to visit Banff.

If chasing the fall and seeing the yellow larches are your thingyou’ll want to visit for Banff in the fall in September and October. After Labor Daythe crowds start to fizzle out as the kiddies return to school and summer vacations are over. Howeverlarch seasonwhich starts around the third week of September brings plenty of people in. Hiking is still greatas the winter gods haven’t dumped snow yet.

---

Low Season (NovemberMarchApril) 

These are generally coldcloudyand what some may call “miserable” months. Unlessof courseyou like the wintersnowboarding and skiingice skatingcross-country skiingsnowshoeingand don’t mind a bit of mixed weather. What is the best part about this time of year? There are fewer touristslower pricesand plenty of snow!

---

Download AllTrails

If you plan to do any hikingdownload AllTrails first. Alltrails gives you the latest review of a hike and all the logistical information you may need. If you pay for AllTrails Proyou can also download offline trail maps to your phone. We use AllTrails for most hikesand although it’s far from perfectit gives you some ideas about the trail based on recent hiker reviews.

---

Consider Renting a Car

Being in North Americayour options for transport are limitedthough Banff is surprisingly well-connected! Most visitors to Banff will rent a car in Calgary as this is the easiest way to get around. Renting a car in Banff ensures that you can get to where you want to go on your own schedule.

Depending on your travel seasoncar rentals in Calgary can be quite affordable. During the shoulder season and off season you can often get great deals on rental cars if you book far enough in advance. Though these deals are few and far between in the summer monthsand booking in advance is imperative.

In the winterit’s best to get a car with winter tiresso make sure to specify with your car rental agency as they don’t automatically come on vehicles. If you do decide to drive from Alberta into BCthese winter tires are mandatory! You can see road conditions herewhich are super helpful between November and late April.

Other Transport Options

You may not feel comfortable driving in Canadaand that’s okay! There are other options to get to and from Banff and around the town. Howeverthey are limitedso keep that in mind. To get from YYC to Banff, the Banff Airporter is a good option and costs around $160 CAD round trip.

Once in Banffthere is the Roam bus system to get around town. It also runs to popular sites like Lake Louise and easily gets you to Lake Louise Ski Resort and Banff Sunshine Ski Resort. If you’re booking a private or group tourmost tour operators offer pick up and drop off at your hotel in Banff or Canmore. If you plan on visiting without a vehiclewe’ve put together this car-free itinerary for Banff.

---

Dress for the Mountains

If I had a dollar for every time I saw a visitor wearing poor mountain clothesI would havelike$500. Come to Banff dressed for mountain weather. Here’s my Banff packing list, but in shortthat means packable down jackets even in the summer.

The weather here can change at a moment’s noticeand you don’t want to be underdressed. It’s essential to pack layers and HIKING FOOTWEAR. Yeshiking boots or hiking shoes. If you plan to go hiking while visiting Banffplease do not show up in Converse shoes. In the wintermicrospikes are also glorious on hikes and are a pretty inexpensive investment.

---

This Banff Itinerary is Just a Starter

This Banff itinerary by no means covers everything you can do in Banff. Heckwe have been exploring these mountains for years and always find new activities to get up to!

That being saidthis entire website is packed with things you can do in the regionso we encourage you to click around to get more ideas! Some popular items not mentioned but definitely worth doing (or returning for another trip) are:

• Biking or driving the Bow Valley Parkway
• Waiting for the train at Morant’s Curve
• Having a picnic at Cascade Ponds
• Venturing into Kootenay National Park for the Day
• Taking in the views from the Lake Louise Gondola
• Biking the Legacy Trail
• Going for a Horseback Ride

If you want us to review your itinerary ourselvesor create a customized itinerary for Banff (and beyond!) just for youcheck out our services here.

---

Get a National Park Pass

All visitors to Banff National Park need a Parks Canada pass to recreate. The Parks Canada pass covers all national parks in Canada. This includes JasperYohoGlacierand Kootenay National Park. Note that the Parks Canada Pass does not cover recreation in Kananaskis Provincial Park.

---

Our Favorite Banff Hotels

---

---

This is by no means all you can do in the Canadian Rockiesbut it is an example itinerary for Banff to help you get started with planning your own customized trip. If you have any other questions leave a comment or see our Canadian Rockies travel guide for more articles about photography spotslakeshikesand everything else.

---