5 Perfect Days in Banff
I’ve dreamt of Banff ever since my freshman year of college and finally got the opportunity to visit a year after I graduated in summer of 2022. Peter Mckinon really sold Banff for me with his bucket list shot documentary. The epic mountain views, turquoise alpine lakes, insane wildlife, and most stunning drives make Banff one of the most special places I’ve visited.
Banff is the most visited national park in all of Canada with an average 4.5 million visitors per year and with tiktok blowing up it’s just continuing to get even more popular. It is also the first national park to open in Canada in 1855. The iconic blue lakes of Lake Louise and Moraine Lake come from the glaciers bleeding into the water.
When to Visit
If you’re looking to hike, paddle on the water, and have the best warm weather, the summer months in July and August are the best months to travel. It is the peak tourism month so plan way in advance if you choose to come then. If you want to avoid the crowds, the shoulder seasons in September- October are another great option. If you want a full on winter wonderland experience then December to January will allow you to sip hot chocolate and ice skate on Lake Louise.
What to Pack/ know before you go
Bear Spray
If you are into hiking then bear spray is so needed while you’re on any trail. You can buy some while you’re there or order some before you go. We started in Washington and ordered it before our trip.
Canada Parks Pass
Day passes provide entry to Banff, Jasper, Kootenay, Yoho, Mount Revelstoke, Glacier, Waterton Lakes and Elk Island national parks.
We purchased the Discovery Pass from what their local REI is called MEC. We each had to have an individual pass unlike the America the Beautiful pass where you can have it per car. We were in the Banff area for 5 days so thought it was worth it to each get the full pass and be able to use it for the full year.
Layers
We still wore long sleeves and leggings even in July so be prepared to pack layers that you can easily shed
Camera Gear
It’s a must to bring all the gear you have. I brought my 70-200 lens so I could capture wildlife and the mountains along the Icefield Parkway Drive
Foldable Kayak or Paddle Board
We brought origami styled kayaks called Oru with us to avoid having to pay the 100 per hour fee on lake moraine. A lot of other people brought inflatable paddle boards and other means to float on the lake without breaking the bank. We made solid use out of it on 3 different lakes in Canada. Make sure to comply with permits and protocols on each lake.
Reservations
Moraine lake is so trafficked and we lucked out by entering the parking lot at 4:00 am and before they started implementing no longer having personal vehicles at the parking lots of the base of the lake. You can now reserve shuttles and public transportation from June - October.
Wake up earlyyyyy
We started our day every day before Sunrise so we could avoid some crowds and make the most of our day. I also had dreams of capturing both Lake Louise and Moraine Lake at sunrise. Crowds fill up at every popular destination so take some power naps and drink lots of coffee.
No Cell Service
Download maps on offline maps feature in google maps. Plan your stops ahead of time since it’s really hard to get service anywhere in Banff. Download the hikes you're thinking about in Alltrails.
Where to Stay
Camping
We planned our trip pretty last minute so we had nothing booked for places to stay and really looked out to find some spots. There are some campsites with a first come first served basis which of course is a risk. There are 14 campsites total that are reservable.
The first night we stayed at Wapiti campground and got lucky with a last minute cancellation.
We stayed at Lake Louise Overflow lot for 2 of the nights we were there. It’s not the most glamorous, but it was cheap and worked. It does get crowded to get there at a decent hour.
Hotels and Hostels Options (budget friendly)
5 Day Itinerary
Maligne Lake
Day 1 - Banff town + Jasper
Enjoy the cute mountain town of Banff
Drive all the way up to Jasper national park along icefield parkway
Save stopping along Icefield parkway for on the way back
Go to Maligne Lake and paddle for sunset
Stay at Wapiti campground
Day 2 - Icefield Parkway Stops
Edith Cavell Mountains
Make your way back down to Icefield parkway and stop at:
Bow Lake
Peyto Lake
Parker Ridge Hike
Glacier Skywalk
Really can’t go wrong along any of the spots along the drive. We even saw bears!
Stay at the overflow lot near Lake Louise so you can wake up and be ready to go by 3:30am! Moraine Lake fills up fast so make sure your reservation gets you there at least 30 minutes prior to sunrise.
Parker Ridge Trail
Peyto Lake
Day 3 - Moraine Lake
Moraine Lake
Get there soooooo early (30 minutes prior to sunrise if you have a reservation for a shuttle or public transportation)
Get some sunrise shots
Paddle at end of sunrise
There was no one else on the water and it was so dreamy
Coffee and breakfast at the Moraine Lake Lodge
Sentinel Pass via Larch Valley trail
We weren’t planning on doing the full hike, but we were so glad we did even though we were doing a big hike the next day
Top of Sentinel Pass
Day 4 - Lake Louise
Sunrise at Lake Louise
Lake Louise Day
Another sunrise paddle
Beehive hike to teahouses
We ended up doing the full big beehive, little beehive, plain of six glaciers, and both teahouses
It was a long day, but we really experienced the full trail
The teahouse at the plain of six glaciers was more enjoyable since it was less crowded
Poutine at Bill Peyto’s Cafe
Top of Big Beehive
Day 5 - Yoho and Johnston Canyon
Drive to Yoho
Takakkaw falls Waterfall
Emerald Lake
Johnston Canyon on the way out!
Other Things to Do:
Lake Ohara in Yoho (reservation required)
Valley of 5 lakes trails
Athabasca Glacier
Gondola ride (pricey so we passed on this excursion)
Minnewanka lake
Two Jacks Lake
