Banff Itinerary: 10 Best Things To Do in Banff National Park
When people think of Alberta, Canada, they think of Banff National Park. Banff National Park is considered Canada’s most beautiful national park. The 4,000 square miles of Banff National Park hold beautiful sights from stunning lakes to majestic mountains to amazing wildlife.
You can also do just about anything your heart desires in Banff National Park, including skiing, hiking, kayaking, camping, it offers it all! This guide reviews everything you need to create a Banff National Park itinerary, including travel tips, where to stay, Banff National Park hikes, the best things to do in Banff National Park, and the best lakes in Banff National Park. Get ready for an incredible Banff National Park itinerary!
Fun Fact: Banff National Park is Canada’s first national park!
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Travel Tips for Creating a Banff National Park Itinerary
Time needed to explore
If you are looking to hike, I recommend allocating 4-5 days in Banff National Park. If you are looking to drive around and see everything that is easily accessible, you will need 2-3 days for your Banff National Park itinerary.
Things to know before you go
The best things to do in Banff National Park can get very crowded, so I recommend arriving at the most popular sights before 8:00 AM. If you are looking to rent a canoe, kayak, or rowboat, it’s important to rent them earlier in the day because they can run out quickly.
Tips and Tricks
When you arrive at a park entrance, buy a pass for the total number of days you will be staying in the park. This allows you to easily go in and out of the park without spending time waiting in line to buy passes each day.
If you are looking to visit Banff National Park or the surrounding parks a couple of times a year, you can buy the Discovery Pass. For about $70 a person or $140 for a family (up to 7 people in one car), the Discovery Pass allows you to have unlimited access to over 80 Parks Canada places.
Always remember to leave no trace.
It’s crucial to pack out what you pack in and leave no trash. Some of these spots have trash bins, so you can easily throw your trash away. If they don’t have trash bins, you can throw your trash away at a nearby gas station or convenience store.
Note: We visited when there were wildfires on the west coast, so you may see smoke in pictures. I highly recommend avoiding traveling here during the wildfire season.
How to Get to Banff National Park: Closest Airport to Banff
Banff National Park is located in the Canadian Rockies in Alberta, Canada. The easiest way to get to Banff National Park is to fly into Calgary International Airport. Calgary International Airport is the closest airport to Banff since it is only a 1.5-hour drive.
I highly recommend renting a car for your trip to Banff National Park. There are a few shuttle options in the park, but having the flexibility to do and see what you want when you want is necessary for the Canadian Rockies!
Best Places to Stay Near Banff National Park
If you decide to spend the night near Banff National Park, I recommend staying in Canmore or Banff. Canmore tends to be cheaper than Banff, but Banff is closer to the popular sights. They have plenty of hotels, an endless amount of restaurants and a great grocery store with decent prices, so you are golden if you stay in Banff!
If you have or can rent camping gear or a campervan, I highly recommend it because there are campgrounds close to Banff National Park. If you are interested in renting a campervan, I highly recommend renting from Escape Campervans!
Best Banff Hotels:
Blackstone Mountain Lodge (Canmore) - We stayed at this hotel and loved our time there!
Solara Resort & Spa (Canmore)
Fairmont Banff Springs (Banff)
Moose Hotel & Suites (Banff)
Best Banff Campgrounds:
Banff Itinerary: The 10 Best Things To Do in Banff National Park
Lake Louise and Moraine Lake
We are going to start off this Banff National Park itinerary strong with one of the most beautiful and best lakes in Banff National Park! Lake Louise and Moraine Lake are the most visited spots in Banff National Park. They are both known for their beautiful turquoise lakes with mountain backdrops.
Lake Louise is twice the size of Moraine Lake, however, Moraine Lake is more popular because of its stunning scenery. Both spots are insanely beautiful, but Moraine Lake is more breathtaking, in my opinion. Both are among the best things to do in Banff National Park, and are some of the best sunrise spots!
Note: Moraine Lake is closed to personal vehicles to help alleviate traffic and congestion at the spot. Instead, you have to use the public shuttle bus system.
There is so much to do at these lakes, so no matter what time of day you go, it’ll be fun! You can bike and hike in the warm months and ski and snowshoe in the colder months. One of the most popular activities is canoeing which is a magical experience at either one of these lakes.
But be prepared to spend some money if you rent. Rentals start around $100. SAY WHAT?! If you want to experience these lakes in the best way possible, in my opinion, you have to hike! The hikes here aren’t difficult, so don’t worry.
One of the best Banff National Park hikes at Moraine Lake is the Rockpile Trail. It’s a 0.2-mile hike to the top of a - you guessed it - rockpile! It provides breathtaking views of the lake. If you are looking for something longer and less crowded, the Moraine Lakeshore Trail is for you! It’s a three-mile hike around the shoreline of the lake to the back of the lake.
The easiest and best Banff National Park hike at Lake Louise is the Lake Louise Shoreline Trail. Similar to the one at Moraine Lake, the 2.5-mile trail brings you along the shorelines to the back of the lake. This is where you can see the reason for the lake’s turquoise blue color - the silt from Victoria Glacier.
Another easy trail is the Fairview Lookout Trail. It is a one-mile trail that brings you to a viewing platform towards the back of the lake. If you want a more difficult hike, the Lake Agnes Tea House Trail is for you! This is a very popular trail that brings you to a tea house where you can get tea, soup, and sandwiches! You gain over 1,000 feet of elevation in 2 miles, so it’s more difficult than the others listed.
Along with the tea house, you get to see Mirror Lake and Lake Agnes. Both are on the smaller side but are so beautiful and worth putting on your Banff National Park itinerary.
Two Jack Lake and 4. Lake Minnewanka
Two of the best lakes in Banff National Park are Two Jack Lake and Lake Minnewanka. Two Jack Lake flows into Lake Minnewanka and is often overlooked but is just as beautiful! Lake Minnewanka is an iconic lake in Banff National Park that is the second-longest lake in the Canadian Rockies national parks!
Because these two lakes are incredibly scenic, they are busy but are worth adding to your Banff National Park itinerary. I highly recommend visiting them in the early morning or late afternoon to avoid some crowds.
One of the best ways to explore Lake Minnewanka is by boat! The Lake Minnewanka Cruise is a one-hour scenic boat ride that brings you through the beautiful lake waters and allows you to take in the incredible views. The views are breathtaking no matter where you look because beautiful mountains surround Lake Minnewanka!
If you want to explore Lake Minnewanka on your own, you can rent a boat, kayak, or canoe. The boat rentals are pretty expensive (over $80 per hour), but they allow you to explore everything Lake Minnewanka has to offer. And if you visit in the summer, you can take a dip in Two Jack Lake or Lake Minnewanka! The waters are cold but refreshing. No matter how you want to experience Two Jack Lake or Lake Minnewanka, they will be some of the best things to do in Banff National Park!
Norquay Lookout
Norquay Lookout is a beautiful lookout spot at the top of a winding road on the side of the Norquay Ski Area. You obviously cannot ski here in the summer, but you could go for a gondola ride to the top of the ski area!
It was pretty smoky the day we came up here, so we decided to only take a stop at the lookout. The parking area for the lookout is at a bend in the road, so you won’t miss adding it to your Banff National Park itinerary!
There is an open field beyond a rock wall that gives you some breathtaking views of Bow Valley and the town of Banff. Driving Norquay Lookout is one of the best things to do in Banff National Park for those looking for a beautiful drive to an incredible lookout.
There were two red chairs that Alex and I sat in to eat our lunch while taking in the views. As you can see from our picture, it was super smoky but still beautiful! I’ve seen pictures without smoke and woooooof. Beautiful! This is a must-see place when you travel to Banff National Park! It’s an easy drive that provides incredible views. Why wouldn’t you come here?!
Banff Gondola
If you are looking for an even more incredible view of Banff National Park that is easily accessible, you should add the Banff Gondola to your Banff National Park itinerary! In less than ten minutes, the Banff Gondola brings you up to over 7,400 feet and offers some of the best views in Banff National Park.
Once you are at the summit station, you can hike the Sulphur Mountain Boardwalk, eat a meal surrounded by mountain views, or simply take in the incredible views of Bow Valley from the many viewpoints. I highly recommend taking the time to hike the short Sulphur Mountain Boardwalk to get the most impressive views! No matter how you want to experience the Banff Gondola, it will be one of the best things to do in Banff National Park!
Bow Valley Parkway
Bow Valley Parkway is a must-see scenic drive and one of the best things to do in Banff National Park. It runs along the Trans-Canada Highway for 30 miles and is a great alternative drive from Banff to Lake Louise. Although this road doesn’t provide you with quite the views the Icefields Parkway does, it still has a lot to offer!
This beautiful drive is an amazing spot to see animals, especially in the early hours. We saw moose, deer, and bears on this road. It was AWESOME. It is also home to some beautiful lookout spots, so make sure to add it to your Banff National Park itinerary.
Johnston Canyon
This place needed its own number because it is THAT beautiful, so jump to the next section if you want to read about it!
Castle Mountain
There are A LOT of mountains in Alberta. You are in the Rocky Mountains, so duh. But Castle Mountain was different for Alex and I. We saw a picture of it and immediately knew we needed to meet this beautiful, 9,000-foot mountain in person. And yes, it does have a castle-like appearance.
Castle Mountain actually had a name change in 1946 to Mount Eisenhower to honor Dwight Eisenhower for his World War II service. However, a lot of people did not like this change, so its name changed back to Castle Mountain 30 years later.
If you are looking for a nice hike, the Castle Mountain Lookout Trail is for you! The 4.5-mile trail is one of the best Banff National Park hikes and gains 1,700 feet of elevation, so get it does get steep. However, it is a short hike to a beautiful lookout, so it is well worth it! The lookout provides views of the entire Bow Valley. It is amazing!
Rockbound Lake & Tower Lake
Another great Banff National Park hike in the area is the Rockbound Lake Trail. Blue lakes on top of mountains? TAKE ME THERE! This is an awesome 10-mile hike gaining over 2,400 feet of elevation. It does get steep at points, but there are many switchbacks to help with the elevation gain.
You will first encounter Tower Lake which is a small but beautiful lake with green waters. It is a great resting spot to eat a snack before finishing the rest of the trail to Rockbound Lake. You will need a snack break, my friends. The last push is steep, so be prepared! Rockbound Lake makes it all worth it! It is in the middle of the mountains but has an open section with an incredible view of the Rockies. There is a trail that brings you above the lake and allows you to take in the full beauty of this area.
If you have the time, make sure to hike this trail because it is one of the best things to do in Banff National Park!
Storm Mountain Lookout & Morant’s Curve
Both Storm Mountain Lookout and Morant’s Curve are pullover spots on the Bow Valley Parkway and should not be skipped on your Banff National Park itinerary. All you need is a few minutes at each spot to take in the beauty of the Bow River with a spectacular mountain backdrop.
Morant’s Curve is one of the most photographed spots in Banff National Park! If you time it right, you will be able to capture the classic picture of a train running along the river.
Johnston Canyon
A fairly easy hike to multiple waterfalls?! Uh, yes, please. Sign me up!!
Johnston Canyon is a very popular hike through a beautiful canyon along Johnston Creek and is one of the best things to do in Banff National Park. The hike brings you to two big waterfalls - Lower Falls and Upper Falls - but there are many smaller waterfalls along the trail.
The hike to Lower Falls is the easier portion of the trail since there is minimal elevation gain. There is a tunnel across from the falls that provides an awesome viewpoint. The line will be LONG to get there though. We didn’t go to this viewpoint because we heard people complaining they were in line for 20 minutes already! No thanks. We enjoyed our view from the other side and began to hike towards Upper Falls.
The hike to Upper Falls has more elevation gain but still isn’t overly strenuous. This portion of the trail was our favorite! Sections of the trail are under super tall trees while other sections follow the creek offering views of smaller waterfalls. So awesome!
As you approach Upper Falls, you will notice there are two viewing areas - one across and one above the waterfall. We went to both! The one across from the waterfall had a short line that moved quickly which was nice. It offers a beautiful view of the falls from the bottom. The view from above, however, was my favorite. It’s a small ascent to this platform and allows you to look down at the falls. So pretty!
If the trail to Upper Falls wasn’t enough for you, you can continue to hike another two miles to the Ink Pots! The Ink Pots are green-colored mineral springs sitting in a beautiful meadow! This portion of the trail is less trafficked, so it’s peaceful. If you have the time, I recommend hiking to the Ink Pots!
This was my favorite hike of our trip since we didn’t get to hike to any summits due to the amount of smoke in the area. It is one of the best Banff National Park hikes that should be on everyone’s Banff National Park itinerary.
Bow Lake
When you hear about Banff National Park, you hear about Peyto Lake, Lake Louise, and Moraine Lake. You don’t hear as much about Bow Lake even though it is one of the most beautiful and best lakes in Banff National Park.
It is not a hidden gem since it is easily accessible off of the Icefields Parkway, but it tends to be less crowded than the other lakes in Banff National Park. It is a nice change of pace and one of the best things to do in Banff National Park!
Bow Lake is one of the largest lakes in Banff National Park sitting at an elevation over 6,000 feet! Similar to the other lakes in the area, it is fed by a melting glacier which gives the water a blue color.
If you are looking for a beautiful reflection shot, this is the place for you! Clear skies and calm waters allow for a beautiful reflection of its neighbor Bow Summit. This is a great place for sunrise, too, so make sure to add it to your Banff National Park itinerary!
Peyto Lake
I am saving the best lake in Banff National Park for last!
Peyto Lake is unworldly and is easily one of the best things to do in Banff National Park. Plain and simple. Its bright turquoise color makes it one of the most beautiful lakes in the world! “Is the water really that blue, or is your picture photoshopped?” No photoshop here, folks! The water is actually THAT blue. The lake is fed from melting glaciers similar to most of Alberta’s lakes. The melting brings glacier sediments to the lake which gives it the turquoise color when the sun hits it. It’s an amazing sight!
When I first saw a picture of Peyto Lake, I thought the classic picture view required a crazy hike. Guess what? IT’S DOESN’T!! It’s actually very easy to get to the viewing platform. The parking lot is easily accessible off of the Icefields Parkway and the parking lot will be packed because it is one of the best Banff National Park hikes.
Once you are parked and ready to go, it’s time to walk 2 miles up a moderately steep path. The path is paved which makes the hike easier! The small hike ends at a viewing platform with views of Peyto Lake and the surrounding mountains. It is B-E-A-Uiful. Go ahead and drool. It’s okay, you are not the only one.
Mother Nature was kind to us the day we visited Peyto Lake (THANK YOU!!). The smoke was clear, and the skies were blue, so we were able to experience the full beauty of this lake. It was very crowded at the lookout because everyone wants to classic shot, but there was plenty of room!
After you clean up your drool and take a billion pictures, it’s time for some decision-making! You can head back to the car and continue your adventure on the Icefields Parkway, OR you can hike! There are a few great hikes around Peyto Lakes that offer amazing views.
One of the popular ones is the hike to Bow Valley Summit. From the viewing platform, follow the path to the left. At the 3-way intersection, take the middle path. This will lead you up to the Bow Valley Summit where there are beautiful views and fewer crowds. There are multiple lookout points along the trail, but the best view is at the end! You will be at the south end of the lake looking north.
The hike will take an hour or two round trip, so make sure to give yourself some time! If you want a completely different view, you are in luck! You are able to hike to the lake’s shoreline from an unmarked pull-off area about 1 mile north. However, this trail is STEEP and will take you about 1 hour round trip. It’s totally worth it if you want to dip your toes in the cold waters!
No matter how you want to experience this beautiful lake, you will not be disappointed! Make sure to add Peyto Lake to your Banff National Park itinerary!
What to Pack for a Banff National Park Itinerary
Hiking Boots: If you want comfort and support on your trip, hiking boots are the go to.
Hiking Socks: Having moisture-wicking and comfortable hiking socks are just as important for exploring.
Hiking Backpack: You need something to carry all your food, clothes, and anything else you need while adventuring, so having a supportive hiking backpack is crucial.
Hydration Reservoir/Water Bottles: While hiking or just exploring, it is important to have enough water! I always pack a hydration reservoir.
Jackets: The weather is unpredictable, so I always pack a rain jacket and insulated jacket.
Ten Essentials: The Ten Essentials are crucial for hiking!
Microspikes: If you plan on winter hiking, you will need to bring microspikes.
Snowshoes: Also if you hike in the winter, you may need snowshoes.
Banff National Park will not disappoint with its beautiful lakes and epic mountains! This guide reviews everything you need to create an epic Banff National Park itinerary, including travel tips, where to stay, Banff National Park hikes, the best things to do in Banff National Park, and the best lakes in Banff National Park.
THE BIG QUESTION: Now that you have seen a picture of Peyto Lake, do you think it is shaped like a fox??
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!
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