Hi adventure fam! I recently returned from an incredible week exploring the provinces of Alberta and British Colombia, Canada. So many amazing memories, and as the world starts opening more for international travel, I wanted to provide you with an itinerary for this insane place! First, here are a few logistics.
Where to Stay
Let me preface this by saying: Banff is big! Like, really big. If you want to do Banff right, I suggest staying right in the middle of the action. We stayed near Lake Louise and it was the perfect home base for everything on this itinerary. For a moderate hotel, check out the Lake Louise Inn. Very comfortable and close to everything. If you want to splurge you can also stay right on the lake itself at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. Be prepared to pay a pretty penny for that!
Getting Around
As I said before, Banff is huge, and a lot of the beauty of this area can be found in the scenic drives. I highly recommend renting a car. You will thank yourself big time. Some places have buses or shuttles, but if you really want to do this particular itinerary you will definitely want a car.
Time to Visit
Time of year for Banff is key. Summertime is when the weather is mildest, but these are also the months of peak tourism. July and August will bring your warmest weather while allowing you to still access some of the bigger hikes, but September and October bring far less crowds and you can see the incredible golden larches! Be warned, though, the first snow typically hits during the end of September or early October. DRESS WARM!
Alright, now that we know some basics, here’s your 4 Day Banff Itinerary!
Day 1:
Since you are feeling excited and ready, this is your day to start early!
Start with sunrise at Lake Moraine. This parking lot is very small and often fills up by 6:30am for sunrise seekers (or earlier!). Arrive in time and you may catch the last of the stars. *Pro Tip: Don’t go directly to the water. Take the trail on the far side of the parking lot. This will curve up and around to a great viewing area of this iconic lake.
Next, this is where you need to determine how sketchy you want to get! We hiked up Tower of Babel. This is an unmarked ‘trail’. Basically a straight scramble up rocks and scree for 1700 vertical feet. The view is absolutely incredible, but I only recommend this for you very experienced hikers out there! There are zero signs of where to start, so if you do this, download the AllTrails map before you go. And having a local to guide you along the way helped me a ton!
For a calmer vibe, explore the small village and shops of Lake Louise before an afternoon hike. Head to Lake Louise next. You can either take a shuttle from various stops around the village or pay to park, approximately $10. We paid and found it well worth it. Hang out along the shores of the lake, grab a drink at the chateau, and then start your hike to the Lake Agnes Tea House. This is a 4.5 mile out and back trail with approximately 1400 feet of elevation gain. But you are rewarded with a beautiful alpine lake with a cozy cabin to grab a cup of tea or some light refreshments. Pack cash for this one!
From here you can continue your hike to a number of places! There is little Beehive, Big Beehive, the Plain of Six Glaciers, and Mount St. Piran (we did this one). For those of you who live for sunrise summits, Mount St. Piran provides one of the best in this area with a smaller risk of avalanche! This adds 3.5 miles roundtrip and doubles the elevation of the Saint Agnes Tea House, but it is a very well maintained and easy-to-follow trail.
Speaking of avalanches, practice avalanche safety! Many roads have signs of no stopping zones and if a hike seems too dangerous, just turn around. Even at the end of summer we heard an avalanche on a distant peak, so be cautious always!
Day 2:
Drive the Icefields Parkway
The Icefields Parkway is one of the top scenic drives in the world, and for good reason. This drive can be done in a day (but it takes approximately 3.5 hours each way to Jasper from Lake Louise), or you can drive one way and stay a night up in Jasper. There are so many beautiful things to see along the way, but here are a few of my favorites:
Bow Lake
Big Bend
Athabasca Glacier
Tangled Falls
Sunwapta Falls
Athabasca Falls
For an in depth description of these stops and more about the Icefields Parkway, click here for my Top 8 Stops along the Icefields Parkway blog entry.
You can put these destinations in the order above into Google Maps and it will route you from place to place so you don’t miss a thing!
When you arrive to Jasper, take some time to wander around this cute downtown area. We ate at The Raven and loved the seafood there! Then be sure to drive about ten minutes out of town to Pyramid Lake for the perfect sunset spot!
Day 3:
Sunrise at Herbert Lake: This lake is only an 8 minute drive from the Lake Louise area and usually there isn’t anyone else around! Definitely a hidden gem for sunrise!
Next head over to Johnston Canyon. This area gets BUSY very fast, so go as early as you can right after sunrise. This is an easy paved trail and is popular with tour buses, but still worth a stop. The 3 mile out and back trail leads through a canyon to several beautiful waterfalls! Skip the inkpots if you want to see more this day! They are pretty far and mainly inactive now. When you reach lower falls on this trail, follow the path to the cave on the right, and have your camera ready…that’s all I’ll say!
After your short hike, eat at Black Swift Bistro! Their breakfast was to die for, and no matter what time of day, DESSERT!
Relax for a bit before heading over to Yoho Valley.
*The road to access this area is closed in the winter due to avalanche danger, so be sure to check if it is open on the dates you visit.
Drive over to Takakkaw Falls, one of the tallest waterfalls I have ever seen! A short walk takes you right to the base of the falls. There is a trail with several other falls in the area, and for you backpackers this is the perfect area for some backcountry exploring.
Finally, drive over to Emerald Lake for sunset. On a calm day the reflections on this lake are unparalleled. You can rent a canoe and go on the lake, or cross the bridge and walk around the Emerald Lake Lodge. We ate there and absolutely loved our meal!
Day 4:
On the final day of our itinerary we have time to explore the actual town of Banff!
Definitely make a stop at the Banff Springs Hotel, one of the most beautifully constructed hotels I have ever seen. Make sure you go inside and wander around. It feels like you are in your own castle and boasts some incredible views!
If you want a relaxing day, check out the Nordic Spa. We didn’t, but I have heard awesome things about this place from the locals and definitely would go next time.
If you want another day of hiking, here are some of the best in the area:
Grassi Lakes
Troll Falls
Heart Creek Bunker
Then make sure you enjoy Banff town and definitely eat an extra Beavertail for me!!
There it is everyone! Four magical days in the Banff area of Canada. This place is truly wild, and I hope you get the chance to visit someday. As always, drop me any questions below and sign up for the email list to stay up to date on all the latest! Happy adventures, fam!