Banff National Park, Canada

Banff National Park

How to get there and Where to Stay:

We flew into Calgary (nearest airport), rented a car from the Airport, and drove west 1.5 hours to Banff via the Trans Canada Highway.

We stayed at The Juniper Hotel which is right outside of Banff town (directly off the highway). It is the perfect place to stay if you plan to do a lot of driving and exploring each day. It was nice not having to drive through town everyday and deal with traffic or parking. The food is great at the on-site bistro and you can’t beat the views (hotel room balcony, restaurant, hot tub). We could have eaten The Grilled Avocado breakfast everyday. (see pictures below). P.S. They rent out bear spray at the hotel for free so no need to purchase any on your own.

Glacier Fed Lakes:

The highlight of our trip was exploring many of the glacier-fed lakes throughout Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies. The mint, turquoise, and emerald colors of the water are like nothing we have ever seen before. Here’s a list of some of the lakes we visited:

Vermillion Lakes – There are three 3 lakes right across the highway from The Juniper Hotel (before passing the sign to Banff downtown). We went for sunset the evening we arrived and it was incredible to watch the sunset from there, with the Vermillion Mountains in the distance perfectly reflected in the lake.

Lake Louise – We parked and took a shuttle to get here ($10 per person). Parking lots are full by sunrise in peak season (between May and October). It will be important to plan ahead. This article is helpful with transportation planning. We spent the afternoon hiking from the base of Lake Louise to Lake Agnes and then on to Beehive Point. On this hike you will pass by Mirror Lake and a tea house at Lake Agnes which makes it a really fun hike. The Tea House is an awesome family-run tea house. The employees hike up with the supplies and food daily so be sure to stop by and enjoy it (FYI it is cash only). Be on the lookout for a post specific to this hike for more details.

Moraine Lake – We went at sunrise to catch first light on the mountains. If you would like to do the same be sure to arrive early to beat the crowd and park in the parking lot. If you don’t arrive before sunrise you will most likely have to park and take the shuttle) The same shuttle services are offered for Moraine Lake that are offered for Lake Lousie (see link above regarding transportation times and prices). If you arrive before sunrise be sure to wear layers – it’s chilly before the sun is up. Make sure to walk around to see the lake from different vantage points: Around the boat dock, up Rockpile trail to the view points, from a canoe on the lake, etc. The canoe rentals start about 8:30AM and cost $80 an hour. We chose to take a canoe out on the lake and it was one of our favorite experiences. It is absolutely magical riding on top of water that color. You’re able to immerse yourself in the landscape and get a closer view of the mountains.

Bow Lake – Driving up Icefields Parkway is an adventure on its own because of the views. Drive just past the roadside view point on the left for Bow Lake and take the road down to the parking lot to the lake itself. This is where you can walk across the bridges and view the waterfalls and mountains across the lake .

Tip: On your way home,you can take the Lake Louise exit and drive down Bow Valley Pkwy/Whitehorn Rd/AB-1A E to take the backroads. Going right before sunset will be your best chance at seeing wildlife. We went this way and made a stop at Morant’s Curve for a picture. We didn’t wait around to capture the iconic view of the railway with the train going by, but I feel like it would be worth it to do so.

Peyto Lake – It is a ten minute uphill walk to this lookout. If you go to Bow Lake, you might as well continue on to Peyto Lake because it is just north of Bow Lake. The lake is shaped like a wolf, and like many of the other glacier-fed lakes, it is an incredible blue color (Note: Peyto Lake is now closed until August 2021)

These are the lakes that we were intentional about seeing, but on your drives you will pass by countless rivers and bodies of water that honestly make driving around part of the fun.

Other Things to Do:

Venture to YOHO National Park – it’s so close, why not? We stopped at:
- Emerald Lake – it is straight out of a fairytale with the deep emerald color of the water and the picturesque lodge
- Natural Bridge – Quick stop at an impressive natural bridge (insert picture)
Banff Gondola to Sulphur Mountain. It costs $51 per person which is pricey, but we felt like it was worth it to see the panoramic views of the town and mountain ranges surrounding you. You are basically on top of the world. We went during the Sunset Festival so it was a good time drinking beer, listening to the live music and taking in the views.
Downtown Banff – cute downtown worth exploring the many shops and restaurants. Our favorites were having steak and fondue at the Grizzly House, brunch at Touloulous, and Cool as a Moose souvenir shop.
Johnston Canyon – a nice changeup of scenery from the many lakes. A leisurely, easy trail hike will take you to numerous waterfalls as you walk through the canyons.