In my opinion, if there is one thing to visit in Canada, it should be to visit one of the amazing national parks. Canada has gorgeous national parks, from Banff, Soho, Jasper, Bruce Peninsula, and much more. Banff National Park is one of the most popular ones. It is located only 1h30 away by car from Calgary, which is where most people start their road trip to Banff National Park. There are so many beautiful spots in Banff National Park, so I have made a list of the 6 best places to visit in Banff National Park. Having gone to all of these places myself in 2020, I can attest that all of these places are truly amazing.
Table of Contents
- General Information
- 1. Bow River
- 2. Lake Louise
- 3. Moraine Lake
- 4. Sulfur Mountain
- 5. Johnston Canyon
- 6. Lake Minnewanka
General Information
How do you get to Banff National Park?
Most people land in Vancouver or in Calgary, although the Calgary Airport is the closest to Banff (around 1h30). I highly highly recommend renting a car. When I visited Banff National Park, I rented a car. It allowed for a lot of flexibility and a lot cheaper than tours. Click here to check out all the rental car options from Calgary.
If you would rather go with a tour group and have a guide, click here for all the amazing available options!
How many days should I spend in Banff National Park?
The amount of time spent in Banff National Park really depends on the types of activities that you would like to do. If you would like to visit a bit and do some short hikes, the main activities can be done in 2 to 3 days. If however you are looking for longer day to multi day hikes, then you spend more time there. When I travelled to Banff, I spent 3 days there (and I also continued to road trip to Jasper National Park afterwards).
Is there an entry fee to Banff National Park?
Yes, there is an entry fee. Click here to see which entry fee is applicable to you.
If you only plan on spending 2 or 3 days in Banff National Park, then the daily admissions fee could be for you. If however you can planning to spend more time, you could get the Parks Canada Discovery Pass. If for example you also decide to visit another national park after Banff (for example, Jasper National Park), this same pass can be used.
Where should I stay in Banff National Park?
The town in Banff National Park is called Banff. There are many accommodations in that town. Click here to see all of your options! If you prefer not staying in the town, you can also expand the search map to look at accommodations around.
If you have a car, it will be easy for you to travel so you could possibly opt for booking a stay outside of the town. However, if you are in town, you will have access to the public transport.
1. Bow River
Bow River is a very long river that runs through Banff National Park. Therefore, you can see this river from many different points. However, there is one popular view point, which is pinned on the google maps above called “Bow River Trail.” At this location, you will also be able to see Bow Falls, which is a waterfall that is part of the formation of Bow River.
To get here, you can park at “Central Park Parking Lot,” which is pinned on the Google Maps. Then, you can walk South-East, along Bow River and towards the direction of Bow Falls.
If you are looking for a more unique way to discover Bow River, click here for a 1-hour horseback ride along Bow river.
2. Lake Louise
Lake Louise is such a must to visit during your trip to Banff National Park. The beautiful blue lake is surrounded by mountains and a glacier in the back. A very popular activity to do in Lake Louise is to hike one of their many hiking trails and to canoe on the lake.
To get there, you can park your car at the Lake Louise Lakefront. However, this parking lot gets so so crowded, and the parking spots free up only rarely throughout the day. Therefore, the other option is to take a shuttle or public transit.
When I visited Lake Louise, I actually stayed at the Fairmont Château Lake Louise for one night. Because of our stay, we could then park in the parking lot of the hotel. I will say, when I went, it was during COVID so the prices were a lot lower than it currently is. However, if you would like to splurge on this accommodation, feel free to do so. Click here to book your stay!
3. Moraine Lake
Moraine Lake is another iconic Lake in Banff National Park. From the parking lot, it is only a 5-10 minute walk until you get to the most famous view of Moraine Lake. Although there aren’t many famous hikes near Moraine Lake as there is with Lake Louise, you can along Moraine Lake to see it from various angles.
Just like Lake Louise, Moraine Lake also offers canoe rentals. The prices are similar between the two lakes so if you would like to choose one, it is really up to you.
To get there, you will have to take a shuttle. When I travelled to Moraine Lake in 2020, you were able to park in their parking lot right next to the lake if you got there very early. However, things have changed and you can only access it via a shuttle now.
If you would like a guided experience and where they organize the transports to Moraine Lake and back, click here for an amazing tour. This tour also includes a visit to Lake Louise. Because these two lakes are more complicated to get to due to the parking and shuttle situation, booking this tour can provide a more stress-free experience.
4. Sulfur Mountain
Sulfur Mountain is a super popular mountain located only a few minutes away from the town of Banff. Once at the top, it overlooks the city of Banff. The parking there is big enough to accommodate visitors.
There are two ways people make it to the top of Sulfur Mountain: either by hiking or by taking the Banff Gondola. Both options are super popular, so it is really up to you on the type of experience that you would like. The cost to take the Banff Gondola is 55 CAD (whereas hiking is free). When I went, we took the Banff Gondola. If I were to go again, I would definitely choose to hike it.
5. Johnston Canyon
Johnston Canyon is a long canyon, with the two main attraction points being the Lower Falls and the Upper Falls. It is beautiful and I highly recommend a visit!
From the parking lot, you will have to walk a bit on a walking path built on the side of the canyon before reaching the Lower and Upper Falls. The whole path is beautiful, so make sure to take your time and enjoy the surrounding canyon.
6. Lake Minnewanka
Lake Minnewanka is a beautiful glacial lake located in Banff National Park. Although not as crowded as the other lakes such as Moraine Lake and Lake Louise, it is such an amazing spot! Many people go paddle boarding, kayaking and going for a picnic. When I visited, I did not have time to do these activities but if you do or plan so time to do so, I highly recommend!
To get to Lake Minnewanka, you can park your car at “Lake Minnewanka Parking Lot.” The parking lot is small though, so I recommend getting here early. If not, there is often cars that come in and out because most people do not spend the whole day here.
Jessie Across the World 