Your Ultimate Guide to Banff National Park

Are you looking for an unforgettable natural experience? Look no further than Banff National Park! As Canada’s oldest national park, Banff offers unparalleled beauty and adventure. With over 6,600 square kilometers of stunning mountain peaks, glaciers, and ice fields, Banff is the perfect destination for hiking, camping, skiing, snowboarding, and wildlife-watching. You won’t regret visiting Banff National Park – it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you’ll cherish forever.

I had very little time to plan this trip. I had just gotten back from Europe after going to the world’s biggest EDM festival Tomorrowland and had resigned from my job. I had 2 weeks off before starting my dream job and did not know what to do. I was just browsing last-minute flight tickets and saw that my long-forgotten dream of visiting this national park could finally come true.

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Before you go

• ⏰ Best time to go: If you wish to go for ski season, then December through January, and the summer season is best from June to September. When lakes are not frozen in June, the shuttle service starts and the temperatures are good during the days.
• 📅 I went from August 22nd – 24th 2024.
• 🚌 BOOK your shuttles to Lake Louise & Lake Moraine ASAP. Find details below under the section “Shuttle Service”
• ⛰ Moraine Lake opens on June 1st
• 🛂 For US citizens, you do not need special visas or anything to Canada. Use this official website to see if you need a visa to visit Canada: https://ircc.canada.ca/english/visit/visas.asp
• 💰The currency is the Canadian Dollar. I did not exchange any currency as all the places in Canada took cards.
• 🇨🇦 Language is English

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Today I will go through:

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1. Airport: YYC, Calgary International Airport in Calgary, Alberta 🇨🇦
2. Getting to the town of Banff
3. There are a lot of shuttles you can book which can be found on this amazing blog here: https://thebanffblog.com/calgary-to-banff/ If you wish to book a private shuttle, I would look at the options by GetYourGuide below.
4. Rental Car
5. Where to stay: As a solo traveler, I loved my stay at Samesun Hostel in the town of Banff.
6. Free shuttle service in Banff and how to book them
7. Day 1 – Hikes starting in Kananaskis
   • Breakfast at Samsun Hostel
   • East End of the Rundle
   • Elelyn’s Coffee World
   • Two Jacks Lake
   • Peyto Lake
8. Day 2 – Explore the town of Banff
   • Banff National Park sign
   • Wildflour Banff
   • Banff Gondola
   • Anejo Restaurant
9. Day 3 – Exploring Lake Louise & Moraine Lake
   • Sunrise at Lake Louise
   • The Lakeshore Trail
   • Big Beehive Trail
   • Devil’s Thumb Hike
   • Morain Lake
   • Rockpile Hike

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1 – ✈️ Airport: YYC, Calgary International Airport

There is only one main airport you can fly to:

1. YYC, Calgary International Airport

The Calgary International Airport is the closest major airport to Banff National Park. It’s located about 90 minutes from the park, and several transportation options are available from the airport to Banff, including shuttles, buses, and car rentals. If you’re flying into Calgary, you’ll have convenient access to Banff and all its natural beauty.

2 – Getting to BANFF

3 – Where to stay: Samesun Banff

Samesun is a hostel chain that provides budget accommodation options for travelers, particularly popular among backpackers and those seeking affordable lodging options. The Banff location offers dormitory-style rooms with shared facilities, as well as common areas where guests can socialize and relax. It’s known for its friendly atmosphere and often hosts events and activities for guests to participate in. Located in the picturesque town of Banff, surrounded by the stunning Rocky Mountains, the hostel serves as a convenient base for exploring the natural beauty and outdoor adventures of the area.

My flight was delayed a little bit so I ended up getting into Banff a little later than I had expected but they were so nice about leaving my name and key at the front desk and so when I arrived, I was able to pick up the keycard and go straight to my room. 

Samesun was right in the center of the town of Banff and it was a very good location from my point of view because I got to explore Banff National Park and the town of Banff a little bit. If you want to stay a little bit closer to the national park and Lake Louise, HI Lake Louise Alpine Centre was another good hostel that was recommended by a bunch of other solo travelers I met. 

🥘 They provide breakfast in the morning every day 

📅 They also have great activities every day in the evening to get all the travelers together. From Live music at their on-site bar to great happy hour deals 

🅿️ They also have free parking on a first come first served basis. When I arrived at the hostel late at night, there was no parking in the hostel lot but there are plenty of streets around the hostel where there is free parking so if you have a rental it should not be an issue. Just make sure to watch for signs where you park. I parked right on Cougar St at the Cougar & Fox St intersection. 

🤳Wifi service was really good throughout the property

I would highly recommend staying at @samesunhostels if you are looking for a budget-friendly option and also if you are a solo traveler because of all the great events they throw every evening. 

This hostel was in a great area and had it all from an in-house restaurant to co-working spaces for digital nomads. The hostel also hosts events for solo travelers to come together and socialize. There is a full-size kitchen if you prefer cooking, and they have many open hanging-out spaces. One of the nights, we played heads-up with some of the friends we made at the hostel in one of these open hanging-out spaces.

Reserve here: Samsun Banff Hostel

🔑 When I stay at hostels, I like the bottom bunk and Samsun runs on a first come first serve basis. So, you check in, go up to your room, and take the empty bed. I luckily saw an empty bottom bunk and took it. 

I stayed for 4 nights and thought it was enough for my stay but I could have used a day or two extra to go to nearby national parks to explore a little more. 

if you do not wish to stay at a hostel, there are a lot of available options that fit your needs:

Photo Courtesy of Samsun & Mrshutterup.com

4 – Shuttle Service

Since 2023, the road to Moraine Lake has been closed to personal vehicles so it makes no sense to take your car into the national park because even if you do drive into the national park and find parking at Lake Louise, you won’t be able to drive to Moraine Lake. You must leave the national park and get on a shuttle for Moraine Lake. So, to save time, just park your car at the park & ride at Lake Louise Ski Resort, and take the shuttle in. 

Here is how you book the shuttle. The booking experience is better on a desktop vs. mobile browser so be aware. 

1️⃣ Go to reservation.pc.gc.ca

2️⃣ Click on “Day use”. If you are on a mobile browser, it is not very obvious, you will have to click on the right arrow. The desktop version is a lot more user-friendly. You can see the “Day use” tab much easier. 

4️⃣ Select “Shuttle to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake”

5️⃣ follow the prompts from there

💵 CAD 11.00 

It does not matter if you get a “Lake Louise” or “Moraine Lake” shuttle because you will be able to use the same ticket all day to go to both lakes. Go to Photo 5 to see what that ticket/card looks like. It will have your last name and the date on it and you will need to make sure you have that on you at all times. 

If you didn’t make your reservation on time and the slots are sold out, additional seats will be released in a rolling window, at 8 a.m. MDT two days prior to departure day.

Reservations are required for all shuttles departing the Park and Ride to either lake. Tickets are for a one-hour window; you may show up anytime during that hour. Once at the lakes you may stay as long as you choose and connect between Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. Your ticket includes a return shuttle service from either lake back to the Park and Ride when you are ready.

One ticket gives you the flexibility to see both iconic lakes on the same day. 

Make sure to book your shuttle reservations first thing as you start planning your Banff trip. 

5 – Day 1

1. Breakfast at Samsun Hostel

Breakfast is included in your stay at Samsun hostel so start your day with some really good breakfast. The breakfast includes all the great classics. Bread and jam, milk and cereal, pancakes, waffles, and much more.

2. Hike: East End of the Rundle

How should you split your days between different areas to hike in/by Banff? Areas around Banff have hiking and viewpoints all around. I would recommend splitting your days between going towards Kananaskis for your first day. 

The first hike that I decided to take on was the East End of the Rundle. This was one of the top 3 most toughest hikes I’ve done. There isn’t a lot of marking on the hike after the initial first 0.5 miles and to top it off, it was boulders on boulders and it was so hot that I had to pretty much strip everything I had on besides shorts and a tank top. 

The hike to the top was manageable and I met some other people which made it easier. We talked and shared our travel stories as we climbed and by the time we were tired, we were at the top of the hike. But, coming down, it wasn’t very pleasant. I was hiking down and put my foot on a boulder thinking that it was in place but turns out the rock was not in place, it moved as soon as I put my foot on it and I slipped a good few feet scratching my forearms and hurting my knee. 

📝 Few things to note before you go on this hike: 

1️⃣ There is free parking right by the trailhead 

2️⃣ There are also bathroom facilities if you need them

3️⃣ Pack a good amount of water and do not wear heavy clothing items like hoodies and joggers. It may seem like you need it at the beginning but trust me, you will be seating a lot!

4️⃣ It’s only a 3-mile out-and-back hike but with a 2749-foot (837 m) elevation gain. 

5️⃣ It’s all boulders/rocky paths. The first 0.5 hike starts in a jungle and is flat but once you’re past that, it’s all uphill and just rocks’

Some more details on the hike: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/alberta/east-end-of-rundle-eeor

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3. Elelyn’s Coffee World

While I was on the hike, I had a little incident 😅 I was on my way down on the hike and I put my foot on a boulder thinking that it was settled well into the mountain but it turned out that it wasn’t. I put my foot on there and next thing you know, I’m flying down the side of the mountain. Literally. Ended up with some bruises and my knee was hurting for a while. A lesson I learned? Always make sure that you are putting your foot on something steady and are NOT RUSHING to get down from a hike. Especially when it’s a hike full of just boulders. 

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Once I got off the hike and made a pharmacy run, I decided I needed to relax for the day and not overdo myself with another hike of any sort. This is where I decided I was going to explore the town of Banff. The town of Banff is like any other mountain town you’d expect it to be. A lot of cabins, cozy vibes, and one Main Street filled with lots of small boutique shops and restaurants. On Banff Avenue, the Main Street, boutiques and restaurants mix with château-style hotels and souvenir shops. The surrounding 6,500 square kilometers of parkland are home to wildlife including elk and grizzly bears.

I started with some coffee & reading:

📍Evelyn’s Coffee World

They have a really good outdoor seating area and if you are sitting outside, you can pretty much see mountains all around you. It’s almost as if Banff is in a valley surrounded by mountains. It sort of reminded me of Yosemite National Park. Evelyn’s Coffee also has great sandwiches too and so I grabbed a Veggie sandwich to go so I could do my lunch from a scenic spot later in the day. Not that sitting outside of this cafe wasn’t scenic already. 

When you’re in Banff, make sure to check out Evelyn’s Coffee World! 

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4. Two Jacks Lake

I headed to check out some viewpoints with my car because clearly, I could barely walk and my right arm was all wounded 😅

A good spot I found was Two Jacks Lake. It was a quick 15-minute drive from the town of Banff and offered great views. The spot has picnic tables and a lot of parking spots and the water is pretty shallow so you can bring your paddle boards and enjoy some outdoor water activities. I saw quite a few people doing the same. 

The drive up to Two Jack Lake was also very scenic, follow the “Lake Minnewanka Scenic Dr”

5. Peyto Lake

After starting my day on a pretty eventful hike and hurting myself, I explored the town of Banff and a few other viewpoints. It was time for me to figure out where I was going to watch the sunset. A lake that was mentioned by a lot of other travelers I met was Peyto Lake.

Peyto Lake is part of Banff National Park but it is a good 100 KM (62 miles) / 1 hr 10 mins away from the town of Banff. I had a rental car on me and so it was very helpful for me to get out of the town and explore a few spots like this. I highly recommend coming to Peyto Lake because the hike is very easy to the viewing point and is very manageable. They also have a lot of parking available at the trailhead. 

📝 Some items to note about the hike:

📏 1.5-mile loop hike 

🚽 Bathrooms at the trailhead 

🅿️A lot of parking is available for cars and big trailer vans also 

🐕 Dogs are welcomed on the trail but on a leash 

📱 No cell service

⏰ On average with my somewhat broken knee, it took me 45 minutes 

🚸 The path is very smooth and is an actual asphalt road

Given the proximity of it to Banff, it’s not on the list of hikes to do for a lot of people but I would highly recommend it. It was well worth the drive. There were a lot of Canadian wildfires going on at the time I went so there wasn’t a perfect sunset because it was hazy I would recommend going during the day if you want a full turquoise-blue water view. 

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6 – Day 2

1. Banff National Park Sign

Start your day with a small hike by the national park entrance. I like taking pictures with the national park signs and I try to do that with all the national parks I visit. I’ve done that with Smokey Mountains National Park in Tennessee, Rocky Mountains National Park in Colorado and you name it. You will have to make this the first thing you do in the day because, by the time I got there at 11 am, there was a huge line to get a picture here. I did not wait around in the line to take a picture. Instead, I took it from far away as I was by myself anyway but this is a good spot to take a picture at if you are here with a group.

2. Wildflour Banff

Banff National Park isn’t just about breathtaking mountain vistas and pristine alpine lakes; it’s also a haven for food enthusiasts, with a range of delightful eateries to explore. One such gem tucked away in the heart of Banff is Wildflour Bakery. Whether you’re fueling up for a day of hiking in the Rockies or simply indulging in a leisurely afternoon treat, Wildflour Bakery is the perfect pit stop. Pair your pastry with a freshly brewed coffee or opt for one of their signature teas for a truly satisfying experience. So the next time you are planning a trip to Banff, be sure to carve out some time to savor the flavors of Wildflour Bakery.

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3. Banff Gondola

While Banff National Park’s natural beauty is undoubtedly awe-inspiring from ground level, there’s something truly magical about seeing it from above. Enter the Banff Gondola: a thrilling way to ascend to the summit of Sulphur Mountain and take in panoramic views that will leave you breathless. I intended on going here but the weather was really bad on my 2nd day in Banff that they closed early. Once you get to the ticket counter, they will recommend if it’s worth going up that day or not. For me, a similar thing happened. I got up to the ticket counter and the worker showed the the view from all the cameras they had installed at the top and said “You won’t be able to see anything, so if you haven’t already purchased a ticket online, I would recommend going tomorrow”. This was very helpful as the ticket was pretty expensive.

🅿️ There is ample amount of free parking at the ticket counter and where the gondolas start

💰$58 CAD (~$42 USD)

4. Anejo Restaurant

Anejo is located on Banff Avenue, the main street as I would like to call it. This is a good spot to end your day with. It’s got a lot of great margarita options and the food is something out of the world. I did not expect it to be that good but I’m glad it went above my expectations.

Here is a link to the menu: https://www.anejo.ca/en/menus/food.html

I had their Tacos Veganos & Braised Mushrooms tacos with their Mango Margarita. 10/10

7 – Day 3

1. Sunrise at Lake Louise

This was my last full day in Banff and I wanted to make the most of it!

I was feeling a little better from my injury the day before and I noticed that as long as I kept myself active, my knee did not hurt that bad.

So the first activity of the day was sunrise at Lake Louise. If you’ve ever searched “Banff National Park”, this is the picture that usually comes up, and quite frankly, if you asked anyone about Banff, a similar photo comes to mind. Mountain ranges, turquoise blue water, and loads of green space around. 

This is an early wake-up call. My weather app said sunrise was at 6:42 am so I was already on the road by 5 am. A quick stop at McDonald’s for a to-go coffee, some hash browns, and a breakfast bagel, and I was well on my way. Early in the morning, it took me about 40 minutes to get to the park and ride so I could hop on a shuttle. If you need help booking the shuttle, read my previous posts. 

To onboard the Lake Louise shuttle, you will go to Lake Louise Ski Resort located at 1 Whitehorn Rd, Lake Louise, AB T0L 1E0, Canada. Park your car here and hop on a shuttle going to Lake Louise. It is a 15-minute ride and then a quick 6-minute walk to Lake Louise after the shuttle drops you off.   

You will see a LOT of people that are trying to make it there for sunrise so try to get there as early as possible. 

This was a bucket list shot for me and I was very happy I got it. I met a bunch of other cool photographers with their gear. I did take a tripod and was in place right as the sun was about to rise. Be patient here. One thing I learned is that Lake Louise is in a “valley”. There are mountains all around it and so when clouds come, they also go away really quickly so it’s just a big waiting game. 

2. The Lakeshore Trail

The first trail you can opt for when you arrive at Lake Louise is the Lake Louise Lakeshore trail. To me, this was a very easy trail. It’s a 2.8-mile out-and-back trail and an easy route, it took me about an hour to complete and that was because I was leisurely enjoying the scenery and stopping and taking photos. This is a very popular area for birding, snowshoeing, and running, so you’ll likely encounter other people while exploring. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Dogs are welcome but must be on a leash.

Given it’s a very easy hike, it’s a good way to start your day by enjoying some downtime before starting one of the biggest hikes. I did not do this but a lot of people I met recommended stopping in at the Fairmont for a hot coffee for this easy trail. 

3. The Big Beehive Trail

Big Beehive was the longest hike I did. Not as hard as the East End of the Rundle but the longest. The Big Beehive hike consists of 4 hikes. The first stop is Mirror Lake, then it’s the famous Lake Agnes Tea House, and then you get the Big Beehive end. At this point, you can decide to end the trail and go back down or if you choose to continue, you can reach Devil’s thumb so really 4 hikes in one. 

You start pretty easy and it’s quite easy up until Lake Agnes Tea House but once you pass that, there are a lot of switchbacks, if the view is like this, you can’t complain right?

Some details about the hike: 

📌 Distance: 6.7 miles | 10.8 km 

📌 Elevation gain: 2,355 ft. | 717.80m

📌 Dogs are welcome but on a leash 

📌 Out and back

📌 Open year-around 

It will feel like it’s a never-ending hike but I promise you, it does go by pretty easily. I try to get my mind off of the hike and think about other things and it’s good to keep in mind that you are in no rush and are in no competition. So, if it means you need to take more breaks? Then do it. Do it a your own pace while enjoying the surroundings. You will pass a lot of viewpoints so make sure you stop and enjoy those. And pet some puppies on the way 😅

4. Devil’s Thumb Trail

As if doing Big Beehive wasn’t enough, I thought I should continue and do an even harder hike. Devil’s Thumb is a hike that continues after the Big Beehive trail. You have two options, you can head back down or continue. I decided to continue and as I started the hike, it wasn’t marked so I just turned around. As I was tracing my steps back, some hikers were just starting and asked me how the hike was and I replied by saying “Oh, it’s not marked and since I’m by myself, I did not want to get lost so I just turned around”

They responded with “Ah you can come with us” and so I got into the mood again to hike this trail. It was a very hard hike and not for someone afraid of heights. I’m not afraid of hikes and yet it gave me chills every time I looked down as I was on the trail. At one point it made more sense to crawl on my stomach than walk or climb and if you slightly missed a step and went sliding, you would just slide off of the mountain it didn’t have a lot of vegetation so even if you were sliding down the side of the mountain, you won’t have anything to catch onto. 

Some details about the hike:

📌 Distance total: 7.90 miles from the trailhead but after the big beehive split, it’s only about a mile but all uphill | 12.7 km

📌 Elevation gain: 2,673 ft. | 814.7 m

📌 Dogs are welcome but on a leash 

📌 Out and back

It’s a complicated hike up to the top but the views are insanely good. Once you’re at the top, on your left you can see Lake Agnes and on the right, you can see Lake Louise. Although I read some reviews on Alltrails.com (a website used for hikes) that people do this in winter as well, I’m not sure how you would be able to do it without actual spikes. Be very careful. 

5. Rock Pile Hike

It’s time to hop on a shuttle from Lake Louise to Moraine Lake. This was a good time for me to nap as it was an hour-long bus ride and so by the time I arrived at Moraine Lake, I was feeling energized again. 

Once you arrive at Moraine Lake, you want to do the “Rockpile” trail. Funnily enough a very popular song from a very popular Bollywood movie “Koi Mil Gaya” was shot right at this viewpoint and it had been a bucket list place for me. 

Some details about the hike:

📌 Level: Easy

📌 Distance: 0.5 miles | 0.80 km

📌 Elevation gain: 32 ft. | 9.7 m

📌 Dogs are welcome but on a leash 

📌 Out and back

It is a very easy hike and I highly recommend it as it has the best views of Moraine Lake. I met a few people here who were on the hike and ended up spending quite a bit of time hanging out with them and talking about travels. There are benches right by the viewpoint so you can take a breather if you need to and stare in the distance. 

Fun fact: Moraine Lake was featured on the back of an old $20 Canadian bill at one time! 

6. Moraine Lake Hikes

The last item for the final day in Banff. There are a lot of other hikes you can do by Moraine Lake and next time I get the chance to visit Banff, that would be my focus. I believe that I was able to do the two big hikes at Lake Louise so if I didn’t come back for any hikes, I would be okay. 

For Moraine Lake, based on my research, I would recommend some of these hikes:

1️⃣ Moraine Lake Lakeshore Trail (Easy | 5.1 km/3.16 miles | No elevation gain)

2️⃣ Consolation Lakes Trail (Easy | 2.9 km/1.80 miles | 65 m/213 ft. elevation gain)

3️⃣ Larch Valley Trail (Moderate | 8.5 km/5.2 miles | 535 m/1755 ft. elevation gain)

4️⃣ (I want to do this hike next time) Sentinel Pass (Difficult | 11.5 km | 762 m/2500 ft. elevation gain)

Alternatively, if you do not want to hike, rent a canoe and go on the lake. This is a very popular activity and I wanted to do it myself but by the time I made it to the canoe place after my Rock Pile trail, they were closed for the day. 

💰$140 CAD | $103 USD + tax per hour

📌 The price is per canoe for a one-hour rental. A single canoe can accommodate 2 to 3 people so technically you can split the $103 by 3 people and I think that’s a very good price. 

📌 They do provide life jackets + paddles + basic instructions 

🕰 Open  from mid-June to mid-September (9:30 am to 5:00 pm)

📌 First come, first serve basis. 

Link: https://morainelake.com/day-visits/

Overall Banff National Park thoughts:

• Banff National Park was a great place to visit. What I also found surprising is that despite being so much into nature, there was some cell service at all times except on some hikes. Makes it easier to navigate.
• The town of Banff has so much to do that if hiking is not your thing, you will still be able to find things you want to do.
• Credit cards are accepted everywhere so you won’t need to bring any cash.
• I thought the canoeing on both Lake Louise and Moraine Lake was a little expensive as a solo traveler. It makes more sense if you have more than 1 person as the price for canoeing is per canoe.
• Food was not a problem but depending on what your dietary restrictions are, you will have to do some research.

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I hope you enjoyed reading my itinerary for Banff National Park and I also hope that in one way or another, I’ve helped you plan your trip to this city. If you liked this, please check out my other city blog/itineraries and leave a comment! Also, let me know what else you would like me to cover on my next city blog in the comments below. I would appreciate it. Lastly, check out my most recent guide to Mexico City 🇲🇽

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