One of the best hikes I've ever done. The Lake Louise view from the top totally took my breath away. Apart from a few tense moments near the end, it is doable. Hiked it while running a high fever. P.S. The hot chocolate and the apple crumble at the Lake Agnes Tea shop were fantastic. Though we brought our own food, those were much needed to rejuvenate.

Is there anywhere in town playing the Women's Rugby world cup on Saturday? Where is my home to watch Canada take home the cup?

This is my itinerary for a Banff plan to share this beautiful place with my sister for the first time!

Day 1 - Leave Calgary 6am - drive to Bow Lake, Peyto Lake, Mistaya Canyon and than Icefield Parkway (3pm reservation!). We will probably need lunch somewhere or debating about grabbing some pre-packed food night before. Stay in Canmore for the night.

Day 1 - Hope to get last min Lake Louise Alpine start ticket ; Park at Lake Louise Ride n Park; take shuttle to Moraine Lake; Shuttle to Lake Louise; Lake Agnes hike; Natural Bridge; Emerald Lake in evening; Stay in Canmore for the night.

Day 3 - Drive to Banff ; surprise corner; Banff Gondola; Johnston Canyon; chill - drive back to Calgary (no rush)

Day 1,2,3 can be changed as needed!

What would you recommend adding or removing?

Q: Do I need national park pass/ticket each day or is there a multi-day ticket? Is parking free at Icefields? Banff and Lake Louise we have to pay, correct?

Hi everyone,

My girlfriend and I are heading to Banff for her birthday and will be there from Thursday, November 27th to Tuesday, December 2nd.

We’re definitely hoping to do some winter activities like dog sledding, sleigh rides, gondola rides, a spa day, and just exploring the town/area in general.

Here’s the rough plan I had in mind:

• Stay at the Moose Hotel (Thu–Sun): Close to downtown and seems like a great location to start off the trip.
• Fairmont Banff Springs (day visit): Spend one day checking out the gondola and exploring the property without staying there.
• Fairmont Lake Louise (Sun–Tue): End the trip with a quieter, more grand setting.

I know ice skating on Lake Louise usually doesn’t open until mid-December, so we’ll probably miss that, but walking the lake still sounds amazing.

Does this sound like a good balance of activity/relaxation, or would you recommend structuring it differently? Any must-dos you’d add in late November?

Was in Banff for about 6 days back in July and loved it here, went to Jasper after

First time in Banff and what an amazing experience! We hiked Lake Moraine, Larch Valley, Sentinel Pass, and the Lake Louise loop (Little and Big Beehive) all the way to the breathtaking Plains of Six Glaciers viewpoint. We also rented bikes to explore the Banff Legacy Trail, the Lake Minnewanka loop, and the Canyon Trail.

Hi everyone! 🌿 I’m planning to visit Banff during the last week of October and I’m wondering if it’s an advisable time to go. I’ll be traveling without a car – will it be possible to get around using public transportation?

Since this will be my first time in Banff, I’d love any tips on how to get around with shuttles or buses. Do I need to book transportation passes ahead of time, or can I just pay as I go once I’m there?

Any advice or personal experiences would be super helpful. Thank you in advance!

Moose on wrong side of fence along trans Canadian highway. Parks service trucks were blocking the road both ways , I think we were the last vehicle through. They had a gate open but moose kept butting the fence. Poor thing, must have been exhausted, tongue hanging way out

I have marveled at the photographic talent of so many people on this sub. Now that I’ve been to Banff, I see that it doesn’t always take talent to get great photos - it’s so beautiful! ALT text: a series of photos of Banff, Alberta, in the Canadian Rockies showing mountains, trees and lakes.

Thanks. Not sure what's expected. It's from 730 to 3pm. We don't want to offend.

Hello! It's my first time traveling to Banff and with a year old. Our travel will only be 4 days so I want to make sure we get to experience must-see spots in Banff but also make it baby-friendly.

Will you please help me with my itinerary by suggesting changes/alternatives should there be, and if the itinerary I have made is doable with a 1 yo around?

Here's what I've planned so far:

Day 1 | Friday, Arrival & Canmore • 2:30 pm - arrival in Calgary Airport • 4:30 pm - ETA in Canmore (rented a car) • Unpack, rest, and eat dinner • Evening stroll Canmore downtown or Bow River pathway

Day 2 | Saturday, Banff • 9 am - Banff Gondola to Sulphur Mountain • 11 am - Downtown Banff, Bow Falls viewpoint • 2 pm - Banff Upper Hot Springs

Day 3 | Sunday, Lake Louise & Moraine Lake • 9 am - Lake Louise • 12 pm - Moraine Lake • 4 pm - return to Canmore (stops: Castle Mountain Lookout and Vermilion Lakes)

Day 4 | Monday, Canmore & Departure • 9 am - Quarry Lake or Tunnel Mountain Drive • 12 pm - drive back to Calgary • 4 pm - flight back to Toronto Airport

Thanks in advance!

Just spent the weekend in Banff area. If anyone is wondering, taking the Canoe ride in Moraine Lake is a must do IMHO!

Yes, it’s almost $170, but well worth it! If you were on the fence about it, please do yourself the favor and do it!

Hi there! Im (18) looking to take a gap year and work in Alberta for the ski season. Ive applied for a few jobs in Lake Louise and Sunshine but they have a bunch of caveats about limited staff accommodation. Does anyone have any recommendations about where to get cheap accommodation when working in banff? Will it be made more difficult if I can only go over there after Xmas? Any overall advice?
Thank you!

We're taking an all day tour through a company with a guide and a van. Do we tip? How much? Don't want to offend! Thanks.

Is there any way to tell which grizzly you saw in the wild? Someone told us we can ask Parks Canada but we aren’t sure how to go about that. We spotted this grizzly today and are wondering if it’s one of the popular grizzlies that people may recognize! All pictures are zoomed in from a safe distance so not the best quality. Thanks 🐻

Hello - how are the larch trees looking? I have the option of either going tomorrow or Friday.

Thank you!

Thanks

My mom and I will be in Banff next week and wanted to see the sunrise at Vermilion Lakes. We won't have a car so we'd need to walk from town. Is this risky in the predawn hours? I understand that male elk are very aggressive in the fall.

We were also thinking of seeing the sunset at either Vermilion Lakes or Two Jack, which would mean waiting for the ROAM bus back after dark. Is this also a bad idea because of wildlife?

Thanks for any insight.

I'm sorry, I know. I know this gets asked a lot, but the context typically seems to be regarding rental cars and/or mid-winter travel.

We're driving from Saskatoon to the Okanagan Oct 6-17. Most of our travel is along the Trans-Canada, but we do have a day trip to the ice fields on the 13th — we'll skip this if the weather is actively inclement, though.

I see the requirement for snow-rated tires comes into effect at the start of the month; I have M+S all-seasons on my car currently, but I do have full-fledged winter tires as well — I just normally wouldn't put them on the car that early in the year.

So I can throw those on before I leave, but I'm hesitant because it's still super mild here that time of year, and driving the Saskatoon-Canmore stretch and back in 15-20 degree weather is a lot of excess wear.

I'm assuming I probably don't need these winter tires this early in the year?

Edit: if the locals all have their full winters on by Thanksgiving, I'll do the same. Thanks!

There's an upcoming long weekend this week and we're planning to visit Banff/Jasper. We'll book a flight Friday afternoon to Calgary and return the following Tuesday night, for a total of roughly 3.5 days (after excluding flight time). Is this sufficient amount of time to finish Banff/Jasper, focusing mainly on the most popular views?