PEAK SEASONS
Summer and Winter are peak seasons. June to August (for lake activities, hiking, etc.) and December to February (for skating, snowy scenery, winter sports, etc.).
Banff, Canada’s first national park and place whose name sounds like a Canadian catchphrase (BANFF!), is a region where people, nature, and wildlife coexist. It is, above all else, a place of wonder and beauty. Located in the Rocky Mountains, this park provides easy access to the pristine wilderness and a near-endless supply of outdoor adventures.
With a range of entertainment options as vast and diverse as its landscape, Banff offers a complete and immersive nature experience. Naturally, Banff is one of my favorite nature destinations in the world, and this guide will help you maximize your experience and fun in Banff.
Note: I highly recommend looking at Canada’s main destination page. It has an overview of the entire country (various cities, some history, synopsis, climate, communication, navigation, costs, ratings on cost/food/popularity, attractions/activities, special considerations, etc.) alongside some interesting facts about the country as a whole.
Recommended Duration of Visit
4 days (ideal), 3 days (doable), 2 days (difficult)
Recommendations: Before Arriving
- Download an offline map of the entire Banff region, check the weather, prepare all your gear, and finalize your lodging in Banff or Calgary.
Recommendations: Adventure Gear
- Light/packable backpack, good hiking shoes, water bottle, flashlight, summer AND warm clothes[1], bear spray[2], a compass[2], sun protection, and an umbrella or poncho.
[1] National parks are places of extremes. They are extremely beautiful, but their weather is extreme and unpredictable, especially when at higher elevations. One day can be hot and another can be cold. It can be sunny one day and rainy the next. Furthermore, as the Banff Gondola takes you up, the temperature drops 18° F (10° C).
[2] Bear spray and a compass are essential if you are planning to wander into the wilderness and/or camp. You can get these things in the town of Banff as well.
BANFF’S STORY
Established in 1885 as Banff Hot Springs and gradually expanded to its current form.
ATTRACTIONS
Town of Banff, Moraine Lake, Lake Louise, Cave and Basin, and Banff Gondola, among others.
LANDSCAPE
2,564 miles2 (6,641 kilometers2) of mountainous terrain, glaciers, ice fields, lakes, and forest.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Canada Day (July 1st), Sunset Festival at Banff Gondola, and Miscellaneous Live Shows.
PLANNING
Before visiting, have an idea what to see and do. Lodging is very expensive in Banff, and Calgary is 1.5 hours away, so having a clear time frame and plan helps immensely.
BANFF’S STORY
Established in 1885 as Banff Hot Springs and gradually expanded to its current form.
PEAK SEASONS
June to August (for lake activities, hiking, and climbing, among others) and December to February (for skating, skiing, and winter sports, among others).
LANDSCAPE
2,564 miles2 (6,641 kilometers2) of mountainous terrain, glaciers, ice fields, lakes, and forest.
ATTRACTIONS
Town of Banff, Moraine Lake, Lake Louise, Cave and Basin, and Banff Gondola, among others.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Canada Day (July 1st), Sunset Festival at Banff Gondola, and Miscellaneous Live Shows.
PLANNING
Before visiting, have an idea what to see and do. Lodging is very expensive in Banff, and Calgary is 1.5 hours away, so having a clear time frame and plan helps immensely.
Attractions Overview
- Photography Tip: If you’re posing against a scenic background, your background might be dark while you’re bright and in focus, or vice versa. Try focusing on the background and using the flash to brighten you up a bit.
- Crowd Control: Unless you absolutely love crowds and/or tourists photobombing your shots, arrive earlier or later in the day to minimize the number of people in your shots.
- Luminous Lakes: All lakes are at their best and brightest from June to August. The lakes here are glacial in origin. Glaciers grind the rock beneath them into a fine powder called rock flour. The meltwaters from the glaciers feed this powder into the lake. The resultant silty water absorbs all colors of incoming light—except, of course, the striking turquoise and blue. Fun Fact: The names of the lakes are reversed but correct; it’s Moraine Lake and Lake Louise.
Attractions Overview
- Photography Tip: If you’re posing against a scenic background, your background might be dark while you’re bright and in focus, or vice versa. Try focusing on the background and using the flash to brighten you up a bit.
- Crowd Control: Unless you absolutely love crowds and/or tourists photobombing your shots, arrive earlier or later in the day to minimize the number of people in your shots.
- Luminous Lakes: All lakes are at their best and brightest from June to August. The lakes here are glacial in origin. Glaciers grind the rock beneath them into a fine powder called rock flour. The meltwaters from the glaciers feed this powder into the lake. The resultant silty water absorbs all colors of incoming light—except, of course, the striking turquoise and blue. Fun Fact: The names of the lakes are reversed but correct; it’s Moraine Lake and Lake Louise.
Town of Banff: This resort town lies within Banff National Park. Not only does the town have the wilderness in its backyard, but it also comes with its own unique attractions. The food is also diverse and phenomenal—traits very uncommon in tourism towns.
I have explored some of the largest national parks in the United States, but I have never seen a tourism town the size of Banff—and right in the heart of nature.
Cost: Variable depending on activity. Recommended Duration of Visit: 3 – 5 hours.
Canada Day: If you’re ever lucky enough to be in Banff on July 1st, then you’ll experience the full extent of what Banff has to offer. Banff is significantly more festive on this date, and there will be multiple events going on throughout the day.
There is a parade from 11:30 to 12:30 on Banff Avenue where they pass out free T-shirts, small Canadian flags, and maple leaf tattoos.
Cost: Free to attend + free stuff. Recommended Duration of Visit: 1 – 2 hours.
| Visit the Banff Visitor Center to get a summary of all that Banff has to offer. While the center itself has a small selection of souvenirs, directly across the street is The Summit—one of the best gift shops in town. Additionally, many great restaurants are inside large buildings, so explore a bit if you see their signs. |
| If you are driving, then you should ideally arrive before 11:00 am in order to find adequate parking. Banff has reasonably large residential areas that might have some free parking, and the walking distance is short. On Canada Day, pretty much all National Historic Sites have free entry. |
Banff Park Museum National Historic Site: The museum, in the form of a log building, features over 5000 botanical and zoological specimens collected from since the early 1900s.
The exhibits present a great opportunity to get up close to the wildlife found in the Rocky Mountains. Tour the exhibition space that is the result of the monumental work by a curator (Norman Sanson) who traveled over 12,400 miles (20,000 km) to gather the specimens.
Cost : $4.00 CAD per adult. Recommended Duration of Visit: 1 – 2 hours.
Cascades of Time Garden: Right next to the stone facade that is the Banff National Park Administration is the Cascades of Time Garden.
This modest yet beautiful patch of nature—complete with gardens, mini waterfalls, gazebos, and small bridges—lies at the edge of town, offering a place of serenity away from all the fast-paced festivities and bustle within the town.
Cost: Free to visit. Recommended Duration of Visit: 1 – 2 hours.
| The large outdoor area near the museum is the central point for many of the town's activities, especially during Canada Day. There is a room where you can touch animal bones and fur. |
| The park closes very late (11 pm), so you can come here for a little rest and relaxation away from the crowds (fewer than 25% of visitors enter the garden). |
Banff Gondola: With stunning mountain ranges and a 360-degree observation deck at 7500 feet, the view from Sulphur Mountain’s summit is simply breathtaking—also because you’re higher up and there’s less oxygen.
The Sulphur Mountain Boardwalk—a nice hiking path to the Cosmic Ray Station—also has information panels on Canada’s first national park. Occasionally, there are even live shows on the top floor. During the summer evenings, the Sunset Festival is held here.
Visit the Banff Gondola website for information on bus schedules, hours of operation, and ticket prices.
Cost: Variable depending on day and time. Check the site for more details, but tickets are generally cheaper after 5 pm. Recommended Duration of Visit: 2 – 3 hours.
Cave and Basin National Historic Site: This is where it all started—the birthplace of Banff. The discovery of the hot springs within this area led to the expansion and development of the Banff National Park known today. It features an observation area on the top floor, a story hall, and, of course, a cave.
Cost: $4 CAD per adult. Recommended Duration of Visit: 1 – 2 hours.
| Temperatures drop about 18 °F (10 °C) at the summit. Driving after 5 pm = easy parking, or ride the “Free Banff Gondola Shuttles." When taking the Gondola down, if you have fewer than 4 people in your group, try to get into the gondola first so you’ll have private photos before the other people crowd in. They only offer printed photos (no digital whatsoever). $20 for 1 photo, $35 for 2 photos. |
| There is a lot to see at Cave and Basin, so factor that into your activities plan for the day. The entire area includes much more than the actual cave itself. You can spend easily two hours just examining the various exhibits and story halls. In the courtyard area, there are even exhibits detailing the effects of global warming. It was my favorite exhibit after the actual cave. |
Moraine Lake: Moraine Lake is a glacially fed lake with a scenic backdrop. At its best, Moraine Lake reflects a beautiful distinctive shade of azure blue and is downright one of the most beautiful lakes I’ve ever seen. Similar to Lake Louise, the color is due to the refraction of light off rock flour deposits on the lake. It can be significantly more blue compared to Lake Louise.
Moraine Lake is also right next to the Tower of Babel—a steep formation of rocks that provide excellent vantage points and photo opportunities. And there is even a perfectly placed tree (for photos) at the edge of the lake.
Cost: Free to visit. Recommended Duration of Visit: 2 – 3 hours (you can rent canoes here).
Lake Louise: Similar to Moraine Lake, Lake Louise is glacial in origin as meltwaters from six glaciers at the head of the valley feed into this lake. Aside from the turquoise water, it is surrounded by high peaks and hiking trails.
Lake Louise and its vicinity are also much larger than Moraine Lake, so it can accommodate more activities and visitors. However, because it’s a bigger lake, the rock flour density is lower, making its color less striking.
Cost: Zilch, Zero, Nada. Recommended Duration of Visit: 3 – 4 hours (you can rent canoes and go horseriding here).
| Due to adequate lighting, the lake looks its best and brightest before 8 pm. After 5 pm, they will no longer rent canoes. This means your photos will have zero photobombing canoes. There are only about 80 parking spots, so you should come earlier or later in the day. You also can NOT walk to the lake. It is about 5 miles down Moraine Road. When the parking spots are full, there will occasionally be employees putting up signs to block the road. Keep trying and maybe you’ll get lucky. |
| The lake is often frozen, especially from November to June, so if you’re around during that time you can skate on it. During the summers, you can rent canoes. Since this lake is much bigger than Moraine, it can easily accommodate more people. You’ll have much more room to navigate while canoeing on this lake, and finding parking spots will be significantly easier. The downsides: the water is not nearly as blue and it lacks the vantage points of the Tower of Babel. |
Town of Banff: This resort town lies within Banff National Park. Not only does the town have the wilderness in its backyard, but it also comes with its own unique attractions. The food is also diverse and phenomenal—traits very uncommon in tourism towns.
I have explored some of the largest national parks in the United States, but I have never seen a tourism town the size of Banff—and right in the heart of nature.
Cost: Variable depending on activity. Recommended Duration of Visit: 3 – 5 hours.
| Visit the Banff Visitor Center to get a summary of all that Banff has to offer. While the center itself has a small selection of souvenirs, directly across the street is The Summit—one of the best gift shops in town. Additionally, many great restaurants are inside large buildings, so explore a bit if you see their signs. |
Canada Day: If you’re ever lucky enough to be in Banff on July 1st, then you’ll experience the full extent of what Banff has to offer. Banff is significantly more festive on this date, and there will be multiple events going on throughout the day.
There is a parade from 11:30 to 12:30 on Banff Avenue where they pass out free T-shirts, small Canadian flags, and maple leaf tattoos.
Cost: Free to attend + free stuff. Recommended Duration of Visit: 1 – 2 hours.
| If you are driving, then you should ideally arrive before 11:00 am in order to find adequate parking. Banff has reasonably large residential areas that might have some free parking, and the walking distance is short. On Canada Day, pretty much all National Historic Sites have free entry. |
Banff Park Museum National Historic Site: The museum, in the form of a log building, features over 5000 botanical and zoological specimens collected from since the early 1900s. The exhibits present a great opportunity to get up close to the wildlife found in the Rocky Mountains. Tour the exhibition space that is the result of the monumental work by a curator (Norman Sanson) who traveled over 12,400 miles (20,000 km) to gather the specimens.
Cost : $4.00 CAD per adult. Recommended Duration of Visit: 1 – 2 hours.
| The large outdoor area near the museum is the central point for many of the town's activities, especially during Canada Day. There is a room where you can touch animal bones and fur. |
Cascades of Time Garden: Right next to the stone facade that is the Banff National Park Administration is the Cascades of Time Garden. This modest yet beautiful patch of nature—complete with gardens, mini waterfalls, gazebos, and small bridges—lies at the edge of town, offering a place of serenity away from all the fast-paced festivities and bustle within the town.
Cost: Free to visit. Recommended Duration of Visit: 1 – 2 hours.
| The park closes very late (11 pm), so you can come here for a little rest and relaxation away from the crowds (fewer than 25% of visitors enter the garden). |
Banff Gondola: With stunning mountain ranges and a 360-degree observation deck at 7500 feet, the view from Sulphur Mountain’s summit is simply breathtaking—also because you’re higher up and there’s less oxygen.
The Sulphur Mountain Boardwalk—a nice hiking path to the Cosmic Ray Station—also has information panels on Canada’s first national park. Occasionally, there are even live shows on the top floor. During the summer evenings, the Sunset Festival is held here.
Visit the Banff Gondola website for information on bus schedules, hours of operation, and ticket prices.
Cost: Variable depending on day and time. Check the site for more details, but tickets are generally cheaper after 5 pm. Recommended Duration of Visit: 2 – 3 hours.
| Temperatures drop about 18° F (10° C) at the summit. Driving after 5 pm = easy parking, or ride the “Free Banff Gondola Shuttles." When taking the Gondola down, if you have fewer than 4 people in your group, try to get into the gondola first so you’ll have private photos before the other people crowd in. They only offer printed photos (no digital whatsoever). $20 for 1 photo, $35 for 2 photos. |
Cave and Basin National Historic Site: This is where it all started—the birthplace of Banff. The discovery of the hot springs within this area led to the expansion and development of the Banff National Park known today. It features an observation area on the top floor, a story hall, and, of course, a cave.
Cost: $4 CAD per adult. Recommended Duration of Visit: 1 – 2 hours.
| There is quite a bit to see at Cave and Basin, so definitely factor that into your activities plan for the day. The entire area includes much more than the actual cave itself. You can spend easily two hours just examining the various exhibits and story halls. In the courtyard area, there are even exhibits detailing the effects of global warming. It was my favorite exhibit after the actual cave itself. |
Moraine Lake: Moraine Lake is a glacially fed lake with a scenic backdrop. At its best, Moraine Lake reflects a beautiful distinctive shade of azure blue and is downright one of the most beautiful lakes I’ve ever seen. Similar to Lake Louise, the color is due to the refraction of light off rock flour deposits on the lake. It can be significantly more blue compared to Lake Louise.
Moraine Lake is also right next to the Tower of Babel—a steep formation of rocks that provide excellent vantage points and photo opportunities. And there is even a perfectly placed tree (for photos) at the edge of the lake.
Cost: Free to visit. Recommended Duration of Visit: 2 – 3 hours (you can rent canoes here).
| Due to adequate lighting, the lake looks its best and brightest before 8 pm. After 5 pm, they will no longer rent canoes. This means your photos will have zero photobombing canoes. There are only about 80 parking spots, so you should come earlier or later in the day. You also can NOT walk to the lake. It is about 5 miles down Moraine Road. When the parking spots are full, there will occasionally be employees putting up signs to block the road. Keep trying and maybe you’ll get lucky. |
Lake Louise: Similar to Moraine Lake, Lake Louise is glacial in origin as meltwaters from six glaciers at the head of the valley feed into this lake. Aside from the turquoise water, it is surrounded by high peaks and hiking trails.
Lake Louise and its vicinity are also much larger than Moraine Lake, so it can accommodate more activities and visitors. However, because it’s a bigger lake, the rock flour density is lower, making its color less striking.
Cost: Zilch, Zero, Nada. Recommended Duration of Visit: 3 – 4 hours (you can rent canoes and go horseriding here).
| The lake is often frozen, especially from November to June, so if you’re around during that time you can skate on it. During the summers, you can rent canoes. Since this lake is much bigger than Moraine, it can easily accommodate more people. You’ll have much more room to navigate while canoeing on this lake, and finding parking spots will be significantly easier. The downsides: the water is not nearly as blue and it lacks the vantage points of the Tower of Babel. |
Canoeing
Row, row, row your boat
Horseback Riding
Horsing around
Hiking
Walk on the wild side
CANOEING: Row your boat across the shimmering water. Rentals are near the lakes.
| PRO TIP: Rentals are near the lakes. Due to limited parking spots, renting canoes at Moraine Lake is difficult. Furthermore, Lake Louise is larger and more suitable for canoeing. Lake Louise also closes at 9 pm (last canoe out at 8 pm) while Moraine Lake closes at 5 pm. If canoeing on Lake Louise, I recommend photographing towards the shore as well, because the hotel will provide a great size reference against the picturesque sky and mountains. | COST: $125 CAD per hour. | |
HORSEBACK RIDING: Team up with an energetic equine and blaze the hiking trails.
| PRO TIP: I called Timberline Tours (+1 403-522-3743) to make a reservation. Click here for more information. Make sure to not drink too much water before the ride, because you will regret it. Check the weather as well. If it rained the day before, the trail will be muddy and you might be lightly splashed as the horse moves. Fair warning: you might be near horses that fart and shit constantly (it’s what they do). If you don’t think that you can handle that shit, then I recommend passing on this activity. | COST: $100 CAD for 2 hours. | |
HIKING: Explore the various trails scattered throughout Banff.
| PRO TIP: You can hike almost anywhere in Banff and still have a great time. And although not a conventional hiking trail, the Tower of Babel near Moraine lake will be one of the most satisfying hikes in Banff. The view at the top is simply serene and surreal—with a clear view of Moraine lane, the sky, and the mountain range. There are also multiple excellent vantage points for photos as well. | COST: Low low fee of $0 CAD. | |
In addition to the vast range of other options, rock climbing is also a great activity. This list is by no means comprehensive.
Itinerary
Below are a map and schedule—the same one I followed during my time in Banff. Both will be good references for all your activity planning needs.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
1
Town of Banff
2
Banff Park Museum
3
Cascades of Time Garden
4
Cave and Basin
5
Banff Gondola
6
Ace and Chester the Blond Stallion
7
Canoeing on Lake Louise
8
Hiking the Tower of Babel
9
Moraine Lake
ASIAN
More information on Ramen Arashi
- Ramen Arashi is my favorite restaurant in Banff. Their ramen is authentic and comparable to the finest that I’ve encountered throughout the United States.
- The only downside is how small the place is. It’s a small place that sits about 20 people. The timing around lunch is practically impossible. Aim for afternoon or evening times when the lines are manageable.
What to order: The Tonkotsu Ramen was creamy, aromatic, and rich in flavor. The pork was perfectly seasoned and slightly sweet. Even the egg was slightly salted. Pretty much all the types of ramen were delicious though, so you need not worry.
DESSERT
More information on BeaverTails
- Try some delicious beaver tails. Sure, some beaver out there is missing its tail, and it’s quite hard to chew, but you’ll acquire the taste eventually.
- All kidding aside, since the beaver is Canada’s favorite rodent and symbolic mascot, it’s unsurprisingly the namesake of this dearly beloved—and very Canadian—sugary treat.
- The beaver tail is a fried dough pastry, individually hand stretched to resemble a beaver’s tail.
- You can coat it in a variety of toppings such as bananas, cheesecake, strawberry, chocolate, and even flavors of ice cream.
- Due to its dimensions, the surface area to volume ratio is optimized for maximum flavor distribution. And the bread tastes kind of like funnel cake.
What to order: I recommend the Bananarama (nutella and banana) or the Strawberry Cheesecake (cheesecake with strawberry syrup). If you want ice cream on top, I recommend the vanilla and/or cheesecake ice cream.
Fair warning: if you get the cheesecake with like I did, it might be very messy (the cheesecake and syrup melt quickly).
Fun Fact: The aboriginals would cook actual beaver tails over an open fire until the skin cracked, giving way to the meat inside. Bon Appétit!
Banff is a wonderful national park year-round. As activities change due to weather, so too does the picturesque landscape. Verdant land and blue lakes give way to snowy fields and opaque ice sheets. And the supply of outdoor adventures is overwhelming all year round, always changing and adapting to the landscape.
Simply put: Banff is too beautiful, too pure, and too fun.
The only downside to this place is the damn confusing naming convention for their lakes—Moraine Lake and Lake Louise. Pretty silly, eh?
On a final note, make sure to share this page so others will know more about Banff!
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