Banff National Park Travel Guide

  Crowfoot Glacier & Bow Lake, Banff...
by spidermiss
 
  • Crowfoot Glacier & Bow Lake, Banff National Park
      Crowfoot Glacier & Bow Lake, Banff...
    by spidermiss
  • Lake Louise
      Lake Louise
    by richiecdisc
  • Morraine Lake
      Morraine Lake
    by coldincanadabrr
  • canoes @ Lake Louise
      canoes @ Lake Louise
    by blue_sky04
  • On top of the Athabasca Glacier
      On top of the Athabasca Glacier
    by JanPeter74
 

Pro

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 Abundant wildlife, spectacular scenery around every corner 


Con

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 Banff is no secret, everyone and their uncle is here 


In a nutshell

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 The heart and soul of the Canadian Rockies 

 

Explore Banff National Park

Things to Do  

Moraine Lake/ Valley of Ten Peaks

Moraine Lake/ Valley of  Ten Peaks, Banff National Park

 40 Reviews  Moraine Lake is located near Lake Louise and definitely a lake you can't miss if you travel to the Canadian Rockies. Moraine Lake is set below the Valley of Ten Peaks and it rivals Lake Louise in beautiful and in fame. The scenery at this lake is spectacular, especially when viewed from the top of... 

Peyto Lake

Peyto Lake, Banff National Park

 28 Reviews  If you are planning to drive the beautiful Icefields Parkway then Peyto Lake is a must see! Yes, from the parking lot it's only a short trail up to the viewpoint and it can get very crowded up here...especially in the summer months. Try and plan your visit before 10.00am or after 4.00pm to avoid the... 

Johnston Canyon

Johnston Canyon, Banff National Park

 24 Reviews  I visited the Canyon in October 2000 and twice in July 2005. Johnston Canyon is part of the Banff National Park's glacial valleys that are near Cascade Mountain. The canyon flows into the Bow River between Banff and Lake Louise. There are the Lower Falls where the waterfall plunges 10 m into the... 

Hotels  

Patricia Lake Bungalows

 491 Opinions

Bow Valley Motel

 1 Review and 93 Opinions  This is a fantastic place to stay if you are on a budget. The rooms are well equip with everything... 

Restaurants  

The Grizzly House

The Grizzly House, Banff National Park

 1 Review  Looking to have a social dinner with friends? Fonduing is a great opportunity to lounge the night away - eating and mingling. The experience begins with a cheese fondue with bread to dip. Next the broth with vegetables, onto the oil fondue to dip in your meat (you can choose from a variety of... 

Cafeteria at the Crossing

Cafeteria at the Crossing, Banff National Park

 1 Review  Standard cafeteria food. Deli sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs, a couple soup selections, pies. You get the idea. Nothing fancy. Nothing terribly interesting. But it is fast. The most important thing is to get some food and get back out in the mountains. Just try not to arrive behind a tourbus group,... 

Transportation  

Coach / Bus / Car / Trolley.

Coach / Bus / Car / Trolley., Banff National Park

 10 Reviews  This is a one day excursion I took whilst I was in Banff (in July 2005) and it took me across Great Divide of the Rocky Mountains, Johnstone Canyon, Lake Louise, Valley of the Ten Peaks, Victoria Glacier, Moraine Lake, Yoho National Park's Takakkaw Falls, Spiral Tunnels, Emerald Lake and Natural... 

Rent an RV (Recreational Vehicle) / Camper

Rent an RV (Recreational Vehicle) / Camper, Banff National Park

 1 Review  When you're in Banff, most people go to Lake Louise as well. The route to take is Highway 1. Or alternatively, you can take the Bow Valley Parkway. It is slower, more curvy, and you get less grand vistas. But you feel much closer to nature on this route. Many places to stop off for a hike or... 

Shopping  

Lake Louise Village

Lake Louise Village, Banff National Park

 1 Review  Loved the shops at Lake Louise Village - especially enjoyed people watching here...........So many tourists coming & going Gifts - Food - Flowers - Liquor Store & lots more Use a Credit Card & worry about the price latter............ 

The Christmas Shop

The Christmas Shop, Banff National Park

 1 Review  Every thing you could possibly want for Christmas Decorations - this shop was packed full of Christmas ornaments - trees - lights you name it - they had it. An ornament with a Rocky Mountain theme for your tree at home as a lasting reminder of your trip From 2 dollars up 

Local Customs  

Birds/ Animals/Flowers

Birds/ Animals/Flowers, Banff National Park

 24 Reviews  These cheeky little fellows popped up everywhere and were a joy to see. Please do not feed them although they will squeek for your attention = when tourists are thin on the ground they have to survive on their own 

Local Crafts

Local Crafts, Banff National Park

 1 Review  Finding locally produced products in Banff is a hard task. Most craft items are mass produced in the far east - a hard fact of mass tourisim. Indian head wear and the popular dream catchers are all made from feathers from lands far removed from here TBC 

Warnings and Dangers  

Beware off and respect Wildlife.

Beware off and respect Wildlife., Banff National Park

 22 Reviews  They may be cute and thy may look friendly but DO NOT feed the animals. This little guy has obviously been acclimitized to human contact which is not a good thing. These are wild animals. Sooner or later this the chipmunk will bite somebody or become so reliant on handouts that he won't be able to... 

Be aware of lots of mosquitos

Be aware of lots of mosquitos, Banff National Park

 2 Reviews  In summer, there seem to be a lot of mosquitos, especially on the campgrounds. You should wear a net over your face, to be protected of mosquito bites. West nil virus is spreading more and more in this area! On some campgrounds (especially Porcupine and Lake Magog Campground) it was even impossible... 

What to Pack  

Bring Camera & Film

Bring Camera & Film, Banff National Park

 3 Reviews  Comfortable shoes for walking, and not just on sidewalks, but on walking paths, and rough ground. As you go up higher in the mountains, have a jacket - for example, while short sleeves are fine in the town, you'll find it much cooler up at the top of the gondola. Lots of film, telephoto lenses... 

Off The Beaten Path  

Hiking /Trails

Hiking /Trails, Banff National Park

 11 Reviews  The hiking trail that leads to the paint pots is located just off the #93 highway between Castle Mountain junction and Radium, BC, in Kootenay National Park. There is a rest area at the trail head, and a sign on the highway tells you it's the way to the paint pots. The Paint Pots are a series of... 

Wildlife

Wildlife, Banff National Park

 15 Reviews  Chipmunks, much like squirrels are the entertainers of the forest but what to us is entertainment, for the chipmunk is the work of storing food for the winter. They just move so fast it appears comical to us but make no mistake, these are serious omnivores whose diet includes nuts, insects, grain,... 

Sports & Outdoors  

Horseriding/Hiking

Horseriding/Hiking, Banff National Park

 10 Reviews  This full-day expedition is a beautiful 7 hour ride that will take you to Paradise Valley, to the Giant Steps, Lake Annette, and the Horseshoe Glacier (how appropriate!). You get to enjoy your lunch beside the elegant Giant Steps waterfall. It's a great ride for beginners as the climb to the valley... 

Kayaking/canoeing

Kayaking/canoeing, Banff National Park

 3 Reviews  Lake Louise is a nice lake for canoeing. There we go . This is late June and there was a slight breeze off of the mountains , so it was cool . The water is around 1 deg. C ( 34 deg. F ) so you do not want to capsize the canoe. It took an hour to paddle the length of the lake and back . You will... 

Favorites  

Lakes /Mountains/Rivers.

Lakes /Mountains/Rivers., Banff National Park

 18 Reviews  every corner you turn, you get a different perspective of Banff National Park. I suggest get a good camera before you embark on this trip! You won't regret it :) I'm glad i had my Nikon. (hmm, the VT pic dimensions are stretching my pic out of proportion. Click on pic to see it in intended... 

Icefield Parkway/Glaciers

Icefield Parkway/Glaciers, Banff National Park

 7 Reviews  All along the highway there are ample opportunities to pull over and take in the sights. It seems that every 10 km, there is another view point. I would recommend that you should stop at as many as time allows. Our 5 hour trip turned out to be 8 hours and we did not stop at all the places we would... 

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Map of Banff National Park