Banff 
Photo Credit: Travel Alberta
Contents
About * Directions * Hours * Admission* Accommodation * Places to See & Things to do * Events * Guided Tours
About Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
Spread over 6,641 sq. km along the magnificent Canadian Rockies, Banff National Park is located in Alberta, a prairie province of Canada. Banff National Park with its snow-capped mountains, ethereally coloured glacial lakes and abundant wildlife is a must visit place, recommended by all travel gurus.
Banff was established as a National Park in 1885, and is Canada’s oldest national park.
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How to get to Banff National Park?
Location : Alberta, Canada
Nearest Big City: Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Nearest Airport : Calgary International Airport (YYC)
Calgary is the nearest, main city and the easiest way to get to Banff is to drive from Calgary (if you are flying in), which takes about 1.5 hrs. See driving directions here.
By Bus: On-it Regional Transit gets you to Banff (Elk Street, Banff Train Station) and Canmore from Calgary(Somerset / Bridlewood LRT/ Downtown, Crowfoot LRT)from late June to September end, on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Once in Banff / Canmore your On-It ticket gets you free transfers to the Roam Bus Banff Local routes.
There are various private airport transfers (shared and private ~$75 & up) available through tour operators like Brewster Canada and Banff Airporter. See here all options.
By Train: The only way you can get directly to Banff by train is to travel on Rocky Mountaineer (Luxury trip).Via Railgets you to Jasper and then you will have to drive to Banff. Train travel is a good option if you are coming from Vancouver.
Click the below links for driving directions to Banff on Google Maps.
1. From Vancouver ~ 900 km
2. From Whistler ~ 800 km
3. From Edmonton ~ 420 km
4. From Regina ~ 900 km
5. From Seattle ~ 600 miles
6. From Great Falls, MT ~ 400 miles
Banff National Park attractions are spread over three main areas,
in and around Banff Town,
around Lake Louise
and alongIcefields Parkway.
Banff National Park can be accessed by car through
1. Main entry gate (East Gate) at the mainline westbound lanes of the Trans-Canada Highway.
2. Highway 93 (Banff – Windmere Parkway-Bow Valley Parkway ( 1A) )
3. TransCanada Highway – Bow Valley Parkway / Lake Louise Dr near Lake Louise town.
Getting around in Banff National Park.
You can visit all places without a car using a combination of Roam Transit, and Parks Canada Lake Shuttle. During high season, parking will be difficult, but in low season, it is best to have a car, if you want to visit all the places whenever you like.
Parking may pose some difficulties at few of the downtown Banff attractions and famous locales during the height of the tourist season. See thiswebsite for parking in and around Banff town.
Public transit – Roamwill get you to many Banff Town attractions, Lake Minnewanka and more routes are being added to reduce car traffic.
IMPORTANT: As number of visitors are increasing, most probably you will not find parking at Lake Louise andMoraine Lake.Park your car at the overflow parking lot and then take the Parks Canada shuttle to these locations. From 2020, reservations are required for the shuttle from the overflow parking lot to visit Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. Reservations open on April 1, 2020.
DURING COVID-19: Parking is first come first serve at Morain Lake and Lake Louise.
If you are planning to go on scheduled/ticketed activities, the organizers may provide complimentary transport. If you are in Banff for winter, and visiting all three ski resorts, complimentary transport is provided from many locations.
Tour operators like Brewster, Sun Dog tours also provide transit packages which include many Banff attractions.
Hop on Hop Off Banff Buswhich will take you to sites in Banff Town, Johnston Canyon, Lake Louise Gondola, Lake Louise, and Lake Moraine from ~June to October.
When to visit & time required to visit Banff National Park?
Peak tourist season is, of course, the summer months of July & August. Fall season paints Banff National Park with a Golden hue and the hikes to see the Larch trees in Fall is another experience altogether. Banff is a paradise for winter enthusiasts and you are guaranteed to have a White Christmas here.
Time required to visit
How much time to allocate for your Banff trip, may very well depend on your budget and interests. It is good, if you can allocate, at least two days to spend in Banff & Lake Louise. You need to spend 5 days, to SEE & DO the real Banff : like hiking and canoeing in summer & Skiing and Snowboarding in winter.
How much does it cost to enter Banff National Park?
Banff National Park Entry Fees – 2020
One day Pass– Valid until 4:00 PM the next day.
Adult (18 – 64) :$ 10
Senior (65 +) :$ 8.40
Youth (6 – 17) :Free
Family/Group (Up to 7 people arriving in a single vehicle): $ 20
If you have two vehicles – you need 2 passes, one for each vehicle.
There are other fees like camping fees, fishing license etc if you are planning to do these activities inside the park. Few attractions like museums & Hot Springs charge additional admission fees. See the attractions page (links below) for details. The day pass provides entry to Banff, Jasper, Kootenay, Yoho, Mount Revelstoke, Glacier, Waterton Lakes and Elk Island national parks.
If you are planning to stay on for a few days (7 +) , consider buying Discovery Pass ($ 139.40 for up to 7 people arriving in a single vehicle) – This pass is good for a year and gets you into nearly 100 National Parks, National Marine Conservation Areas and National Historic Sites in Canada.
Where to buy the Parks Canada – Banff National Park Entry Pass?
Available at entry gates, Parks Canada Visitor Information centres, and Online. Discovery pass can be bought online and will be mailed out internationally.
Discovery Passes can be bought from AMA locations and members save $10.($129.40).
You can also buy Discovery Pass, via Trip Advisor (Viator).
One Day Pass –Online
Where to stay in Banff National Park?
Like to stay put throughout your vacation? – Choose accommodation in either Banff Town or near Lake Louise. Choose Banff Town, if you are planning to go on day trips into Yoho & Kootenay National Park.
Just a day and not venturing into Jasper National Park – Calgary. Banff is just couple of hours away.
Two days and more – In Banff town or Lake Louise town – depending on where you are planning your activities.
Town of Canmore, a destination on its own, provides cheaper accommodations, if one is willing to drive half an hour (Banff Town) to one hour (Lake Louise) every day to enjoy National Park attractions. One may also use, public transport from Canmore to travel to Banff Town.
Banff National Park offers its visitors rustic camping experience and has plenty of campgrounds, spread across the Park. Otentik Camps are available at Two Jack Lake Campgrounds.
See herefor B&B, hotels, Lodges and other options in Banff National Park.
Booking.com
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT CANNABIS CONSUMPTION IN BANFF NATIONAL PARK
Rules might change from what is stated below and you should be aware of current bylaws by Parks Canada/Govt. of Canada/Alberta/Town of Banff .
Public Cannabis consumption is legal in Canada. Public use is allowed in Banff National Park at
— Registered Parks Canada campsites
— Backcountry, Trails
— Allowed in public areas within the Lake Louise town boundary
NOT ALLOWED
— No smoking or vaping within 5 metres of buildings
— Not allowed in Campground common areas ( such as playgrounds, kitchen shelters, washrooms, trails, or roads.)
— No smoking or vaping within 5 metres of playgrounds
— Not allowed in public areas within the Banff town boundary.
What to do at Banff National Park?
An entry in all published lists of Top Places to Visit in the World, Banff National Park offers its guests activities galore and a feast for ones senses. Scuba dive, Snow shoe, Canoe, watch wildlife or just revel in nature’s beauty!
Listed below are the attractions, events, festivals and places to visit in Banff.
One day itineraries are also given, if you don’t have time / many days to spare. Have more days, split the itinerary and add the activities like hiking, canoeing mentioned at each attraction.
Click on each attraction listed below to get a comprehensive guide for the Banff attraction/place of interest which has all the answers for What, When, Were, How to do things in Banff including hikes, and other activities, admission, hours, directions, amenities & accessibility.
Banff Area Attractions
View Banff National Park- Banff Area in a larger map
1.866.756.1904
300 Mountain Ave Banff National Park, Banff, AB T0L 445
Year Round
Built in 1959, the Sulphur Mountain Gondola is the only bi-cable gondola in Canada. A four person enclosed cars takes 8 minutes to reach the top of the Sulphur ... »
101 Mountain Avenue, Banff, AB
Late spring and summer to view the garden in full bloom.
Cascade Gardens in Banff National Park is a well-landscaped garden with a varied mix of annuals and perennials surrounding the park administrative building. Parks Canada took over ... »
403-762-2388
1 Birch Ave, Banff, AB T0L 0C0
Year-round.
Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum is dedicated to preserving the culture and heritage of the First Nations who lived in and around the Canadian rockies. »
403.762.1558
91 Banff Ave, Banff, AB , T1L 1A9
Mid May— Mid October
Built in 1903 for Victorian era visitors who wanted to see the wild animals without much trouble, Banff Park Museum is the oldest natural history museum in Western ... »
403-762-1515
Banff Upper Hot Springs
Year round, Hours Vary
Rain or snow, relax in the soothing Hot springs pool with the modern amenities in the magnificent Canadian Rockies. Banff upper hot springs is a developed outdoor ... »
403.762.1558
311 Cave Ave, Banff, AB T0L 0C0
Year round, Hours Vary
the Cave & Basin National Historic Site is the birthplace of all national parks across the continents. This National Historic Site was built around natural thermal mineral springs ... »
403-762-1550
51.167316, -115.559245
Year Round.
Wonder what is Surprise Corner? The surprise is the 'surprise' picture postcard view of the Banff Spring Hotel with the Bow Falls in front which opens up ... »
403-762-1550
51.166915,-115.560471
Year Round
A shallow but wide waterfall caused by the change of course of the Bow River, situated very near the Banff town. Enjoy seeing the falls and the ... »
403-762-2291
111 Bear Street ,Banff, Alberta, 1L 1A3
Year round, Hours Vary
Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies showcases the history and culture of Rocky Mountains through ethnographic displays, art and artifacts and videos. The museum also houses the ... »
403- 762-1550
Lake Minnewanka Scenic Dr Banff National Park, Improvement District No. 9, AB
Year Round
Lake Minnewanka Loop (24km) is a scenic drive in the Banff National Park, with several Alphine lakes of Canadian Rockies. Remains of an old booming coal mining ... »
403-762-1550
51.247196,-115.499275
Year round
Named 'Water of the Spirits' by the First Nations, Lake Minnewanka is a glacial lake fed by Cascade river and is the largest body of water in ... »
403-762-1550
Vermilion Lakes Rd Banff National Park, Improvement District No. 9, AB
Year Round.
About Vermilion Lakes, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada A series of lakes formed in the Bow River valley, Banff National Park, the Vermilion Lakes in Alberta is ... »
1-844 -NORQUAY
51.203563, -115.59817
Mid June to Thanksgiving weekend
Mt Norquay, one of the three famous Ski Resorts in Banff National Park, has reopened the North American Chairlift, 1950's Tea house, along with a new mountaineering/ ... »
403-705-4000
Sunshine Village, Banff, AB, Canada
Early November to Early May
Located in Banff National Park, Sunshine village is one of the three ski resorts in the Banff National Park. With an annual snow fall of about 9 m, ... »
1-877-542-2633
1 Sunshine Access Road, Banff, Alberta T1L 1J5
Mid June to Early September
Sunshine Meadows better known as the home to Sunshine Village, is famous for its beautiful setting with alpine meadows covered with carpet of fire weed and glacier ... »
403- 762-1550
Bow Valley Parkway, Banff, Alberta
Year round with seasonal restrictions.
Bow Valley Parkway is a 51km scenic road and one of the two roads that link (Trans Canada Highway being the other) that connects Banff and Lake ... »
403-762-1550
Johnston Canyon,Banff National Park, Improvement District No. 9, AB.
Year Round.
Johnston Canyon was caused by erosion of limestone rock as Johnston Creek, a tributary of Bow River, empties into the Bow River. Over thousands of years, the ... »
Lake Louise Area Attractions
View Banff Attractions – Lake Louise Area in a larger map
403-762-1550
111 Lake Louise Drive, Lake Louise, Banff National Park, Alberta T0L 1E0
Year Round. Activities Vary.
Lake Louise is a glacial lake in the Canadian rockies which sits at an elevation of 200 vertical feet above the valley floor. Called 'The Lake of the ... »
403-522-3555
1 Whitehorn Road, Lake Louise, Alberta.
Late Spring - Early Fall
Lake Louise Gondola connects the southern slope of the Merlin Ridge of the Slate Range to Whitehorn lodge on the Mount Whitehorn, through a ski lift. The ... »
403-762-1550
51.328225,-116.181586
Seasonal, Late Spring to Early Fall
Situated in the Valley of Ten Peaks, Moraine Lake is a glacially fed lake, at the elevation of 1885m. The deep blue shade is due to rock ... »
403-522-3555
1 Whitehorn Road, Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada T0L 1E0
November to Mid May
The only ski area in Canada to hold the FIS Ski World Cup circuit, Lake Louise Ski resort is one of the three ski resorts in Banff ... »
Icefields parkway
Also see Icefields Parkway which traverses both Banff & Jasper National Park.
403-762-1450
Icefields Parkway, Alberta, Canada
Year Round
The 227 kilometer mountain road, built almost parallel to the continental divide, passes through Banff National Park and Jasper National park. Named after the Columbia Icefield and the ... »
Herbert Lake, Improvement District No. 9, AB, Canada
Year Round
Visit Herbert Lake early in the morning or during sunset to enjoy incredible reflection of Mt. Temple. »
403-762-1550
Peyto Lake, Improvement District No. 9, AB, Canada
(Year Round) - Closed until 2020/21 Winter
Named for Bill Peyto, a packer and guide of early 1900's, the Lake is located at an elevation of ~1800 m in the Canadian Rockies. The amazing blue-green ... »
Upcoming 10 Events
Online
May 1, 2021 To May 16, 2021
Free admission
Watch world-famous operas from the comfort of your home! Saturday, May 1 | Cilea’s Adriana Lecouvreur (From January 12, 2019) Sunday, May 2 | Puccini’s La Rondine (From January 10, 2009) Monday, ... »
Online
May 13, 2021 To May 29, 2021
$20
Christopher Faust, an accomplished alchemist, faces his greatest challenge as he races to uncover the mysteries of the fabled Elixir of Life. Drawing inspiration from Christopher Marlowe’... »
Guided Tours in Banff
Canmore Cave Tours, 129 Bow Meadows Crescent, Unit 202, Canmore
June 6, 2020 To June 1, 2021
$115 & Up
The 4.5-hour Explorer Tour is jam-packed full of fun and excitement. Your guide will introduce you to the amazing world of caves, spending approximately 2 to 2.5 hours underground ... »
Rotary Friendship Park, 709 A 9 St, Canmore
August 28, 2020 To August 28, 2021
$36.88
Join our local guides for an immersive historical walking tour of Canmore. Learn about the hardy pioneers, wild cowboys, and loyal miners who came together to create ... »
Winter in Banff is known for its 3 big ski resorts: Norquay, Sunshine and Lake Louise. While skiing may be why most people head to Banff National Park ... »
403-762-3473
Lake Minnewanka Loop Boat Tour Estimated Departure Point, Improvement District No. 9, AB, Canada
Early May - Canadian Thanksgiving in October
Brewster tours operate a narrated boat cruise on Lake Minnewanka in Banff National Park. One may choose between 43 passenger Lake Cruisers or the 65 passenger Alberta Explorer; both ... »
Banff National Park stretches to encompass the town of Banff and Lake Louise, and is known for its natural Rocky Mountain beauty and for being the first ... »
Banff, with its snow capped rugged mountains, turquoise coloured lakes, rushing waterfalls and lush alpine meadows is a great place to relax and rejuvenate. In addition to ... »
Here is a list of companies offering Horseback Riding In Banff National Park with the packages, rates and other pertinent information. The article lists only day rides. ... »
Here is a list of Top 5 easy hikes in Banff National Park (till the Banff National Park border in Ice Fields Parkway). The Lake Louise shore line ... »
Here is a list of Best Moderate Hikes in Banff National Park. Check for bear activity before hiking and find out the hike requires group access especially ... »
A list of Best Hard Hikes in Banff National Park. Two hikes in this list can be called moderate. Check for bear activity before hiking and find ... »
Take a journey that will lead you through the Bow River Valley, traveling through the foothills of the Canadian Rockies. Enjoy dazzling views of Sulphur Mountain and ... »
List of dog sledding options in and around Banff National Park. »
From late fall to early spring, Banff National Park turns into a winter wonderland, becoming a dreamland for all kinds of winter activities. Whether you want you ... »
Celebrate Christmas skiing with Santa at one of the most world famous resorts of Banff and join for New Years Party at a location of your choosing ... »
Get ready to hit the road and embark on a journey through Alberta’s Cow Town all while enjoying breathtaking views of the Canadian Rockies and surrounding ... »
Wondering how best to enjoy your Banff - Lake Louise winter trip? Here are some ideas for your consideration. »
How to spend your day if it rains on your trip to Banff National Park? Of course, you can visit these attractions on a perfect summer day, ... »
A suggestion to make the best of your Banff and Louise one day tour by including the top attractions and things to do in Banff and Lake ... »
One Day Tour of Banff National Park An itinerary for one day tour of Banff National Park . This article covers activities to do in Banff town and ... »
Wondering how to plan your trip or what to do do, which attractions to see, if you just have one day to spend in Banff? »
Lake Louise, famous for the its turquoise blue waters and backdropped by majestic mountains is a magical place to be in winter season. With an average annual ... »
Canadian Rockies with its awe inspiring snow-capped mountains and glaciers hanging on precipitous cliffs make for a trip of a lifetime. The untouched beauty of the Rockies ... »
Planning a trip to Alberta, Canada? Here is an 'Alberta 101' trip itinerary that will get you in sync with glorious nature, and that will take you ... »
That’s the best post I’ve ever seem!!!!???
Amazing post…trying to spend 1 night in jasper and 1 night in banaff..and tips on MUST DO -we want to see peyto lake now that we know it’s best to go on the way to jasper (thanks to you) ….what else should we know ….please and thank
This blog is so comprehensive and helpful! Thank you for putting it together! It saves me heaps of time!
Please be advised that Greyhound does not serve Western Canada any longer and that the Rocky Mountaineer train trips now end at Banff. At any rate, they would not carry passenger locally between Calgary and Banff.
Calgary passengers going to Vancouver are transported to Banff by a Rocky Mountaineer shuttle arranged specifically for those passengers to catch their train. The Rocky Mountaineer train has various classes, with price to match and it is in the strong 3-4 figures between Calgary and Vancouver or vice-versa, every trip involves an overnight stay in Kamloops.
Any updates for 2020? A lot of things seem different now. No shuttles by parks canada. Any advices for parkings?
For those of you asking, yes, some things have changed. For example, Johnston Canyon is not open. Masks must be worn everywhere. Lake Louise is just as busy as ever.