Banff
Photo Credit: Travel Alberta
Contents
About * Directions * Hours * Admission* Accommodation * Places to See & Things to do
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: You can get to Banff & Lake Louise from Calgary on Greyhound. Brewster Canada offers Banff airport express for ~ $65.00 per person & Banff Airporter service is for $62.99
By Train: The only way you can get directly to Banff by train is to travel on Rocky Mountaineer (Luxury trip). Via Rail gets 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 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 along Icefields 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 Hihghway – Bow Valley Parkway / Lake Louise Dr near Lake Louise town.
Getting around in Banff National Park.
It is best to have a car, if you want to visit all the places whenever you like.
Parking may pose some difficulty at few of the downtown Banff attractions and famous locales during the height of the tourist season. See this website for parking in and around Banff town.
Public transit – Roam will get you to many Banff Town attractions. But, you still need a car to visit Vermilion Lakes, Lake Minnewanka, Bow Valley Parkway & Lake Louise attractions.
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.
When to visit & time required to visit Banff National Park?
An year round travel destination, Banff is a great visit any time time of the year, but if you are not a winter enthusiast, Banff is at its best from Mid June to Mid October.
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
2017: Park Admission is free for 2017. You still need to buy the free pass at the gate or online.
You also need to pay for all campsites and other services.
The following is applicable for 2018. (Fees might vary)
One day Pass – Valid until 4:00 PM the next day.
Adult (17 – 64) :$ 9.80
Senior (65 +) :$ 8.30
Youth (6 – 16) :$ 4.90
Family/Group (Up to 7 people arriving in a single vehicle): $ 19.60
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.
If you are planning to stay on for a few days (7 +) , consider buying Discovery Pass ($ 136.40 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 8%.
One Day Pass – Online
Where to stay in Banff National Park?
Where to stay depends on how long you are planning to spend in Banff and where you plan to concentrate your activities. Remember that, distance between Lake Louise / Moraine Lake to Banff Gondola / Lake Minnewanka / Banff Town is approximately ~ 60 km . Peyto Lake (Best visited enroute to Jasper National Park) in Icefields Parkway is another ~ 44 km North from Lake Louise.
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 here for B&B, hotels, Lodges and other options in Banff National Park.
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 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
403-762-2523
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 mountain where Bow valley, cascade mountain, Lake Minnewanka can be see from the mountain top. »
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 the Brett Sanatorium and Hotel built in the 1880s, when it burned down in 1930 and converted it into the present day gardens. Ontario ... »
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 Canada. It houses mounted specimens of fauna, flora and minerals associated with the Banff national park. »
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 pool filled with natural mineral enriched water heated by earth's crust, pushed to the surface through Sulphur Mountain thrust fault (crack in the ... »
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 in late 1800s. The interpretive centre displays heritage of the thermal waters and the history of national parks. The outside boardwalk explores the ... »
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 before you, as you travel up the Tunnel mountain road. »
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 scenery around the falls. »
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 library and archives of the Alphine Club of Canada. Heritage home and cabins of former pioneers are also located on the museum grounds. »
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 town, Bankhead, is also found along the loop. »
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 the Banff National Park. Enjoy the exhilarating scenery of Lake with Mount Inglismaldie and Fairholme range as the backdrop. »
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 a wetland which is an excellent place for viewing wildlife. What to do at Vermilion Lakes Banff? Vermilion Lakes Banff Activities Drive along ... »
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/ hiking activity - Via Ferrata from June 19, 2014. Via Ferrata is Italian for ‘Iron Path’. The Via Ferrata at Mt. Norquay is Banff National ... »
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, snow 'packing' happens only during the start of the season. It has 12 lifts including high speed gondolas and 2 magic carpets. »
403-762-7889
Banff National Park, Alberta
Mid June to Early October
Sunshine Meadows better known as home to Sunshine Village, is famous for its beautiful setting with alpine meadows covered with carpet of fire weed and glacier lilies with the snow-capped Canadian Rockies as backdrop. Accessible via road only during summer, Sunshine Meadows is a hikers paradise. »
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 Louise.The drive that cuts through mountains and passes over Bow river valley, is replete with panoramic views and wildlife. »
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 erosion has formed gorges and waterfalls. The main activity of Johnston Canyon, is the hike, which takes one along the waterfalls, lime stone ... »
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 Little Fishes' by the Stoney Natoka First Nations, the Lake was named after Princess Louise, a daughter of Queen Victoria and wife of ... »
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 main ski lift of Lake Louise resort named Grizzly Express Gondola, takes visitors up to an altitude of 2088m (6850ft) above sea level. »
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 silt deposited into the Lake due to melting glaciers. »
403-522-3555
1 Whitehorn Road, Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada T0L 1E0
Mid 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 National Park. It has a total of 145 runs (marked + back bowls) with 25% beginner, 45% intermediate and 30% advanced . The ski resort is served by 10 lifts ... »
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 numerous other glaciers found along the route, Icefields parkway is also known as Highway 93 (Alberta 93). It is one of the best scenic routes ... »
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
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 colour of this lake is due to the light reflecting properties of the glacial flour that flows into the lake from the Peyto ... »
Things to do in 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 boats are glass-enclosed. »
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 visiting the ‘touristy’ Banff attractions, to experience the real Banff, you need do some of the following summer activities in Banff . 1. Boating, Canoeing &... »
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. The Outpost at Warden Post and Timberline Tours Ltd also offer overnight (back country) rides in Banff National Park. Holiday on Horseback offers ... »
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 trail (2 km one way ) and Moraine Lake Shoreline trail (1.5 km one way) are also extremely easy hikes. One needs to walk along the ... »
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 near Moraine Lake trails.The detailed hiking map is available at Parks Canada Website.This list does not include Sunshine Meadow Hikes, which ... »
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 out whether the hike requires group access especially near Moraine Lake trails. Download hiking guides from Parks Canada website.This list does not ... »
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 Mount Norquay, both covered in snow. »
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 go dog sledding, or a cozy private cutter romantic tour with your sweet heart or ski in three of the best ski resorts ... »
Christmas and New Year's Eve in Banff National Park - Canadian Rockies. Celebrate Christmas skiing with Santa at one of the most beautiful resorts in the world! Kicking off the celebrations to Canada’s 150th anniversary with an huge New Year’s Eve party on December 31 in downtown Banff. »
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 areas. »
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, but if you see these when the weather is inclement, you will never be sorry that it rained on your dream vacation. The ... »
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 Louise. »
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 around Lake Minnewanka. Get the trail guide so that you can do the easy trails along the attractions listed below. Pack some quick ... »
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 snowfall of 3m (12ft), and almost every single winter activity available on its shores, Lake Louise is the place to be for an ... »
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 is best enjoyed through views from up above. »
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 through urban, and rural Alberta. This trip will pique your curiosity, and soon you will be planning another vacation to experience Alberta to ... »
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