Banff 
Discovering Banff’s renowned destinations can be an exciting adventure! Thankfully, there are several delightful alternatives to bypass the inconveniences of heavy traffic, soaring gas prices, and wasted time, ensuring a seamless journey.
Roam Public Transit
Banff National Park is well-equipped to take tourists and locals between all the great viewpoints, attractions, picnic areas, lakes, and trails. This is thanks to services like Roam Transit, the Parks Canada Shuttles, HoponBanff Transit, and the many private tour shuttle operators.
You may use your vehicle to get to Banff, but you can park it and leave it at the hotel or campsite for your entire trip- and you’ll still get to see the best Banff has to offer.
From Calgary: You can easily visit Banff from Calgary using On-It Regional Transit.
This year, On-It Regional Transit will begin operating from Calgary from May 19 – June 11 and run on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, as well as Victoria Day. The summer schedule will begin on June 15 and run on Thursday evenings, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, Canada Day, Heritage Day, and Labour Day.
Once in Banff (bus stop on Elk Street, just before Banff Avenue), you can connect to Roam Transit and other options. Roam Transit’s hub is downtown Banff. From the town, the routes branch off to areas like Lake Louise, Canmore, Lake Minnewanka, Sulphur Mountain, and more. Roam connects the National Park Campgrounds with the town, too. HoponBanff is similar to Roam but covers fewer areas.
The Lake Minnewanka Scenic Drive & Cruise
Roam’s Route 6 is a summer-only bus route which passes many beautiful sights and viewpoints before reaching its final stop at Lake Minnewanka. The bus travels past and stops at Cascade Ponds, Johnson Lake, and Two Jack Lake. Once at the shores of Lake Minnewanka, you can rent a boat to explore the lake or get tickets for the Lake Cruise.
How to get there without a car: Roam Route 6
The Bankhead Ghost Town Trail
Explore the ruins of one of Banff’s abandoned mining towns on the Bankhead Trail. The shorter trail runs through the trees parallel to Lake Minnewanka Road, and contains bits of mining equipment, and remnants of old structures. The walk is a little under 3km out-and-back and there is interpretive signage along the path.
How to get there without a car: Roam Route 6
The Banff Gondola
As you head south from Banff and over the Bow River, you also near closer to the base of Sulphur Mountain, and a way up Sulphur Mountain. The Banff Gondola is a year-round attraction that allows visitors to get way up on the mountain while enjoying sweeping views. Plus, the ride to the top can end with a spectacular dining experience.
How to get there without a car: Roam Route 1
Spray River East/West Trails
For this hike, you can take the bus to the Banff Gondola area, and enjoy a hike back to town and end up at the Banff Springs Hotel. You can take the same 5.4km trail back, or take the East trail to create a loop. This is an easier hhike out of Banff’s longer ones, and provides a variety of scenery along the way.
How to get there without a car: Roam Route 1
Banff Upper Hot Springs
Take a mineral-rich soak in the steamy Banff Upper Hot Springs any time of year and enjoy some views with your pool time. The Hot Springs overlook Cascade Mountain and Rundle Mountain and have been relaxing park guests since 1886.
How to get there without a car: Roam Route 1
The Banff Springs Hotel & Bow Falls
The Banff Springs Hotel is one of the most iconic structures in the entire province. The beautiful building is worth seeing even if you’re not staying here. The hotel sits on the banks of the Bow River and has several trails winding around the nearby properties and river. Bow Falls is a must-see in the area.
How to get there without a car: Roam Route 2
Moraine Lake
Moraine Lake is one of Banff’s attractions which recently lost its public vehicle access. The only way to enjoy the beauty of this lake is with a ride on one of three different transit options in Banff between June and October. In addition to public transit, many bus tour companies stop at the lake. On the shores is the Moraine Lake Lodge, with accommodations, dining, and canoe rentals.
How to get there without a car: Roam Route 10, HoponBanff, Parks Canada Shuttles
Lake Louise
The beautiful and awe-inspiring Lake Louise can be enjoyed many ways: take a hike around the shores, stay a while at the Chateau, or rent a canoe from the boat house. There is enough to do around the lake for you to take the first bus in and the last bus out!
How to get there without a car: Roam Route 8S (scenic route) & 8X (express route), HoponBanff, Brewster Express, or Parks Canada Shuttles
Mountain Tea Houses
Getting to Banff’s Mountain tea houses will require a bit of a trek. Both the Lake Agnes , and the Plains of Six Glaciers Tea Houses are along trails which begin at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. So take your pick of the hike, and know that there will be an adorable tea house set on the mountainside waiting for you at your halfway point. The hike to the Lake Agnes Tea House and back is 6.8km; you can make the hike to the Plain of Six a 10.6km out-and-bike hike, or a 14km loop.
How to get there without a car: Roam Route 8S (scenic route) & 8X (express route), HoponBanff, Brewster Express, or Parks Canada Shuttles
Lake Louise Ski Resort Summer Gondola
The Ski Resort’s summer operations include plenty of dining options, a sightseeing gondola, and guided hikes. The sightseeing gondola is a perfect way to safely view the larger wildlife found on the mountain. The wildlife activity is the reason for the lower hill’s summer closure. Dining opportunities are at the bottom and top of the mountain.
How to get there without a car: HoponBanff
Louise Creek Trail
This 2.8km (one-way) trail follows Louise Creek between the lake, and the Bow River. Your entire hike is shaded from the dense forest around you which opens up at Lake Louise. This is a creek with a rather strong current, and can be a beautiful turquoise hue (like the lake) right after the spring thaw. This is a simple and scenic way to get to the lake from the Village.
How to get there without a car: Roam Route 8S (scenic route) & 8X (express route), HoponBanff, Brewster Express, or Parks Canada Shuttles
Johnston Canyon, Falls, and Inkpots
Create your own hike and trail length when you get to the Johnston Canyon. The hike to the Lower Falls 2.4km round-trip, while the hike to the Upper Falls is 5km round-trip. The day-hike to the Ink Pots is 11.4km round-trip.
How to get there without a car: Roam Route 9 or 8S, or HoponBanff
Tower Lake, Rockbound Lake, or Silverton Falls
What sort of hike do you want to embark on from the Bow Valley Parkway? These trailheads, all near the Castle Junction, give you some options. The trail to Silverton Falls creates the shortest hike of the three at just 1.8km out-and-back. Tower Lake is over 7km away, making it a 15km trip out-and-back, while Rockbound Lake is 18km out-and-back. Both lake hikes are worth the effort as both trails end at pristine-looking mountain vistas.
How to get there without a car: Roam Route 9 or 8S, or HoponBanff
Banff Cave & Basin National Historic Site
The creation of Banff as a National Park centres around the discovery of the Cave and Basin in 1883 (although the Cave and Basin have had significance to the Indigenous for much longer a time), and therefore Canada’s first National Park. The Historic Site is open to visitors who can roam the cave, walk around the steaming hot pools of sulphur-rich water, and follow trails up the hills.
How to get there without a car: Roam Route 4
Sundance Canyon Trail
The Sundance Canyon Trail heads at the Cave and Basin National Historic Site. Hikers are greeted with mountain panoramas that surround the Bow River. This part of the trail is paved, and leads to a natural path and the canyon. The natural path makes a 1.6km loop back to the paved trail. The trail follows Sundance Creek as it leads to the Bow River. Length: 3.7 km one way from trailhead plus 1.6 km moderate loop
How to get there without a car: Roam Route 4
Cascade Gardens
This attraction is right in the middle of town, so you can take your pick from most of the Roam Routes to get to the garden. The Cascade of Time Garden is a beautiful spring and summer sight being located on the south bank of the Bow River.
How to get there without a car: Roam Route 1, 2, or 4, and across the bridge from stops for all other routes
Banff Sunshine Summer Gondola & Meadow Hikes
The Banff Sunshine Summer Gondola makes it easy to visit from downtown Banff by providing a direct shuttle to and from the hill. The gondola opens in June to enable visitors to view the Sunshine Meadows, and their wildlife, from above.
How to get there without a car: Use Sunshine Summer Shuttle from downtown Banff (free)
Mount Norquay Sightseeing Chairlift & Via Ferrata
You can visit Mount Norquay for some thrilling sightseeing, or some more relaxing chances at views. The ski hill’s summer operations include a sightseeing chairlift, hikes, and the Via Ferrata. The Via Ferrata is an insane obstacle course that takes you up the mountain, across deep valleys, and over the cliffs. You can book this rock climbing experience for 2-hour trips, to as along as 6-hour trips.
How to get there without a car: Norquay Summer Shuttle from downtown Banff
Hiking Mount Norquay to Banff
The best part of this hike is that you can make it an all-downhill hike. You can take the Norquay shuttle up part of the mountain’s summit and to the resort. From here, you can enjoy the chairlift, or some dining, and embark on a hike back to town. You’ll need to follow the Cascade Amphitheatre trail up for 0.6km before switching back down the Lower Stoney trail. This will lead you directly back to town on a slight decline the whole way.
How to get there without a car: Norquay Summer Shuttle from downtown Banff
Surprise Corner & the Banff Hoodoos Viewpoint
Take a picture-perfect snap from the Surprise Corner — a picture postcard view of the Banff Spring Hotel. There are a variety of trails along e Tunnel mountain road. And one of those trails will take you to Banff’s hoodoos. These unique rock formations poke out over the riverbanks. The hoodoos are part of a much larger view you’ll get of the Bow River Valley.
How to get there without a car: Roam Route 2
Castle Mountain Lookout
Hop on this 7.2km out-and-back hike from the Bow Valley Parkway to get some of the best views of the Bow River Valley. Those views are partly due to the trail’s ~500m incline. It is a moderately complex trail but well worth the climb.
How to get there without a car: Roam Route 9 or 8S, or HoponBanff
Roam Transit
- Route 1 – Sulphur Mountain (Banff Avenue, Gondola, Hot Springs)
- Route 2 –Tunnel Mountain (Campgrounds, Banff Spring Hotel)
- Route 3 – Canmore/Banff Regional
- Route 4 – Cave & Basin (Daily service from May 19 – October 2)
- Route 6 – Lake Minnewanka (Daily service from May 19 – October 2, No stop at Lake Minnewanka Lookout)
- Route 8X – Lake Louise/Banff Regional Express
- Route 8S – Lake Louise/Banff Regional Scenic
- Route 9 – Johnston Canyon (Daily walk-up only service from May 19 – October 9.)
- Route 10 – Moraine Lake Fall
