Banff - Canada
Overview: A long weekend exploring Banff National Park
Duration: 3 days
Locations visited: Town of Banff, Lake Luise, Moraine Lake, Cave and Basin National Historic Site, Banff Gondola, Glacier Skywalk, Athabasca Glacier, Columbia Icefield
How to get there: Fly into Calgary International Airport (YYC)
How to get around: Rental car or group/private tours
When to go: Summer offers the best weather, unless you’re interested in skiing
Pace: Moderate to Intense
Future trips: Glacier National Park, Yoho National Park, further explore Jasper National Park
Athabasca Glacier
Day 1: Arrival and Town of Banff
After landing in Calgary, we picked up our rental car and made the scenic 1.5-hour drive to Banff. With a few hours before nightfall, we took a leisurely stroll along the trails by our hotel, soaking in the crisp mountain air and stunning river views.
Banff Avenue, the town’s main street, is packed with restaurants, coffee shops, and local boutiques. We spent the evening exploring, enjoying dinner, and gearing up for the adventure ahead.
Day 2: Lake Luise and Moraine Lake
We started the day by driving from Banff to Lake Louise (about 45 minutes) and spent most of the day hiking around the area. For those with limited time or who aren’t in the mood for hiking, there are numerous observation points around the base of the lake and near the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. Lake Louise is one of Banff’s larger and more well-known glacier lakes, famous for its characteristic turquoise-blue water.
From the base of Lake Louise, we hiked up to Mirror Lake, where we got our first view of Big Beehive, a mountain resembling the shape of a beehive. We continued onward to Lake Agnes, home to a charming teahouse for those looking to enjoy a drink or snack with a view. From here, with some additional elevation gain, we reached stunning viewpoints overlooking Lake Louise before descending a trail that led us to the opposite side of the lake. From there, it was a flat path back to the Fairmont and the parking lot.
Hike duration: ~3-4 hours
Trail difficulty: Moderate (blue and green trails, some elevation gain but manageable)
Alternative options: Shorter routes and turn-back points available
After wrapping up at Lake Louise, we drove to Moraine Lake, one of the most photographed locations in Banff. You’ve likely seen pictures of it, including as a screensaver. Many visitors climb the nearby rockpile for a better vantage point.
For those interested, both Moraine Lake and Lake Louise offer water activities such as canoeing and kayaking.
This wrapped up our first full day in Banff.
Day 3: Banff Gondola, Cave and Basin National Historic Site, Athabasca Glacier & Icefield, and Glacier Skywalk
We started the day with a ride up the Banff Gondola, which takes you to the top of Sulphur Mountain and offers sweeping views of the town and six surrounding mountain ranges. For the more adventurous, there’s also the option to hike to the top instead of taking the gondola. The entire experience typically takes under an hour.
Afterward, we drove to the Cave and Basin National Historic Site, home to natural thermal springs filled with mineral-rich water (and the characteristic sulfur smell). This site marks the birthplace of Banff National Park, Canada’s first national park. In addition to the hot springs, there’s a museum that highlights the area's natural and archaeological significance.
Next, we began the two-hour drive to Athabasca Glacier and the Glacier Skywalk, located at the entrance to Jasper National Park. Along the way, we stopped briefly at Bow Lake and Peyto Lake, both stunning glacier-fed lakes that are well worth a quick photo stop.
Upon arriving at the Athabasca Glacier and Columbia Icefield, we had the option to take a specialized Ice Explorer bus with massive threaded tires onto the glacier. I highly recommend this experience—it’s something I haven’t encountered elsewhere. Even when visiting glaciers along Iceland’s southern coast, there wasn’t the same opportunity to actually step onto an icefield. Most of these tours depart from the Jasper National Park Icefield Information Centre and Glacier Gallery, which also features interesting exhibits about glaciers and the park’s ecosystem.
After the glacier tour, we visited the Glacier Skywalk, a glass-floored observation platform 280 meters (918 feet) above the valley. From here, you get additional views of the glacier and the glacial runoff river below.
This wrapped up our final day in Banff. We headed back to the hotel to pack up and prepare for our flight the next morning from Calgary.
Banff is an outdoor lover’s dream, with stunning landscapes, accessible trails, and endless opportunities for adventure. Whether you’re hiking, canoeing, or simply taking in the views, this national park offers something for everyone.
