Day 1 Banff
Johnston Canyon, The Lakes & Banff Town
Start your day off with one of our favourite attractions in the park, Johnston Canyon. Johnston Canyon is an incredible natural canyon with crazy blue water and incredible canyon paths with waterfalls. The drive there also offers great chances to spot wildlife!
After your hike grab lunch in town and then drive to Two jack Lake. You can swim and paddleboard with the mountains in the background here and it’s a very Canadian experience. This drive has some of your best chances of seeing wildlife so keep your eyes peeled. Take some pictures of the iconic red Adirondack chairs and the famous Mt Rundle. Drive up the road another 10 minutes to see Lake Minnewanka. After your explorations head back to Banff town and walk around and have dinner. There are a lot of cute shops here and they are open late.
Day 2 Banff
Lake Louise And The Beehives
Lake Louise is its own municipality but you would be crazy to come all the way to Banff and not see Louise. Get up early and head to Lake Louise to make sure you get a parking spot. It is crazy busy in summer here and parking is $36.75 per day so make the most of it. Hike the Iconic Beehives or at least to Lake Agnes Tea House, then come down and canoe on the lake. The Big Beehive is 10km 700m return and the Little Beehive is 8km 650m. Both trails bring you to the scenic Lake Agnes Teahouse on the way which is a great spot to grab a snack! We did both in one day!
Canoeing here is a magical experience and worth the price tag. All info on all the Lake Louise hikes are listed in the things to do section!
Canoeing is pricey so you can also just bring your own paddleboard or kayak if you have one! You do need to get it inspected at the lakeside hut before putting it in the water or you could get fined.
Day 3 Banff
Icefields Parkway, Banff Gondola
The Icefields Parkway drive from Lake Louise to Jasper is one of the most scenic roads in the world. You don’t have to do the full stretch to Jasper but make sure you at least go far enough to see Peyto Lake and its lookout. I have all of the spots dotted on the maps with descriptions but make sure to check out these spots for sure: Hector lake Viewpoint, Bow Lake. Peyto Lake Lookout and Waterfowl Lake. If you want to drive all the way to Columbia Glacier there is a really cool skywalk. Peyto Lake will be your longest stop, as there is a little hike. Bow Lake is a great spot for a little picnic. The whole drive is incredible and you will find yourself stopping constantly to take photos. When you get back to Banff this would be a great night to go up the Banff gondola. Sunrise times sell out, so book in advance.
Day 4 Banff
Moraine Lake, Emerald Lake, Takakkaw Falls
Start your day with a sunrise at Moraine lake, because it is without a doubt one of the most magnificent places in the world. I know its an early start but the 4:30 wake up for the Moraine Lake sunrise tour is a magical experience. You need to book this in advance. If you bring a head lamp and walk a little bit past the lookout there are lots of spot to have the view to yourself. Bring a blanket and an extra jacket. To get to Moraine Lake you need to meet the shuttle service in Lake Louise and book this in advance. After the lake, grab breakfast in Lake Louise Village at one of the coffee shops or the little grocery store and head to Yoho National Park, about 45 minutes away. Drive to Emerald Lake, this spot is absolutely gorgeous, trust me. A lot of people just go to the lake to take pictures on the bridge, but you can do the 5.5km lake trail to find spots on your own or rent a canoe at the boathouse. Make sure to make a quick stop at the natural bridge on the road out of Emerald Lake.
Takkakaw falls the second highest waterfall in Canada 373 meters (1,224 feet) is also in Yoho. The falls are spectacular, and they are just a short walk from the parking lot and 100% worth the detour. You can walk as close as you dare to the falls without getting wet. The down spray and mist here is substantial so a rain jacket isn’t a bad idea. The drive back to Banff is about 90 km (55 miles) and takes about 1 hour.
Day 5 Banff
Canmore, EEOR, Grassi Lake, Quarry Lake
For your final day, spend the day in neighboring Canmore. Canmore is only 45 minutes away from Banff and it is my favourite town. If I were to live there, that is where you will find me! This town is super cute and has a lot of cafes and shops that I have linked. Start the day by hiking the EEOR trail or Ha Ling Peak! They are both similar in difficulty and they start at the same parking lot. Check out the pictures and see which one you would like to do. Personally I find Ha ling has better views over the valley and area but the view from EORR looking towards Ha ling is amazing. Alternatively, if you are not a hiker the scenic helicopter flights over Banff leave from Canmore. These flights are incredible!
Depending what you choose, have lunch in town after. I have several recommendations linked depending what you are feeling. Then hike the Grassi Lakes trail. This is very easy and should take about 1.5 hours. The lakes are so unique and stunning. If you have extra time, go to Quarry Lake after for a swim. This is a man made lake that you can just drive up too!
