Everything you need to know BEFORE you go to Banff

Banff National Park is Canada's most popular national park. Here's what you need to know before you go!

Discovery Pass

You need to buy a park pass. This is called the "Discovery Pass". This pass is required to visit all national parks in Canada. I would suggest purchasing it online before you go so you don't need to waste any time purchasing it at the gate. The line ups get very long in the high season so this will save you A LOT of time.

There are 2 options, daily pass or yearly pass. The daily pass is $11 per person, per day. If you are going to be in a national park for 7 days or more, it makes more sense to purchase the yearly pass. The yearly pass is $75.25 if you're just one single person. If you are a couple or family, you can buy the family pass which is good for 7 people for $151.25.

Bear Spray

Unless you only plan on spending time in town during your trip to Banff National Park, you need to carry bear spray with you. You can rent bear spray in town so you don't need to purchase it. Ultimate Sports, Snowtips-Bactrax, and Wilderness Equipment Rentals. Rental costs typically range from $10-$12 per day. Some retailers also offer weekly discounts. 

Weather

The weather in the mountains changes quickly. It can snow or be very cold at any point in time (yes, even in July & August). Make sure to pack layers and bring a range of clothing.

Fires

Unfortunately Banff and the surrounding areas are prone to forest fires. Always double check the weather and advisories before your trip to ensure no forest fires have broken out. You can still visit if there is a wild fire (depending on how close it is) but know that the air quality will be poor and the views will be impacted. We have been to Lake Louise when there was a forest fire nearby and you couldn't even see the mountains the air was so thick.

Flights

Fly into Calgary airport to visit Banff. It is the closest airport to the park. it is an hour and a half drive to get to the park from Calgary. You could visit Banff without a car but we highly recommend you rent a car so you can explore more of the park. If you want options for visiting without a car, click here.

Cash vs Credit

Credit card is accepted nearly everywhere in Banff so you don't need to worry about bringing cash if you don't want too. The currency for everything is in Canadian dollars. If you try to pay for something with US dollars, it will be accepted but you will be getting an awful exchange rate.

Best time to visit

July & August are "peak" season in Banff. Weather is perfect but with good weather comes more crowds. We've been to Banff in every season and our favourite time to go is June or September. In June, you're getting summer-like temperatures without the crowds. The only thing you have to worry about is that temperatures could be colder than usual depending on the year and the high elevation hikes will still have snow on them. September is great because all the kids have gone back to school so no crowds & the temperatures are perfect for hiking. Larch season is in September which we find magical! Larch season is where the trees turn a beautiful golden colour, making hiking even more magical. Late September can get snow so keep that in mind.

Pets in the park

Unlike the US national parks, Canada's national parks are extremely dog-friendly. Almost all hikes are dog-friendly, and the town of Banff is also very dog-friendly. You can go into almost all stores on the main street, and most patios allow dogs. Make sure to always keep pets on a leash.

Wild animals

You will likely see elk, deer and bears during your time in the park. Never approach wildlife. Do not get out of your vehicle for a photo of the animals. Do not disturb the wildlife in any way, shape or form. Please.

Hiking

Always check trail conditions before heading out. Trails are sometimes closed due to bear activity or other reasons. Alltrails & Parks Canada's trail closure website are great resources to check for closures.