Banff & Lake Louise

The jewel of the Canadian Rockies: Lake Louise, Moraine Lake and Peyto Lake, plus Banff town, the Sulphur Mountain gondola and hot springs.

Banff National Park lies in the Rocky Mountains of southwestern Alberta, Canada. Established in 1885, it is Canada's first national park, and together with Yoho and Kootenay National Parks across the border in British Columbia it forms the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks UNESCO World Heritage Site. This destination uses Banff town as its base and covers three areas within about 100 km: ① around Banff town: Banff Avenue, the Banff Gondola on Sulphur Mountain, the Upper Hot Springs, Bow Falls, the Fairmont Banff Springs hotel, the Lake Minnewanka loop, Vermilion Lakes, and Canmore, 20 km to the east, where lodging is more affordable; ② the Lake Louise area: Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Lake Agnes and the Plain of Six Glaciers tea house hikes, Larch Valley, and Johnston Canyon and Morant's Curve on the Bow Valley Parkway; ③ the surrounding parks: Emerald Lake, Takakkaw Falls and Lake O'Hara in Yoho; Marble Canyon in Kootenay; and Bow Lake and Peyto Lake on the southern section of the Icefields Parkway. The northern Icefields Parkway, the Columbia Icefield and Jasper are covered under the separate "Jasper" destination.

Seasons: from mid-June to mid-September the lakes thaw to a vivid blue-green, making it the peak season; larches turn gold in mid-to-late September; November to May is ski season (Lake Louise, Sunshine Village and Mt. Norquay), when the ice on Lake Louise is open for skating; the Moraine Lake Road is closed from mid-October to the end of May.

Getting around: Calgary airport is about 1.5 hours' drive from Banff town. A rental car is the most convenient, but private vehicles are not allowed at Moraine Lake, so you must take a Parks Canada shuttle or Roam bus and book ahead, and the Lake Louise parking lots often fill up early. A national park pass (day pass or Discovery Pass) is required to enter the park. We recommend 3–5 days. Tips: book summer lodging several months ahead; keep your distance from bears, and carry bear spray and hike in a group; it can snow in the mountains even in summer.

Top sights

• Lake Louise – The emerald of the Rockies: a glacial lake at the foot of Victoria Glacier, with the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise on its shore. Canoeing an…
• Moraine Lake – A glacial lake cradled by the Valley of the Ten Peaks, once printed on Canada's 20-dollar bill. The “Twenty Dollar View” from the rock pile…
• Emerald Lake, Yoho National Park – An emerald-colored lake in Yoho National Park. The 5 km lakeside trail is flat and easy, with lakeside log cabins and canoes, and along the…
• Bow Lake – A glacial lake at the headwaters of the Bow River, beside the Icefields Parkway, with the Crowfoot Glacier and red-roofed log lodge reflect…
• Banff Town – The only town within the national park. Banff Avenue faces Sulphur Mountain, and restaurants, shops, and nearby short-trip attractions are…
• Johnston Canyon – Banff's most popular hike. Steel catwalks bolted to limestone cliffs lead deep into the canyon. A 5 km round trip takes you to the Lower an…
• Peyto Lake – A cobalt-blue glacial lake shaped like a wolf's head, seen from Bow Summit, the highest point on the Icefields Parkway. It is one of the mo…
• Banff Gondola (Sulphur Mountain) – An 8-minute gondola ride takes you to the summit at 2,281 m, where a wooden boardwalk offers 360-degree views over Banff town and six valle…
• Lake Minnewanka – The largest lake in Banff National Park, about 21 km long, where sightseeing boats carry you deep into the mountains. An old village lies s…
• Two Jack Lake – A small lake on the Minnewanka Loop whose still surface mirrors the peaks of Mount Rundle. It is one of Banff's most popular sunrise viewpo…
• Banff Upper Hot Springs – A natural hot spring pool on the slopes of Sulphur Mountain, where you soak in water at about 38°C while looking out at snowy peaks. A good…
• Bow Falls – A broad, stepped waterfall on the Bow River at the edge of Banff town. It was a filming location for the film 'River of No Return' and is w…
• Cave and Basin National Historic Site – The birthplace of Canada's national park system. You can enter a cave to see the sulphur hot spring pools and learn about the history of th…
• Vermilion Lakes – Three shallow lakes and wetlands on the west side of Banff town. Mount Rundle's reflection and sunset glow make classic photo scenes, and w…
• Fairmont Banff Springs – The 'Castle in the Rockies' built by the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1888. A Scottish baronial-style building and a National Historic Site…
• Banff Hoodoos Viewpoint – Groups of glacially deposited rock pillars at the end of Tunnel Mountain Road, overlooking the Bow Valley and Mount Rundle. A gentle, short…
• Tunnel Mountain – The easiest peak to summit near Banff town, a round trip of about 1.5–2 hours, with views over the town and the Bow Valley from the top.
• Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies – A museum of Canadian Rockies history and art in Banff town, with exhibits on mountaineering, Indigenous peoples and early tourism.
• Lake Agnes Tea House – A century-old log teahouse beside a high alpine lake above Lake Louise, about 3.5 km one way. Enjoy a cup of tea while looking out over a c…
• Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House – A stone teahouse in the glacial valley at the far end of Lake Louise, offering close-up views of the Victoria Glacier and moraine landforms.
• Lake Louise Gondola & Ski Resort – In summer, ride the sightseeing gondola to look out over Lake Louise and the Victoria Glacier and watch for grizzly bears. In winter, it is…
• Morant's Curve – A classic railway photo spot along the Bow Valley Parkway, where trains curve along the Bow River below snowy peaks. It can be photographed…
• Larch Valley & Sentinel Pass – A classic hike from Moraine Lake, when the alpine larches on the mountainside turn gold in autumn. Views of the Ten Peaks Valley, with the…
• Takakkaw Falls – A glacial-meltwater waterfall in Yoho National Park with a total drop of about 373 metres, one of the tallest waterfalls in Canada.
• Natural Bridge, Yoho – A natural stone bridge carved by the Kicking Horse River through limestone. Stop here on the way to Emerald Lake, with parking right beside…
• Spiral Tunnels Viewpoint – Railway spiral tunnels completed in 1909, where you can watch long freight trains cross through the mountain, with the front and rear of th…
• Lake O'Hara – A high-alpine lake area in Yoho National Park, accessed by a limited number of buses. Many regard it as the most beautiful hiking area in t…
• Marble Canyon, Kootenay National Park – A narrow limestone canyon in Kootenay National Park. Cross seven small bridges to look down at emerald rapids, and visit the ochre paint po…
• Canmore – A mountain town just outside the eastern gate of Banff National Park, with a walkable main street beneath the Three Sisters peaks. Accommod…
• Grassi Lakes – Two small emerald-green lakes on the mountainside above Canmore. An easy round-trip hike of about 4 km, and a gathering place for climbers.

Where to eat

• Park Distillery Restaurant & Bar – A small-batch distillery restaurant and bar on Banff Avenue, famous for its wood-fired rotisserie chicken, bison burger…
• Lake Agnes Tea House – A century-old alpine tea house accessible only by hiking or horseback. Enjoying a pot of hot tea and handmade scones by…
• The Eddie Burger + Bar – A retro basement burger bar on Banff Avenue serving up bison and elk burgers alongside poutine. Open late, it is an aff…
• Block Kitchen + Bar – A cozy spot at the corner of Banff Avenue and Caribou Street, specializing in izakaya-style Asian fusion small plates…
• The Grizzly House – A Banff landmark since 1967, famous for its cheese fondue, hot stone tabletop grilling, and exotic meats, complete with…
• Post Hotel Dining Room – A premier hotel restaurant in Lake Louise Village, boasting a wine cellar of over 28,000 bottles and a long-standing Wi…
• Laggan's Mountain Bakery & Deli – An affordable bakery in Samson Mall in Lake Louise Village, which has been a staple stop for hikers to grab bread and s…

Itineraries

• Banff & Jasper Icefields Parkway Classic – Round-trip from Calgary, connecting Banff, Lake Louise, the Icefields Parkway, and Jasper.
• Banff First-Visit Classics – Based in Banff town, see the town gondola, Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, and Johnston Canyon in three days.
• Vancouver to the Rockies via Okanagan – A one-way traverse of BC, traveling from the coastal city through wine country and mountain passes to Calgary.
• Banff Lakes, Yoho and Kootenay – Stay in Banff town for five days to explore the lakes in depth, with a day trip to Emerald Lake in Yoho and Radium Hot…
• BC & Canadian Rockies Grand Loop – A round-trip loop from Vancouver, passing through Whistler, Wells Gray, Jasper, Banff, and wine country.
• Icefields Parkway and the Banff Area – Split stays between Banff town and Lake Louise village, covering the Icefields Parkway, Yoho and Golden, and Canmore. J…
• First Passage to the West Rockies Sightseeing Rail – Take a daytime sightseeing train from Vancouver to Lake Louise, then transfer to Banff and Calgary.
• Lake Louise Alpine Hiking – Stay in Lake Louise village and hike classic trails, including the Plain of Six Glaciers, Larch Valley, O'Hara Lake and…
• Banff Winter Sightseeing Without Skiing – Winter Banff without skiing: walking through frozen canyons, skating on Lake Louise, ice bubbles at Abraham Lake, and s…
• Kootenay Hot Springs Circle – A loop from Calgary exploring the western slopes of the Rockies, Kootenay Lake, and Revelstoke.
• Banff and Lake Louise Winter Ski – Round trip from Calgary, skiing at Sunshine Village and Lake Louise, exploring frozen waterfalls and lakes.