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 Springs in Kootenay.
A relaxed pace: day one covers the town and the Cave and Basin National Historic Site; day two focuses on Lake Louise and Moraine Lake; day three heads west to Yoho for Emerald Lake and Takakkaw Falls; day four goes south through Kootenay National Park to Radium Hot Springs; and the last day includes the gondola and a museum before you leave. You keep the same base the whole trip, making it ideal for visiting several national parks without rushing.
The Takakkaw Falls road is open roughly late June to early October. Moraine Lake is accessible by shuttle only.
Day by day
Day 1 · Arrival and a Walk Around Banff
Banff & Lake Louise（Banff Town、Cave and Basin National Historic Site、Bow Falls、Vermilion Lakes）
Drive from the airport to Banff, about 1.5 hours. In the afternoon, walk or bike between sights in town.
Stay: Banff Townsite
Day 2 · Lake Louise and Moraine Lake
Banff & Lake Louise（Moraine Lake、Lake Louise、Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House）
Drive to the Lake Louise transfer point, about 50 minutes, then take the Parks Canada shuttle to and from both lakes.
The round trip to the Plain of Six Glaciers takes about 4 hours. The tea houses accept cash only.
Stay: Banff Townsite
Day 3 · Emerald Lake and Waterfalls in Yoho
Banff & Lake Louise（Spiral Tunnels Viewpoint、Takakkaw Falls、Natural Bridge, Yoho、Emerald Lake, Yoho National Park）
Drive west on Highway 1 for about 1 hour to Yoho, with 15–30 minutes between sights, then return to Banff in the evening.
Emerald Lake has limited parking, so arrive early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
Stay: Banff Townsite
Day 4 · Kootenay and Radium Hot Springs
Banff & Lake Louise（Marble Canyon, Kootenay National Park） → Invermere & Columbia Valley（Paint Pots、Kootenay Valley Viewpoint、Sinclair Canyon、Radium Hot Springs Pools）
Take Highway 93 South through Kootenay National Park to Radium, about 1.5 hours. The round trip is about 280 km.
There is no cell signal in the Kootenay section, so fill up before you leave.
Stay: Banff Townsite
Day 5 · Gondola and Museum, Then Departure
Banff & Lake Louise（Banff Gondola (Sulphur Mountain)、Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies）
Spend the morning in town, then in the afternoon drive about 1.5–2 hours back to Calgary Airport.