A practical guide to Banff National Park

No wonder, this 6641 Square Kilometres Banff National Park has made its spot in many lists of top national parks to see around the world. What makes the park so unique? Let us look at top things to see and do in Banff National Park Canada.

Located in the heart of Banff National Park Canada, the lake is home for a ton of year-round activities. This waterbody amidst pristine wilderness, lets you conquer its waters in a canoe or explore its banks on horseback. There are many trekking trails around the lake that you can explore and get immersed in the picturesque affair. The trails like Mount Saint Piran, Little Beehive, and Sentinal Pass offer great backpacking trips that disappear into the mountains giving you incredible glacier vantage points. If you are here in summer, you can enjoy its turquoise-colored lake view. In peak winters, the lake offers you charming view of a glacier. You can spend a whole day around here if you are traveling in leisure.

Sunshine Village is the perfect place to enjoy more than 3,300 acres of skiable snow and also has peak elevation of 7200 feet that offers 12 lifts. The area has a powdery terrain making it an ideal ski arena for pros and newbies alike. The ski season here starts from early November and lasts upto mid-May, thanks to its location straddling the continental divide. Skiing season or not, it is still a must-see place to visit. If you are around here from Mid-June to the early autumn season, you can witness the spectacular alpine peaks that are a feast for the senses. Mount Assiniboine Peak around here needs a special mention for the alpine glow it offers. The Sunshine Meadows is also open around this period for free hiking. But that is not the only free thing! A shuttle from the town that runs from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. is also free!

The Banff Gondola is one of the best ways to enjoy your trip when you are here with your kids. Reach the top of the Sulphur Mountain that’s at an elevation of 7500 feet in a Gondola while enjoying breathtaking views of Bow River Valley and Banff National Park. Speaking of Bow River, The Bow River flows through the Banff town and has a cross over the bridge that lets you enjoy the calm view of the serene river. The peak has a 360 degrees rooftop observation deck that is totally worth the ride. The area also has a handful of eateries in case you are hungry. Enjoy the Broadwalk and interactive exhibits before to head down to the town. The Admission for the Gondola ride is also a bit steep in price. $62 (Canadian) for adults over 16 years of age and $31 for children between 6 to 15 years.

Located to the North of the Banff Town, Moraine Lake is undoubtedly the visual highlight of your Banff trip. The lake is about an hour drive from the Banff National Park Canada and is nested in the valley of the Ten Peaks that surround the lake. Wondering about the Bright Blue waters of the lake? The vibrant bright blue hue of the lake comes from the rock silt that melts into the lake from the surrounding glaciers. If you are here around Mid-June to September, you can rent a canoe and head onto to a quest of the bright blue waters. The surrounding areas also have excellent backcountry hiking trails. One of the easiest trails around here is the Moraine Lake Shore Path that takes you for a round trip along the lakeshore. Enjoy spectacular views of Mount Fay and the Fay Glacier as you trek along this relatively flat path. Canoe rentals here cost about 105 Canadian dollars.

Tip: If you want to enjoy the peaceful view and a good parking spot, the best time to visit the lake is early in the morning.

Looking for a child-friendly skiing area around here? We found a perfect match for you. The Mount Norquay is the closest at only 5 miles from the Banff town, and also it’s the smallest of the Banff's 3 ski areas. The resort has skiing and snowboard instruction for ages 3 and above and also has daycare for children in case they are not ready to try skiing yet. The Mount Norquay has one of the steepest slopes of the continent. The resort also offers out of the world view of the Banff National Park Canada and a part of Canadian Rockies too. And if you are lucky enough to visit the area from December to March, you can enjoy the night ski here available on select days.

You are in for a feast for eyes at the Columbia Icefield. The Icefield that stretches across 25kms at the great divide is one of the only two places of the world that form a triple continent divide. This one is one of the most accessible glaciers of the world. This largest body of ice covering the Canadian Rockies is about two and a half hours drive from the Banff town, but you will be thankful that you made the trip. There is a tour available that lets you explore the Icefields parkway. You can also choose to drive and cover the entire distance for stunning views of the area. Whether you decide to take a tour or drive to the area, after you reach there, you will continue your journey to the Athabasca glacier in an Ice Explorer. After enjoying the scenic drive for 80 mins, you will be left to enjoy the place for about 20 minutes. You can also purchase the ticket to the Glacier Sky Walk, the glass floor observatory platform in the Sunwapta Valley. The tours are available from mid-April to mid-October. Hours of operation vary by the climate, but the general hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the tickets for the Sky Walk along with Ice Explorer cost 99 Canadian dollars per adult and about $50 for kids. You can also book the tour tickets in advance when you make your booking through Trip.com website, for additional savings in terms of money and time.

How does a hot shower amidst snow-capped peaks sound? This is precisely what you get at the Banff Upper Hot Springs. These hot springs sit on top of Mountain Avenue and are a mere two and a half miles to the south of Banff town. These hot springs are similar to the Budapest Thermal Baths and also have all amenities like changing areas, café, ladders, lockers, and gift shop. The water in the springs is infused with various minerals like Sodium, Sulphate, Magnesium, which makes the bath more relaxing. The Banff Upper Hot Springs open at 10 a.m and close around 10 p.m., of course, like any other place in Banff National Park Canada, the timings are subject to change depending on the climate.

This is another popular attraction in the Banff National Park Canada area that attracts nature lovers and history buffs alike. The Cave and Basin National Historical Site is referred to as Banff National Park birthplace by many experts of the field. You can typically spend a couple of hours here observing the interactive displays that share information about the history and the local wildlife of the Banff National Park Canada. There is a hot spring also here but is seldom accessible by the public now. This is a must-see place for its historical significance and stunning caves.

Finally, if you are looking for a fantastic and beautiful place for the perfect hiking trip in Banff, backpack to hit the Johnston Canyon. The track is located along the scenic Bow Valley Parkway and is the best track that takes you alongside gorgeous canyons, caves and many waterfalls. The two prominent waterfalls that you come across while passing by are the Lower Waterfalls and the Upper Waterfalls. A tunnel in the cliffs lets you get up-close to these falls.

If you like outdoor water adventures, do try whitewater river rafting here, in Banff National Park Canada. There are many white water rafting and float tours that are available in the area. You can also peacefully glide the waters in colorful boats available to rent here in Banff. The Banff town is also a charming, bustling town that can keep you busy for the night. Spend your time among the many iconic stores here buying Souvenirs here in Banff Avenue. The Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies and Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum are also some of the places that tell the stories of the Canadian Rockies and the local culture. There are also many popular trekking trails here like the Eiffel Lake, Larch Valley, Consolation Lakes, Tunnel Mountains that offer you unforgettable pleasant hiking experience.

The best time to visit this biggest Banff National Park Canada will depend upon what you want to do here. If you simply like to delve in the scenic beauty of the National Park and would also love to camp here, on the bay of its beautiful lakes, the best time to visit would be between June and August. The weather during this period is warm and welcoming, and the hotel prices are also pretty reasonable. Also, this will be the best time to see Moraine Lake and Columbia Icefield as in peak winters the drive is closed due to Avalanche risk. On the other hand, if you would like to engage in many snow sports, the place offers, the best time to make the most of it will be between December to March. If you want to go skiing, peak winters would be the best time.

The best way to enjoy the Banff National Park and other national parks in Canada in a single pass are the Parks Canada Pass. This passport to your adventure in Canada allows entry not only to the Banff National Park but also to other national parks throughout the year at a very nominal rate. If you wish to visit different historical sites and museums of the country, get yourself the Discovery Pass. If you are a group of 2 to 7 people traveling in a single-vehicle, you can buy a day pass for around 20 dollars that is valid for the next day 4 PM. Choose your kind of pass depending on the number of days you want to spend around here. You can also take individual One Day passes valid until 4 p.m. the next day.

The One Day Pass price for Adult is CA $9.80, for senior citizens is CA $8.30 and is free for youth between 6 to 17 years.

Do stop by the Visitor Center in Banff to collect Brochures and map of the Park to plan a perfect trip.

The restaurants here in Banff serve a healthy portion of Canadian Rocky Mountain Cuisine like Bison, Trout, Venison, and Elk. You can find a restaurant that caters to all budgets around here. The Downtown of Banff is famous for its many eateries around here, the favorite being Grizzly House and Block Kitchen & Bar. If you are looking for mountain style ambiance, great view and rustic charm, do visit the restaurants located on the Northern side of the town, like the Sleeping Buffalo and Three Ravens. If you are a vegetarian, don’t get disheartened, there are hidden gems around here like the Nourish Bistro that plate up with vegetarian food.

From a place so scenic, you got to take back some solid memories apart from hundreds of pictures. Pick up Banff specialty gifts like candy, t-shirts, postcards and the wild animal figurines as souvenirs for loved ones from the many stores in Sundance Mall on Banff Avenue. There are other souvenir stores around the town and many local resorts as well.

If your favorite mode of travel is hitting the road, you are going to enjoy this scenic drive. The Banff National Park Canada is located along the TransCanada Highway. The perfectly maintained roads will let you wind through the Canadian Rockies. If you are traveling from east, Banff and Lake Louise is a 140 Km drive from Calgary that takes approximately 90 minutes. If you are going to Banff from Vancouver, you travel a distance of 850 km covering Coast Mountains, British Columbia, and the Canadian Rockies.

Greyhound offers bus services to the town of Banff from Calgary. The first bus leaves at 7:30 a.m., and the last bus leaves at 10:30 p.m. The On-It Regional Transit also offers services to Banff Town but only on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

The Rocky Mountaineer has scheduled train services that halt at Banff. Visit their website for schedule. The rail route gives you stunning views of the Alpine trees and snowcapped mountains.

The most time saving to reach Banff is by air if you are visiting from a different country. Many North American Airlines and International airlines offer direct flights to Calgary International Airport. You can reach Banff via a 90 minutes scenic drive from the airport. Pick between a cab, rental car, or use public transport like a shuttle bus to cover the distance.

How much time to spend here will depend on what you want to do around here. If you are just looking for soaking in the scenic views of Banff National Park’s natural beauty, a 3-day trip anytime during the months from June to August will be an excellent way to spend your summer vacation. But, if you want to enjoy all that the place has to offer, spend around 5 to 7 days here. You can enjoy hiking, camping, canoeing, skiing, hot water bath, Gondola rides, and enjoy the beauty of its mountains, lakes, forests, and alpine groves.

Before, you set you to Banff National Park Canada, make sure you check their official website for the latest updates about the climate and closures. The Banff National Park Canada is one of the world’s most spectacular national park that has something for both nature lovers and adventure lovers alike. You can easily book your flight tickets to Canada on Trip.com and avail exciting offers and discount.