Travel Blog: Banff, Alberta, Canada
It goes without saying that if you follow me on social media, you might have seen a recent trip to one of the most magical places on earth—and no, I’m not talking about Disney.
I think one of the most underrated travel destinations are national parks. Not only are they jam-packed with history and some of the most beautiful scenery, they’re affordable and full of different activities to do for anyone and everyone. The most recent national park I was able to visit was Banff National Park in Banff, Alberta, Canada. With only one full day there, this is how I got there and what I recommend doing.
Even in the rain, she’s just as beautiful.
For any trips I plan on going on, I always start on Google Flights. I find the most affordable flights on there and they make it super easy to watch flights for price fluctuation and when the best time is to purchase. I was flying from Vancouver, British Columbia, so I was already in Canada, however, be mindful that you’ll be crossing the U.S. border so have your passport ready, and I always make sure I have all boarding passes printed or saved to my wallet on my iPhone.
You’re going to want to fly into Calgary International Airport (YYC). Considering I was flying within Canada already from Vancouver, I flew Flair Airlines but flying from America, I’m sure one of the larger airlines like American Airlines or Air Canada will have flights into Calgary. I don’t like traveling with any extra luggage, only a carry-on and a personal item. This can be pretty difficult considering you’re going to need some bigger items like hiking boots and extra clothing for the quick weather changes that can occur, however, there are definitely ways to be smart about packing to avoid the extra charges and time needed to wait when you have extra luggage. I used the Beis Carry-On in Beige, along with packing cubes, my cosmetic/toiletry bag, and travel containers I like to decant product into, both big and small for different products.
Getting around and staying in Calgary/Banff can be tricky, so I’m going to try to simplify it as much as I can so it’s as easy and stress-free as possible.
My personal choice for places to stay is through Airbnb. I’ve used it multiple times and have always had a really great experience, however, whether it be for budget purposes or personal preference make sure you’re doing research on comparison pricing, and whether staying in a hotel would be cheaper than using a platform such as Airbnb or Vrbo. For this trip, I booked a condo in Canmore, Alberta, which is about fifteen minutes outside of the actual city of Banff. The condo I booked can be found here. The hosts Tina and Steve were so wonderful and amazing with communication and giving advice on where to go and information on the ins-and-outs of how things work in the area.
The view from our Airbnb balcony!
(Disclaimer: the parking situation was a little difficult to understand at first for the place we stayed. The condos in the building can all be split up and owned by different people and businesses; some were even owned and lived in full-time by individuals. There are two parking garages and you have to find the spots specifically designated to the company that owns the condo you’re staying in.)
Canmore is its own city, so staying here can give you more options for night life and things to do. Once we were in the city of Banff, however, you’ll notice there are a lot of tourists and the one main street (Banff Avenue) can get quite congested. Being able to stay in Canmore and drive in and out of Banff was a lot more budget friendly and a little less hectic when it came to crowds. There are multiple shops, restaurants, and adorable places to sit and relax once you’re in Banff. I highly suggest spending a day just walking up and down the strip of Banff Avenue and taking in all the beautiful views!
Now, to the breathtaking views of Mother Nature… The number one reason people travel to Banff is to visit Banff National Park, which consists of Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. Millions of people travel to these destinations for the serene environment; nothing truly brings you back to yourself or resets your mind, body, and soul like being in nature, and to be honest, I don’t know how anyone could resist the teal blue water, picturesque mountain backdrop, or evergreen accents that Banff has to offer.
First things first, getting from place-to-place:
After you know where you’re going to stay, it’s time to figure out how you’re getting there. Renting a car is always my personal favorite when traveling. I like knowing I have control over where I go and what I do, plus it saves time and effort on researching and using public transportation. If you work for a larger company and you have a “perks-at-work” kind of situation, look for discounts. If renting a car isn’t in the budget for you, there are multiple ways that you can get from the Calgary airport to your destination. Use the Rome2Rio website to coordinate your trip.
View down one end of Banff Avenue.
Once you know how you’re getting around, there are a few different ways to get to the picturesque lakes. There are different shuttles to choose from but the Roam Transit bus seemed to be most popular, easiest, and can be found here. There are three different ticket options: one is from Banff to Lake Louise and back again; one from Banff to Moraine Lake and back, and then there is the Super Pass which takes you from Banff to Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, and then back again. None of this is truly clear on the website but trust me, you’re going to want to get the Super Pass.
These shuttles fill up weeks, sometimes months in advanced. Once you know you’re going on your trip, I would suggest going on the Roam Transit website and booking your shuttle immediately. I was lucky enough to find a few seats left for the one day that we were going to be there. They schedule in time intervals, so we were able to get a 1:00pm bus. However, this is where it gets confusing: you are able to be a “walk-on” on any of the shuttles, as long as they have room. There will be two separate lines, one for the individuals with tickets for that time interval, and one for walk-on individuals that want to try to get up the mountain at a different time than the one scheduled. If they don’t have room, you’ll have to wait for the next time interval, which shuttles run about every hour. Since the weather wasn’t the best, we were lucky people decided to wait to see if it would clear up, and were able to get on the 12:00pm bus and not the 1:00pm. My best advice to you if you want to visit Banff is to get your shuttle ticket for an earlier time slight (I suggest the 9:00am). If there is one thing I’m grateful for, it’s that we got on that earlier shuttle and had the time we did to hike to some of the most beautiful views.
In addition to time intervals, you’ll have to choose a stop to leave from. If you’re driving into Banff, you’re going to want to park at the Banff train station (you’ll be able to easily find this on your GPS. Parking is free and it’s what the Roam Transit website suggests you to do) and walk into town. When booking your shuttle ticket, choose the Banff Community High School Hub for your departure location. It’s right on the main strip of Banff Avenue and easiest to access.
When you get to Lake Louise (it’ll be your first stop) there is another shuttle that you have to get on to get to Moraine Lake, which is another twenty minutes away, roughly. You’ll want to stop at the booth they have set up in the parking lot of Lake Louise to get a special ticket (which will look like a business card) to get on the Moraine Lake shuttle. Show them your receipt for the Super Pass so they can give you the special pass and then head over to the shuttle. Show your driver the pass and you’re good to go. This shuttle does transports between lakes roughly every twenty minutes. The last shuttle is 6:00pm so be mindful of timing and remember that the shuttle system changes around that time, leaving you to have to deal with longer transport times/longer walks back to the car. During the summer it does stay light until roughly 11:00pm so don’t fret being stuck in the forest alone to be eaten by bears, there’s a pretty low chance of that happening—as long as you’re smart.
Another view of Lake Louise.
The reason you’ll want to get shuttles everywhere is because if you were to drive to Lake Louise, you’d have to get there at sunrise due to the limited parking spots they have to park in, and parking lots fill up quick. Plus, parking isn’t allowed at Moraine Lake anymore, so no matter what you’d have to buy a ticket to get on the shuttle to visit it.
What to do once you’re there--our itinerary, in trails:
Bow Falls: The first trail that was hiked was the Bow Falls trail. It runs from the end of Banff Avenue and down the Bow River. On this hike you’ll have the choice to walk across multiple bridges that connects either side of the river, areas where you can sit on benches constructed of the trees from the woods that surround them, and views of the top of the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, which peaks out from the forest surrounding it, as if it were trying to fit in with the trees.
Bow River from one of the bridges.
At the end of the trail, you’ll find the Bow River transform into a section of rushing, rapid waters, and then turn swiftly back into the calm, serene, teal water that meets another mountain for you to take in. There are plenty of benches and areas to sit and relax before hiking back to the center of town. This trail is roughly three miles and has some steeper portions but no true elevation.
The end of Bow River Trail.
Lake Louise:
Lake Louise is one of the most breathtaking places I have ever seen in my life and it is something that will stay with me forever and let’s face it, the main reason you go to Banff! You can hang out at Lake Louise but there really isn’t much to do at the lake itself, therefore hiking all the trails around it or renting canoes to go out on the water is a must.
The beautiful Lake Louise.
To rent a canoe, you’re going to spend about $150 an hour, which I know is a bit steep but if you’re an avid hiker, or just want some seriously amazing views, the trails around the lake is something you’re definitely going to want to do. There are tons of trails all around not only Lake Louise but the city of Banff as well. Make sure you research the hiking trials of Banff, which can be found here.
Trail to Lake Agnes:
This trail is probably the most popular at Lake Louise, and throughout Banff in general. It’s either a full loop, or an in-and-out trail; we did the in-and-out trail and is roughly six miles, with about 2,000 ft. in elevation. The trail starts on the right-hand side of Lake Louise, and to be honest, isn’t well marked. I was absolutely not prepared for the trail and had no idea what it even consisted of until I found myself out of breath and taking multiple breaks to let my muscles rest and stop burning. (Thank goodness I invested in hiking boots!) The map of the in-and-out trail of Big Bee Hive trail is below and leads to Lake Agnes, in addition, an old tea house at the top that you can purchase refreshments at. Also, the second portion of the trail is a zigzag and includes some of the steepest portions amongst the whole trial, so make sure you’re in good shape. I suggest six hours a day on a stair master to prepare yourself for this… Kidding, of course. But also, not really.
Map of the trail to Lake Agnes that we did.
Disclaimer: you won’t have the best cell reception, which can lead you to having to rely on paper maps, which I have to confess, I’m not the best at. I’m a millennial and unfortunately rely mostly on technology, so if you’re like me, brush up on your survival skills (especially the paper map) before embarking on this trip.
About halfway up, you’ll reach Little Bee Hive Lookout, where you can view Lake Louise through the trees from a decent level of elevation. If you continue on, get ready for some steep climbs, so my advice to you is take your time. Stop as often as you need, drink plenty of water, dress in layers because the weather up there can change on a dime. We started out with lots of sun but knew there was a storm rolling in. We ended up hiking back in the rain, with at least a ten-degree temperature drop, and thunder and lightning. We were freezing, wet, and in pain but I would do it all over again in even worse conditions if it meant I got to see Mother Nature like that.
The view from Little Beehive Lookout.
In addition to Little Beehive Lookout, further along the trail you’ll come across Mirror Lake, which is miniscule to the others, but still so beautiful (pictured below). Once you get towards the top and Big Beehive Lookout, you’ll see a small waterfall and a two-level staircase that will lead you to the tea house. It was at the top of the staircases and turning the corner of the tea house where, for the first time in my life, I truly felt my breath being taken from my body. The views Lake Agnes has to offer is something you’re truly not prepared for when you’re in pain, exhausted, and not sure if you can go on but I promise you, it is worth it. I broke out in tears; the emotion was beyond me and I allowed myself to be immersed in the general beauty of Mother Nature.
Mirror Lake.
Overall, your trip to Banff will be a memorable one no matter what you do. It is so refreshing to be in an area where the only attraction is Mother Nature. Remember to stay safe, be prepared, and always ask questions because the locals are more than happy to help. Check out some of my favorite travel essentials I went with can be found here.
The view at the top: Big Beehive Trail