Banff National Park

Banff National Park

Moraine Lake Road is closed to personal vehicles. This is worth leading with because Moraine Lake, with its turquoise water and Valley of Ten Peaks backdrop, is among the most photographed places in Canada and many visitors arrive expecting to drive up. They can’t. In 2026, Parks Canada’s shuttle operates from June 1 to October 12, with seats released on reservation.pc.gc.ca starting April 15. Forty percent of seats go on launch day; the remaining 60 percent release two days before each departure date. If you don’t plan ahead, you won’t get to Moraine Lake during peak season.

Banff National Park is Canada’s first national park, established in 1885, covering 6,641 square kilometres of the Alberta Rockies in a UNESCO World Heritage Site designation it shares with three neighbouring parks. The postcard geology – jagged peaks, turquoise glacial lakes, dense pine forest, wildlife roaming across the roads – delivers exactly what it promises. The planning required to actually see the best parts has become more complex as the park’s popularity has grown.

Lake Louise

Lake Louise is accessible by private vehicle (though parking is challenging); the turquoise colour of the glacier-fed water is one of those experiences where the photographs do not exaggerate. The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise on the shore is the historic luxury option; even if you’re not staying there, the hotel’s public terrace is a useful vantage point. Canoe rentals are available on the lake.

Icefields Parkway

The 93-kilometre Icefields Parkway (Highway 93) between Lake Louise and Jasper is one of the great scenic drives in North America. Pullouts at Peyto Lake, Bow Lake, and numerous glaciers. The Athabasca Glacier at the Columbia Icefield, at roughly the halfway point, is accessible on foot from the parking area – note that the glacier has retreated significantly and the markers showing its historical extent every decade are sobering. Plan four to five hours for the drive with stops.

Johnston Canyon

An all-ability hike suitable for the whole family – wooden walkways bolted to canyon walls, passing two significant waterfalls at 1.1km and 3.5km from the trailhead. Crowded by mid-morning; go early.

Wildlife

Banff holds elk, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, grizzly bears, black bears, and wolves. The Bow Valley corridor through the park is one of the best places in the Canadian Rockies for roadside wildlife sightings. Federal law requires you to stay at least 100 metres from bears and wolves and 25 metres from other large animals. These distances are not advisory.

Where to Stay and Eat

The Fairmont Banff Springs – a castle-like Victorian railway hotel from 1888 – is the landmark luxury option. Moose Hotel and Suites offers comfortable mid-range with outdoor hot pools. The Bison Restaurant focuses on Canadian ingredients. Grizzly House has been doing fondue in Banff since 1967, which means it predates the mass-tourist infrastructure and has survived it.

Practical Notes

Purchase a Parks Canada Discovery Pass for multi-day visits. From June 19 to September 7, 2026, the Canada Strong Pass provides free national park admission. Book accommodation months in advance for July and August. Bear spray is available for rental from outdoor shops in Banff town; worth carrying on any trail. Winter ski season at Lake Louise, Sunshine Village, and Mount Norquay runs December through April.