Banff

A week in Banff.

Lake Louise

Johnston Canyon

Emerald Lake

Lake Agnes

Moraine Lake

Grassi Lakes

This was my second trip to Banff. My first trip was before I had kids and I had always wanted to return with my family. This end of summer trip was beautiful. While we were there, a terrible wildfire tore through Jasper. I hope it is not too long before the town rebounds.

In general, search your online groups for photos in Banff (and Jasper and the other Canadian Rocky parks) for inspiration. Check out official websites like https://banff.ca/89/Visiting. We used Roam for booking the public shuttle to Moraine Lake (and Lake Louise) and they will have info and links on how to do that. We had to wait for the 2 day prior reservations: my wife and I sat by our computers and right when they became available we tried to get different times slots. We struck out mostly, until I found a free afternoon spot and I grabbed it. It was like trying to get concert tickets. The shuttle met at the Lake Louise Park & Ride, at the ski resort area, and was VERY easy. It was just getting the reservation that was super tough. Our other day to Lake Louise was through Wow Banff and I would also recommend that if you can do it.

We stayed in Banff and in Canmore and of the two towns, we felt at home in Canmore. Much less intense, many bikes and pathways, friendly dogs and generally a welcoming town that felt like it was lived in and loved. From Canmore, it was still very easy to access the area around Banff and visit Grassi Lakes. If we went back, I bet we would choose to stay there. We stayed at Pocaterra Inn & Waterslide and would totally stay there again.

Getting the rental car (we rented through an online third party site) was the least fun part of the trip. Just getting off the plane and waiting a long time for a car. And because we booked through a third party, we had a mileage cap and we would get charged if we drove over that mileage. Turns out that we didn't go over, but that was added stress.

We marveled at the colors of the lakes, they really are that magical. Our favorite was Emerald Lake. Emerald Lake was certainly among the popular destinations and teeming with people. However we were agog at the colors of the water with a backdrop of stormy skies. We walked over the saturated, silky waters on the bridge, we canoed through the teal waves and one of us dipped their bare feet into the frigid shallows. The other standouts were Takakkaw Falls, Two Jack Lake and Peyto Lake (and nearby Bow Lake). Of course Lake Louise is incredible and a must-do, I did like hiking to the Lake Agnes Teahouse and Little and Big Beehive.

We sometimes spent two hours in the car per day. Each major destination was generally one Canadian hour (haha) away. Totally worth it. And the drives are incredible - we saw a lot of wildlife on the drives. Like a herd of big horn sheep going up to Whiteman Pond from Grassi Lake (including all the baby sheeps!!). I wouldn't recommend the drive up to Whiteman Pond, it is just a long-ish dirt road, but we did it because we had time and wanted to check it out. I also saw the most brilliant rainbow while driving back to Canmore one day - it was the most vibrant incredible one and it was almost glowing.

Other than the sheep, most of the wildlife we saw were birds like bald eagles and osprey. However we did se a bear and a moose briefly during our drives.

Really grateful for this trip. Breathtakingly beautiful and justifiably popular.