Banff & Jasper N.P. Itineraries

To truly experience all that the parks have to offer, you should give yourself at least five days to explore. For longer trips, consider pairing the parks with a trip to the adjacent Yoho and Kootenay National Parks in eastern British Columbia or the fossil-filled badlands of eastern Alberta. But if time is tight, we’ve got you covered with these one- and three-day itineraries.

YOUR BEST DAY IN THE PARKS

If you only have one day, your best bet is to just stick to Banff National Park. For a chance at spotting wildlife, start your day early driving along the scenic Bow Valley Parkway (pictured above), and then hike through Johnston Canyon, where a 0.75-mile metal catwalk clings to a sheer limestone rockface before emerging at the canyon’s Lower Falls. If you’re up for more hiking, 1.5 miles of switchbacks follow a string of waterfalls that dot boulder-strewn Johnston Creek until you reach the stunning 100-foot Upper Falls. Time permitting, keep climbing for another 1.9 miles over a forested ridge until you emerge at the Ink Pots, where pools of warm, greenish water bubble up from the earth’s crust into a broad meadow bounded by jagged peaks.

When you’re done hiking, it’s only a 30-minute drive to the village of Lake Louise (pictured below), where you can grab a quick lunch before snapping a mandatory selfie amidst throngs of bus tourists near the settlement’s iconic lake.  Although you’ll be tempted to linger, ditch the crowds and take a short drive up the mountains to Moraine Lake, Lake Louise’s quieter cousin, where you can spend the rest of your afternoon paddling a canoe, hiking along one if its trails–try the Consolation Lakes trail in the summer months (1.8 miles one-way) or Larch Valley in the autumn (2.7 miles one-way)–or simply lazing on the river shore, feasting your eyes on the cerulean water and surrounding summits and glaciers.

Drive back about 45 minutes along the Trans-Canada in the early evening towards the Banff townsite, keeping your eyes peeled for animals making use of the highway’s wildlife crossings, to reach Sulphur Mountain’s Banff Gondola in time to catch the town below and neighboring massifs bathing in the light of the setting sun, which can be as late as 10:00 pm in late June and early July (it’s not a bad idea to buy a timed ticket in advance). Right at the foot of Sulphur Mountain, you can then soak in the Banff Upper Hot Spring’s steaming geothermal pool (forgot your trunks? They rent old-timey one-piece bathing suits!), which has been warming Canadians for more than 130 years. For dinner, venture into town for “campfire barbecue” and homemade spirits at Park Distillery or Asian-inspired tapas at Block Kitchen + Bar. Be sure to see if any concerts, readings, or gallery events are happening at the lovely Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, one of Canada’s most important arts incubators, or catch a live band downtown at raucous Rose & Crown before heading back to your swanky hotel or serene campsite.

YOUR BEST 3 DAYS IN THE PARKS

Day One

Heading west into the Rockies from Edmonton, stop at the Miette Hot Springs (pictured above) in Jasper National Park to soak in 104-degree pools while surrounded by pristine mountain wilderness. To make your dip all the more rewarding, first take a short hike on the Source of the Springs trail to the ruins of an old bathhouse and to see steaming geothermal water seeping out of living rock. Don’t be surprised if you’re sharing the trail with bighorn sheep, which are known to frequent the area.

Heading west towards the tranquil town of Jasper, keep your eyes peeled for wildlife like grizzly bears and elk. Once in town, enjoy inspired pub fare and craft beer at Jasper Brewing Company for lunch before hopping on a trail up Jasper’s Pyramid Bench, driving into the mountains to spend a day hiking or lazing around the otherworldly Pyramid Lake, or riding on the Jasper Skytram gondola to enjoy the sunset over a drink at the Summit Restaurant. Back in town in the evening, pop into Tekkarra Restaurant or Evil Dave’s Grill for fine dining before spending your night staring at the stars in Jasper’s Dark Sky Preserve on a telescope tour. If you’re keen on a night out, shimmy with veterans and locals to a live band at the Royal Canadian Legion before heading to your hotel, resort, or campsite.

Day Two

Starting early in the morning, grab a quick breakfast at cute Coco’s Café or Tim Hortons, an iconic Canadian coffee and donut chain, before driving south on the spectacular 144-mile Icefields Parkway, which follows the mighty Athabasca River before climbing high above the tree line to a world of glittering glaciers and imposing massifs. Stop along the way for an easy stroll to the tumultuous Athabasca Falls or Sunwapta Falls. Near the boundary between Jasper and Banff National Parks, take a short hike to the toe of the Athabasca Glacier or jump aboard a jacked-up six-wheeled bus for a “Glacier Adventure” tour. Giving yourself plenty of time to stop and marvel at the scenery along the way, arrive at iconic Lake Louise in Banff National Park as the sun wanes to beat the crowds at the popular site for a quick evening paddle. Then drink and dine at one of the restaurants and bars in the elegant Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise before heading to your exquisite suite or quiet campground.

Day Three

The next morning, there are several cafés that can fuel you in the Lake Louise Village before you take a short drive to nearby Moraine Lake (pictured above) to paddle a canoe, laze by its vibrant blue-hued waters, or hike to the isolated Consolation Lakes or Larch Valley, which becomes brilliantly aflame in autumn. You can grab lunch at the Moraine Lake Lodge before hitting the Bow Valley Parkway, a 30+ mile scenic drive that leads to the town of Banff and is renowned for its wildlife spotting opportunities. Along the way, peer at the sheer rock walls and waterfalls of Johnston Canyon, which has a three-part trail that can take you one, one-and-half, or four hours roundtrip, depending on how long you feel like hiking for. Arriving in the town of Banff in the late afternoon or early evening, take a gondola up Sulphur Mountain or embark on a 2.7-mile roundtrip hike atop Tunnel Mountain for the sunset before strolling downtown to pick up last-minute souvenirs. For dinner, sink your teeth into premium Alberta beef paired with homemade spirits at Park Distillery or opt for something lighter, like Asian-inspired tapas at Block Kitchen + Bar. For more nightlife options in town, see above under “Your Best Day in the Parks.”