Visiting Banff National Park: My 2-Day Bucket List Itinerary
A few weeks ago, I flew to Calgary, Canada and drove into one of North America’s greatest national parks—a place that’s lingered on my bucket list for years. Visiting Banff National Park had been a travel goal of mine for as long as I could remember. With its clear blue glacial lakes, amazing hikes, epic ski trails, and abundant wildlife, I couldn’t wait to arrive and spend a few days exploring. So, I set out to create my bucket list itinerary.
I had to cram what I wished would be a week of adventuring, camping, hiking and exploring into just 2 days. It wasn’t easy, but I sufficiently packed each day with as many things as humanly possible, all with my boyfriend in tow. We managed to snag one of the last rooms at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, so after landing in Calgary and renting a car, we headed toward Banff National Park.
For more info on our adventure, read the travel guide on the Canadian Rockies or watch my travel video. In the interest of full disclosure, I may include affiliate links in this post. If you choose to click one and make a purchase, it may help me earn a small commission from the sale at no cost to you. Your support is so appreciated!
What to Expect When Visiting Banff National Park
We drove out of town and through quite a bit of traffic towards the mountains and finally, past the park entrance and right into Banff National Park. The first thing you will notice is the crystal blue river that snakes alongside the highway. I also noticed the fencing and wildlife corridors, a massive stretch of protection for animals to prevent them from being injured by vehicles.
Best Time to Visit Banff National Park
Generally, June, July, and August are the best time to visit Banff due to the warm, mild weather that makes for excellent hiking, camping, swimming, and water activities. It tends to be more crowded during the summer months, but the bookend months of May and September offer smaller crowds. You’ll find wildflowers in bloom between late spring and early fall, with rapidly dropping temperatures once November and December hit.
For snowy fun, a winter visit between December and March can be perfect with activities like skiing, driving the Icefields Parkway, and snowshoeing on hiking trails. Just be on the lookout for road and trail closures this time of year.
Travel Tip: Don’t forget that you’ll need a valid passport if you’re traveling to Banff as a U.S. or other foreign citizen. Getting a passport can take 6 months or more, so ensure you have this taken care of well in advance to avoid delaying your trip.
How to Plan a Banff National Park Itinerary
With so many different areas and nearby parks to visit, it’s a good idea to have a solid plan depicting what you want to do and where you’ll stay during your time in the park. This will largely depend on the season you decide to visit during and how far in advance you’re planning!
I opted to spend the first day checking out hikes around Lake Louise, then venturing into Yoho National Park to see the Fossil Field. We stayed at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, which was gorgeous and provided the perfect place to unwind and relax after a jam-packed first day in the park.
Day 2 was focused on the Cave and Basin National Historic Site, a ride on the Sulphur Mountain Gondola, a dip in hot springs, and taking the Via Ferrata at Mt. Norquay. Checking out of our hotel and leaving the morning of the third day brought my time visiting Banff National Park to a close—but I’ll be back!
Check out my personal itinerary for visiting Banff below to gather some ideas for your own trip.
Day 1: Lake Louise, Tea House Trail, and Yoho National Park
Lake Louise was our first stop, and it was just as beautiful as the photos make it seem. Extremely busy in summertime but beautiful year-round, this lake will knock anyone’s socks off. We had to walk a good way from our car to reach it, but it was well worth it.
I dragged my boyfriend up the Tea House Trail, which I insisted wasn’t far. It is, however, almost 2 miles each way with the trail rising sharply uphill. Since he had been working 6 days a week for 14 hours a day, this was not the best surprise.
However, the glacial lake and waterfall we saw along the way made up for it. The top of the trail takes you to another small lake, Lake Agnes, and a charming little teahouse. The teahouse serves a variety of teas, cakes, sandwiches, and freshly made granola and lemonade. It took the edge off the unexpected hike I brought us on and sitting 400 meters above Lake Louise, offered the most incredible views.
Continuing our journey, we drove into Yoho National Park to check out the Burgess Shale fossil field. We happened to run into the Rocky Mountaineer, a luxury rail service, on the way. Talk about travel envy! If you are looking for a great way to travel to the parks with adventures and route add-ons, this is a great option.
When we finally made it to our grand and amazing hotel, it was time for a dip in the hot tub and pools before they closed. Then we enjoyed some wine and cheese before turning in for the night.
Day 2: Historic Site, Hot Springs, Gondola Rides, and Mt. Norquay
The next day commenced with a visit to the Cave and Basin National Historic Site, the birthplace of Banff National Park. This area has been sacred and special for the Indigenous peoples of Canada for more than 10,000 years! When rail workers stumbled upon the thermal springs at this site in the late 1800s, it eventually led to the creation of Banff—Canada’s very first national park.
We checked out the interactive exhibits, saw a short film, and explored the area to take in the jaw-dropping views of the Canadian Rockies around us.
Next, we headed to the Banff Gondola to take us up Sulphur Mountain, riding an incredible 700 meters up the mountain on our 8-minute cruise to the top. The views from the summit of Sulphur Mountain were postcard-worthy and we looked down at the town of Banff far below, admiring the alpine scenery and mountains all around us.
Travel Tip: Be sure and get your Banff Gondola tickets a day or two in advance if possible. Check the live weather cam on the website to check conditions before you go. The highest Starbucks in Canada is located here in the Lower Terminal!
With those views under our belt, it was time to head to conquer the Via Ferrata at Mt. Norquay. Via Ferrata is Italian for “iron road,” which refers to the cables, ladders, and suspension bridges that span the mountain for an assisted climbing experience. There are 5 routes on this cliff overlooking Mt. Norquay, each one offering amazing vistas and panoramic views of the park. It’s not for the faint of heart, but it’s an awe-inspiring experience if you’re not afraid of heights!
Finally, we returned to the town of Banff and had a hearty dinner. We decided to head to Lake Minnewanka to try to catch the aurora borealis, or nothern lights, while we fought falling into a comatose sleep from our busy day in Banff. Returning to our hotel, we got some rest and prepared to make the drive back to the airport for tomorrow’s flight home!
Planning on Visiting Banff National Park?
Banff National Park was everything I hoped it would be and more. And that’s my take after a quick, 2-day visit—imagine if you had even more time to explore! There are so many hiking trails and overlooks that I didn’t get a chance to experience during my last trip, so I’ll definitely be back.
Thinking about planning a visit of your own? Learn more about some of the places we visited and activities in Banff National Park at the links below:
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