Banff National Park: Ultimate Tourist Guide & 7 Attractions

Banff National Park is the most well-known park in Canada. It is renowned for its beautiful scenery, hiking trails, and fantastic winter attractions. It is a must-see destination for any trip to Western Canada.

With so many fascinating areas and things to do, planning a trip to Banff National Park can be overwhelming. To help you plan the perfect itinerary and make the most of your holiday, we’ve explored the park’s history and broken down how to organise a great visit.

History

Banff National Park is the oldest and most popular park in Canada. The park covers over 1.6 million acres of wilderness. The remarkable terrain includes mountains, glaciers, forests, and more.

The mountains of the National Park were formed over 50 million years ago when the tectonic plates shifted and pushed rock layers together. Just 5 million years ago, the entire park was covered in glaciers. Today, the ice is found solely on the mountain slopes.

The park was founded in 1885 after the hot springs were discovered. Multiple parties wanted control of the area to commercialise it, but the government designated the land as a conservation area to protect it.

Banff National Park was founded as Rocky Mountains Park. It was the third park to be created in North America, following Yellowstone in 1872 and Mackinac National Park in 1875.

Throughout history, the Canadian government has used Banff National Park for many reasons. From the late 1800s to the 1920s, coal was mined from the park’s mountains.

During WWI, Banff National Park was used as an internment camp for immigrants from Axis countries. Today, a memorial has been created to remember those detained there. In the 1930s, the park employed Canadians struggling to recover from the Great Depression.

Today, Banff National Park is one of the most visited places in Canada. In fact, it is one of the most popular parks in North America, with more than 3 million visitors each year.

The Best Time to Visit Banff National Park

Banff National Park is open year-round; there is no wrong time to visit! Whether you should go during the summer or winter depends on what activities you want to enjoy while you’re there.

Banff National Park experiences a subarctic climate. This means that winters in the area are long and extremely cold, while summers are short and mild. This is important to keep in mind when planning your trip.

Summer is the park’s peak season, which means it will be more crowded than during winter. However, it is worth putting up with the additional crowds to experience the warm weather and summertime views.

Banff National Park will have fewer visitors in the winter months. This may be favourable for anyone who wants to avoid the crowds, but summer-only activities will not be available. However, winter activities will be open and crowd-free.

How Long Do You Need in Banff National Park?

It would take weeks or even months to explore Banff National Park to its edges fully. However, a 3- or 4-day holiday should be enough to see the park’s main highlights. How long you stay depends on your available time and how much of the park you want to explore.

If you only have 1 day to visit Banff National Park, it is still worth seeing. However, you will most likely only skim the surface of the park’s beauty and attractions. No matter how long you visit, you will be amazed by everything you can see and do at the park.

How to get to Banff National Park

Banff National Park is located in Alberta Providence, Canada, about 80 miles from Calgary. There are multiple ways to reach the park, and which is best for you depends on where you’re coming from and how long you want to stay there.

If Banff National Park is your only destination, you’ll probably start your journey from Calgary International Airport. You can rent a car from the airport and drive to the park via the Trans-Canada Highway, a 90-minute drive.

If you are heading to Banff National Park from downtown Calgary, there are more transportation options available. During the warmer months, buses take guests from the city to the park. However, this public transportation is not available from November to April.

For anyone planning a day trip to Banff National Park from Calgary, tours can be arranged from the city to the park. These tours are perfect for a short park exploration because the guides handle the transportation, itinerary, and times.

How to Get Around Banff National Park

There are many ways to get around Banff National Park and see the attractions. You can drive around the area if you’ve rented a car from the airport. This is the best way to see everything the park has to offer and reach the park’s edges.

Walking and biking around the park are also great options. Bikes can be rented from the town or hotels in the park for a fee. Although you may not be able to see as much on foot or bicycle, these options allow you to be more in touch with the surrounding nature.

Banff National Park provides a bus service to help guests get around the area. The bus runs to all of the park’s main attractions and the nearby town. This service is great for a day trip in the park or if you do not have a car.

Where to Stay at Banff National Park

For guests staying at Banff National Park, there are excellent hotels. Some hotels are located outside the park in Banff, while others are within the park grounds.

The hotels in town are perfect for anyone who wants to be central to the attractions. In addition to park access, the town has restaurants, shops, distilleries, and more. The Fairmont Banff Springs hotel is luxurious – it features skiing during the winter months and a golf course in the summer.

Another stunning accommodation option in Banff is the Fox Hotel and Suites. This pet-friendly hotel will take any holiday up a notch. The hotel provides complimentary bus passes to the park and local areas and has a jaw-dropping hot pool inside a cave for guests to enjoy.

7 Things to Do at Banff National Park

1. Visit the Town of Banff

 Banff Township is the perfect place to start your trip to the park. It is a touristy town full of restaurants, shops, and hotels. Banff has an upbeat and bubby atmosphere that will get any holiday off to a great start.

During the summer months, Banff becomes bursting with life. Tourists fill the streets to stock up on essentials, and the nightlife scene booms. The town also hosts multiple museums and other attractions that are perfect for a rainy day during your visit.

2. Go Hiking

Banff National Park is one of the best destinations in Canada for anyone who enjoys hiking. It is the most popular activity in the park during summer, and there are multiple different trails and paths to choose from.

Although every hiking trail is worth exploring, it would be impossible to do all of them in one trip to the park. Instead, here are 4 of the best trails at Banff.

Bourgeau Lake Trail

Bourgeau Lake Trail is one of the lesser-known trails at Banff National Park. The path is just under 7 kilometres long one-way and leads to the beautiful Bourgeau Lake. This path is considered an intermediate-level trail, so beginners should hike with an experienced partner.

At the end of the Bourgeau Lake Trail, hikers can continue onto Harvey Pass. This trail features stunning views of the Sunshine Ski Village, Mount Assiniboine, and the Sunshine Meadows.

Tunnel Mountain

The Tunnel Mountain hike is one of the oldest and most popular trails at Banff National Park. It is beginner-friendly and perfect for families exploring the park. A round-trip hike on this path is just under 3 kilometres long.

Plain of Six Glaciers

Another excellent hiking trail at Banff National Park is the Plain of Six Glaciers. The trail begins at Lake Louise and takes hikers uphill to the Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse. Here, visitors can relax and grab something to eat and drink.

The view from the teahouse is what makes this trail spectacular. Massive glaciers along the mountain slopes and occasional avalanches can be seen. The route is 11 kilometres round trip.

Johnston Canyon

Johnston Canyon is one of Banff National Park’s most beautiful hiking trails. It is a longer hike, taking about 2.5 hours to complete a round trip, but the views of the surrounding forests and cascading waterfalls make it more than worthwhile.

3. Explore Sulphur Mountain & Take a Gondola Ride

Sulphur Mountain is one of the most popular areas at Banff National Park. The mountain was named after the hot springs on its slopes, which contain sulphur. To reach the peak of the hill, you can hike to the top or hop on a gondola.

The hike to the top of Sulphur Mountain is considered moderately complex. It is a one-way trail that is 5 kilometres long and takes hikers up nearly 2,500 metres in elevation. Although it is more strenuous than the gondola ride, the views from the trail are amazing.

The more popular option is to take the gondola to the peak of Sulphur Mountain. Tickets for the gondola cost around CAD $50, which can be pricey for some guests. However, it is a unique experience with a fantastic vista at the top.

4. Visit the Banff Upper Hot Springs

The Banff Upper Hot Springs were discovered in the 1880s and are what led to the park’s creation. The waters are kept around 38℃ all year, making the hot springs a great place to relax during your visit to Banff National Park.

The pools are open seven days a week. They open at 10 am daily and close at 10 pm Sunday through Thursday and 11 pm Friday through Saturday.

5. Camp Under the Stars

Camping is a viral activity in Banff National Park. Not only does it help visitors connect with the nature around them, but it is also less expensive than booking a room in a nearby hotel.

The park features 14 different campgrounds for guests to choose from, with nearly 2,500 campsites available. While that may seem like a lot, the sites can fill up quickly in the summer, and booking ahead of time is required.

Campsites are available in Banff National Park’s front and backcountry. Most campgrounds are only open during the summer, but a couple are also available in the winter for anyone with an RV.

No matter where you choose to camp at Banff National Park or what time of year you visit, ensure you are prepared. The park’s weather can change rapidly and be unpredictable. Extra clothes, blankets, water, and sun protection are always good to bring.

6. Go on a Helicopter Ride

While Banff National Park is a beautiful area to explore and experience from the ground, seeing it from the clouds provides an entirely new perspective. Helicopter rides above the park are available to be booked from local companies.

The helicopter tours last 30 minutes to 1 hour. Guests are taken to the skies and flown past high mountain peaks, glaciers, waterfalls, forests, and lakes.

7. Check out Some Winter Activities

In addition to the hot springs, hiking trails, and scenic vistas, Banff National Park has seasonal activities available only in winter. Ice climbing, snowmobiling, and ice fishing are popular winter activities.

Banff National Park also features 3 premier ski resorts. Passes can be purchased, which provide access to all 3 resorts. The park has over 8,000 acres of ski slopes.

Banff National Park is a Breathtaking Destination

Banff National Park is an iconic area full of beautiful Canadian wilderness. Since it was founded, visitors have enjoyed the park’s mountains, lakes, glaciers, and more. With so much stunning scenery, there’s much to explore.

Whether you are taking a hiking holiday and getting closer to nature or are on a relaxing retreat with hot spring soaks, there is something for everyone at Banff National Park. No matter how you spend your visit, you will never forget it.

If you’re planning a holiday in Canada, check out our list of Top Places to Visit in Canada.