Banff Canada
Things to See
Lake Louise
Lake Louise is highly popular throughout the peak summer season, with parking lots filling up early each day. If you are planning to visit Lake Louise from June to October, the best way is to reserve a Parks Canada shuttle or a seat on Roam Transit ahead of time. Learn more about shuttle and transit options to Lake Louise.
For an enhanced experience, book a guided tour to Lake Louise and other jaw-dropping locations in Banff National Park. With multiple tour companies offering unique experiences, you have no shortage of options to choose from. Brewster Sightseeing, Discover Banff Tours, HopOnBanff, Mountain Park Transportation, Radventures, White Mountain Adventures, and WowBanff all offer tours that include a stop at Lake Louise.
Lake Louise Banff Canada
Lake Minnewanka
Summer
Lake Minnewanka is a hot spot in the summer months. It’s a fantastic place to relax by the water, with picnic tables and a cooking shelter as well as a small café. It’s also a great location for more active pursuits, including fishing, diving, hiking, mountain biking, canoeing, and boating.
Lake Minnewanka is the only lake in Banff National Park to allow limited use of power boats. Scenic boat cruises go out daily to Devil’s Gap, with an interpretive tour guide that can tell you about the rich history and local lore of the lake and surrounding mountains. If you prefer to travel under your own power, try canoeing or kayaking. Boat rentals are available at the Lake Minnewanka docks.
Human habitation at Lake Minnewanka dates back 13,000 years … 9,000-year-old artifacts such as Clovis points, hearth rocks, and cooking bones have been found on its shores… – Carol Perehudoff of Wandering Carol
The lake is also a fun destination for recreational scuba divers. Several dams have been built over the years for hydroelectric power generation, and the most recent dam built in 1941 raised the lake 30 meters (98 feet) and submerged the resort village of Minnewanka Landing. The submerged village, original dam, and bridge pilings make for an amazing underwater exploration. More information about diving can be found here.
Hiking around Lake Minnewanka is spectacular and accessible with its rocky shores, stands of aspen trees, and craggy peaks. The Lake Minnewanka to Devil’s Gap trail is a great choice during the early and late seasons – it’s typically snow-free and dry from May until mid-autumn.
Another way to discover the beauty of Lake Minnewanka is by bike. A local favorite is the Lake Minnewanka Trail which takes you along the shoreline on narrow rolling singletrack with several technical sections. The trail is closed to bikes between July 10 and September 15 to reduce the risk of wildlife encounters.
The deep blue of the lake is amazing and across the waters, the massive Mount Inglismaldie dominates the view.– Chris & Connie of bigdoer.com
The lake is also home to trophy-size Lake Trout, Rocky Mountain Whitefish, and Lake Whitefish. Anglers should bring a rod and tackle down to the water’s edge for a memorably scenic fishing experience, or join a guided tour for a local’s perspective.
Winter
Get out into nature and explore the area during the winter by heading out on cross-country skis or snowshoes. The Cascade Trail at Lake Minnewanka is an easy cross-country ski trail that is groomed regularly and runs 14 kilometers (8.7 miles) each way.
During the winter, you might experience some seemingly magical phenomena at Lake Minnewanka. When the atmospheric conditions align, Lake Minnewanka is one of the best places in Banff National Park to view the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis).
The Best Things to do in Banff
The skiing and snowboarding in Banff and Lake Louise are uniquely accessible. All the resorts are short, easy drives from the town of Banff and the hamlet of Lake Louise and offer a variety for skiers and riders of all ages and abilities. You can buy lift tickets for the individual resorts, or try the SkiBig3 Tri-Area Lift Ticket which gives access to all three resorts.
For those who prefer to earn their turns, backcountry touring is some of the best in North America, while heli-skiing and snowboarding open up a whole new world of terrain.
Ski and snowboard rentals are available for all shapes, sizes, ages, and abilities.
Places to Eat
Farm & Fire
Good food doesn’t have to be complicated. Our menu features only the freshest ingredients from local Canadian farmers. Because it’s slow-roasted and wood-fired, we bring out the natural flavors Mother Nature intended. Check out the extensive and mouth-watering menu on their website.
Farm & Fire
Chucks Steakhouse
Chuck understood the value of a hard day’s work, a close-knit family, and a great Alberta steak. He believed that if a job is worth doing, it’s worth doing right. That inspired us to do everything right at his namesake restaurant, from the Alberta beef we serve, to the casually elegant atmosphere, to the stunning views from every table. Check out the menu on their website.
Chucks Steakhouse
Bear Street Tavern
Welcome to the Tavern. Our signature pizzas, sandwiches & cast iron specialties will satisfy any hungry Banff adventurer. Make yourself at home in a cozy booth for 2, or bring your friends & family and take over a table for 20! Enjoy a beer, or a Bear-sized cocktail and finish with a ridiculously good pizza. Our dog-friendly year-round courtyard patio is the perfect place to soak up the sun in Banff. Children are most welcome. Take out available.
Bear Street Tavern
Where to Stay
Tunnell Moutain Village 2 Campground
– 160 sites with electricity 15/30/50amps.
– 21 oTENTik available May – October, reservations recommended.
– Flush toilets, showers, kitchen shelters, limited inventory of sites with fire pits,
firewood, smoke-free areas, sani-dump, theatre, and interpretive programs.
– Limited sites with firepits are available.
– Fills daily by early afternoon – during summer months. Reservations recommended
– Reservations recommended.
Tunnel Mountain Village 2 Campground
Lake Louise Campground
Located just minutes from the Village of Lake Louise, this year-round campground is perfect for anyone needing space for larger units and/or people wanting power without full hookups. It is close to local attractions and offers mountain views, year-round camping, and access to hiking and biking trails.
Evening interpretive programs are offered during the summer season. Sites: All 187 campsites have picnic tables and electrical hookups. Some sites have fireboxes. Electrical-only sites (15 and 30 AMPS) can accommodate RVs up to 15 meters (50 feet) in length. A maximum of 6 people and 2 vehicles are permitted on each site. All vehicles must be parked on the gravel area of the campsite.
All soft-sided camping units must stay in the enclosed electric fence in the Lake Louise Tent Campground. Services: The campground has flush toilets, showers, and hot and cold running water. There is a sani-dump.
Regulations: There is a liquor and fire ban in effect from 2300 – 0700 every day and a complete alcohol ban on long weekends. Check-out time is 1100. The maximum stay is 14 days. Fees: $32.30 per site per night with no fire and $41.10 per site per night with a fire. Wood is provided.
Lake Louise Campground
Mosquito Creek Campground
Located next to the Icefields Parkway in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, this campground is a good option for campers wanting a more authentic camping experience. Sites are available for tents or small RVs. Spectacular scenery, hiking trails, and opportunities to view wildlife are close by. Don’t be put off by the name of the campground. The mosquitoes are no worse here than in any other part of the park. Sites: All 32 campsites have picnic tables and fireboxes.
Sites are suitable for tents and small RVs up to 8 meters (27 feet). A maximum of 6 people and 2 vehicles are permitted on each site. All tents and vehicles must be set up or parked on the gravel area of the campsite. Camping is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Services: The campground has 2 dry toilets, a picnic shelter, food lockers for walk-in campers, and solar-treated potable water. There is a sani dump at Lake Louise. There is no cell phone coverage.
Regulations: There is an alcohol and fire ban in effect from 2300 – 0700 every day and a complete alcohol ban on long weekends. The maximum stay is 14 days. Check-out time is 1100. Fees: $17.60 per site per night with no fire and $26.40 per site per night with a fire. Wood is provided. Visitors must self-register and pay with cash and credit cards only. The maximum stay is 14 days.
Mosquito Creek Campground
Time of Year to Visit
Anytime you visit Canada, you will be overwhelmed by its beauty and extraordinary people! Banff has activities for all seasons! Whether you love the snow or the sunshine, traveling to Banff will not disappoint.
Information for Traveling to Canada
As of October 1:
- If you have an appointment for an arrival or Day-8 test, you can cancel it
- If you’re in federal quarantine, you can leave without completing the remainder of your 14-day quarantine
- If you’re getting notifications to quarantine or test, you can ignore them
Travel Advice and Information for CanadaIf you’re in federal isolation, check if there are any provincial and territorial isolation requirements and follow them.Listen Now!