5-Day Banff Itinerary
Banff, Canada
Banff, Canada
If you're looking for breathtaking mountain landscapes, glacier-fed lakes, and epic hiking trails, Banff is the perfect destination. This 5-day Banff itinerary covers must-see spots like Moraine Lake, Icefields Parkway, and Johnston Canyon, with plenty of adventure and relaxation built in.
Getting There
✈️ — The closest major airport to Banff is Calgary International Airport (YYC). It's about a 1.5-hour drive to Banff and a 1.25-hour drive to Canmore, making it the best option for travelers.
🚗 — Renting a car is highly recommended for flexibility in exploring the area.
Overview of Itinerary:
DAY ONE — Arrive in Canmore | hike Three Sisters Trail
DAY TWO — Sunrise at Moraine Lake | hike Sentinel Pass | Lake Louise | hike Little Beehive
DAY THREE — Icefields Parkway | Athabasca Glacier
DAY FOUR —Johnston Canyon to Ink Pots
DAY FIVE — Final moments in Canmore
DAY ONE — Calgary to Canmore
Fly into Calgary International Airport in the morning and pick up your rental car then hit the road to Canmore! (1.25-hour drive)
Once arriving in Canmore:
Get bear spray — buy or rent
GearUp Mountain Sports Rental & Service — this is where we rented from, you can rent $10/day
Other places to get bear spray from (call for availability first) —
Outdoor Stores: Valhalla Pure Outfitters Canmore, Vertical Addiction, Sports Experts, etc.
Hardware Stores: Canmore Home Hardware
If traveling from late May to early October and it’s a THURSDAY, then grab lunch from the Canmore Mountain Market. The market is open from 10am to 6pm at Elevation Place and features an excellent selection of locally and regionally produced items including fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, jams and coffee.
If you’re up for some light exploring, walk the Three Sisters Trail (3.8 miles, point-to-point, mostly flat with town views). You can pick up the Trans-Canada Trail from downtown Canmore as it trails along the Bow Valley River with stunning views of the Rockies. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 1 h 37 min to complete. [some pictures from this walk] While we were on it, we saw 4 elk enjoying the river — so even though you’re in town, keep an eye out for wildlife!
Then check-in to your accommodations. — We stayed at this Airbnb in Canmore and it was perfect for our time here.
Grab dinner at Grizzly Paw Brewing Co., a brewpub located downtown Canmore with excellent brews and delicious food.
Stop by the grocery store to stock-up on some provisions for your time here then get some rest before the first full day.
DAY TWO — Sunrise at Moraine Lake & Lake Louise Adventures
Make sure to do this ahead of time — Due to high demand, visiting Lake Louise and Moraine Lake requires planning. Parking lots fill up before sunrise and remain full until sunset. Additionally Moraine Lake Road is closed to personal vehicles year-round.
There are multiple ways to access Lake Louise and Moraine Lake:
Parks Canada Shuttle (recommended) — Reserve your shuttle ticket online and park your vehicle at the Lake Louise Park and Ride, located at the Lake Louise Ski Resort. [May to October] Reservations for shuttles are available in April. Additional seats will be released on a rolling basis, at 8 am MDT two days prior to departure day.
Roam Public Transit — Take Roam Public Transit from the Town of Banff to Lake Louise. [Year-Round]
Hiking or Biking — Recommended to visitors staying nearby or getting dropped off in the community of Lake Louise.
Additionally, there are other commercial operators.
We took the Parks Canada Shuttle around 6am to Moraine Lake arriving at a perfect time to enjoy sunrise at Moraine Lake. [images from this]
MORAINE LAKE — Glacially fed, the lake’s waters only thaw from June to October — due to its elevation of 6,183 feet. In fact, the road is closed the rest of the year because it is snow-covered and crosses avalanche paths. The spectacular color of the lake comes from the refraction of sunlight off of fine rock dust, or “glacial flour”, that’s suspended in the water. The glaciers that surround the lake constantly deposit rock sediment into the water during the summer, which gives the lake its unique color. After taking time to admire the beautiful lake, hit the trail!
Hike Sentinel Pass via Larch Valley, the route starts at the canoe docks of Moraine Lake and switchbacks lead to the stunning Larch Valley — which was in peak color change during the end of September! Then up the trail to Sentinel Pass with some unreal views of Ten Peaks on one side and Paradise Valley on the other side. Hike Info ➡️ 6.9 miles out and back with an elevation gain of 2,457 feet. Something to note: due to the elevation of this trail, we experienced hail and snow along the way while traversing at the end of September. [highlights from this hike]
Once you make your way back to Moraine Lake from Sentinel Pass, take the Parks Canada Lake Connector Shuttle to Lake Louise — this is available via your initial reservation to Moraine Lake.
LAKE LOUISE — This lake’s name proceeds it and might possibly be the thing that got you to Banff in the first place. The fame stems from its breathtaking turquoise waters and stunning glacial scenery, making it a popular destination for both summer and winter activities, including hiking, skiing, and sightseeing. With that, expect crowds year-round. If you’ve still got energy for more hiking (recommended), keep going past the lake!
Hike up to Little Beehive via the Lake Agnes Trail, a challenging but rewarding hike that takes you through some of the most stunning alpine scenery in the area. Hikers can stop at the historic Lake Agnes Tea House for a well-earned break before tackling the switchbacks to Big Beehive, where the best views of Lake Louise await. The descent via Little Beehive provides a slightly quieter, yet equally scenic return route. Hike Info ➡️ 6.6 miles out and back with an elevation gain of 2,135 feet.
After hiking over 12 miles for the day, take the shuttle back to the car, head back to Canmore and grab dinner at Where The Buffalo Roam Saloon.
