Our Trip To Banff and the Canadian Rockies - Eleven Days, Five National Parks and Countless Waterfalls

I'm writing this blog article almost a year after we took this trip to Banff, Canada.  Something I've been meaning to document and share but always too busy to finish it, until now in the middle of the global pandemic, when travel for the most part is out the window. But now I have time on my hands so here is a summary of what was one of the funnest trips we have ever taken.

Banff and Jasper have been on my travel bucket list forever.  For years I have wanted to visit to see in person the amazing views of its mountains and lakes. Finally we found the right time for this trip and it did not disappoint, everything I dreamed of and more.

But beware, there is so much to see and do around Banff that some planning is essential to get it all in and to leave room for the spontaneous. So let me share with you our trip highlights that might help you plan your own visit to the Banff area.

Day One: Fly Into Calgary and Drive to Banff National Park

Calgary Is actually an easy flight from San Diego on Southwest.  We got in in the afternoon, easy rental car pick-up and its only a two hour drive to the Banff area. So you can leave San Diego in the morning and easily be at your lodging going out for dinner that night.

Day Two: Johnson Canyon Early Hike and Explore Banff

We were excited to get started with our Banff adventure and got up early to head out to Johnson Falls.  A short drive from Banff, these falls are beautiful but try to visit before the crowds.  We were here right after Labor Day but the area was still crowded with visitors.

The hike to the falls is easy on a paved trail. We went up the trail at about 8 am and didn't have to fight crowds which really adds to the enjoyment of natural wonders like this.

After Johnson Canyon, we went into Banff for lunch and visited the Botanical Gardens in the middle of the village.  Then we went up to the Hot Springs Park and took a short hike to end a pleasant day.

Here are some good links to learn more.
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/alberta/johnston-canyon-trail-to-upper-falls
http://banffandbeyond.com/escape-the-crowds-of-banff-avenue-in-cascade-gardens/
http://banffandbeyond.com/a-glimpse-into-the-historic-cave-and-basin/

Day Three: Tour Banff Lakes On Electric Bikes

Our love for electric bikes was fueled by this day riding around Banff.  We rented two bikes for 5 hours for $50 each and covered about 45 kilometers.  We rode on the Vermillion Lakes trail and then up the mountain to Lake Minnewanka and Two Jack lake.  

With the electric bikes getting up the hills was a breeze and we were able to really take in the amazing views.  Since we returned from this trip we purchased our own electric bikes and now ride them all over San Diego.

Here are some photos of our ride and some useful links.
https://www.banffcycle.com
https://www.banfflakelouise.com/vermilion-lakes
https://www.banffcycle.com/lake-minnewanka-loop-ride

Day Four: Peyto Lake and Drive The Icefields Parkway to Jasper National Park

Day 4 was a driving day to sights and hikes in Banff National Park and up about 50 miles north to Jasper National Park.  We got in a couple of amazing hikes and took in some breathtaking scenery.

Our early morning hike before 8 am to beat the crowds was to Peyto Lake.  The lake overlook in the photo below was amazing and a must do for any visit to this area.  The color of the lake was so blue from the glacial runoff.  Remember get out early to beat the crowds, this trail is one of the most trafficked in the park but at 8 am we had it to ourselves. 

After Peyto Lake, the drive up to Jasper was beautiful and seeing the Athabasca Glacier was cool and depressing when you think of how much of it has been lost to global warming.

Here are a few links to help in your trip planning:

https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/ab/jasper/activ/itineraires-itineraries/glacier-athabasca
https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/ab/jasper/activ/itineraires-itineraries/sunwapta
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/alberta/peyto-lake-panorama-overlook

Day Five: Lake Louise Hike and Lake Moraine

Lake Moraine is the spot that every tourist visits on tours to Banff.  It attracts huge crowds and has satellite parking areas and buses to get there.  But before 8 am, you can get to an adjacent parking lot and see this view of the lake without a huge crowd.  We got there before 7 am and even then the crowds were building.

We enjoyed the lake views but then started out on an 8 mile hike up the Plain of Six Glaciers Trail to the Teahouse high above the lake.  it was a tough hike but so worth it.  And the Tea House at the end served lunches and was a pleasant break before heading back down.  By far the best hike on our entire trip.

Here is a link to this amazing hike.

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/alberta/plain-of-the-six-glaciers-trail

Day Six: Yoho National Park Takakkwaw Falls and Emerald Lake

On our sixth day, we left Banff and relocated to a great Air BnB in Golden, BC on the west side of the Rockies. Golden is about a three hour drive from Banff which gave is plenty of time to explore along the way.

Our first stop was at Takakwaw Falls, one of the largest falls in the region.  Getting there was a short hike and took us right to the base of the falls.  

Then after that we stoped at Emerald Lake.  I had wanted to go out in a canoe at Lake Moraine but I am sure glad we waited for this lake.  The day we were there the lake surface was still as glass and the views were amazing.  We spent two hours gliding our canoe all around the lake taking in the view and we even saw Loons diving for their lunch.

Here are some links to information about the falls and Emerald Lake.

https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/bc/yoho/activ/places#takakkaw
http://banffandbeyond.com/a-visit-to-emerald-lake/

Day Seven: Grizzly Bear Refuge Near Golden, BC

Day seven from our place in Golden was a fun day exploring Kicking Horse Ranch, a ski area that remains open for hiking and mountain biking in the summer.  

But the real attraction there was to see Bo Grizzly, the only resident of the Grizzly Bear Refuge that occupies about 30 across right on the ski slopes.  Bo was recused as a child from hunters who killed his mother and now lives out his days at this refuge.  The tour was very informative and we learned a lot about grizzlies and the environmental challenges they face. You take a ski lift to get up to the refuge and get to see Bo up close.

After that we took the lift to the top of the mountain to do some hiking and take in the views of Golden Valley.

Lean more about Bo and the refuge at this website:

https://www.tourismgolden.com/activities/summer/wildlife-watching/kicking-horse-mountain-resort-grizzly-bear-refuge

Day Eight: Wolf Refuge and Glacier National Park

On day eight we did a few more local hikes and took it easy.  But we did have an interesting side visit to the Northern Lights Wolf Refuge.  They offer walks with wolves which we missed but we did learn a lot about this misunderstood animal.

Learn more at this website:

https://northernlightswildlife.com

 

Day Nine: Kootenay National Park

On our last day of this trip, we drove all around Kootenay National Park.  Kootenay is one of the less visited National Parks in the area but no less spectacular with lakes and waterfalls galore.  

We drove south from Golden to Radium Hot Springs and visited an interesting site were you can swim in pools, we passed and kept moving through a rock gorge and stopped at a nice lake for lunch.

Then in the afternoon we hiked to Wapta Falls which we found off the main highway, up a dirt road and then a 2.3 mile hike through the forest to this view.  A great way to end our explorations of five national parks near Banff!

Wapta Falls

A couple more  of links for your trip planning:
https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/bc/kootenay 

http://goldenhikes.ca/trail/wapta-falls/ 

Day Ten: Drive Back to Calgary Airport

Day 10 we drove back to Calgary and stayed overnight in the downtown area.  We had a nice dinner and were up early for our flight home the next morning.  Overall this was an easy, fun trip to an area we plan to return to again after the pandemic ends and we are once again free to roam.

Take this trip you will not regret it!