5 ultimate things to do in Banff National Park

When people talk about Banff, they will say Lake Louise. It is indeed one of the main attractions in Banff National Park, but there is much more to see and do. Banff National Park is Canada’s most popular national park, with normally over 4 million visitors a year. Visitors from all over the world.

So, you can imagine, with that amount of people that it can be busy, especially around Lake Louise. We were there mid-September and it was busy with busses of tourists around there. We were one of the few last cars to get a parking spot near the lake. It was strange to see so many people after our time in Jasper National Park.

Lake Louise

I already talked about it in the introduction, but a visit to Lake Louise is a must when you are in Banff. You can just do a short walk around the lake, or maybe rent a canoe to explore the lake. If I weren’t afraid of water, we would definitely have done that.

If you just want to admire the view, you can have lunch or high tea at the Fairmont Hotel with a view over Lake Louise.

Hiking

Hiking was our primary goal while we were in Banff. I think it is the perfect way to see all the beauty the park has to offer. We did some amazing hikes while we were there. You can read more about those here.

Visit more lakes

Everybody talks about Lake Louise but there are more lakes to see and visit in Banff. What to think of Peyto Lake? You must do a short walk to get there but it is definitely worth it. Some more lakes to visit (and often less crowded) are Moraine Lake, Vermillion Lake, and Lake Minnewanka.

Go up Sulphur Mountain with the Banff Gondola

You can hike up and down Sulphur Mountain if you would want to. But it can be much easier: you can take the Banff Gondola up and down. At the top, you have the most amazing view over the mountains and the surrounding areas. We also had lunch there before we explored the Interpretive center to learn more about the area. Also, don’t forget to check out the Cosmic Ray Station while you are up there.

Relax at the hot springs

At the bottom of Sulphur Mountain, you will find the Banff Upper Hot Springs. Enjoying the warmth of the water, you have an amazing view across the valley of Mount Rundle.

Because it is also near the Banff Gondola, parking can be limited. If you go early, you might still have a spot. More information about the opening times and prices can be found on the website.

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