Banff National Park
Canada's oldest and most beloved national park - a wonderland of snow-capped Rockies, glaciers, wildlife and turquoise lakes, with a charming mountain town at its heart, a UNESCO site.
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Illustrative image - a scene in the spirit of the place, not a photograph of it. Real photos are below.
UNESCO World Heritage
Real photos (1)
Banff is Canada's oldest national park and the jewel of the Rocky Mountains, a UNESCO wonderland of soaring snow-capped peaks, glaciers, dense forests and lakes of an unreal turquoise. Roamed by elk, bears and bighorn sheep and centred on the charming alpine town of Banff with its hot springs and gondolas, it offers world-class hiking, wildlife and scenery in summer and superb skiing in winter.
What you actually see
- The turquoise lakes - Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, jewels of the park.
- The Banff Gondola - the ride up Sulphur Mountain for a panorama.
- The wildlife - elk, bighorn sheep, and bears in the forests.
- The town and hot springs - the alpine town of Banff and its thermal springs.
When to go
Summer, June to September, for hiking, the lakes at their most vivid and open high roads; winter for skiing and frozen lakes. Spring and autumn are quieter shoulder seasons, though snow lingers on the high trails into early summer.
Honest expectations
It is extremely popular, so Lake Louise and Moraine Lake overflow in summer, with parking full by dawn and shuttles or booked buses now often the only way in; go very early or use transit. Wildlife is wild, so keep your distance and carry bear spray on trails. It is busy and can feel crowded at the honeypots.
Nearby
Jasper National Park lies north along the Icefields Parkway; Yoho and Kootenay parks adjoin.
What to pack for Banff National Park
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
