Banff 3-day itinerary

Drive 60km north of Banff town to Lake Louise — park at the public lot or take the shuttle from Banff (mandatory in summer, ~$10 CAD). The lake's glacially fed turquoise water against the Victoria Glacier and surrounding peaks is genuinely breathtaking. Walk the Plain of Six Glaciers Trail (14km return) beyond the chateau for views of the lake from above and the historic teahouse at 2,135m. Arrive before 8am to beat the crowds and photograph the still reflection.

Continue to Moraine Lake, 14km beyond Lake Louise — the view from the Rockpile trail (15-minute scramble) over the turquoise lake and the jagged Valley of the Ten Peaks is the image that appeared on the Canadian twenty-dollar bill. The Consolation Lakes trail (5.8km return) leads deeper into the backcountry past fields of boulder and wildflower. Access is strictly by shuttle from Lake Louise or Banff — private vehicles are banned in peak season.

Return via Johnston Canyon (23km from Banff town) for a 1-hour return walk on elevated catwalk bridges through a narrow limestone gorge to the Lower Falls — spectacular at golden hour when light filters through the slot. The Upper Falls (5.4km return) are quieter and more dramatic. Dine back in Banff town: Juniper Bistro has Rocky Mountain elk and bison dishes, or head to the Banff Ave Brewing Co for craft beer and a poutine made with local cheese curds.

Drive the 232km Icefields Parkway (Highway 93) north from Lake Louise — consistently ranked one of the world's most spectacular roads. Stop at Bow Lake (first major viewpoint, 40km from Lake Louise) where the Bow Glacier spills into a perfectly flat alpine lake. Continue to Peyto Lake viewpoint: from the clifftop, the cobalt wolf-shaped lake stretching into the forest below is one of Banff's most photographed scenes — arrive before 9am to see it without crowds.

Continue north into Jasper National Park to the Columbia Icefield — the largest icefield in the Canadian Rockies and the hydrological apex of North America, where meltwater flows to three oceans. Walk onto the Athabasca Glacier on a guided ice walk ($30–50 CAD) or take the Ice Explorer snowcoach onto the glacier surface ($59 CAD). The Skywalk ($30 CAD) is a glass-floored cliff walkway 280m above the Sunwapta Valley with views across the Columbia Icefield.

On the return south, stop at Sunwapta Falls where the Sunwapta River drops through a sheer limestone gorge — a 5-minute walk from the parking lot and dramatically lit in evening golden hour. Watch for wildlife on the Icefields Parkway at dusk: elk, bighorn sheep, and black bears are commonly spotted from the road. Return to Banff for dinner; the drive back takes about 3 hours with minimal stops. Fuel up on a hearty soup and Alberta beef burger after a full day out.

Hike the Sulphur Mountain Trail (11km return, 655m elevation gain) to beat the gondola crowds and arrive at the 2,281m summit boardwalk as dawn breaks. The panoramic view of Banff town, the Bow Valley, and a ring of Rockies peaks is the finest vantage point in the park. The summit has a restored 1903 meteorological station — the oldest high-altitude weather observatory in Canada. Descend by gondola ($65 CAD) to save your knees for later in the day.

Soak in the Banff Upper Hot Springs ($10–15 CAD entry) — natural mineral-rich sulphur pools at 38–40°C with mountain views from the water. The historic 1932 bathhouse building is a National Historic Site. Afterwards, explore Banff Avenue: the Cave and Basin National Historic Site ($5) is where the hot springs were discovered in 1883, triggering the creation of Canada's first national park. The Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies has excellent Stoney Nakoda and mountaineering history.

Drive the 3km to Vermilion Lakes at the edge of Banff town for the classic Rocky Mountain sunset — the three shallow lakes reflect the peaks of Mount Rundle and Sulphur Mountain in still water while beavers and herons patrol the reeds. This is one of the best spots in the park for wildlife photography at dusk. End with a farewell dinner at The Maple Leaf on Banff Avenue for Alberta bison, wild salmon, and a Canadian whisky to close the trip.