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Travel
20 Best Things to do in Jasper and Banff! Including Hikes and Eats.
20 Best Things to do in Jasper and Banff! Come see what we ate and hiked during our week long trip.
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This Article will help you plan all the hikes and attractions in Jasper and Banff. I recommended renting a car and purchasing bottles of water and snacks at a grocery store in Calgary before entering Jasper. The restaurant options are sparse outside of fast food and stops so I would consider getting a hotel with a kitchen and cooking. The best time to visit Banff is in the Summer time around May-September. The sun also sets at 10 pm so you have plenty of time to hike all around. This article is organized by Jasper, Banff, and Lake Louise.
Route Calgary airport to Jasper to downtown Banff ending at Lake Louise.
Jasper:
🍔: Fast food options and Raven Bistro
1. Athabasca Glacier
Surprisingly difficult this is a 30 min hike to see glacier from parking lot, it’s high incline and cold. You can also pay to take a tour bus on top of the glacier, there’s a toilet stop in the area. Lots of beautiful purple flowers.
Location: Improvement District No. 12, AB T0E 1E0, Canada
2. Athabasca Falls -
This is fun because it’s just a super quick stop off the road. Quick walk to a great vantage point overlooking the waterfall.
Location: Improvement District No. 12, AB T0E 1E0, Canada
3. Edith Cavell Glacier-
This is a 1 hr roundtrip easy hike with some incline to see glacier, There was lots of mosquitos so bring repellant. You can go up and touch the glacier.
Location: Improvement District No. 12, AB T0E 1E0, Canada
4. Maligne Canyon
The is about a 2-3 hours Easy Hike. There's lots of mosquitoes, Make sure to go early 7-8 am, skip the restaurant as it’s not great in my opinion, there’s 6 bridges while on the hike but we recommend starting early at bridge 1. Bridge 5 and 6 is just a forest with mosquitoes, be wary of bears in the area. This was the most beautiful spot in Jasper in my opinion.
Location: Jasper, AB T0E 1E0, Canada
5. Maligne Lake Boat Tour with Spirit island.
This is a ticketed boat tour, reserve online in advance, iconic photo spot. The Boat tour takes you onto Spirit Island. It's a great tour rain or shine. You can also step outside the boat onto the deck to look at the lake. There is a restaurant on site. You can reserve tickets here.
Location: Maligne Lake Rd, Improvement District No. 12, AB T0E 1E0, Canada
6. Pyramid Island
Quick pit stop and instagrammable photo op. Great for picnics as there are a lot of benches within the island and around the shore.
Location: Jasper, AB T0E 1E0, Canada
7. Sunwapta Falls
Another Quick pit stop for a quick photo op!
Location: Improvement District No. 12, AB T0E 1E0, Canada
Banff/ Downtown Banff Area
🍔: Lots of Food and Fast food in Downtown Banff
8. Cave basin
Short visit, it’s really dark in the cavern, this is worth seeing once. (A lot smaller than I thought it would be).
Location: 311 Cave Ave, Banff, AB T1L 1K2, Canada
9. Cascade of Time Gardens
Scenic hobbit like garden with great views of Downtown Banff and absolutely beautiful.
Location: Cave Ave, Banff, AB T1L 1K2, Canada
10. Fairmont Banff Springs
Drive to the Surprise Corner Outlook of Hotel for the best view of the hotel. This is an iconic hotel with lots of history, you can also do a tour but I just went to take photos.
Location: Buffalo St, Banff, AB T1L 1K2, Canada
11. Eden at The Rimrock Resort Hotel
One of the best meals I’ve ever had in my life. Phenomenal meal with view. The Grande degustation is their tasting menu.
Location: 300 Mountain Ave, Banff, AB T1L 1J2, Canada
12. Johnston Canyon
go early 7-8 am, bring mosquito repellant and a jacket. There’s plenty of handrails, there’s a secret cave that was temporarily closed for wildlife.
Location: Bow Valley Pkwy, Improvement District No. 9, AB T1L 1K2, Canada
13. Banff Gondola
Ticketed ride up sulphur mountain timed gondola rides with tickets you can purchase online. We had a meal with a view at Sky Bistro. You have to reserve in advance; the view is amazing but the food is okay.
Location: 100 Mountain Ave, Banff, AB T1L 1B2, Canada
14. Fox Hotel with Underground Grotto
Fox hotel is worth a stay with their neat underground grotto and pool.
Location: 461 Banff Ave, Banff, AB T1L 1H8, Canada
Lake Louise Area
🍔: Bill Peyto's Cafe has good food- Fairmont food is not worth the $$
15. Lake Agnes Tea House and Agnes Hike
Moderate uphill 1 hr hike from lake Louise to the top, bring cash or pay a fee for Credit card use. Bring plenty of water in a Camelpack. On this hike you'll encounter multiple lakes! The workers hike all the ingredients up the mountain. They only have sandwiches, soup, and pastries. The food is expensive but will hit the spot.
Location: Lake Agnes, Lake Louise, AB T0L 1E0, Canada
16. Big Beehive Hike
This is a very challenging uphill hike starting at Lake Agnes Tea House. It’s about 30 min to 1 hr from the teahouse depending on your fitness level. It’s a very rocky hike so make sure to wear hiking shoes and have walking sticks. I’m not an experienced hiker and I was able to do it. The most spectacular view of Lake Louise at the top and a little Gazebo. Also a view of the Big Beehive.
Location: Improvement District No. 9, AB, Canada
17. Kayak Lake Louise @lakelouiseboathouse
I recommend going on a week day, there is a discount if you stay at the Fairmont Lake Louise. It’s pricey but a must if you’re in the area. You also get to use an express line if you stay at the hotel.
Location: 111 Lake Louise Dr, Lake Louise, AB T0L 1E0, Canada
18. Plain of Six Glaciers Hike
This is Hike is a 2 hours moderately challenging hike from lake Louise to the top- @plainofsixglaciers. There is also a teahouse and lunch spot at the very time. It’s basically identical to the Lake Agnes Tea house. The whole hike can take you about 4-5 hours round trip so pack plenty of water and cash for the teahouse. There’s also an additional 30-40 min hike after the Teahouse to see the view of the 6 glaciers. It’s not as challenging as the beehive hike but it’s more time consuming.
Location: Improvement District No. 9, AB, Canada
19. Moraine lake
I recommend going early morning before 7, or around 8 pm. There’s a scrabble you can climb on but I recommend driving to take photos at the lake. The lake looks like a mirror.
Location: Improvement District No. 9, AB, Canada
20. Spotting Bears
Not Necessarily an activity but while you're driving, make sure to be on the lookout for Bears, Mooses, and More! If you encounter a bear, you can slow down your car safely and make sure to stay inside your car and don't approach the bears.
