Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies is a world unto itself — a 2,500-square-mile wilderness of glaciated peaks, impossibly turquoise glacial lakes, and elk wandering the streets of a mountain town. It's Canada's oldest national park and one of the most visited in North America, yet it still manages to feel genuinely wild once you leave the town of Banff.
The Icefields Parkway (Highway 93) connecting Banff to Jasper is widely considered one of the most scenic drives on Earth — 144 miles of highway past glaciers, waterfalls, and peaks over 11,000 feet. This 5-day itinerary runs the parkway from Banff to Jasper, with stops at every essential.
Most Iconic View in Canada
Moraine Lake
Park entry required · Access by shuttle or bike only
The view from the Rockpile above Moraine Lake — with the Valley of the Ten Peaks rising behind impossibly blue water — appeared on the Canadian twenty-dollar bill for a reason. Access is by shuttle or bicycle only (private vehicles banned since 2023). Book the Parks Canada shuttle months in advance, or bike the 14km road from Lake Louise village.
Banff National Park Trip Overview
- Duration: 5 days
- Base towns: Banff, AB and Jasper, AB
- Entry fee: CAD $21/adult/day or CAD $70 annual Discovery Pass
- Best months: July–September; late September for fewer crowds and golden larches
- Drive from Calgary: ~1.5 hours · Edmonton: ~4 hours
Day 1 — Town of Banff & Tunnel Mountain
Arrive in Banff and walk Banff Avenue — this is a real mountain town with a main street of restaurants, gear shops, and a gondola up Sulphur Mountain. In the afternoon, hike Tunnel Mountain (2.8 miles round trip, easy) for classic views over the Bow Valley and the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. The trailhead is a short walk from downtown.
Evening: soak in the Banff Upper Hot Springs — natural thermal mineral pools open year-round, maintained at 37–40°C. The historic 1932 bathhouse building and mountain backdrop make for an unforgettable soak.
Day 2 — Moraine Lake & Lake Louise
Reserve your Parks Canada shuttle for Moraine Lake weeks in advance — it sells out fast. Arrive at the Rockpile viewpoint early to beat tour groups. After an hour at the lake, take the shuttle to Lake Louise and hike the lakeshore to the Plain of Six Glaciers teahouse (8.4 miles round trip, moderate) for panoramic views of Victoria Glacier. The teahouse serves hot drinks and food — worth the hike.
Day 3 — Icefields Parkway South
Begin the Icefields Parkway drive north from Lake Louise. Stop at Bow Lake for reflections of Crowfoot Glacier, then continue to Peyto Lake — a wolf-shaped turquoise lake viewed from a busy overlook that is less crowded if you arrive before 8am or after 5pm. Cross into Jasper National Park at Sunwapta Pass.
Day 4 — Columbia Icefield
The Columbia Icefield straddles the Banff-Jasper border and feeds rivers flowing to three different oceans. Stop at the Icefield Centre for views of the Athabasca Glacier, then hike the Wilcox Pass Trail (7 miles round trip, moderate) above the highway for an elevated view of the entire icefield. The paid glacier walk on the ice itself is touristy but memorable. Continue to Athabasca Falls — a thundering horseshoe waterfall just south of Jasper.
Day 5 — Jasper Townsite & Maligne Canyon
Jasper is smaller and less commercial than Banff, with a genuine mountain-town feel. Morning: walk Maligne Canyon (4 miles round trip), where the Maligne River has carved a narrow 55-metre gorge accessible via a series of suspension bridges. Afternoon: drive the Maligne Lake Road to Spirit Island viewpoint — one of the most photographed spots in the Rockies. Return to Calgary via Highway 93 and Highway 1.
