The Top 11 Most Breathtaking Things To Do In Banff National Park

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Narrowing down to find the top 11 most breathtaking things to do in Banff, is actually quite a challenge. Why? Because there is an endless list of things to do in Banff that are so stunning they’re worthy of making this list.

In recent years there has been an explosion on Instagram showcasing the park and its beauty. A lot of Banff attractions are now being flocked to by millions of people. In fact, over 4 MILLION people visited Banff between 2017 and 2018, and there are no signs of it slowing down.

Travel + Leisure even named Alberta Canada one of its best places to travel in 2019, specifically naming Banff and Jasper as must-see locations. If you only have three days to a week we recommend checking out our guides for visiting in summer or winter to make the most of it.

While you’re here you should also consider ensuring your Instagram account has only the best shots from an unbelievably enviable destination – these Banff attractions will 100% not disappoint!

Banff National Park was established in 1885 and is Canada‘s oldest and first National Park. It’s roughly 6,641 square kilometres (2,564 sq mi) in size and is home to over 56 different mammals and 280 different bird species. Included in those are elk, bald eagles, bison (they were re-introduced in 2017), wolves, osprey moose, mountain goats, Canadian lynx, and of course, bears.

There are two main highways that get visitors around the Park, the Trans-Canada highway which takes people from Calgary through to Lake Louse and all the way to the coast and Vancouver. It also leads to Highway 93, also known as the famously beautiful Icefields Parkway. If you are flying to Calgary and renting a car or taking a shuttle you will most definitely be using the Trans-Canada highway, also known as Highway-1.

If you are looking to rent a car you can get good rates with Expedia here, if you planning on taking a shuttle we suggested Brewster which you can take right from the Calgary Airport (YYC) and those can be booked here.

Now that you have a little background about the park and know how to get there, let’s dive into the top 11 most breathtaking things to do in Banff National Park.

Hiking is one of the largest Banff activities that both locals and tourists do, so bring your hiking boots because you’ll need them in order for the first spot on our list, Larch Valley. Larch Valley is a notorious spot for viewing Larch Trees and during the fall hundreds even thousands of people flock to see the orange needles. Its golden needles have given the spot the nickname ‘Valley of Gold.’

Larch Valley instantly became one of my personal favourite things to do in Banff because of how incredibly unique it is. Not only does the hike begin from the iconic Moraine Lake, but the contrast of the alpine meadows, golden needles (in fall), glacial streams and mountain peaks is enough to generate a ‘WOW’ reaction from anyone.

Larch Valley got its name from the plethora of Larch Trees that grow in the area, these trees grow in cooler temperatures and tend to live at higher elevations. Sitting at an elevation of 2,286m (7,500ft), Larch Valley is the perfect spot for these trees to flourish. These needles turn golden around the 3rd week of September, depending on the weather and are the only member of the evergreen tree family that has colour changing needles that drop to the ground like leaves.

This is one of those Banff activities that you want to be in a group for. Bears are preparing for winter hibernation around the same time as the needles are turning orange and falling to the ground. Grizzly sightings are common in the area and to hike the trail during those times requires a minimum of four people in a group.

We also recommend ensuring you have bear spray when doing any hike in Banff, just to be safe! If you aren’t travelling in a group of four and want to do the trail you can find plenty of Facebook groups like the Hike Alberta Facebook group to find hiking pals. Not following the signs that state four people are required can result in a fine upwards of $25,000CAD ($19,025USD).

If you’re visiting Banff in the summer Larch Valley is still one of the best things to do in Banff because the alpine meadows are in full bloom with tons of different flora and beautiful alpine flowers. All of this set against a background that screams ‘Canadian Wilderness.’

Another one of the notoriously famous things to do in Banff is this wolf-shaped lake. Peyto Lake is located down the Icefields Parkway and is only a 30-minute drive from Lake Louise. It’s famous colour and drop-dead gorgeous backdrop that stretches across the horizon is basically the definition of Mountain eye-candy.

Peyto Lake gets its famous colour from Rock Flour, which is essentially powdered rock sediment that is brought from glaciers or other erosion from streams. It then gets suspended in the water and reflects blue light, resulting in the breathtaking colour many lakes in Banff have. The waters of Peyto continue on to form the Mistaya River which merges into the North Saskatchewan River.

There is a short walk from a designated parking lot to the viewing platform. If you want the best views of arguably one of the most iconic Banff attractions you’ll want to get there early, especially in the Summer. Peyto Lake has the innate ability to draw large crowds, sometimes with whole tourist buses making a pit stop, the earlier in the morning you get there the more likely you’ll be alone.

Johnston Canyon is one of the more well-known things to do in Banff National Park and can get extremely busy during the high seasons (mainly in summer). But it is still 100% one of the most breathtaking things to do in Banff and deserves a spot on this list. With its amazing boardwalks that jet from the side of the canyon walls, incredible waterfalls and perfect streams, there’s no way we couldn’t include it!

Johnston Canyon is located on the Bow Valley Parkway (which connects Banff to Lake Louise and runs parallel to the Trans-Canada) and can be accessed via car or by taking an interpretive tour. If you want to learn a lot about the canyon or have some explanations about the area we recommend taking a tour. It’s one of those Banff activities that you won’t necessarily learn a whole lot about unless you take a tour, if you don’t there are still a few signs with explanations of native animals and history.

But honestly, we think it’s better to just enjoy the bliss, sometimes it’s nice not to know every little thing about somewhere so incredible.

There are two main waterfalls that make Johnston Canyon even more notorious, the Lower Falls and the Upper Falls. The Lower Falls has a small viewing platform that allows you to walk through a small cave to an opening where you get so close you can feel the mist of the falls. The Upper Falls has a small platform that takes you out on top of the river so you can see around the corner to the powerful waterfall that is over 40 metres tall.

You can also view the Upper Falls from above and see where the water starts it’s plunging journey downwards. The water is a shade of blue that is unique, stunning and exceptionally vivid.

The entire trail usually takes anywhere from 1-2 hours depending on stops or if you’re taking a tour. The parking lot can fill up quickly so if you plan on driving yourself get there early! It’s a very busy place but no matter how many times we have done it, it still remains one of the most breathtaking things to do in Banff that never gets old.

Lake Louise is probably one of the things on our list of things to do in Banff that was already on yours. That isn’t going to stop us from reiterating that you need to visit this iconic Banff attraction. Known for its work-class skiing and famously blue lake, Lake Louise is an absolute must-see.

Surrounding the lake is towering mountains and far off glaciers, along with an incredible hotel that overlooks everything Lake Louise has to offer. The hotel somehow makes the area even more iconic.  In the summer visitors can rent canoes to get a glimpse of the area from the water, in the winter a skating rink takes over the shoreline and an ice castle is built on the frozen water.

If you want some views of the Lake Louise area without hitting a hiking trail there is a gondola that takes you to the top of a mountain and you’ll have a high chance of seeing a Grizzly as they frequent the area. However, if you are in the mood for a bit of hiking to get some phenomenal views of Lake Louise head down to number 9 on our list of things to do in Banff. Perhaps you are interested in other hiking Banff activities then check out our post on hikes in Banff.

What else is there to do at Lake Louise besides hiking, canoe rides, and ice skating in the winter? Great question, how about horseback riding, fishing, dog-sled rides, mountain biking, river rafting, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, horse-drawn sleigh rides. Needless to say, there are a lot of things to do in Banff and Lake Louise in both the summer and winter.

Want an epic photo or trails all to yourself? Stay at the famous Fairmont Château Lake Louise or the Deer Lodge, both of which are located just steps away from the lake. Otherwise it is best to get to Lake Louise early, 8am or earlier is best to avoid crowds!

Number 5 on our list is by far the most iconic and well known of all the Banff attractions on not only our list but arguably anyone else’s must-see in Banff lists. Moraine Lake.

If you Google ‘Banff’ the first thing that pops up is a photo of this incredibly breathtaking place. Moraine Lake is so popular that in the high season the road to access the lake is either always closed and shuttles are required or is closed as early as (or before) 8am. If you really want to see the attraction of all Banff attractions, you absolutely must go early or book a shuttle/tour.

There are scheduled departures throughout the day that leave from Lake Louise to Moraine, they are roughly $6CAD ($4.50USD) for an adult. This is the best way to get into the area if you are not planning on going at the crack of dawn. You can view more information about getting to Moraine Lake here.

Why is Moraine Lake so famous? Well, its epic blue waters, the towering mountain peaks of the Valley of Ten Peaks, its perfectly placed rock piles, green evergreen forests, and waterfalls could be the reason.

Moraine Lake is literally the epitome of beauty.

Sit lakeside and enjoy the breathtaking views, rent a canoe (prices are $105CAD ($80USD) per hour), hike one of the many trails in the area, or take in the best view of Moraine Lake from The Rockpile Trail. The Rockpile Trail is a short path that is known as the ‘Twenty Dollar View’ because it was featured on the back of Canadian twenty dollar bills issued between 1969 and 1979.

The Rockpile Trail is also where most of the classic Moraine Lake photos are taken from. But please for the sake of the natural flora and small animals that live in the area, stay on all marked trails! Help preserve this area.

Sundance Canyon is the hidden gem of things to do in Banff and is located behind the famous Cave & Basin hot springs. This short hike is easy for beginners and takes you from a riverside walk to fully immersed in the Mountains and forest. From epic views to large rocks pieces and peaceful waterfalls; Sundance Valley is the definition of what people expect to get out of all and any Banff attractions.

So not only is it one of the top things to do in Banff, but it’s one of the top underrated things to do in Banff! You could think of it as a little bit of a local secret that we are sharing with you. While you may not see an epic blue coloured lake, you will get up close and personal with the rocks, rivers and waterfalls that make Banff such a special place.

This short hike takes you along a paved pathway beside the Bow River with beautiful Mountain views and meadow views then continues down a dirt path. You will cross the creek on a small wooden bridge and continue up past small waterfalls and green moss. You’ll then cross another bridge and continue through dark mossy forest beside the bubbling creek.

Sundance Canyon gets you acquainted with Banff in the best way possible!

Healy Pass is most definitely one of the awe-inspiring things to do in Banff but isn’t the easiest hike. It’s a 10km one-way hike (20km total there and back) that takes you past glacial streams, through alpine meadows, through evergreen forest and offers views for days. Larch trees also grow along the trail so hiking in fall you get a double bonus of seeing the orange needles.

Healy Pass starts from Sunshine Village (a popular ski resort in Banff) and is best during the summer or fall months. Snow does tend to fall quite early in the area and even when we went there was plenty of freshly fallen snow in the middle of September. During the entire 10km you are given some of the most breathtaking scenery and at the end of the 10km, there is a small ridge you can rest on to enjoy some lunch.

On this ridge, there are literal 360-degree views of just mountains, lakes, and trees. It is absolutely incredible.

Bow Lake is located on the edge of Banff Alberta just before entering Jasper National Park. The lake is located along the ever so scenic Icefields Parkway just off the highway. It has a few different access points from the side of the highway, we recommend going to a few of them because every angle of the lake is different and more unique than the last.

Sitting at an altitude of 1,920km above sea level, Bow Lake is small in size compared to some of the other things to do in Banff but just as big in the beauty department. The water in the lake is meltwater from Bow Glacier and also has the same famous blue colour as lakes like Moraine and Peyto. It sits at the base of Bow Summit and on a calm day, the reflection of the mountain on the surface of the water is pristine.

Located nearby is the historic Simpson family’s Num-Ti-Jah Lodge. Jimmy Simpson came from England to Canada in 1896 as a year 19-year old and went on to become one of the greatest Canadian Mountain Men. When he first camped at Bow Lake in 1898 he vowed to one day ‘build a shack here.’ 25 years later he built his first log cabin on the site and it became a permanent base for his outfitting tours.

He called this business Num-Ti-Jah, which is a Stoney Plain word for Pine Marten (a small animal). The family used funds they made from tours to expand their lodge and by 1950 it had 16 rooms. The lodge hasn’t changed much since the 19050’s and has one of the best views of the lake!

Lake Agnes is a very short but popular hike in Lake Louise and is one of the things to do in Banff that is best to start early in the morning to avoid crowds. Starting from Lake Louise itself the trail takes you up and above the lake for a different perspective of the famous blue lake but continues past raging waterfalls off a massive cliff, views as far as the eye can see, a view of the Ten Peaks and a perfect wooden tea house with the best snack bar ever. This hike even made our list of the best easy hikes in or near Banff Alberta.

Lake Agnes is pretty small in size but it’s incredible views and pristine reflections make up for that. The hike takes you along the edges of Lake Louise before climbing up to give you views from the top. After taking a stop at the historic tea house at the base of the lake you continue on to get breathtaking views of the Valley of Ten Peaks.

The tea house only takes cash, so if you want a little snack or a drink make sure you bring some!

Alpine flowers, Mountain views, and a lake with a little island make Sunshine Meadows worth hiking. Located at one of the famous ski hills in the area, Sunshine Village, after the snow melts the site becomes a hiking mecca. Sunshine Meadows is one of the easier things to do in Banff in terms of hiking difficulty.

But this easy hiking trail takes you directly into the heart of the Rockies. You have to take a gondola or bus ride up to the base of Sunshine Village as no traffic is allowed up the access road, so that does come with a fee. The journey to the top takes about 20 minutes and will cost around $44CAD ($34USD), so it is not cheap but it is worth it!

There are quite a few trails you can take once you are up at the top. We recommend doing the path to Rock Isle viewpoint, Rock Isle Junction and then continue on to do the Grizzly/Larynx Loop. Along the loop, you’ll also get to see Simpson Viewpoint which gives you a look right into the heart of the mountains.

We have reached the final spot on our list of things to do in Banff National Park, The Ink Pots. This unique spot is nestled behind Johnston Canyon but deserves its own spot on our list. The Ink Pots is made of seven pristine, aquamarine coloured mineral pools set amongst a backdrop of towering mountains and green evergreens.

Each pool looks as though it has a different colour swirling through it making this one of the Banff activities that are worth the effort to reach. These mineral pools are different colours because each of them fills at a different rate. The more milky-green pools fill at a slower rate and therefore have a heavier suspension of fine materials (think similar to rock flour). Year round the water temperatures of the pools is about 4°C, but you cannot (and should not) swim in them.

The Ink Pots is a 3km past the Upper Falls at Johnston Canyon and an additional 335m elevation gain. You can expect it to take anywhere from 3-4 hours.

Banff National Park is an outdoor paradise and a haven for those in search of a retreat from our very modern way of life. The rushing streams and waterfalls, the breathtaking mountain peaks, the abundant wildlife, and the green evergreens all make this UNESCO World heritage site beyond explainable. Even after spending year and year in the park, we never grow tired of it.

How could you?

Honestly, there are probably a thousand different reasons why you should visit Banff, but let these top 11 things to do in Banff be a starting point as to why you should take the plunge and visit. If you are looking for a short itinerary on what to do in Banff during the summer you can check out our summer guide here, or if you are visiting in the winter (many of these sites are just as incredible with frozen waters and a coating of snow) you can check out our winter itinerary here.