Best Things to Do in Banff National Park

Banff National Park packs more world-famous alpine scenery along a single 150-kilometre mountain corridor than almost anywhere else in North America. Here are the ten experiences that define a trip.

1. Stand atop the Rockpile at Moraine Lake (Valley of the Ten Peaks). Climb the 10-minute stone path above Canada's famous 'Twenty-Dollar Bill View' to see ten 3,000-metre peaks reflected in electric-blue water.
2. Hike from Lake Louise up to the 1901 Lake Agnes Tea House and Little Beehive. Follow a forested switchback trail above the Fairmont Chateau to sip loose-leaf tea beside a hanging alpine lake and waterfall.
3. Drive the Icefields Parkway (Highway 93N) to Bow Lake and Peyto Lake. Experience one of the world's greatest mountain highways, pausing at Crowfoot Glacier, turquoise Bow Lake and the sweeping upper viewpoint over wolf-shaped Peyto Lake.
4. Walk the suspended steel catwalks of Johnston Canyon to the Lower & Upper Falls. Stroll 5 metres above a roaring turquoise river gorge and continue to the bubbling mineral springs of the Ink Pots.

5. Ride the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain and soak in the Upper Hot Springs. Walk the 1-kilometre Sanson's Peak skywalk at 2,281 metres elevation before relaxing in 38°C natural mineral thermal waters.
6. Watch sunrise or sunset at Vermilion Lakes, Two Jack Lake and Lake Minnewanka. Photograph Mount Rundle mirrored in glass-calm wetlands 5 minutes from Banff Town and cruise 21-kilometre Lake Minnewanka.
7. Explore Banff Avenue, the Bow River Pedestrian Bridge and Surprise Corner. Walk along the turquoise Bow River to roaring Bow Falls and the fairytale viewpoint opposite the 1888 Banff Springs Hotel.
8. Cross the border into Yoho National Park for Emerald Lake and Takakkaw Falls. Just 20 minutes west of Lake Louise, rent a canoe at half the price on glowing green Emerald Lake and stand beneath a 373-metre waterfall.

9. Cruise the wildlife corridor of the Bow Valley Parkway (Highway 1A) to Morant's Curve. Spot bears and elk at dusk and photograph trains rounding the bend beneath Mount Temple.
10. Hike through golden September larches in Canmore (Grassi Lakes) or Larch Valley. Visit Banff's neighbour town of Canmore for the Three Sisters viewpoint and emerald spring ponds.