Banff National Park Travel Answers

Here's what I was thinking Day 1 (referring to the first day in the area): Spend the night in Calgary or Cochrane Day 2: Drive to Banff Spend time around the Banff townsite Johnston Canyon Takkakaw Falls (Yoho) Spend the night in Lake Louise Day 3: Lake Louise Moraine Lake Peyto Lake Icefields Parkway up to Athabasca Glacier Spend the night in Banff Day 4: Potentially have some time to spend in Banff before driving to Waterton Would this work?

Note: I originally thought we would be leaving July 8, but I noticed a potential conflict, so it might be July 28, which would mean seeing a football game in Calgary on the 29th instead.

I personally stay away from the Town of Banff. It has become all too commercialized and looks more "faux Swiss" than a town in the Rockies should. Its basically what happens when large ommercial ski interests take over the place. I haven't been to Johnston Canyon or Takkakaw Falls, but from where you will be centred, the other places are quite doable.

Some points Day 2 Add in Emerald Lake for lunch Day 3 Start your drive to the Icefields in the early morning. Try to find a place in Lake Louise for the nights of Day 2 & 3. More convenient but it will be expensive Your drive to the icefields should be done on a sunny day which may be an issue. If your decide to walk some trails in the Lake Louise area , which you should remember that there are Grizzley bears in this area, so follow any posted warnings. Wild animals are usually visible in the very early morning. You may get rained on.

Yes, if you are out, there are bears, but so far I've only seen black bears in the area, not grizzly's and have seen them at different times of the day. If you do plan to do some walking or hiking, check in at one of the outdoor shops and pick up some bear bells and put them on your clothing or day pack. Bears are solitary cratures and will generally hide if they know you are coming. If you are worried, the same shops will sell bear spray and bear bangers. If you see cubs, get out of the area as the mother bears are quite defensive about their young.

Johnson Canyon has so many people on it you won't have an issue with bears, it is very well used interpretive trail . Another hike that think shouldn't have issues with bears is Sulfur Mountain, can wait at bottom right by entrance to hotsprings and wait till have large group to go with. Have done this trail many times and always others near by going up or down if go in early afternoon, however I am always going on weekend seems. Cochrane will become extremely expensive as well come Stampede time once everything in Calgary is sold out, so might want to drive about 60 minutes more from Cochrane and make it to Canmore, so right at entrance to Banff. Since your driving you might want to camp a night at Tunnel Mountain if your into camping. Love waking up to the fresh air and fairly easy hike to cut over and through the camper site (I normally stay at the tent site so bit of a walk) to the bus stop into town. This hike back at night is a little nervy for me as cut across the 200 yard trail between the grounds, but you can always see one site or the other, never a point where can't turn around and see campers or tents one way or the other in the dark. I'm fine if remember my flash light. As Stampede time should be able to get some good deals for hotels if that's more to your liking, I would try to bid or do some kind of site where don't find name of hotel till you book. What I normally do is find the one with the highest customer rating in the highest star rating can afford. In winter normally can get a 3 star with high reviews if lucky for around 100 dollars but would expect to pay 130 or so at least in summer. Canmore may save you a few dollars for whole trip and very close to the Gates and about 30km (about 20 miles) to Banff townsite.