If you’re planning a trip to Banff and are looking for some inspiration on fun things to do in the summer, here’s a list of things I did on my recent trip. I really love researching before a vacation so I can plan everything out so I hope my experience is helpful for you.
Banff National Park is located in Alberta, Canada, about 1.5 hours from Calgary. When you arrive to the park, you’ll need to pay the entry fee and it’s good for all areas within the park. There is so much to do within in Banff so if you’re looking for some inspiration, here’s 7 things to do in Banff in the summer:
Canoe at Lake Louise
It’s a little bit on the pricey side, but you can rent a canoe at Lake Louise and enjoy the beautiful turquoise water up close. The crisp, glacier-fed, blue water is so tranquil surrounded by the mountains. We had the canoe out for a hour and I had so much fun on the water.
Banff Gondola to Sulphur Mountain
Experience beautiful views in the Banff Gondola on the way up to Sulphur Mountain. Once at the top of the mountain, you can take a short hike up to Sanson’s Peak. The views from the top are the best in town and you can see all of Banff on a clear day.
Visit Moraine Lake at Sunrise
Make sure you leave early enough in the morning to visit Moraine Lake and watch the sunrise. We arrived at the lake at 7am but the lot was already full and blocked off; such a bummer. The next time, we arrived at 6am and barely found parking, so if Moraine Lake is in your plan, arrive as early as you can. The sunrise at the lake is definitely worth it and because the lot does fill up quickly, there are fewer people around than at Lake Louise.
Hike at Johnston Canyon to Ink Pots
This hike was the most fun for me even though I didn’t think the actual Ink Pots were that cool. Johnston Canyon is a beautiful hiking area with nice trails and waterfalls to explore. Make sure you arrive early to this hike to avoid the crowds; the lot is full by 11 am for sure. Check out a full list of the best easy/moderate hikes in Banff here.
Explore Banff Town
The town of Banff is cute and touristy. We enjoyed walking up and down Banff Avenue and popping in and out of the little shops. There are lots of trinket stores, but my favorites were Roots, and Fjallraven (where I bought my cute Kanken Mini).
Eat Vegan Food at Nourish Bistro
If you like vegan food, you’ll have to try Nourish Bistro while you are in Banff. Everything is vegetarian and can be made vegan. I like supporting vegan restaurants and Nourish Bistro had a lot to offer. My favorite item was the A Savory Affair appetizer platter. See my full review on Nourish Bistro here.
Hike to the Tea House at Lake Agnes
Another super fun hike was the Lake Agnes Tea House Hike. Starting at Lake Louise, you make your way up to Lake Agnes, passing by Mirror Lake and getting beautiful glimpse of Lake Louise. Once at the top at Lake Agnes, enjoy some tea and small bites at the tea house or bring your lunch to enjoy a fun picnic at the lake.
If you are going to Canada for the first time, check out my post on the things you’ll need to know before you go. I hope this was helpful for you. Also, be sure you check back to see my Banff Travel Diary coming soon!
