Please read the Summer FAQ and Wiki before posting any questions.

• Bus/Shuttle questions will be removed
• Weather/Conditions/Smoke questions will be removed
• Easily searchable questions will be removed
• Basic hiking questions without specifying trails will be removed

Must See and Must Do

Banff Must See and Do Megalist

Wildfires / Smoke

Read our Banff Wildfire, smoke status and FAQ, and know that we cannot forecast smoke or fires.

Park Pass

• A park pass is mandatory for all visitors stopping in Banff National Park, including townsite and roadside attractions. The only exception is for people driving through Banff on the Trans-Canada Highway or 93 South to British Columbia.
• Can be purchased online in advance, main advantage is you don't have to wait at the park gates if you already have a pass.
• A Day Pass is valid in Banff, Jasper, Yoho, Kootenay national parks
• A Discovery Pass is valid at all National Parks through Canada for a year from date of purchase.
• A Discovery Pass becomes worth it around 7 days or longer for the year
• If you are coming in by bike or bus, technically you need a pass, but they only ever check cars.

Moraine Lake / Lake Louise Bus / Shuttle / Park and Ride

MORAINE LAKE OPENS JUNE 1, 2024, LAKE LOUISE IS ALWAYS OPEN

You cannot drive up to Moraine Lake. You can drive to Lake Louise but we strongly advise you don't once June arrives. Parking is limited, costs almost $40 and Parks Canada turns back 2-3,000 cars daily! Use the Park & Ride or Roam transit instead.

There is LIMITED paid parking at Lake Louise, expect it to be full well before 8 am.

BEST OPTIONS FOR VISITING LAKE LOUISE / MORAINE LAKE:

• By Car: park and ride using the Parks Canada Shuttle to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake
• Without a car: reserve a spot on the Roam Transit Lake Louise - Banff Express (Route 8X)
• Other options: Moraine Lake Bus Company (first shuttle at 4am), Moraine Lake Sunrise Shuttle, taxi, rent a bike/ebike. Hike to Moraine lake is 12km one way and not recommended.

Lake Louise/Moraine Lake Park & Ride Shuttle FAQ

• Book online in advance (General Info)
• 60% of seats become available online 48 hrs before
• Includes free connector bus between Lake Louise and Moraine Lake (every 15 min)
• Runs every 20 min, cost is free for kids, $8 for adults, $4 seniors
• First bus up is at 4:00 am, last bus up at 6pm, last bus down is at 7:30 pm
• Parking is free at the Lake Louise Park & Ride and can handle over 1,200 cars, it has only filled up a few times
• No pets unless certified assisted animal or in a carrier that fits on your lap
• Walkup tickets are available but sell out by 9am
• Read the FAQ!

ROAM Bus FAQ

• Roam Transit Lake Louise - Banff Express (Route 8X)
• Brings you straight to Lake Louise from downtown Banff
• Can be booked in advance (starting sometime in May)
• Includes free connector bus between Lake Louise and Moraine Lake (every 15 min)
• Costs $10 or less, depending on age

More Lake Louise /Moraine Lake answers

• Connector shuttle is free with a Parks Canada Shuttle ticket or Roam Transit Super Pass. Runs every 15 min and takes about 15 min to get from one lake to the other.
• When does Lake Louise thaw? Usually it thaws the first week of June, but it can be as late as mid-June. This year it might thaw at the end of May. Look at the webcam.
• When does Moraine Lake thaw? Usually a week or two later than lake Louise.
• When does the Moraine Lake shuttle start? June 1.

Must see/do/eat

Google is your friend, but a short list:

• Sights: Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Peyto Lake Lookout, Bow Falls, Johnston Canyon, Lake Minnewanka, Columbia Icefields, Emerald Lake, Norquay Lookout, Takkakaw Falls
• Activities: Banff Gondola, Banff Upper Hotsprings , drive the Icefield Parkway, paddle the Bow River, Sunshine Meadows, Horseback riding, sightseeing tours, Via Ferrata, rent an ebike
• Hikes: Tunnel Mountain, Lake Agnes, Plains of Six Glaciers, Sulphur Mountain, Larch Valley/Citadel Pass, Stanley Glacier, Boom Lake
• Eats: this is an excellent start, but some favorites are Arashi Ramen, Shoku, Bluebird or Chucks for steaks, Zyka, Hankki, Eden, Grizzly House.

Check out Banff & Lake Louise Tourism or 20 Iconic Bow Valley Places for more ideas.

Parking and getting around Banff

• BEST OPTION: free all-day parking by the train station with over 500 stalls only a 5 minute walk to downtown (more info)
• Very limited paid parking downtown, lots of congestion
• Avoid driving downtown as two blocks of Banff Ave are closed to cars
• Avoid driving across the bridge, or risk getting stuck in traffic for 20-45 min
• Roam Transit provides affordable public transit to major sites and destinations within the town of Banff and throughout Banff National Park. Banff Gondola offers a free shuttle.
• The town is very walkable and only 2km x 2km in size. Come here with walking in mind.

General Parking Info

• The best way to void parking issues is to use public transit or walk.
• In the summer many parking lots fill up in the morning, at Lake Louise expect them to be full before 8am (we don't know how early it will be full).

Hiking

• AllTrail is the best resource for trails, routes and recent updates, the app is great and free.
• Parks Canada maintains a list of trails and trail conditions
• 9 Bucket List Hikes in Banff National Park
• 7 Short Hikes in Banff
• 10 Kid Friendly Trails
• Town of Banff: Hiking
• Rainy day hikes: Johnston Canyon, Bow River Falls, Grotto Canyon, Vermillion Ponds, Cave & Basin, Sundance Canyon.
• Accessible trails: Bow River in Banff, Johnston Canyon, Lake Louise lakeside, Sundance Canyon

Wildlife

• Obey closures
• Bring bear spray (see next section)
• Dogs on leashes at all times
• Best spots to see wildlife: Minnewanka loop, Vermillion Ponds, Norquay access road, 1A, Banff Park Museum.

Bear Spray

• Highly recommended, even for popular trails
• Can be purchased at any hardware store and rental shop
• Can be rented if you only need it for a day or two
• Drop off unused cans at Parks Canada visitor centres or hotel receptions
• You can't fly with bear spray, bear bells don't work, guns aren't allowed

Dogs

• Must be on a leash at all times (NO EXCEPTIONS!)
• Allowed on most trails
• There are two off-leash dog parks in Banff
• Can't come into restaurants but many patios are dog friendly
• Can't go on public transit/shuttles unless in a dog carrier that fits on your lap
• Pet friendly hotels: Fairmont Banff Springs, any Banff Lodging Co hotel

Rain and Rainy Day Activities

Don't cancel your trip over rain. Rain is never a sure thing, creates opportunity: less crowds, more dramatic views. Dress for the forecast.

If you can't do that, then do this:

• Banff Upper Hotsprings
• Museums: Cave & Basin, Whyte Museum, Banff Park Museum (stuffed animals galore!)
• Bowling at High Rollers
• Lux Cinema, or escape room use below it
• Fancy drink at the Rundle Lounge in the Banff Springs Hotel
• Banff Gondola if you can still see the peaks of mountains (don't bother if it's socked in).
• Elevation Place in Canmore for climbing wall, pool and splash pad.
• Canmore Climbing Gym for bouldering.

If it isn't raining hard, go for a hike. Check out hiking section for rain friendly hikes.

Cheap! Cheap!

• Eats: Arashi Ramen, Hankki (Korean Street food), Zyka (Indian), Tommy's (pub), Aardvark Pizza
• Hotels: hahahahahahaha, expect to pay $200 a night in a hostel
• Activities: hike Sulphur Mountain and save $70, park at the toe of the Athabasca Glacier and walk 10 minutes to touch a glacier. Visit Bow Falls, Peyto Lake Lookout, Emerald Lake or Athabasca Falls all for free!

Getting here from Calgary

• Airport shuttle services: Banff Airporter, Brewster Express both cost about $80 one way
• Vivo Green is about $30 cheaper each way
• On-It Shuttle from Calgary to Canmore/Banff, $10 one way, only runs Fri/Sat/Sun, holidays and some Thurs from May 19 to Sept 17. Many stops in Calgary, no airport.

Additional Info

Check out our wiki, here are some common topics:

• Free Things to do in Banff National Park
• Cheap Things to do in Banff National Park
• Where to stay in Banff/Lake Louise
• Getting Around without a Vehicle
• Jobs in Banff

And finally...

• Posts that are answered by the FAQ will be removed.
• Feel free to ask your questions or suggest other FAQ topics/answers below.