The best 4 day itinerary in Banff
Planning an epic adventure to Banff? Not sure what to do or how to spend your time? I’ve got you covered for an epic long weekend adventure in beautiful Banff! Here’s the best 4 day itinerary in Banff.
If you’re trying to figure out how to get to Banff, the easiest way is through Calgary, Alberta. Whether you rent a car or decide to go via bus, getting there won’t take more than 2 hours. Unfortunately, renting a car isn’t a cheap option, and may only make sense if you’re a group of 3 or more people. For myself, seeing as this was a solo adventure for me, I opted for using the buses.
Banff National Park is by far one of the most breathtaking places I’ve ever been. With mountains as far as the eye can see, sparkling blue lakes, and winding rivers – any Nature Lover is going to feel like they’re in paradise.
As a solo female traveler on a budget, how do you make the most of a short trip to Banff? Well here’s my 4-day itinerary that will surely help you plan a budget-friendly adventure to Banff, Canada.
Additionally, if you’re looking for Banff travel tips, check out my post Visiting Banff for the first time. You’ll find information about getting to Banff, getting around as well as some other practical information.
Day 1: Lake Louise and Lake Moraine
Lake Moraine
Definitely, one of the main reasons I wanted to visit Banff National Park was to see Lake Moraine in all its’ glory with my own eyes. Naturally, it was day 1 on the itinerary.
I took the 7:45 Roam bus (line 8X) to Lake Louise, and then the 9:00 lake connector to Lake Moraine. I was standing on the shore of the lake no later than 9:30 a.m. I almost had the place to myself, which was magical. The sunrise chasers were long gone, and the day trip tourists had not yet arrived. It was the perfect time to take some pictures and enjoy the view. Words cannot even come close to describing just how amazing Lake Moraine is. The whole landscape looks as though it’s right out of a painting.
At Lake Moraine there are a few different areas to explore. You can hike up to the top of the rock pile, and get a fantastic view of the lake from a higher point. You can follow the lake shore to the other end of the lake. Or you can choose one of the many different trails to hike. Here are of few of the different hiking options at lake Moraine;
- Consolation Lakes Trail – 5.8km
- Sentier pass via Larch Valley – 10.9km
- Lake Annette – 11.4km
- Eiffel Lake Trail – 11.7km
- Paradise Valley – 20km
Furthermore, find detailed information about these different hikes in this post 10 Moraine Lake Hikes with Amazing Views.
I decided to hike up to Larch Valley, which was a good hike to start my trip off with. Seeing as it was also my first hike of the season, it was just challenging enough. I did the hike in mid-June and there was still quite a bit of snow in the upper valley. Therefore after about 5 km, I ended up having to turn around because it got too dangerous because of the snow.
When I finished eating lunch in the valley, and taking in the wonderful views, I hiked back down to where I could catch the lake connector back to lake Louise. The two lakes are really well connected with the lake connector bus that passes every 15 minutes. It allows you to easily visit both lakes on the same day.
Lake Louise
Lake Louise was precisely as you see it in the pictures; gorgeous. The water was blue as can be, and the scenery was straight from a postcard. The only downside was that there were way, way too many tourists (imagine a Disney Land attraction). It has become so touristy that people end up having to wait in line to take their photos. The sheer number of people ruined the whole experience of visiting Lake Louise. Despite that, it remains a must-see.
There are a few different hikes to do at Lake Louise as well:
- Fairview Lookout – 2.4km
- Mirror Lake – 6km
- Lake Agnes Tea House – 7.6km
- The Little Beehive – 9km
- The Big Beehive – 10.3km
- Plain of 6 Glaciers – 13.8km
- The Beehive Circuit – 14km
Seeing as I had already done Larch valley that morning, I decided to give my legs a rest and just find a non-crowded spot to lay and enjoy the sun for the rest of the day.
Here’s another photo of just how gorgeous the lake is.
If pressed for time, you can skip hiking at the lakes and add Johnston Canyon to your day one (or make a day of it as I did).
Day 2: Johnston Canyon
Getting to Johnston canyon from Banff is a breeze. Roam bus 9 picks you up in Banff and drops you right at the trailhead for Johnston canyon. There aren’t as many buses as some of the other routes though. So make sure you check the schedule and book your ticket in advance.
Visiting the canyon is an easy hike. Along the way, you see waterfalls and rock formations that have been carved by the Bow River. Also, the canyon is cool and refreshing, so it’s perfect for those hot summer days.a
The hike to the upper falls takes no more than an hour. If you want to go further you can head up to the Inkpots. It’s a good hike and up at the top, you get some pretty amazing views.
After spending the day hiking up to the Inkpots and enjoying the canyon, you can enjoy a well-deserved pint at the Beaver bar, and a nice Elk burger at Eddie’s burger bar.
right at the trailhead for Johnston canyon. There aren’t as many buses as some of the other routes though. So make sure you check the schedule and book your ticket in advance.
Day 3: Jasper
I initially had decided to scratch Jasper off my list of things to do while in the Rockies. It broke my heart, but I just couldn’t find an affordable solution. That is until I met a lovely couple with a rental car, who had planned to do a day trip out to Jasper. Keep in mind that Jasper is a 3h30 drive from Banff, so offering for me to tag along was incredible luck. Yet, If you don’t meet anybody at your hostel, hitchhiking isn’t your thing, or can’t find a Poparide out to Jasper then there are buses. Keep in mind, if taking a bus I highly recommend doing at least an overnight in Jasper, so it’s not just a there-and-back trip. You can check out Brewster express and Sundog tours for more info on buses.
Why take the time to go to Jasper? Well for me it was the incredible scenery and the wildlife. Jasper National park is known for the different wildlife that can be spotted. You can spot Grizzly bears; black bears; moose; elk… Not to mention the Icefields Parkway drive gives incredible views of waterfalls, glaciers, and of course mountains!
The town of Jasper itself wasn’t huge, but still, quite cozy. Unfortunately, we didn’t have the time to drive out to Maligne Lake. However, if I had stayed in Jasper overnight it would have for sure been on my list. We ended up stopping and doing the valley of the 5 lakes hike. It was a wonderful hike, that only lasts about 90 minutes (with a lunch break). The lakes are Turquoise blue and the views are splendid.
Below a map of the different sites to see along the way:.
Day 4: Sulphur Mountain
For my last half day in Banff, I decided to see the amazing view that everyone told me was too good to miss. The only downside? The ride up Sulphur Mountain on the gondola costs $60, and that didn’t really fall within my budget. Lucky for me, I learned last minute that you can actually hike up to the top of Sulphur Mountain free of charge! I was back in business!
I took Roam bus 1 to the Banff Gondola. Instead of going left with the swarm of people towards the gondola, one other person and I went right towards the trailhead. We had a good laugh when we realized that we both were doing the hike to save $60. The hike up Sulphur mountain is strenuous, at least for someone who is just warming up their hiking legs for the season. A gain of 680 m in 5.5 km wasn’t how I initially planned to spend my morning, but it was 100% worth it. The views from the top of the mountain are marvelous. A 360 of the Rockies that takes your breath away. It’s not an easy feat hiking all the way to the top, but the reward makes it entirely worth it.
The hike up, and down, with of course enough time to awe at the views – takes no more than 5 hours. It made for the perfect half-day before heading back to Calgary.
If you’re planning a trip to the Banff area I hope this was a source of inspiration. Did I miss anything that’s an absolute must? Let me know!
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