Banff/Jasper itinerary for June 2023

[Theseus]

Hi all

I searched prior threads and got some information. But not enough to develop a complete itinerary. I'd appreciate any feedback and suggestion.

We are planning to go there in the end of June 2023. We like to see natural beauty and some easy to moderate hiking. Here is what I have developed so far and wanted to get input to see if this makes sense, or we should add or subtract days in any specific location. Also we would be renting minivan (or two cars) from Calgary and dropping it off in Edmonton. Not sure it makes sense?

Option 1
------------
Day 1 Fly in to Calgary Drive to Canmore. - Night in Canmore
Day 2 Canmore sight seeing - Night in Canmore
Day 3 Drive to Banff - Night in Banff/Lake Louis
Day 4 Sight Seeing - Night in Banff/Lake Louis
Day 5 Drive to Jasper - Night in Jasper. Stop along the way for a day hike and beautiful spots.
Day 6 Jasper Sightseeing - hiking - outdoor stuff
Day 7 Jasper Sightseeing - hiking - outdoor stuff
Day 8 Jasper Sightseeing - hiking - outdoor stuff
Day 9 Drive to Edmonton and Fly back home

Option 2 - (Reverse of Option 1) allows us a shorter drive to airport on the last day.
--------------
Day 1 Fly into Edmonton
- Drive to Jasper
Day 2 Jasper Sightseeing - hiking - outdoor stuff
Day 3 Jasper Sightseeing - hiking - outdoor stuff
Day 4 Jasper Sightseeing - hiking - outdoor stuff
Day 5 Drive to Banff - Night in Banff/Lake Louis
Day 6 Sight Seeing - Night in Banff/Lake Louis
Day 7 Drive to Canmore. - Night in Canmore
Day 8 Canmore sight seeing - Night in Canmore
Day 9 Drive to Calgary. - Fly back home

[Peculiar_Investor]

Day 1 Fly in to Calgary Drive to Canmore. - Night in Canmore
Day 2 Canmore sight seeing - Night in Canmore
Day 3 Drive to Banff - Night in Banff/Lake Louis
Day 4 Sight Seeing - Night in Banff/Lake Louis

This is my "backyard".

Canmore to Banff and/or Lake Louise is quite a short drive, less than an hour. If you wanted to you spend the first 4 nights in either Canmore or Banff rather than moving after two days. The What to see while visiting Banff National Park - Banff National Park site is very helpful for planning.

Make sure you put Moraine Lake in the Lake Louise area on your must see list.

Summer time in Banff/Lake Louise can be very busy. Read through Lake Louise and Moraine Lake - Banff National Park and be aware

Parking is extremely limited. Parking at Lake Louise Lakeshore and Moraine Lake is often full by sunrise and remains full throughout the day in peak season (May to October). Planning ahead is key. Taking transit is the best way to provide certainty in reaching your destination!

ADDED: Another good resource is Explore the Park | Banff & Lake Louise Tourism

[wabbott]

bookmarking thread.

[Doom&Gloom]

We made our first (road)trip to that area in Sept 2018. We spent one night in Glacier NP on the way north, one night in Canmore, three nights in Banff, and then wound our way back south.

My impressions: We liked Canmore, but it can't compare to Banff and Jasper. One afternoon and a night there was enough for us. Probably could have done another night if we had lots more time to spend in the area.

We thoroughly enjoyed the town of Banff, but we are not campers etc so we tend more toward comfortable accomodations and decent restaurants. We loved Banff NP, but were blown away by Jasper--probably because we were unfamiliar with it so we didn't know what to expect. The parking and traffic around Lake Louise was a madhouse and detracted (but only a little) from our experience. We could easily have spent more time in Banff and Jasper, but we also had some other areas we wanted to get to on that trip.

Honestly, I don't think you can go very wrong. Just have your lodging and driving times planned in advance, and I think you'll be fine. It's a great trip. Have fun!

[wabbott]

We made our first (road)trip to that area in Sept 2018. We spent one night in Glacier NP on the way north, one night in Canmore, three nights in Banff, and then wound our way back south.

My impressions: We liked Canmore, but it can't compare to Banff and Jasper. One afternoon and a night there was enough for us. Probably could have done another night if we had lots more time to spend in the area.

We thoroughly enjoyed the town of Banff, but we are not campers etc so we tend more toward comfortable accomodations and decent restaurants. We loved Banff NP, but were blown away by Jasper--probably because we were unfamiliar with it so we didn't know what to expect. The parking and traffic around Lake Louise was a madhouse and detracted (but only a little) from our experience. We could easily have spent more time in Banff and Jasper, but we also had some other areas we wanted to get to on that trip.

Honestly, I don't think you can go very wrong. Just have your lodging and driving times planned in advance, and I think you'll be fine. It's a great trip. Have fun!

Had originally planned to do something similar to this in 2020, but that wasn't to be. We are now actively planning for late August 2023, driving north from Mt. Rushmore and a couple other parks in that area. After Banff/Jasper, we will catch a 7 day inside passage cruise from Vancouver. We're looking forward to it.

[Raybo]

I rode a bicycle from Glacier NP up to Jasper in 2013 (detailed journal here). The section between Lake Louise and Jasper is unbelievable. There are hostels between Lake Louise and Jasper that don’t have showers but do have wood fired saunas. they have kitchens and beds but no other services.

It is hard to describe the experience of pouring wood heated water gathered from the stream outside over one’s head repeatedly. Truly one of my most memorable evenings!

I wasn’t all that excited by Jasper. It is a small, touristy town with lots of store fronts selling adventure experiences. Lake Louise is even smaller. Lake Louise is worth a day of hiking. The Icefields Parkway is a must stop (I think there might be a hotel there). When people ask me about the best place to ride a bike, I answer The Icefields Parkway.

Banff, Jasper and Lake Louise are tourist towns. If that is what you want, stay there. But, this is such an amazing area, I’d suggest taking advantage of the services provided by the places not in those cities for a truly unforgettable experience.

Reservations far in advance are essential.

[carolinaman]

We drove from Jasper to Calgary and it is about a 5 hour drive. So planning that at the start of the trip may be best.

We flew into Calgary and went to Banff after my conference. We really liked Lake Louise and the drive from Banff to Jasper is awesome.

Enjoy your trip!

[Colorado14]

The Banff area is one of my favorite places to hike/enjoy nature. Your itinerary looks wonderful. I would choose option #1 but you can't go wrong with either approach. We stayed in Canmore for a couple of nights because lodging was much more affordable than in Banff. However Banff if more scenic/more of a tourist town, so there could be benefits to staying there, depending on your interests.

I agree with the recommendation to visit Moraine Lake. Have fun!

[wabbott]

A question for the experts on this area. We will be coming from the east toward Glacier NP, and want to cross the border near Babb, MT. My question is should we stay on the east side of the mountains going north toward Banff, or should be cross the mountains at Crowsnest, then go north through the Kootenay River valley on the west side of the mountains? Which is more scenic?

[Doom&Gloom]

A question for the experts on this area. We will be coming from the east toward Glacier NP, and want to cross the border near Babb, MT. My question is should we stay on the east side of the mountains going north toward Banff, or should be cross the mountains at Crowsnest, then go north through the Kootenay River valley on the west side of the mountains? Which is more scenic?

I'm sure others will have a more definitive answer, but when we made that trip a few years ago, we took US 89/Can 2 and skirted Calgary to turn west to Canmore. IIRC it was mostly ranch/farmland and an easy drive. Pretty, but not what I would consider particularly scenic.

[TravelNomad]

Did a similar trip a few years back. You will have such a great time!!

Flew into Calgary, shuttled to Banff. Banff was beautiful!! (wish I'd stayed longer), cycled to Lake Louise, stayed at Post Hotel, which was lovely. Hiked along the lake to the Tea House (which was somewhat trying in spots, but do-able and safe). Tea House was not much, but made for a great day that I remember years later. Then, cycled to Bow Lake (also beautiful -- the lake reflects the surrounding mountains like a mirror). Great easy day hike to enjoy the beauty there. Did some river rafting on the way to Jasper, which was super fun for everyone.

As others have mentioned, Jasper is small, a bit touristy, kinda reminded me of Girl Scout Camp - not necessarily a ding, but not my favorite. I would have preferred to spend more time at Lake Louise, Bow Lake, Lake Moraine and Banff.

It's all so beautiful and everyone is so nice. Wishing you wonderful travels - enjoy!

[Hillcountry12]

Done parts of your route twice with toddlers and grand parents.
Note:
1. crowds crowds crowds. We live in eastern time and observed it while in mountain time. Thus we were at every trailhead by 7 am and we’re heading to dinner at 4 pm. Thus we zagged while everyone else was zigging everywhere we went. If you’re not a morning person consider a late afternoon hike 2-3 arrival at the parking lots and hike till dusk (bring headlamps for safety).
2. Banff is not a boglehead friendly town. Everything is touristy and $$$$ except the McDonald’s which serves the best value ice cream. Canmore is so close as others have said I would pick one location and stay there for the entire time in the area. Canmore has more affordable lodging and dining. Both are so touristy I don’t see the hype in banff and the justification for the price premium, but you can disagree. People watching is better in banff.
3. Hike Johnston Canyon to ink pots. Go past both waterfalls to the ink pots. Half of the people turn around at the first waterfall. Nearly half of the remaining turn around at the second waterfall. Very few hike to the ink pots which are a gem. It was a long hike for us, but DW still says it’s her most beautiful hike ever and we’ve thoroughly visited many of the top ten USA NPs.
3. Moraine Lake is a must. But if you’re not at the parking lot before 7 or after 4 forget it. Watch the weather forecasts and be flexible. The lake glows in cloudy light but the mountains dazzle in sun. Skip if it is raining.
4. Banff Gondala to the top of Sulphur Mountain is great if are tired of hiking but still want to be in the mountains. Make reservations once you know the weather (<10 days out).
5. Ice fields parkway. Spend a long day doing this and stopping everywhere. Peyto Lake is definitely a stop.
5a. Pay for a glacier view room at Glacier View Inn for location location location. It’s close to the glacier ( neat and cold spot to check out - read the sign, despite the news the glacier is growing!), sky walk (fun side trip), and loads of wildlife. Unless it has gone downhill since we were there last in 2017 (read recent reviews) it was amazing for location. Granted it is an overpriced 2 star hotel but when you’re 60km from anywhere what option do you have?. Note: you want to be away from this place from 10-4 because it is the only stop for the coach buses. When we showed up at 4:30 after a day of hiking it was deserted. In the evening we drove around and saw loads of wildlife that no one else can see because few are on this stretch of road in the evenings. Oh and the stars.
5b lots of amazing hikes along this stretch but since you are far from lodging it’s a challenge to get to the parking lot before they fill up and most people hike for hours so the chance of getting a parking spot is slim.
5c. Check out the alpine club of Canada for hikes to unique lodging. It was recommended to me by a local but I’ve never done it.
6. Yoho NP in BC is not far from Lake Louise and has some epic hikes (such as Takakkaw falls). Very few visitors comparatively to Banff NP.
7. There are really good hikes and reliable wildlife viewing spots around Canmore that the locals use because all of the tourists drive past them on their way to Banff, Lake Louise, and Moraine Lake.
8. Be bear aware. Rent bear spray and make sure you know how to use it.
9. Watch for fires 10 days out. In 2017 the BC fires 50 miles away sent smoke to Canmore which made sleeping annoying since there is no AC. If there are fires have a plan b as trails and roads can close and there is no cell service.
10. If you see wildlife, don’t become a touron (tourist + moron). If you don’t get eaten, gored, or mauled you will get fined. Oh, and everyone is taking videos so don’t try to lie and say it wasn’t you. The rangers patrol social media.
11. Skip the hike to the tea house at lake Louise. The reviews are correct that it is a waste of energy with average views. Do ink pots instead if you want a challenging hike. Did I mention ink pots from Johnston canyon?
12.always respect the mountains and their unpredictability. Plan for heat, sun, wind, rain, snow, and temp appropriate clothing and you’ll make fond memories. Dress appropriately in 4-season layers. I’ve been there when it is 80 and the next day it is blowing snow…in July.

[dratkinson]

In for the ride.

Idea. Neighbors went to Banff to spend a few days on the Rocky Mountaineer train. Said they enjoyed it.

See: https://www.google.com/search?q=rocky+m ... f&tbm=isch

[Vogatrice]

This was also my backyard for 30 years. Now living in Italy, reading all these posts did make me a bit homesick

I have a soft spot for Canmore as my parents had a great house there for 20 years and we spent most weekends there. It is more "authentic"* and slightly less expensive than Banff, which is only 17 km on down the highway. It has some really great restaurants and quite a lot of lodging. There are lots of hiking trails, and the Canmore Nordic Centre allows mountain biking on its ski trails in the summer. There is also a pretty decent commuter bus between Canmore and Banff so you can skip the parking nightmares. However, you will be headed into the park fairly often to see some of the most famous trails and sights. (I second the Johnston Canyon ink pots.) It's an easy trip but maybe you don't want to drive back out of the park after your daily excursions.

If you have a very ample budget, Baker Creek is a real gem. It was an old-time log cabin resort and has now gone upscale. The cabins are gorgeous and the food at the Bistro is fantastic. Scenery can't be beat. It sits on the 1A highway near the Lake Louise ski resort, just outside the town of Lake Louise. https://www.basecampresorts.com/bakercreek. Availability will be limited, many people book their next year's stay while still onsite.

There are some other famous lodges in scenic spots, such as Lake O'Hara Lodge, Emerald Lake Lodge or Moraine Lake Lodge. Same problem with booking a year ahead but oh wow if you get a spot, you'll never forget it. https://www.lakeohara.com, https://crmr.com/resorts/emerald-lake/, https://morainelake.com

If your budget is not as generous, the Alpine Club hut suggestions were spot on. Rustic but unforgettable. There is a less-rustic one in Canmore that is great https://www.alpineclubofcanada.ca/web/A ... house.aspx. The "back country" ones along the Icefields Parkway are really right off the Parkway, not in the back country. We used them for a leisurely bike trip from Jasper to Banff one time. But the jewel of the group is the Lake Louise hostel (part of Hostels International, not the Alpine Club.) https://hihostels.ca/en/destinations/al ... ake-louise. I'd add that one to your list regardless of budget.

Finally, a pro tip...Peter Lougheed Provincial Park is right next door to Banff National Park. It has some big hotels, some campsites, a hostel and one very special lodge on the back road: https://mountengadine.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQ ... W4EALw_wcB. And endless kilometres of hiking trails, several lakes, incredible scenery. Very few international tourists go there (but Albertans love it, it won't be empty.)

As long as you plan ahead to avoid getting stuck in the crowds, it will be a very memorable and wonderful trip. Now back to my memories...

*"authentic" means a slightly higher resident:tourist ratio. It used to be where the teachers, firemen and service workers lived instead of pricy, limited Banff. Although these days, most of the houses sit empty during the week before their Calgary owners come out to play.

EDIT: as far as itinerary, I would pick Option 2 (end in Calgary) or an Option 3 (skip Edmonton altogether, round trip out of Calgary.) Option 3 will have more flight options and really (ex-Calgarian speaking), there's not much point in visiting Edmonton. It is much farther from the mountains and isn't overly noteworthy. The river valley is pretty but the town core is not - lots of 70s-80s poured concrete buildings. (Ducking for cover from responses from Central Albertans. There is a traditional rivalry.)

[Vogatrice]

A question for the experts on this area. We will be coming from the east toward Glacier NP, and want to cross the border near Babb, MT. My question is should we stay on the east side of the mountains going north toward Banff, or should be cross the mountains at Crowsnest, then go north through the Kootenay River valley on the west side of the mountains? Which is more scenic?

The west side is considerably more scenic (and less windy - there are many wind turbines on the east for a reason.) But the road is winding and narrow, not divided most of the way, and in the summer, it is bumper to bumper RVs. So I guess it depends on your patience level and amount of time you have to pull over and take a short hike instead of getting too frustrated by the traffic.

If you are crossing at Babb, looks like you will turn north before Glacier NP and Waterton NP (on the Canadian side). I would re-consider that, they are both wonderful and Waterton is less crowded than Banff/Jasper parks. After you visit Waterton, you can still decide whether to take the faster route north through the plains (Cardston/Fort Macleod) or northwest through the mountains (Invermere/Radium)

EDIT: I would have suggested the Chief Mountain border crossing instead of either Babb or Coutts, but it appears it is still closed: https://www.ezbordercrossing.com/list-o ... -mountain/. I would check on this before your trip as it is a much more scenic crossing and gets fewer big trucks so the lines are shorter.

[wabbott]

A question for the experts on this area. We will be coming from the east toward Glacier NP, and want to cross the border near Babb, MT. My question is should we stay on the east side of the mountains going north toward Banff, or should be cross the mountains at Crowsnest, then go north through the Kootenay River valley on the west side of the mountains? Which is more scenic?

The west side is considerably more scenic (and less windy - there are many wind turbines on the east for a reason.) But the road is winding and narrow, not divided most of the way, and in the summer, it is bumper to bumper RVs. So I guess it depends on your patience level and amount of time you have to pull over and take a short hike instead of getting too frustrated by the traffic.

If you are crossing at Babb, looks like you will turn north before Glacier NP and Waterton NP (on the Canadian side). I would re-consider that, they are both wonderful and Waterton is less crowded than Banff/Jasper parks. After you visit Waterton, you can still decide whether to take the faster route north through the plains (Cardston/Fort Macleod) or northwest through the mountains (Invermere/Radium)

EDIT: I would have suggested the Chief Mountain border crossing instead of either Babb or Coutts, but it appears it is still closed: https://www.ezbordercrossing.com/list-o ... -mountain/. I would check on this before your trip as it is a much more scenic crossing and gets fewer big trucks so the lines are shorter.

Hopefully by next year the Chief Mountain crossing will be open. I do plan to stop at Waterton, but haven't decided if we'll overnight there. The traffic won't bother me, nor will the winding road. As long as I have mountains and valleys to look at, the journey never gets old.

And thank you for your input!

[Theseus]

Wow! While I can't each of you individually, everyone's response is so helpful. Just reading the replies is getting me excited !!

Does anyone know if there is a shuttle from Edmonton to Jasper? We have one member of the group who may have to return back home early. If not then we may have to start in Banff and they can take a shuttle to Calgary to fly out as we drive up to Jasper.

Thank you all.

[Raybo]

There is a VIA Rail station in Jasper. This links says there are 2 departures a week from Jasper to Edmonton (https://www.viarail.ca/en/explore-our-d ... o-edmonton). I took a private shuttle from Jasper to Edmonton. Jasper is such a tourist hot spot that there must be many ways to get from there to Alberta's population centers.

[Random Poster]

11. Skip the hike to the tea house at lake Louise. The reviews are correct that it is a waste of energy with average views. Do ink pots instead if you want a challenging hike. Did I mention ink pots from Johnston canyon?

Agree with most of what you wrote except for this, although it depends which tea house you are referring to.

The Plain of Six Glaciers tea house in underwhelming. It has a vague Nepal tea house feel, but the hike isn’t worth the relatively low reward that you get at the end.

The Lake Agnes tea house, however, is definitely worth the hour long hike. It is a steeper hike, but offers tremendous views at the end of Lake Agnes and Lake Louise (even more so if you continue up the Beehive mountain). And the tea house itself is a cozier and generally better experience, in my view.

When we lived in Calgary, we’d hit Lake Louise every few weeks in the fall and winter. Summer we mostly left for the tourists, but if the OP hits Yoho and Takakkaw Falls and the areas surrounding Banff, the crowds will be much smaller there.

[TravelNomad]

We did the hike to Lake Agnes Tea House. While a bit challenging in places, it was totally do-able for this 60ish female who is in relatively good health. I felt safe the entire way. The tea house itself was okay, maybe I expected more for the hype, but still a very memorable day. Years later, can say am glad we did it.

Honestly, the entire area is so beautiful, you could literally throw a dart (or many darts) at the map and not go wrong.

Have a great time!

[Hillcountry12]

11. Skip the hike to the tea house at lake Louise. The reviews are correct that it is a waste of energy with average views. Do ink pots instead if you want a challenging hike. Did I mention ink pots from Johnston canyon?

Agree with most of what you wrote except for this, although it depends which tea house you are referring to.

The Plain of Six Glaciers tea house in underwhelming. It has a vague Nepal tea house feel, but the hike isn’t worth the relatively low reward that you get at the end.

The Lake Agnes tea house, however, is definitely worth the hour long hike. It is a steeper hike, but offers tremendous views at the end of Lake Agnes and Lake Louise (even more so if you continue up the Beehive mountain). And the tea house itself is a cozier and generally better experience, in my view.

I did not realize there were other tea houses. It looks like we did the hike to Lake Agnes tea house. But it could have been a number of factors (hot day, sore legs, Congo line of hikers, tired kids, etc) that could have caused us to think it not as memorable as our other explorations. Thank you for clarifying and giving the OP something to think about because we don’t agree. Hopefully we can still be friends.

[vandefrosty]

A question for the experts on this area. We will be coming from the east toward Glacier NP, and want to cross the border near Babb, MT. My question is should we stay on the east side of the mountains going north toward Banff, or should be cross the mountains at Crowsnest, then go north through the Kootenay River valley on the west side of the mountains? Which is more scenic?

The west side is considerably more scenic (and less windy - there are many wind turbines on the east for a reason.)...

... After you visit Waterton, you can still decide whether to take the faster route north through the plains (Cardston/Fort Macleod) or northwest through the mountains (Invermere/Radium)

There is a third option, which is more spectacular than high-speed Hwy 2 from Fort Macleod or, in my view, what you see on Hwy 3, 95 and 93 through BC (which is the kind of forested mountains that you'll see on the Icefields Parkway anyway). Hwy 22, aka "Cowboy Trail" runs north from Pincher Creek, at the end of Highway 6, and provides multiple options for entering Calgary from the south or west, or bypassing it altogether and going straight to Canmore/Banff. The first 90 minutes from Lundbreck to Longview travels through dry ranchland between the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies and the final range of foothills before the prairies. Except for the Parkway, it is my favourite drive in Alberta.

Greg

[Peculiar_Investor]

Summer time in Banff/Lake Louise can be very busy. Read through Lake Louise and Moraine Lake - Banff National Park and be aware

Parking is extremely limited. Parking at Lake Louise Lakeshore and Moraine Lake is often full by sunrise and remains full throughout the day in peak season (May to October). Planning ahead is key. Taking transit is the best way to provide certainty in reaching your destination!

An update from Parking in the Lake Louise area - Banff National Park

New in 2023 - Moraine Lake Road is closed to personal vehicles

Moraine Lake Road is closed to personal vehicles year round. Parks Canada shuttles, Roam Public Transit, and commercial buses are permitted from June to mid-October.

That's generating quite a bit of discussion locally and I suspect it might change again before the Moraine Lake Road re-opens in the spring.

[jcjc]

Haven't read the whole thread but we've been two or three times. We love hiking usually moderate hikes. Plain of Six Glaciers was crowded but if you go beyond the tea house to the end of trail it is spectacular and a lot less people. Lake Agnes Teahouse is great just go early and you will beat the crowds. In Banff, Sunshine Meadows is nice. We hiked all three lakes and once past the first lake we didn't see a single person. Lots of flowers. There is another one on the way to Jasper, Parker Ridge trail we enjoyed that as well. Just beautiful.

One last comment, we splurged and stayed at Moraine Lake Lodge (two trips now) and we love it there. So special when all the day trippers are gone. Really pricey though so may not be worth it to some.

Probably my favorite and we traveled extensively. Enjoy!

[TheOscarGuy]

Hi all

I searched prior threads and got some information. But not enough to develop a complete itinerary. I'd appreciate any feedback and suggestion.

We are planning to go there in the end of June 2023. We like to see natural beauty and some easy to moderate hiking. Here is what I have developed so far and wanted to get input to see if this makes sense, or we should add or subtract days in any specific location. Also we would be renting minivan (or two cars) from Calgary and dropping it off in Edmonton. Not sure it makes sense?

Option 1
------------
Day 1 Fly in to Calgary Drive to Canmore. - Night in Canmore
Day 2 Canmore sight seeing - Night in Canmore
Day 3 Drive to Banff - Night in Banff/Lake Louis
Day 4 Sight Seeing - Night in Banff/Lake Louis
Day 5 Drive to Jasper - Night in Jasper. Stop along the way for a day hike and beautiful spots.
Day 6 Jasper Sightseeing - hiking - outdoor stuff
Day 7 Jasper Sightseeing - hiking - outdoor stuff
Day 8 Jasper Sightseeing - hiking - outdoor stuff
Day 9 Drive to Edmonton and Fly back home

Option 2 - (Reverse of Option 1) allows us a shorter drive to airport on the last day.
--------------
Day 1 Fly into Edmonton
- Drive to Jasper
Day 2 Jasper Sightseeing - hiking - outdoor stuff
Day 3 Jasper Sightseeing - hiking - outdoor stuff
Day 4 Jasper Sightseeing - hiking - outdoor stuff
Day 5 Drive to Banff - Night in Banff/Lake Louis
Day 6 Sight Seeing - Night in Banff/Lake Louis
Day 7 Drive to Canmore. - Night in Canmore
Day 8 Canmore sight seeing - Night in Canmore
Day 9 Drive to Calgary. - Fly back home

Went there last year. It is very beautiful.
One thing I'd recommend is consider renting e-bike from canmore to banff. It was very comfortable ride and we stopped along the way to take many pictures, really loved it.

[Theseus]

Duplicate

[Theseus]

We are having a hard tine finding any decent place (DW is picky) to stay around Jasper national park (or inside the park). There are 8 of us. And the only AirBnb available is in Hinton. Wouldn't this be far? Are there any suggestions for where we can spend 4 nights to see Jasper National Park? We are not looking for a budget accommodation so any suggestions that are 3 star level (lodges, hotels, private properties etc.) and above will be useful.

For Banff area we already found an AirBnB in Canmore.

Thank you.

[Random Poster]

Fairmont has a hotel in Jasper, called the Jasper Park Lodge, I think. Not cheap though.

[Theseus]

Fairmont has a hotel in Jasper, called the Jasper Park Lodge, I think. Not cheap though.

Thank you. We looked at it. It’s been sold out since we started planning. I guess we were pretty late in planning this.

[Random Poster]

Fairmont has a hotel in Jasper, called the Jasper Park Lodge, I think. Not cheap though.

Thank you. We looked at it. It’s been sold out since we started planning. I guess we were pretty late in planning this.

I suspect that tour groups book blocks of rooms; perhaps a few rooms will open up as your dates get nearer.

For whatever it is worth, though, 4 days in and around Jasper seems like a lot to me. 2 nights would probably be plenty, but then again, I liked just hanging around Lake Louise for days on end.

[MileKing]

We are having a hard tine finding any decent place (DW is picky) to stay around Jasper national park (or inside the park). There are 8 of us. And the only AirBnb available is in Hinton. Wouldn't this be far? Are there any suggestions for where we can spend 4 nights to see Jasper National Park? We are not looking for a budget accommodation so any suggestions that are 3 star level (lodges, hotels, private properties etc.) and above will be useful.

For Banff area we already found an AirBnB in Canmore.

Thank you.

https://alpinevillagejasper.com/

[Theseus]

We are having a hard tine finding any decent place (DW is picky) to stay around Jasper national park (or inside the park). There are 8 of us. And the only AirBnb available is in Hinton. Wouldn't this be far? Are there any suggestions for where we can spend 4 nights to see Jasper National Park? We are not looking for a budget accommodation so any suggestions that are 3 star level (lodges, hotels, private properties etc.) and above will be useful.

For Banff area we already found an AirBnB in Canmore.

Thank you.

https://alpinevillagejasper.com/

Thank you @MileKing for the suggestions. This place has some good reviews. We got two cabins here. Perfect location for what we want.

[Watty]

I am also looking at that area for a trip this summer because I saw some really good airfares to Calgary.

I have read this thread and some of the other Boglehead threads but I have some specific questions.

Some background: we are a retired couple in our mid-60s and early 70s and while we are doing fine doing day hikes of around 5 miles would be our maximum and with hiking day after day shorter hikes would be better. We will likely be doing things more like the gondola rides and lake boat rides than long hikes.

We are looking at going about 14 to 16 days(+/-) so we are going to try to find several places to stay for longer stays and do day trips taking time to see things without feeling rushed. We will have a rental car for our entire stay.

July and August is of course a very busy and expensive time of year there and we are late in making our plans so in Banff and Canmore the (relatively) less expensive hotels are fully booked and especially for a longer stay the more expensive places that are available are a lot more than we would want to spend.

I wanted to check to see if this looks like a really bad idea.

1) Spend at least a night in Calgary since the flight will likely arrive later in the day.
2) Drive to Banff, spend the day, then drive on to Radium Hot Springs where I have found some reasonable VRBO condos.
3) Use Radium Hot Springs as a base for 7 nights(The VRBO has a price break for a seven night stay)
(near the entrance to Kootenay National Park, British Columbia, Canada1.5 hours to Banff, 1.5 hours to Lake Louise)
4) Spend a day driving and sightseeing to Hinton, which looks like about a five hour drive without stops.
5) Spend a few nights near Hinton to see the areas around Jasper and the Icefields Parkway, which we will likely drive through on the way there.
6) Possibly stay in a hotel south of Calgary around Okotoks to make day trips to the Peter Lougheed Provincial Park and possibly other nearby parks but I have not researched those yet. There is a road that heads south from Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, highway 40, which would make this possible but it seems to be closed now because of "frequent bear activity". Is this normal and should it be open in the summer?

https://www.albertaparks.ca/parks/kanan ... 0411#36151

Obviously there will be a lot of driving but it should be scenic, does this crazy?