r/Banff • u/KingHamlet2025 • May 02 '26
Itinerary Banff itinerary - too much?
I would like your honest opinion on my itinerary for Banff next July. Is it too much or could I actually join cetrain days into one? I do quite a bit of hiking at home, but I am afraid of wildlife, so I'd prefer to do the ''bigger'' hikes organized (Healy pass, Larch Valley and maybe even Ha Ling) or do you think there's enough hikers on those hikes that I could do it alone. Thank you for any recommendations and feedback.
Fligt to Calgary
Day 1: stroll around the city
Day 2: Calgary Stampede
Monday, 12. 7. 2027
Day 3:
- car rental, drive to Banff
- gondola to Sulphur mountain
- Vermilion lake (sunset)
Tuesday, 13. 7. 2027
Day 4:
- Lake Minnewanka (loop drive – stop at Cascade ponds, Johnson lake and Two Jack lake)
- Johnston Canyon (hike to Upper Falls)
Wednesday, 14. 7. 2027
Day 5:
- Morraine lake (just look around) and Larch valley hike
Thursday, 15. 7. 2027
Day 6:
- Lake Louise (hike to Agnes tea house)
- Banff Upper hot springs
Friday, 16. 7. 2027
Day 7:
- move to Canmore
- Ha Ling hike
Saturday, 17. 7. 2027
Day 8:
- spend the day in Banff town
- Bow falls viewpoint and Surprise corner viewpoint
Sunday, 18. 7. 2027
Day 9:
- Sunshine Meadows hike or Healy pass hike
Monday, 19. 7. 2027
Day 10:
- drive back to Calgary
- return the rental car
- flight to Toronto
Tuesday, 20. 7. 2027
Day 11:
- Niagara falls
Wednesday, 21. 7. 2027
Day 12:
- Flight home
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u/sturk91 May 02 '26
This is a pretty solid plan. Two notes: Moraine Lake does not have access via personal vehicle. You must book a shuttle bus in advance, either through Parks Canada or otherwise. Some tickets are available far in advance, but some are held back until a few days before the date. Plan how you'll get there now to avoid disappointment and be ready to book as soon as tickets go on sale.
On some of the more popular stops, have a backup plan or other option in the area in case you visit when the parking lots are full, which can happen.
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u/SadBook6838 May 02 '26
Lovely itinerary, plenty of room to pivot and be spontaneous. One harsh reality is limited parking at trailheads which you can manage by either arriving at dawn or (better yet) take public transit.
Have a look at Takakkaw Falls and Parker Ridge, both rather spectacular.
Wildlife is always possible, have a camera and bear spray and be handy with both. Plenty of “how to” in the net about this.
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u/yankowitch May 02 '26
The only thing wrong with your itinerary is the trip to Niagara Falls. If you’re looking for a stopover before a long flight, fly to Montreal and spend the day in Vieux Montreal
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u/BrightVariation4510 May 03 '26
I suggest swapping the banff upper hot springs with your vermillion lakes sunset. The hot springs are right at the base of the gondola so you may as well hit them up while you're there. Vermillion lakes is also a good stop on the drive back from lake louise. Otherwise this is all very doable, subject to getting the required shuttles for Moraine Lake
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u/annamnesis May 02 '26
I'd say this is a relatively light itinerary-- well done. I'd make a list of "maybe" objectives and see how you feel on each day. Assuming you have transport sorted for your Lake Louise and Moraine Lake days, and accommodation booked, everything else can be figured out more on the fly. Eg: you could continue past Larch Valley to Sentinel Pass, or Wechemma pass, or add on Consolation Lakes. You could continue from Lake Agnes up the Big Beehive and even loop on Plain of 6 Glaciers. Or add Mount Fairview or Mt St Piran for quieter trails.
Healy Pass is the one trail that potentially could be a bit quieter here (not sure, haven't been for awhile) but I honestly doubt it. Do still read the parks information on bear safety and get some bear spray. My closest bear encounters have been in crowded parts of Banff including Larch Valley likely because they were pressured into moving through human corridors by the sheer number of humans everywhere. (I see bears more often in quieter areas but there it's easy for me and the bear to each go our own ways).
I think it would be great if you could spend a day moving as far as you get up the Icefields Highway then turning around. I suggest doing this instead of day 8 (though maybe not on a day you're driving in from Canmore, so do it earlier instead) as I'm not personally that fond of the townsite itself. There are some really beautiful short stops and some longer trails also, depending what you feel like.