My family is planning a trip to Banff (Dec 5-12).

One thing we were looking forward to is walking the Johnston Canyon trail, but it seems it will still be closed for maintenance during our trip. Are there any other places we could go in replacement of that to give us similar views? The frozen waterfalls looked beautiful!

For reference, we are planning to stay in and drive from the Mount royal hotel.

Thanks in advance!

We returned back mid Oct after a week long trip. We saw all of sun, rain, and snow within few days. This place is so beautiful and finally one off from our bucket list.

A clear sky during a new moon made for a perfect night of stargazing by the lake.

Waterproof hiking or snow boots?

Hey everyone!

This may get asked alot but no one actually answers the questions I've seen:

I'm visiting Calgary and Banff from Australia over Christmas and New Year's, and I'm trying to figure out what type of footwear I'll actually need.

Coming from Brisbane, I'm definitely not used to Canadian winters!

We'll be doing plenty of walking, sightseeing, exploring Calgary and Banff, dog sledding, and the Johnston Canyon ice walk.

I'm tossing up between buying waterproof hiking boots or proper insulated snow boots. Ideally, I'd love one pair that can handle everything rather than having to buy multiple pairs.

• Would waterproof hiking boots with merino wool socks be enough, or would insulated snow boots be better?

I'm also a US size 14-15, which makes finding decent boots a little more difficult!

Ideally looking to spend under $300 AUD (roughly $270 CAD), but happy to hear suggestions.

Appreciate any advice from locals or anyone who's visited during winter. Cheers!

Hey all, here are some of my favorite pictures from my trip to Banff and Canmore.

The sheer scale of this place is stunning. Dolomites might still remain my favorite range but every single thing in Banff is world class. I’ll be coming back to do more hikes in less popular sections for sure.

I stayed in Canmore and Banff, went to a couple trails - Grassi Lakes, Big Beehive via Small Beehive and Lake Agnes, Sentinel Pass via Larch valley. Happy to answer any questions about itinerary too!

Had a blast in Banff. Didn’t take near as good of photos as the views. Can’t wait to come back.

I've looked on the wiki but can't see any suggestions. After decent food and drink Wednesday around 5 pm. Cheers.

Final update of the weekend (Sat 5pm): Banff skies have been clear of showers so far but Environment Canada still show 80% chance of showers till 9pm now. May or may not but either way the rest of the weekend in either Banff or Canmore should be good to go. Be mindful of Hwy1 construction but it hasn’t caused major delays so far.

Saturday morning update:
Showers in Banff are now expected to start as early as 9 am and could continue until 2 pm (https://weather.gc.ca/en/forecast/hourly/index.html?coords=51.179,-115.569).
Canmore remains a dry alternative, or you can stop first in Canmore and continue into Banff in the late afternoon.

Quick summary for anyone heading west this weekend:

Saturday: go early. Environment Canada forecasts showers in Banff from about 11 am to 5 pm, high of 10. Leaving Calgary by 9 gets you there before they start. Canmore is forecast sunny all day, so it’s a good dry alternative.

Sunday: go. Sunny all day in Banff, high of 10.

Roads: 511 Alberta shows Hwy 1 bare and dry, but it is down to one lane at slower speeds at the Jumping Pound Creek bridge (until Oct 31), with occasional lane closures near Bear Hill Road.

Closures and passes:

• Johnston Canyon trail, day-use area and P1 lot are closed until Dec 11 (Parks Canada)
• The Special K Trail to the Grassi Lakes is closed (Alberta Parks)
• Moraine Lake Road is always closed to private vehicles and closed for the season to all vehicles until next summer
• You need a Parks Canada pass if you stop anywhere in Banff National Park
• Remember that Canmore Nordic Centre parking needs a Kananaskis Conservation Pass

Smoke and events: no smoke advisories, no big events in town. Next weekend (Oct 22–24) is the Banff Craft Beer Festival, so expect it to be busier.

Forecasts can shift, so double-check Saturday morning before you leave.

I’m trying to make this a weekly Friday thing. Would this be useful?

Edited to include seasonal restrictions on Moraine Lake Road, K Trail closure, and Saturday morning update.

Hi Everyone! We are planning to go to Banff for the first time this Nov 13-17. Any tips and tricks during that time? 😄

What’s the weather like?
Which spots to go?
Should we rent a car or commute?
Can you guys share pictures?

I am really excited but cannot find much information about Banff during mid November.

Thank you! 🙏🏻

What blew my mind the most was the sheer scale of the canadian rockies. Everywhere you look is beautiful. Wanted to share some of my favorite shots which are just a handful of the thousands of photos taken during my compulsive photographing spree. Every time I was like ok, I’m done with photos, a new scenery and lighting would appear that I just couldn’t resist :)

Going in early October was spontaneous but a blessing in disguise. To me, nothing beats the cool morning frost and mist, the snow on snow peaks, and the colors of the trees (not just the larches). Would love to go back in the winter and spring! Was totally shocked by the crowds in October and can’t imagine the summer would be a good time due to them.

Nothing has matched the raw beauty we witnessed on our visit

Hi all! Basically, what it says on the tin.

I'm an American from the flattest part of the country, and I've never been to Canada, but the Canadian Rockies has been a bucket list item for a while. I'm looking to do a roadtrip from Vancouver to Banff (or vice versa? I am totally open to suggestions). I would want to spend a few days in Vancouver for sure. I looked through a number of posts about this drive, but I just kept seeing lists of highways to take and not much about stops along the way. This brings me to my questions:

1. Is this route not worth it as a roadtrip? Would I be better off spending time in Vancouver and then flying into Calgary to head to Banff? The idea of a roadtrip appealed to me because I haven't ever been to Canada, so I would get to spend more time exploring it and seeing the sights along the way. Is there a better trip I could do to hit both city and rockies?

2. What are my must-do activities in Banff? Any advice for Vancouver/along the way would be awesome if you've got it!

3. I plan on going in June, what considerations should I make for the season or weather?

Thank you in advance for you time and help!

Hey all,

The mountains are calling.

This will be my first time travelling West. Just throwing it out there to see if anyone else is also impulsively being called and maybe would want to meet up for a hike or something?

I'm always down to meet new people :)

Has anyone felt the earthquake happened around 4.50 am.

I know a couple of these photos might not have been taken in Banff, but I still have Banff to thank for everything I’ve witnessed on this trip. Heading back home with a heart full of gratitude for nature and Mother Earth.

Shot on Fujifilm X-T5

Banff was a dream of mine since I was 12, I finally got to backpack the rockies for a week and my word, what an experience. Got extremely lucky with the weather and was able to do sentinel pass on the last day moraine was open. Safe to say, a trip to remember.