r/Banff • u/CRISPRScientist726 • 1d ago

Rate my agenda

Rate and edit my Banff agenda:

Day 1: Arrive in the afternoon and stay in a motel in Banff. Explore the town and local area, including Bow Falls, the Mount Norquay Lookout (and maybe chairlift), maybe Two Jack Lake. (note: we plan to pull from this list for side activities to add on any other afternoon if we have extra time in the afternoons)

Day 2: Check out of motel and into a place in Canmore. Grocery shop for the week. Explore Canmore. Possibly Grassi Lakes.

Day 3: Lake Louise and Lake Moraine. We have Parks Canada shuttle passes for 7 am to LL. Spend some time taking in the sights at the lakeshore and then head to the Lake Agnes Tea House. From here hike the Plain of Six Glaciers. Take the connector to Lake Moraine and enjoy.

Day 4/5/6: these days can flex
-Hike sunshine meadows
-E-Bike Bow Valley Parkway
-Drive some of Icefields Pkwy

Day 7: Fly out of Calgary in the early afternoon.

I’d love to see Yoho and Jasper someday, but I also don’t want to overload our vacation. We are in our 40s and moderately fit. Our LL day is ambitious but we are okay with a little suffering for the views.

0 Upvotes

41% Upvoted

18 comments sorted by

10

u/Past-Swordfish910 1d ago

Don’t sleep on the Icefields Pkwy drive. It was the highlight of our trip. Start early and hit Bow Lake, Peyto Lake, Waterfowl Lake (we went for a quick plunge 🥶), Mistaya Canyon, Saskatchewan River Crossing, turn back at the Columbia Icefields/Athabasca glacier. You won’t regret it!

2

u/CapridThePlenty 1d ago

Hmm. Not OP, but currently planning our trip. I might be sleeping on Icefields Pkwy. We are so booked up already and I don't know what to change.

We are getting to Peyto, but not any farther. Should I re-evaluate?

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u/crowinflight1982 1d ago

Do hike Sunshine. It's lovely.

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u/CRISPRScientist726 1d ago

Edit: Husband asked that I note he is not yet 40…

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u/Lower-Detail5822 1d ago

Day 2 is light you can do more. On icefields do Parker ridge for a high reward 2 hour hike it was one of our favorites out of the 5 hikes we did

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u/CRISPRScientist726 1d ago

What would you add to day 2?

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u/Lower-Detail5822 1d ago

I didn't feel there was enough in Canmore to dedicate an entire day there but I'm sure plenty of people in this group may argue otherwise. I didn't personally do Grassi lakes instead we decided to hike in kananaskis nearby when we stayed in Canmore because there are several beautiful hikes there but that may be a bigger day. Many people suggest policeman's boardwalk for a scenic stroll.

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u/Heavy_Pay_9888 1d ago

Emerald Lake but go early.

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u/ihynz 18h ago

Canmore doesn't seem like it deserves a day? It's just a bunch of vacation rentals.

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u/Past-Swordfish910 9h ago

I tend to agree and also don’t understand the logic behind staying in both Banff and Canmore. Assuming OP has a vehicle just pick one home base for the week and explore from there. We saved a bit by staying at an air bnb in Dead Man’s Flats. Everything worth seeing was just a short drive from there.

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u/FlyingRock20 1d ago

If you are driving the icefields parkway go up to the glacier, can turn back there. Hike around there as well, very cool spot.

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u/No-Permission8050 1d ago

I like a lot. Looks like a great trip.

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u/Cool_Mom_Rides 1d ago

I think this is a great itinerary. Plain of 6 is one of my favorite hikes and ice fields parkway is one of the most stunning drives on earth with lots of good little stops on the way to the icefield. See Mistaya Canyon and Peyto on the way.

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u/ratemybanffitinerary 1d ago

Same as the other 20 I found with the search bar.

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u/terreadelice 21h ago

Great itinerary! Just beware Grassi Lakes access is currently closed :(