Banff Itinerary: How to Spend 7 Days in the Canadian Rockies

You’ve come to the right place if you’re looking for an adventure-filled Banff itinerary. I’ve been to the area four times, hiking over a hundred miles, photographing epic sights, and learning the ins and outs of the Banff area.

The Canadian Rockies are among the most inspiring and monumental places I’ve ever seen and laid eyes on. Driving down Highway 1, staring out at the majestic peaks on all sides, will take your breath away and truly leave you without words.

And we haven’t even gotten to the Icefields Parkway yet! It’s why I say that everyone needs to plan a trip to the Banff/Lake Louise area, and I believe this Banff itinerary is a great starting point for an incredible trip.

This Banff itinerary covers what to see and hike in a seven-day stretch, how to navigate the crowds, and some of the top hikes in the area. Buckle up; you’re in for epic views and a wonderful time.

Just to note, this is a hiking-filled itinerary. If you’re not a hiker, this might not be the best one for you.

Easy Booking: Expedia.com | Hotels.com | VRBO
Need Gear: Find it on REI.com
Find Awesome Tours: Viator.com or GetYourGuide.com
Follow on Instagram: @Alecoutside

Preparing for a trip to the Canadian Rockies

When should I plan a trip?

While winters in the Canadian Rockies are beautiful, it’s exclusively a place to go for winter sports. Your hiking and sightseeing will be limited; thus, I won’t focus on that in this article.

Summer and fall are the best times to visit Canada and maximize the views and potential. In summer, there is warmer weather and long days that go past 10 p.m., but it’s also more crowded.

Your weather can vary for fall, but crowds are fewer, prices are down from summer highs, and you get beautiful fall colors. But, timing fall can be hard to do.

You also have to contend with the new reality of climate change and Canadian wildfires, which seem to worsen yearly. In 2024, we saw the town of Jasper burn, something most would have believed unthinkable.

What Canadian holidays happen over the summer months?

Use this to help your planning so you don’t unknowingly plan a trip over a Canadian holiday weekend.

• Canada Day (July 1)
• Heritage Day (First Monday in August)
• Labour Day (First Monday in September)

Currency Exchange Rate

In early 2025, Canada is around 30% off. Every Canadian dollar is equal to 70 cents USD. So, Americans get a nice discount for heading north.

How should you get to the Canadian Rockies?

There are generally two ways to do your Banff itinerary: fly into Calgary and rent a car or camper van, or drive in from Vancouver, Seattle, or elsewhere in the USA. We drove in from Seattle for our week-long trip in June 2024, but in September 2024, I flew in and grabbed a camper van in Calgary.

It takes about 90 minutes to drive from Calgary to Banff. From Seattle, it takes 10-12 hours. And from Vancouver, expect 9-10 hours.

Moraine Lake Requires a Shuttle. So, too (sort of), for Lake Louise

Unless you plan to bike the road, you’ll need to buy a shuttle pass to visit Moraine Lake. They run these every day, but I would recommend booking these out a few days beforehand to ensure you get a seat.

You can also book an Alpine Start if you’re looking to watch the sunrise.

It’s $8 per person.

Protect wildlife, drive slowly

There is no need to drive fast in this area. Bears and other animals frequent the area, and it is paramount to drive slowly and stay aware to keep them safe and your car in one piece.

The elevation is 4,500+ feet

Most visitors likely live under 1,000 feet in elevation, meaning you will be more winded hiking and walking in the Banff area. To combat this, drink plenty of water, bring snacks, and rest when possible. The first few days will be more tiresome, and by the end, you’ll have adjusted to the altitude.

Planning a 7-Day Adventure Itinerary to Banff and the Canadian Rockies

Here’s how to map out an adventure-filled trip to the Banff region.

Note 1: When I say Banff, I mean the general Banff National Park region, which also encompasses Jasper National Park, Kananaskis Country, and Lake Louise.

Note 2: I would suggest Lake Louise/Moraine Lake on a weekday rather than a weekend.

Get into Banff Region: Day 1 of the Banff Itinerary

Arrive in the Banff area and settle in. Day 1’s are always hard when lining up a Banff itinerary, as I’m not sure when people are getting in. If you have a decent amount of time, Johnston Canyon is a lovely 2-4 mile walk and the drive is known for having wildlife.

If you’re looking for a challenging hike, East End of Rundle will be a butt burner but will get you some stunning views. Ha Ling Peak is another one in the area that’s good for a sunset. It’s also quite hard too.

If you want an easier sunset spot, consider Vermillion Lakes. Located in Banff, it is perfect for a quiet night with majestic views.

I would recommend finding lodging near Lake Louise to start the trip.

Moraine Lake and Lake Louise: Day 2

If you plan for an alpine start, you can park at Lake Louise ($37), but you’ll have parking all day. Then, you can explore Moraine Lake, hike Larch Valley/Sentinel Pass, and then hang out at Lake Louise for the rest of the day.

Yes, this could be a long day with 10+ miles if you want to, but it’s worth it.

If you don’t do the alpine start or arrive early in the morning at Lake Louise, you’ll have to park at Lake Louise Ski Resort and take a shuttle up.

Wherever you place this on your Banff itinerary, you’ll have an amazing day!

RELATED POST: Visiting Moraine Lake and Lake Louise

What to do at Moraine Lake:

• Watch the sunrise from the rock pile at Moraine Lake
• Or climb the Tower of Babel for sunrise (helmet required, very steep)
• Hike up to Larch Valley (moderate) and extend up to Sentinel Pass (Moderate-Hard)
• Hike to Consolation Lakes (Moderate)
• Moraine Lake Shoreline (Easy)
• Eiffel Lake (Moderate)
• Wenkchemna Pass (Hard)

What to do at Lake Louise:

• Walk the Lake Louise shoreline (Easy)
• Plain of Many Glaciers (Moderate)
• Lake Agnes (Moderate)
• Little Beehive (Hard)
• Big Beehive (Moderate)
• Fairview Lookout (Moderate)

Lodging Lake Louise

Drive the Icefields Parkway: Day 3

Fill up the tank and get cruising up and down the Icefields Parkway. I’d recommend staying a night in Jasper so you can drive the entire 145 miles and then check out Jasper National Park. For our day, we arrived in Jasper around 8 p.m. and headed to the brewery for dinner and drinks before checking into our hotel.

Top places to see (double check what areas are still affected by 2024 fire):

• Bow Lake
• Peyto Lake
• Columbia Icefield/Athabasca Glacier
• Sunwapta Falls
• Athabasca Falls
• Stutfield Glacier

Lodging Jasper

Jasper National Park: Day 4 of the Banff Itinerary

It’s time to explore Jasper! The fire hit some of the park, and Maligne Canyon has been closed. It’s TBD if it’ll be open for summer 2025. This is a beautiful drive, and keep your eyes open for wildlife as you head further into Maligne Lake.

What to do:

• Stop at Medicine Lake overlook (there might be bald eagles nesting along the road)
• Spirit Island Cruise
• Easy walk: Mary Schaeffer Loop
• Moderate: Maligne Lake Viewpoint
• Hard: Opal Peak

Then, sometime in the afternoon, head back down south on the Icefields Parkway towards Lake Louise/Banff. Make sure to grab some food in Jasper and fill up water and gas. Enjoy the drive and stop at places you didn’t get to on your way up.

Lodging: Lake Louise or Banff

Yoho National Park Day 5

Yoho National Park is the little brother to Banff and Jasper. It’s just as beautiful, but not as many people explore it. Its shining light is Lake O’Hara, which requires luck in the form of winning a bus lottery ticket/securing a camp spot, a lot of money to stay overnight at the lodge, or endurance to hike the 22-mile round trip.

Other places to see in the region that are remarkable, too. All of these can be driven to.

• Emerald Lake
• Wapta Falls
• Takakkaw Falls
• Natural Bridge

This slightly quieter day would allow you to visit the city of Banff and stay overnight before exploring Kananaskis Country.

Kananaskis Country: Day 6

It’s time to explore one of my favorite regions of the Canadian Rockies: Kananaskis Country. This rugged yet stunning region offers unbelievable hiking opportunities. Most of these hikes are challenging, as the steep valley slopes force you to gain elevation quickly.

There are two ways to get down here. One is on a dirt road that’s pretty decent, and the other is on the highway. Depending on your hike’s location, it might matter which one you take, but generally speaking, it’ll take you the same amount of time even though one is much shorter miles-wise.

Either way, anticipate about 45-60 minutes of driving from the Banff area. If you stay in Canmore, it’ll save you 20 minutes.

If you only do one day here, you probably will only choose one, though if you start early enough, you could get two in.

• Smutwood Peak
• Pocaterra Ridge
• Tent Ridge
• Read’s Tower
• Sarrail Ridge
• Burstall Pass

I will note that this area has more bear activity, so you definitely want to have bear spray on you while hiking.

Final Day on your Banff Itinerary: Day 7

Final day in the Canadian Rockies! Depending on when your flight heads out or when you need to drive back, you could check out Two Jack Lake or Lake Minnewanka. It’s just outside of Banff and has parking areas next to the lake.

Hanging out here is a nice way to soak up some final views without having to exert too much effort.

Lodging Availabilities during your Banff Itinerary

If you are looking for Banff region hotels, here are some options.

Solo/Younger Travelers: HI Lake Louise Hostel—I’ve stayed here twice, and it’s been awesome. It’s one of the best-located hostels, and for the price point, it’s super affordable!
HI Lake Louise Hostel – HI Banff Hostel
Mid-Range Options: Mountaineer Lodge – Deer Lodge – Lake Louise Inn
Luxury Options: Emerald Lake Lodge – Chateau Lake Louise – Baker Creek by Basecamp

Camping options in the region

There are many sites available for camping, but they can be quickly taken, especially on the weekends.

Learn more at Parks Canada and Kananaskis Country Camping.

More photos of the Canadian Rockies

Book fun tours in the area

If you want some tours or activities to include on your Banff itinerary, click here. There are private tours, helicopter rides, wildlife sightseeing, and so much more!

FAQ When Visiting Banff

Will I see a bear when I visit the Canadian Rockies?

Nothing is guaranteed when visiting the area, but if you go earlier in the season, there will be a higher likelihood. We saw three bears on our June trip to Banff and Jasper, which was pretty cool! I wish I could give you a Banff itinerary that guarantees wildlife, but that’s what makes encounters so special, as you never know when it’ll happen.

How many days should I plan for this trip?

The minimum number of days I’d spend in this area is three days, but obviously, the more days, the better in order to see more sights. If you did only three days, let’s say, the Icefields Parkway has to be at the top of your list, as well as Lake Louise and Moraine Lake.

More time in Banff or Jasper?

I’ve only spent one night in Jasper, so I’m not the best person to chat about this. I do know there is A LOT to do in the surrounding areas. That said, the Banff/Lake Louise region has more lodging and is more accessible.

But this might be a good place to explore if you’re looking for more solitude and out-of-the-box hiking. You can even visit Mt Robson Provincial Park and see that area.

Can I find budget/inexpensive lodging?

During the prime travel months, it is going to be challenging to find hotels in the Banff/Canmore/Lake Louise area that are not $200+ a night. The hostels are a great way to travel for less money, but you give up some luxuries like having your own room. But if you’re okay with that, it’s a perfect way to go.

Wrapping up the Banff Itinerary

Visiting Banff National Park and the Canadian Rockies is honestly the apex of travel in North America. They’re accessible, beautiful, and offer amenities without being entirely out in the wild, which is why I recommend this area to everyone.

You’ll find yourself lost in the mountains’ serenity and longing to return again.

Until next time, adventurers, stay safe.

Follow on social media: TikTok || Instagram || Facebook || Newsletter | YouTube