The fact that Banff National Park is one of the most beautiful places on earth has one drawback. It’s so busy in high season that enjoying the park in peace and quiet is often out of the question. Fortunately, there are ways to avoid the crowds. Here are eight handy tips.
Sure, the downside of the crowds applies to all tourist attractions and areas. The paradox is that when you visit the park, you are part of the ‘problem’ yourself. Nevertheless you would like to see why Banff evokes so many superlatives among people who have been there.
So you just have to go there, just like the millions of others who flock to Banff National Park every year.
It could be one of the reasons to avoid Banff, but hold on.
The popularity of Banff National Park is substantiated by the fact that it is the second most visited national park in North America. In 2020, 4.12 million people visited Banff. Only the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (North Carolina) in the United States attracted more visitors that year (12.1 million).
Don’t despair, the park is more than big enough to avoid the hordes of tourists and enjoy the peace and quiet of nature. By comparison, Banff National Park is slightly larger than the U.S. state of Delaware, with an area of 6,641 km2 (2,564 sq mi). In any case, Banff National Park is much larger than the vast majority of national parks in North America.
Well, let’s establish what the busiest locations in the park are first, so you know where to expect hordes of tourists. Then read the tips below.
The most crowded locations in Banff National Park:
- Banff Town
- Banff Gondola
- Cave and Basin National Historic Site
- Tunnel Mountain
- Bow Falls
- Johnston Canyon
- Lake Louise
- Moraine Lake
- Peyto Lake
- Lake Minnewanka
- Two Jack Lake
Now you know this, let’s find out how to avoid crowds in Banff and see the top attractions in relative peace.
1. Do What Almost No One Does: Get Up Early
Admittedly, this tip is obvious, but it works. Not only will it help you find a parking spot at Johnston Canyon, Lake Louise, or Moraine Lake, it will also allow you to enjoy those places in peace. And you have a much better chance of encountering wildlife. Yes, also bears.
Especially the Bow Valley Parkway (Highway 1A) and the Icefields Parkway (Highway 93) are quiet in the early hours around sunrise and wildlife is more likely to venture onto or near the road. It makes for the best experience imaginable in these places.
2. Make a Picnic Breakfast for a Change
Make a picnic breakfast in stead of a picnic lunch if you don’t feel like the hustle and bustle of public places. You can get bread, baguettes, and pastries at a bakery in Banff or Lake Louise.
Find a meadow, park or lake, and a special picnic in peace is guaranteed. Again, mainly because of the earlier time of the day, you may encounter wildlife.
Beware of the weather. Even in the middle of high season it can be pretty chilly in the morning. So check the weather forecast in advance. Oh, and bring a warm sweater or jacket just to be sure, because the weather can change quickly in the mountains.
Bakeries in Banff:
- The Uprising Bake Shop + Espresso Bar, 202 Banff Avenue
- Wild Flour Bakery, 211 Bear Street
- JK Bakery Café, 229 Bear Street
Bakeries in Lake Louise:
- The Guide’s Pantry, 111 Lake Louise Drive
- Laggan’s 101 Village Road, Building B
Good locations for a picnic breakfast without running into too many people:
Lake Minnewanka. This large lake is a fifteen-minute drive away from Banff. Although it is popular for fishing and boating, you can easily find a quiet spot along the water without having to walk too far. Early in the morning, there’s not much going on at the lake.
The Sundance Trail along the Bow River. The trail is an extension of the Cave and Basin. Rent a bike one day in advance (for example at Banff Cycle) and bring your picnic gear in a backpack. The trail is paved, and you’ll pass charming, quiet spots along the Bow River where you can picnic in peace.
You can walk the accessible Sundance Canyon Trail right after your picnic if you feel like it. It starts at the end of the paved trail and you can easily park your bike there. The path is usually very busy, but it is not so bad in the morning.
3. Use the Back Alley of Banff Avenue
This is perhaps the most valuable tip if you’re spending several days in the town of Banff. In high season Banff Avenue is chockablock with tourists.
If you do not feel like shuffling along Banff Avenue, there is a very simple solution: use the back alley. I mean the passage behind the stores on the west side of the street (on your left-hand side when you look at Cascade Mountain. it’s the mountain that towers above Banff at the end of Banff Avenue).
Yes, it sometimes smells foul because of garbage containers and the various kitchens with their drains in the alley. And yes, it doesn’t look too friendly, but you don’t have to be afraid of dangerous situations.
Most importantly, hardly anyone walks there. So you can walk at a pleasant pace to a store or restaurant, or to your car, without being bothered at all by other tourists.
4. Do a Lesser-Known Hike
Especially around the town of Banff, Johnston Canyon, Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, and Peyto Lake, hiking trails can be very crowded because they are in the park’s busiest part.
Sure those hikes are worthwhile, often because you get fantastic views of the park’s most famous places. But there are many where you will meet very few people, so you can enjoy nature in peace.
Many dozens of trails lend themselves perfectly to this. Around the town of Banff the most eye-catching hikes are perhaps the ones to the top of Cascade Mountain and Rundle Mountain. You could even start from Banff Avenue, though I don’t recommend it. These mountains may seem close, but I know from my own experience that this is deceptive…
Cascade Mountain, in particular, is a memorable hike. It is not very easy, and you need about half a day for it. During the hike, you’ll have views of the mountains on the backside of this iconic mountain that towers above Banff at the end of Banff Avenue.
Sure, you will run into people, but the trail is certainly not crowded, and once you’ve reached the so-called amphitheatre at the back, it can sometimes seem like you’re alone at the world. Again, the chances of encountering wildlife are pretty good.
Not too far below the top you climb via the front of the mountain to the summit. There you’ll have a spectacular view of Banff and the surrounding area.
NOTE: This trip is not without danger. There is only one relatively safe route to the top. Other options seem faster but they are a lot more dangerous. That’s why you’ll find a sign in the amphitheatre clearly indicating the safest route. The other routes are also indicated, as are the number of deaths on these routes…
Even on the ‘right’ route, you have to be careful. Especially just below the top. In the last dozens of meters, you’ll encounter a scramble. That means clambering up over loose gravel. Sometimes you need hands and feet to keep going, so be careful.
Anyway: this hike is highly recommended. It will keep you busy for a while without bumping into too many people.
Be Prepared
If you are going to hike on less touristy trails, make sure you are well prepared. In many cases, you will not have cell phone coverage in Banff National Park.
In addition, make sure you take enough food and drinks with you. Especially if you go hiking to the top of mountains like Cascade and Rundle Mountain. These types of hikes are (sometimes very) strenuous and last long. Also, don’t forget to bring warm clothing. On the top of a mountain it can get very cold, especially later in the afternoon. And encountering eternal snow is no exception.
In addition, you must know sunse time. Take this into account when planning your trip. Once the sun goes down, the temperature in the mountains drops quickly. You also want to avoid having to find your way back to civilization at dusk or in the dark.
5. Avoid the Busiest Summer Days and Long Weekends
Most people want to visit Banff National Park during peak season because of the weather. If you want to avoid the biggest crowds, it’s wise to plan your vacation just before or after the tourist peak. The park’s busiest weeks are the last week of July and the first week of August.
In addition, it’s good to take into account holidays and long weekends. Canada has many, and during long weekends many Canadians from Canmore and the Calgary region visit Banff.
In the summer there are the following long holidays:
- Canada Day on July 1 (if this day falls on a long weekend, you can count on even more crowds)
- Heritage Day (first Monday in August)
- Labour Day (first Monday in September)
It’s good to know that weekdays during peak season are usually just a little less crowded than weekends, when Canadians from the region also visit the park.
Want some ideas about having fun in the town of Banff without spending a penny? Then I recommend reading the post about fun free things to do in Banff.
6. Visit Banff out of Season
Indeed, this tip, too, is obvious. But that doesn’t make it less accurate. However, it is advisable to take the long winter in the Rockies in consideration. Famous lakes such as Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, and Peyto Lake are frozen until early June.
After that, you can enjoy these lakes’ famous emerald green colors. In addition, the temperature in June can already rise considerably and there are no big crowds yet. It makes June an excellent month to visit the park..
Another good month to visit the park is September. During this month the lakes are not yet frozen, the most significant hordes of tourists have already left and the temperatures are usually still pretty good. With a bit of luck you can even experience a hot Indian summer. Furthermore, you can still go hiking in this period. Though you will have to dress a little warmer because it is quite a bit colder on the flanks of a mountain than in the middle of the summer.
7. Book Accommodation in Banff’s Periphery
Sure, a hotel in the middle of Banff Avenue has its advantages and charms. The same goes for a room at the Banff Springs Hotel or the Château Lake Louise. Those who want to avoid the hustle and bustle are better off in a hotel, apartment or bed and breakfast outside the center. The further away, the fewer people, simple as that. You might also save a little on the price, but don’t expect too much. Banff National Park is just very expensive.
Another possibility is to book accommodation outside the park, such as in Canmore, Harvie Heights, or Dead Man’s Flats. It’s guaranteed to be a lot quieter there (especially in Harvie Heights and Dead Man’s Flats), and if you have a car, it’s not a problem at all. From Canmore, you can get to Banff in 25 minutes.
Are you visiting the park with your family? Check the post about Banff for families.
8. Leave the Park and Explore the Area
This tip seems contradictory. I get it, you came to Banff National Park for a reason, so you want to see the park. Banff is also more than big enough to keep you occupied for weeks. But the immediate surroundings of the park are also well worth exploring.
You can easily spend a day in Canmore, for example. The town is only 25 kilometers (15.43 mi) from Banff. There’s plenty to do and see in the town itself, but also just outside it. You can do beautiful hikes like on the flanks of the iconic Three Sisters. Or visit the Nordic Centre, the old Olympic Park. The 1988 Winter Olympics (Calgary) biathlon and cross-country skiing events were held here.
Canmore itself is also quite touristy, but it doesn’t come close to the crowds you’ll find on Banff Avenue. Therefore, you can take a relatively quiet stroll through the center and have lunch or dinner somewhere in one of the many bars and restaurants.
Other possibilities are a visit to Kananaskis Country and Kootenay and Yoho National Park, just across the provincial border in British Columbia. All three are less than an hour’s drive from Banff and are generally not as touristy as Banff National Park. And they are just as beautiful.
You can combine escaping the crowds in the park by coming early (or late at night) with stunning views. Just go for the sunrise or sunset at a pretty location in Banff. Click the link to read more about it.
