Staying in Banff National Park isn’t exactly cheap, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy its beauty for free. In this post, I summed up some of the best free ways of enjoying the town of Banff.
As a proud former Banffite, I can tell you a thing or two about free and fun things to do in town. When I lived in Banff, I didn’t earn enough money to afford many of the typical tourist activities, so I had to improvise and seek free or cheap activities. What these are? Keep reading to find out – you can do all but with without a car.
What Banff Activities Can You Do Without Money?
Enjoying the town of Banff without spending money basically comes down to this: what fun things can you do in town when you don’t have your wallet on you?
Hiking is the most obvious one. You can find lots of information about this subject on this site. That’s why I didn’t include them in this post. If you want to read about more extensive hiking possibilities near the town of Banff, I recommend reading the linked post below.
If you want to read more about easy hikes near the town of Banff, click the link.
In case you’re interested, I also wrote a post about hikes along the Icefields Parkway.
The hikes I did include in this post are relatively short(er) strolls through town that are beautiful and interesting.
These hikes comprise:
- The Bow River Trail
- A walk to the Banff Centre
- A walk on beautiful Tunnel Mountain Road
- A walk to the beautiful Old Banff Cemetery
Other free activities in Banff are:
- Having a barbecue on the Bow River
- Go swim at Cascade Ponds
- Visit the Banff Cascade of Time Garden
- Visit the Bow Falls Viewpoint
- Visit Vermilion Lakes
- Visit the Banff Hoodoos
- Take in the views at Surprise Corner
- Take in the views at Mount Norquay Lookout
Let’s dive in.
Stroll through Banff
The first three hiking options below aren’t necessarily ‘proper’ hikes but rather a pleasant stroll through the town of Banff. Ideal in case you have some time to spare or desire an easy activity without going far.
Because Banff’s location is so stunning, it’ll never take a long stroll to see beautiful nature. The walks I compiled are based upon my knowledge of the town as a former Banff resident.
Walk the Bow River Trail
This stroll takes you – what’s in a name – along the Bow River, right in the center of the town of Banff. Start at the intersection of Banff Avenue and Wolf Street and turn left (facing north) toward the Bow River. Just keep following Wolf Street. Once you’ve hit the path along the river, turn left.
The path takes you along the center of the town of Banff and offers you the stunning beauty of the Bow River, its surreal color, and the impressive Rockies in the background. Soon you’ll see the Louis Trono Gazebo in Banff’s Central Park.
Once you’ve taken a left turn, several wooden benches along the way allow you to take in the beauty calmly. You’ll continue toward the Banff Bridge, which crosses the river. Pass underneath and just keep following the Bow River.
You’ll soon reach an intersection that gives you three options. You can continue (straight) ahead to the trail’s end at Buffalo Street. A set of stairs indicates the trail’s end. From there, you can walk back into town (take a left turn).
You can return to town a bit earlier if you desire. For this, take a left turn at the intersection. It’ll also take you to Buffalo Street.
Your third option is to continue to the Banff Springs Hotel and the Bow Falls. For this, take a right turn. You’ll cross a pedestrian bridge providing stunning views, up and down the stream, and thus incredible Instagrammable material.
If you don’t feel like walking in the Banff Springs Hotel’s direction, at least walk onto the bridge.
Distance: 1.95 km (1.21 mi)
Trailhead: Intersection of Wolf Street and Bow Avenue
Duration: 20 -25 minutes
Walk to the Banff Centre
This is another very short walk you can easily do from the center of Banff, going to the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. But it requires a bit more effort. A short part of it involves a big flight of stairs. Especially on hot days, this route is nice because it provides a lot of shade.
The route takes you along Buffalo Street, straight from Banff Avenue. After about 300 meters on Buffalo Street, you’ll stumble upon the stunning Old Banff Cemetery. You can walk around it from the left or right side. Up to you.
The right side is the shortest route. It’s flat and at the end, you’ll find a big staircase leading straight up to the Banff Centre. If you go around it on the left side through Wolverine Street, you need to turn right at the end of the cemetery onto the Ken Madsen Path. It goes uphill at a convenient gradient until you reach the staircase.
I can imagine locals thinking there’s nothing too special about this route. Still, I’d advise you to give it a try. You’ll get a beautiful view over the town of Banff and the Bow Valley from the Banff Centre. You don’t have to walk far at all. It’s a delightful little stroll. I know because I used to do it daily (literally). Moreover, other viewpoints for the same view involve much more hiking.
Distance:
- A: 1.15 km (0.71 mi) via the right side of the cemetery
- B: 1.25 km (0.78 mi) via the Ken Madsen Path
Duration:
- A: 15 minutes (one way)
- B: 16 minutes (one way)
Trailhead: Intersection of Banff Avenue and Buffalo Street
Walk Tunnel Mountain Road
This walk leads you up Tunnel Mountain, edging the town of Banff. The road goes uphill from Otter Street, merging into Tunnel Mountain Road. There is a cycling and walking path on your left-hand side, giving you a view of suburban Banff. After about 1 kilometer (0.61 mi), you will find a staircase on your left side.
You’ll have a fantastic view of the majestic Cascade Mountain, at 2998 meters (9836 ft), dominantly towering above Banff. To continue the route, take the stairs. You’ll end up on a path that leads to Antelope Lane. This street is directly connected to Banff Avenue.
The route provides excellent views of the town of Banff, and you get to see the envy-evoking ways the locals live.
In general, it’s a lovely and leisurely stroll for a warm summer evening that’s not too demanding.
Distance: 2.72 km (1.69 mi)
Trailhead: Intersection of Banff Avenue and Wolf Street
Duration: 30 – 35 min
Visit the Old Banff Cemetery
There are cemeteries and then there’s the Old Banff cemetery. It is one of the most beautifully situated cemeteries in the world. That alone is a reason for visiting this place at 604 Buffalo Street. The graveyard, which opened in 1890, also represents a lot of history of the park’s and the town of Banff’s first days. A visit to the cemetery is like a step into Banff’s past.
‘Wild’ Bill Peyto is buried here. He was an early mountain guide and park warden in Banff. Tom Wilson and Jim Brewster too. They helped discover the park and build the town you’re now enjoying.
Their final resting place is a beautiful, serene place in the shadow provided by the old trees on the graveyard’s premises.
As Banff is very compact, getting there won’t be far, no matter what hotel, bed and breakfast or hostel you’re staying in.
Have a Barbecue on the Bow River
This is a simple yet very satisfying way of enjoying the park without spending money. Okay, that’s not entirely true. You’d need to bring your own food and drinks to the barbecue. But you need to eat and drink anyway.
The Bow River Barbecue Pit on Birch Avenue in Banff had two fire pits. It’s easy to find. Cross the bridge at the south end of Banff Avenue and then turn right. At the Indian Trading Post, immediately turn right again.
Follow the road and you’ll find the picnic area with fire pits on your right. I checked with Parks Canada: For this location, you don’t need a permit to barbecue.
There are some rules you need to abide by when barbecuing in the park:
- Making a campfire (barbecue) is allowed between 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.
- It is not permitted to light fires in just any location
- Fire is only allowed in metal fire rings or on cooking stoves
- Do not feed wildlife
- Use firewood but not dead wood, bark or branches
- Never leave your fire unattended
- Extinguish the fire completely before leaving the site (bring your own water bucket)
- Extinguish the fire with the soak, stir, soak method
If you want to read more about barbecuing in the park, I recommend reading the post about barbecuing in Banff.
Go Swim at Cascade Ponds or Johnson Lake
One of the best things you can do on a sweltering summer day is swimming at Cascade Ponds or Johnson Lake. While the lakes in the park are way too cold for swimming (see the post on swimming in Banff National Park) Cascade Ponds and Johnson Lake are a pleasant and satisfying exception.
Cascade Ponds is reasonably shallow, allowing the water to warm to pleasant temperatures in the summer. And because it’s shallow, it’s also a suitable place for children to play in the water.
Location Cascade Ponds: latitude: 51.212314; longitude: -115.532119K
Johnson Lake has a large sandy beach (larger than the one at Cascade Ponds) and a section where you can easily wade through the water. It’s also an excellent place for picnicking.
Location Johnson Lake: latitude: 51.1915; longitude: -115.4840.
Visit the Banff Cascade of Time Garden
This lush garden belongs to the Administration Building – the national park’s representation of the federal government – across the bridge over the Bow River. This Recognized Federal Heritage Building played a pivotal role in the development of Banff National Park.
You know the garden if you’ve ever seen a Banff postcard. This shot is a classic and you can easily recreate it yourself. It contains the front part of the garden looking down Banff Avenue toward the mighty Cascade Mountain.
The garden, called the Cascade of Time, isn’t visited much by tourists in Banff tourists because it’s ‘hidden’ behind the building. It’s a 4-acre park that was established in 1935.
It has more than 50,000 flowers, water features, gazebos, fountains, rock steps and pavilions. It flowers from late June until early September and is free to visit.
There are two entrances: one on the front of the Administration Building on Cave Avenue and one on the left side on Mountain Avenue.
Cascade of Time Garden
Address: Cave Avenue
Phone: +1 403 – 762 1550
Visit the Bow Falls Viewpoint
The Bow Falls is one of the must-sees near the town of Banff. It’s very touristic for a good reason. The view you get here is mesmerizing. Hear the water of the Bow River plunge down with a big roar and see it flow into the distance towards the mountains looming high above the river. Behind you, you’ll have a stunning view of the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel.
You can also hike up and stroll along the river, sit on the rocky shore and take in the beauty of this place, or explore the adjacent Banff Springs golf course.
There’s a parking place close to the river, but walking here from downtown Banff is also feasible. It’s not far and makes for a pleasant stroll with plenty of beauty to enjoy along the way. It’s approximately 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) and takes you about 18 minutes from the shopping section of Banff Avenue.
Visit Vermilion Lakes
The Vermilion Lakes just outside the town of Banff are a must-see for every first-time visitor to Banff. It’s a mere 8-minute walk from Banff Avenue and is sure to provide you with one of the most stunning views you’ve ever seen in your life. Guaranteed. No exaggeration.
So, make sure you bring your camera or telephone and sit on one of the docks in the lakes and enjoy the scenery. Tip: do it during sunrise or sunset to enjoy an even more spectacular view. You won’t be disappointed. There will be tourists here, of course, but generally, it’s not extremely busy.
If you want to know more about the best places to enjoy sunrise and sunset in the park, I highly recommend reading the post Banff by Sunrise and Sunset.
Take in the Views at Surprise Corner
This well-known tourist spot is well-known for a reason. The views from this location are absolutely worth it! A big staircase (but not too high) leads up to the viewpoint, offering a stunning view of the Banff Springs Hotel and the Rocky Mountains. This is a picture-perfect place, so make sure you bring your camera.
You can walk there, or take the car and park your car at the small parking lot that’s opposite the staircase on the other side of the road.
Take in the Views at the Norquay Lookout
Mount Norquay has a lovely vantage point known as the Green Spot. It’s an easy-to-reach grassy slope halfway up the road to the mountain’s ski resort on your right-hand side.
This lovely meadow allows you to look over the Bow Valley. You’ll get a view of Sulphur Mountain, Tunnel Mountain, Mount Rundle, the Bow River and the town of Banff. Generally, it’s not busy at all. If the weather’s good, why not have a picnic here?
Visit the Banff Hoodoos
You’ll love the Banff Hoodoos. This natural phenomenon involves desert-like eroded rock formations usually found in deserts, yet here they are in the mountains. The hoodoos provide a unique and pretty sight that justifies a visit.
Wildlife sightings on this trail are pretty common, including bears, so take bear spray with you. If you want to know more about bear spray, click the link to read more on this topic.
The hoodoos viewpoint is on Tunnel Mountain across the Tunnel Mountain campground. It is located out of town, so you probably want to go there by car or bike, although walking there is still an option if you don’t mind hiking approximately 4 kilometers (2.49 mi).
I also wrote a post on 9 free activities in Banff in Winter. Check it out!
