I get it; the title to this post might be a bit controversial, but let me put one thing straight: I LOVE Banff National Park. Still, Canada’s oldest and most visited national park probably isn’t for everyone. Let’s have a look at the downsides of the park.
Before you read on, please take everything I’ve written below with a grain of salt. The park is definitely worth a visit, though there is some truth to what you’ll find below. Even Banff National Park has its downfalls.
Why is Banff so Popular?
Before you read about the downsides of Banff, it’s good to explain why Banff is so popular. First and foremost, it’s Canada’s oldest national park, and for a good reason.
The Rocky Mountains create an awe-inspiring backdrop wherever you go, and the lakes with their emerald green colors are just breathtaking. You need to see it with your own eyes to believe it. The abundance of wildlife also makes tourists flock in droves.
The hiking and (backcountry) camping opportunities seem endless and there are many other outdoor opportunities, both in summer and winter (did I mention the three ski areas within the park’s borders?).
Onto the town of Banff: its stunning backdrop and facilities are unparalleled. No wonder more than 4 million people visit the park every year.
Alright, now let’s get on with why you might want to avoid Banff National Park.
1. Everything’s Overpriced
I’m sure many previous visitors can relate to this one. Everything is expensive in Banff. From groceries to gas, tours and everything in between. I mean, taking the Banff Gondola sets you back a whopping CAD 55. It takes you about 8 minutes to reach the top of Sulphur Mountain and then 8 minutes back…
But the most significant expenses for the average tourist in the park is – I’m sure you guessed it – lodging. Of course prices vary a lot over the course of a year. I’m talking summer prices here and, to a lesser extent, winter prices. In the middle of the high season, count on paying at least CAD 250 for an average room in a somewhat rundown hotel that feels like it hasn’t been updated for more than 20 years. Some even have a motel vibe, yet you pay CAD 250 or more for one night.
If that’s a bit too much for you, you could resort to spending your nights in one of the hostels in the park. But sharing a room with strangers is not everyone’s cup of tea. You’re likely to share it with 3 or 5 others in summer. Yes, a lot cheaper, but still a lot of money for spending the night in these circumstances.
I get it, hotels in a mountain town will always be more expensive than in a city, due to the lack of space. Add to this a massive influx of tourists and you’ll get the prices mentioned above, so it’s all perfectly explainable. Yet its downside is that a visit to the park more and more becomes something for the happy few.
2. Traffic Jams
The park is big enough to drive around freely, but in the two most prominent locations of the park, the communities of Banff and Lake Louise, you’re likely to get stuck in a traffic jam.
The town of Banff has always been bustling with cars, especially on Banff Avenue. The situation hasn’t improved in recent years (although covid caused a slight drop in traffic numbers).
As of 17 May 2022, the 100 and 200 blocks of Banff’s main street and a part of Caribou Street will be closed for summer, creating congestion in the surrounding streets. This applies for the summers of 2022 and 2023.
The town of Banff writes on its website that this decision was taken ‘to create a vibrant outdoor destination for visitors and residents’. Even without the closure of (a part of) Banff Avenue, congestion is inevitable.
According to the town of Banff’s director of engineering, ‘the road system is finite and it’s beyond capacity’, as rmotoday.com cited him.
Lake Louise is also known for congestion and traffic jams. The 15-minute drive from Lake Louise village to the lake can take up to two hours during peak times. The overflow parking next to the Trans-Canada Highway has taken away most of the pain, although the village can still be swamped.
3. Parking in the Town of Banff
As you can expect (after having read the above), parking in the town of Banff can be a hassle in summer, to put it mildly. You can’t – rightfully so – park your car in the residential areas of town (your vehicle will be towed).
To provide for tourists, the town of Banff constructed a designated 500-stall parking lot near the train station. There you can park for free for up to nine hours. A free shuttle bus takes you to town. The walk downtown takes about 8 minutes.
4. Bears
The abundance of wildlife in Banff National Park is a giant tourist magnet. Especially the presence of bears attracts tourists. Seeing those cuddly, friendly-looking mammals in the wild face to face seems like an extraordinary experience. You bet it is.
The downside to it is that these beautiful creatures are potentially lethal, meaning that you have to be alert for bears all the time when you’re out in the park. To add to the dismay: despite them weighing between 135 kg (300 lbs) and 545 kg (1200 lbs), they are remarkably fast: Bears can reach a speed of 56 (!) km/h (35 mph).
Make sure you follow Park Canada’s guidelines about encountering bears. If you decide to visit the park anyway, I recommend reading the post 19 Things You Should Know About Bear Spray.
5. Overcrowded Tourist Attractions
This might be the biggest downfall of the park. You probably want to travel to Banff because of the famous Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Peyto Lake and Johnston Canyon. You’re not the only one…
These places attract So. Many. People. The huge number of tourists at these places underpin the park’s beauty but take away the joy of experiencing these places somewhat.
Sure, there’s more than enough space and beauty in the park, but these destinations are popular for a reason. They are NOT a tourist trap. They are just crazy beautiful, so people flock there to see them with their own eyes.
Lake Louise and Moraine Lake have become so popular that the parking stalls at these lakes proved insufficient. That’s why Parks Canada was forced to construct a significant overflow parking lot near the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1). There, tourists can hop on a bus to these lakes.
While this is a solution, it proves to be a bit of a hassle. There’s a reason why public transport to big tourist attractions in the park doesn’t work very well. People just like the convenience of driving to their destination and not taking public transportation to get anywhere. Especially on vacation.
6. Mosquitoes
Some people say the number of mosquitoes in Banff is okay or not too bad. I want to add to that: ‘depending on the year and the time of the year’.
I experienced summers in Banff when the numbers of mosquitoes were just unbearable. Probably the nuisance these biters are causing varies from person to person.
In any case, I wouldn’t expect not to be bothered by mossies unless you visit the park in the period between October and May.
7. Mediocre Housing Situation for Temporary Workers
Every year, Banff’s and Lake Louise’s employers need a vast workforce of temporary workers. Yet, the payment of their staff is bad or mediocre at best, especially when you count in the cost of living in Banff, which is way higher than in other places in Alberta.
Many employers have staff accommodation, which seems nice, but it is the only way to live in Banff. Privately renting a house, apartment or even a room is way too expensive. Still, with staff accommodation, you only get a room in most cases. Bathroom and kitchen you share with your co-workers. And don’t be surprised when you need to share your room with a co-worker as well.
Now, that’s when you’re lucky, because not all employers provide staff accommodation. Good luck finding an affordable apartment or room with a mediocre salary in an extremely expensive town.
If you want to know more about the ins and outs of staff accommodation, check out the post The Ultimate Guide to Staff Accommodation in Banff and Lake Louise.
Alright, done with the rant. I LOVE Banff. It’s just good to know the above. If you are aware of it, accepting the way things are might be just a bit easier. So you can enjoy your holidays in Banff. Because of course you shouldn’t avoid the park. It’s way too beautiful not to explore it at least once in your life!
Of course I also wrote a post why you SHOULD visit the park. It lists the 10 reasons why you should vacation in Banff.
Going to Banff? Check out the post that lists the 15 things to avoid in Banff to have an unforgettable holiday.