You know that phenomena that occurs once you are tuned into a new thing and you start seeing and hearing about it everywhere? Like, say you heard about Starbucks for the first time. Suddenly you notice a woman on the street carrying the mermaid cup. Then your coworker brings in Starbucks coffee for everyone in the office. The next day you hear a story on the news about the coffee chain. Someone else sits next to you on the bus wearing a Starbucks apron. You know what I am talking about, right? Well that is what happened for me with Banff National Park. I follow a lot of travel Instagram accounts and a few years ago I saw a picture of an incredibly blue lake. The lake was so blue it almost didn't look real (since it was Instagram I assumed there were some creative filters at play). A few weeks later one of my friends posted an album of their trip to Banff. Suddenly I saw things about Banff everywhere- social media, commercials, people discussing it and I knew it needed to be moved to the top of my Bucket List.
Austin actually found a great flight deal and tried to surprise me with a Spring Break trip to Banff. Being very naive about the climate of Western Canada in March, we both were very excited and began planning the trip. After a small amount of research, we quickly learned that, unless we wanted to snowshoe, this was not the best time of year to visit. Most of the roads leading to the top hikes would be shut down. Luckily (and sadly) we were able to cancel our March flights. We knew that Banff was still a top priority for us and, since the opportunity presented itself, we planned a trip for June. While it would still be cold, the roads would be open so we could visit the top sites.
I could easily have spent a month exploring the beauty of Western Canada. Before planning our trip I knew I wanted to visit Banff, but I did not realize there were actually four connected National Parks in that region. We spent a week visiting three parks: Banff, Jasper, and Yoho. It was challenging to narrow this list down, but below are my top 5 experiences from the trip.
Valley of the Five Lakes
Jasper National Park
This moderate 2.3 mile hike provides the perfect taste of Jasper National Park. The trail begins through an open flowery meadow and proceeds into an evergreen forest. Along the easy trail you will pass 5 lakes, each more beautiful than the last. The trail was very empty during our hike, which allowed us to peacefully connect to the beauty Canada had to offer. My highlight of this trail were the red Adirondak chairs placed near one of the lakes. These chairs were scattered around Jasper and offered a serene spot to sit and reflect. This is one of my must visit hikes in Jasper, and I think it is worth it to venture out of Banff for this trail.
Lake Agnes Tea House Hike
Banff National Park
Hiking to the historic Lake Agnes Tea House is a must-do experience in Banff. Hikers have been visiting this refuge since 1901, and the tradition continues to this day. Starting at the Lake Louise Shoreline Trail, hike 2.25 miles to the Tea House. Here you will be welcomed with hot drinks, snacks, and a patio complete with a breathtaking view of Lake Agnes. The staff spend most of the season at the Tea House and supplies are frequently flown in by helicopter. The cafe only takes cash, so pack your loonies and toonies before beginning your trek.
Emerald Lake
Yoho National Park
Yoho was a last minute addition to our Canadian Rockies trip, but I would highly recommend any traveler add this park to their Western Canada itinerary. Located about 45 minutes west of Lake Louise lies a lake that truly lives up to its colorful name. Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park is a stunning blue green color that has to be seen to be believed. We packed a picnic lunch and enjoy our sandwiches at one of the tables adjacent to the lake. After our lunch we explored the easy shoreline trail that surrounds the lake. In June there was still snow covering parts of this trail, so you might want to check trail conditions, especially if you are visiting in the off season. The Emerald Lake Lodge offers canoe rentals and the nearby Cilantro restaurant serves an assortment of dishes in the summer months. With so much to do and see at this lake, I think this is a must-do stop in Western Canada.
Icefields Parkway
Banff and Jasper National Parks
The 143 mile stretch that connects Banff and Jasper National Parks is essential to any Canadian Rockies trip. With numerous overlooks and sites along the way, you should budget at least half a day to fully experience this drive. During our trip we drove on this parkway a few times and each time we noticed something new. The views of the Rockies and lakes along this incredibly scenic parkway are breathtaking. Although I had looked at countless pictures before our trip, nothing compared to seeing the views from the Icefields in person. If you are going to be in the Canadian Rockies, make sure you give yourself ample time to enjoy this drive. You will not regret it!
Peyto Lake
Banff National Park
Stunning blue waters and snow-capped rocky mountains await you at the top of the Peyto Lake hike. While you can find sites with similar descriptions in others areas of the park, none of them compared to Peyto Lake for me. This was absolutely my favorite view that I saw in all of the Canadian Rockies. An easy 3.8 mile roundtrip hike is well worth the effort for this unbeatable view. Many tourists finish their hike early at the overlook encased by a wooden fence, but if you continue along the trail you will be rewarded with a less crowded and even more spectacular viewing area. If I was recommending a 1-day itinerary for Banff, I would plan the entire day around visiting this lake. This was hands-down the highlight of our Canadian Rockies trip.
Banff Half Marathon
Banff National Park
I know I said this would be a list of my top 5 experiences in Western Canada, but I wanted to add one bonus experience. On our last day in Banff we ran the Banff Half Marathon (there is also a full marathon and 10k option). So yes, it might have been a bit crazy to run 13.1 miles after a week of hiking, camping, and jeep-sleeping, but this ended up being one of my favorite races I have ever competed in. This was our first international race and at first it was a bit challenging to adjust to the kilometer markings along the course. However, this only made the race more interesting. The course was very flat and followed a path through the town of Banff, past Bow River and the Vermillion Lakes. This scenic course was a great way to see a different part of Banff. After the race we spent some time exploring the town of Banff (which includes a multitude of restaurants, bars, and shopping) before heading to Calgary for our final night in Canada.
Do you have a trip planned to the Canadian Rockies? If you have been, what is included in your top 5 list? Let me know in the comments below! Thanks for reading this post!
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