Two Day Trip

Lake Minnewanka: 8 km one way.

The trailhead at the Minnewanka Day Use area will take you on this lovely hike where you can camp at Aylmer Pass Junction. Explore Alymer Pass and Alymer Lookout where the topography is splendid in the late spring and early fall months.

Paradise Valley: 9.7 km one way with an elevation gain of 291 m.

Take the trailhead off the Moraine Lake access road to enjoy this magnificent site. Take your camping gear and explore the area as you like. An option for your return is to rent a vehicle or pick-up at Moraine Lake to drive through Larch Valley and Sentinel Pass.

Egypt Lake: 12.4 km one way with an elevation gain of 655 m.

Start your trip from the gondola base at the Sunshine Village ski area and continue to the Egypt Lake campsite or trail shelter. With its many places to explore, be sure to take advantage of the two days to really get your fill.

Glacier Lake: 8.9 km one way with an elevation gain of 210 m.

Taking the trail from the trailhead north of Saskatchewan Crossing on the Icefields Parkway, you will arrive at a campsite along one of the largest backcountry lakes in Banff National Park.

Twin Lakes: 8.7 km one way with an elevation gain of 605 m.

This area is reachable by two trails. One heads out from the Vista Lake viewpoint off Highway 93 and the other begins at Altrude Creek on the Trans Canada Highway. The second route is less strenuous than the first, but both offer magnificent views of the surrounding terrain. Enjoy the campsite at Twin Lakes.

Elk Lake: 11.5 km one way with an elevation gain of 610 m.

The trail leads out from the Mt. Norquay ski area, with the first few km taking you through a densely forested area. You will find the campsite out in the open sub-alpine meadows of Elk Pass, approximately 2 km from Elk Lake.

Fish Lakes: 14.8 km one way with an elevation gain of 760 m.

Take the trailhead from Mosquito Creek to climb over the North Molar Pass where you will hike through some of the most beautiful and expansive alpine meadows in Banff National Park. Enjoy the campsite located at Fish Lakes.

Note: Some two day trips can be done in a single day. Pick up a copy of Park Canada’s “Drives and Walks” brochure at any Park Visitor Centre for details.

Three Day Trips

Bryant Creek: 45 km + with an elevation gain of 455 m.

Take the trailhead at Mt. Shark located in Kananaskis Country, Alberta. The trail will arrive at a meadow campsite, or trail shelter which is an ideal base camp. From here, take your day trips to Wonder, Allenby, or Assiniboine Passes. You can also take two nights at McBride’s Camp, Bryant Creek Trail Shelter, or Marvel Lake.

Note: Don’t be surprised by the noise of helicopters that tend to fly over the area.

Elk Summit-Cascade Mountain Loop: 35.8 km with an elevation gain of 610 m.

This trailhead begins at the Upper Bankhead picnic area on the Lake Minnewanka road. Here you will start with a hike up the old Cascade fire road and then, at Stony Creek, you will head over Elk Summit to Elk Lake. The trail exits at the Mt. Norquay Ski area. Find your campsite at Stony Creek for the first night and Elk Lake Summit for the second night.

Palliser Pass: 54.4 km with an elevation gain of 400 m.

This trip will take you to the upper reaches of the Spray River. Take the Mt. Shark trailhead in Kananaskis Country, Alberta to hike through the sub-alpine meadows to Palliser Pass at the farthest end of Banff National Park. Take the Palliser Pass as a day hike and return by the same route to Mr. Shark. Camp at Burstall for both nights.

Mystic Pass: 36.8 km with an elevation gain of 395 m.

Take the trailhead at Mt. Norquay ski area. The beginning of the trail follows the waters of Forty Mile creek. On your second day of hiking, you will pass Mystic Lake and then up to the open alpine country of Mystic Pass. Once you’ve arrived at the Johnston Creek trail, the hike is an easy one out to Johnston Canyon on the Bow Valley Parkway. On the way you will see the famed Ink Pots. Spend the first night at the campsite in Mystic Junction and the second night at Larry’s Camp.

Skoki Loop: 34.3 km with an elevation gain of 1,136 m.

You will find this trailhead next to the Lake Louise ski area at Fish Creek. The trip begins with a 4 km hike up the Temple access road. You will then climb over Boulder Pass to find Ptarmigan Lake before descending to Baker Lake. On your second day you can enjoy Fossil Mountain and the historic Skoki Lodge before you arrive at Merlin Meadows. Climb Deception Pass and then rejoin the access trail at Ptarmigan Lake. Camp at Baker Lake for your first night and Merlin Meadows for the second.

Four Day Trips

Assiniboine Loop: 55 km.

This trail starts and ends at the Mt. Shark trailhead in Kananaskis Country, Alberta. Here you will travel through two parks and two provinces. Mt. Shark is the sixth highest mountain in the Canadian Rockies, and a truly breathtaking sight to behold. Camp at McBride’s Camp on the first night, Lake Magog campground in Mt. Assiniboine Provincial Park on the second night (you will have to pay a separate B.C. Parks fee on-site), and Marvel Lake for the third night.

Sunshine – Assiniboine – Bryant Creek: 55.7 km.

Mt. Assiniboine can be reached from the Sunshine Village ski area as you take the alpine meadows located at Citadel Pass. The 6.5 km walk is a beautiful one, but if you prefer to bypass the hike, you can take the privately operated shuttle bus up the limited access ski area road. The trip ends at Bryant Creek at the Mt. Shark trailhead in Kananaskis Country, Alberta. Camp out for the first night at Porcupine campground in Mt. Assiniboine Provincial Park, for the second night enjoy the Lake Magog campground (where you will pay a separate fee on-site), and for the third night, camp at Marvel Lake.

Sunshine – Vista Lake: 40.4 km.

With its high country trails that can be hiked or ridden by privately run shuttle bus, you can travel from the Sunshine Village ski area to the Vista Lake viewpoint on Highway 93. En route, take time to explore the Egypt Lake area. Then climb over Gibbon Pass to follow a meandering trail past several beautiful lakes before you descend back to the highway. Camp at Egypt Lake for your first night, Shadow Lake for your second, and Twin Lakes for your third.

Five Days or more

Sawback Trail: 73.5 km.

Here you will travel over three breathtaking mountain passes as you traverse much of Banff National Park. The trail links Banff townsite with Lake Louise and trailheads are found at both the Mt. Norquay and the Lake Louise ski areas. You will have many camping options on this trip. Take a week to fully enjoy all that the area has to offer. Camping can be found at Mystic Junction for the first night, Larry’s Camp for the second, Johnston Creek of Luellen Lake for the third, Badger Pass for the forth. If you continue to stay on, camp at Wildflower Creek for the fifth night, and Baker Lake for the sixth.

Mystic Pass – Flint’s Park – Badger Pass: 76.4 km.

This trip should be enjoyed over a seven day or more period of time, where your journey will begin and end at Johnston’s Canyon. Hike through the sub-alpine meadowlands of Flint’s Park and then climb over Mystic and Badger Passes. Camp on your first night at Larry’s Camp, the second at Mystic Valley, the third at Flint’s Park, the forth at Block Lakes Junction, the fifth at Badger Pass Junction, the sixth at Johnston Creek, and the seventh at Larry’s Camp.

Note: Badger Pass is often blocked by a snow cornice well into the summer months.

Whenever I am in Canada I try to visit Banff with its population of 7,500 and its stunning placement inside a ring of majestic mountains. There are so many things to do in Banff, not the least of which is eating in some of the over 200 restaurants! Banff is inside a national park, which regulates the township’s ability to expand, keeping it quaint and livable. Only two hours ride from the Calgary Airport, Banff is a snap to reach once you’ve landed.

One drawback for me is during the peak months of July and August when the shops and attractions are flooded with visitors, as bespeaks a good resort town. The winter months can also be busy with skiers who find that Banff’s easy access to the slopes at Norquay, Sunshine, and Lake Louise make it an ideal base camp. You can get a Tri-Area Lift ticket for all three of these great ski locations and enjoy yourself with a variety of downhill challenges. If you don’t ski, winter is still great in this town, as there are many other types of activities to participate in.

Accommodations are easy to find and prices vary, so you are sure to find something that fits your budget.

Note to potential traveler: If you are interested in hiking the west end areas of Banff National Park, such as Paradise Valley, Beehives, Lake Agnes, Larch Valley, and the Plain of Six Glaciers, realize that you will be a bit far if you are staying in the Banff townsite, which is located at the east end of Banff National Park.

Canmore, Alberta

Located in the Front Range of the Canadian Rockies, Canmore is just outside the national park and as such, provides reasonably priced accommodations. The town has about 10,000 inhabitants and is a bit less touristy than the neighboring Banff townsite. Only 1 ¾ drive from Calgary Airport, Canmore is easy to reach and well worth the stay.

Note to potential traveler: During the winter months ski shuttle buses are fewer in Canmore than in Banff townsite. You will also be farther from prime scenery and hiking trails that are prevalent around Lake Louise. If you have rented a car, this should be no problem as all areas are highly accessible during summer, spring, and autumn when the roads are safe and clear.

For more information on Canmore, please go to CanmoreKananaskis.com.

Golden, British Columbia

Normally Golden would make an excellent base when taking trips to Banff and Lake Louise, but as of now (almost 2008), the Trans-Canada Highway just east of the town continues to go through major construction. As this is the only road connecting Golden to Lake Louise, the highway is closed for 30 minutes to an hour each day from April to October. The work is planned to continue for another few years, but once it’s completed, the route will be much more efficient with four lanes instead of the two lanes that precipitously hold to steep canyon walls. If you don’t mind the road delays, then Golden is an ideal town to enjoy.

For accommodations in Golden, please click here.

Jasper, Alberta

Jasper is a great little mountain resort town, with a population around 4,500. It is actually my favorite town in the Canadian Rockies, with amazing scenery, great things to do, and the sensation that you can get to know everyone if you lived there for a few months. The only problem I have with Jasper is that, like Banff townsite, it can become very crowded during July and August and you need to make reservations for a place to stay well in advance. However because Jasper is 4 hours from Edmonton International Airport and 5 ½ hours from Calgary Airport, many vacationers choose to go to Banff, which is closer. So, although there are many tourists, Jasper is still more quiet than Banff townsite in the summer.

For more information on Jasper, please go to JasperNationalPark.com.

Lake Louise, Alberta

Lake Louise is a very special resort village, with a population of only 1,000 people. Classified as a “settlement,” this village lacks a school, hospital, or church, but it does have what I consider one of the most important elements for a good travel destination: great restaurants! Besides the good eating, Lake Louise is situated right in the heart of some of the most breathtaking scenery in the Canadian Rockies. There are trails galore, and to take a hike in spring, summer, or fall, is to fall in love with the sublimity of nature’s gifts. In the winter, there are great outdoor opportunities, such as skiing, skating, riding a horse-drawn sleigh, or my personal favorite, going for a dog sled ride. Accommodations are more expensive than in other areas within the Canadian Rockies, and many people find the village too quiet during the winter months. But if you are not daunted by either of these factors, Lake Louise is idyllic. Plus the village is only 2 ¾ hours from Calgary Airport, 3 hours from Jasper, and a 45 minute drive from Banff townsite.
For more information on Lake Louise, please go to DiscoverLakeLouise.com.

Spray River Fire Road

Take your bike out to the Banff Springs Hotel and then onto the old Spray River fire road. This eight mile loop brings you to the Banff Springs Golf Course and then back into town. You can continue around the golf course road for an extra 45 minutes where you may be lucky enough to spot elk on the way.

Sundance Canyon

This is a lovely ride through the woods to the Cave and Basin National Historic Site and then along Sundance Road to Sundance Canyon. The ride is about 6 miles one way. You can park your bike once you arrive at the canyon and take an easy hike around the area. Then hop on your bike and head back to town.

Tunnel Mountain Campground

If you pop up Buffalo Street to Surprise Corner and then along the Tunnel Mountain/Hoodoos Trail, you will come out near the Tunnel Mountain Campground. The ride will take you through beautiful wildflower meadows where you can stop for a picnic or just relax amongst nature’s beauty.

Vermilion Lakes Drive

This drive takes you out about 6 miles to an area where you can see waterfowl and often deer and elk. Don’t forget to look up to see the Bald Eagles and their nests between First and Second Vermilion Lakes.

Tips for making your mountain bike travel in Banff National Park safe and responsible:

• Stay within the range of your fitness level. Remember you’re not in a competition, but rather here to enjoy the flora and fauna and to make the most of your vacation travel. Go slow!
• Forget about making a fashion statement and think about safety. Wear your helmet!
• Keep your eye out for wildlife. It’s best to cycle with at least one other person. Make some noise every now and then to let the animals know you’re around. They are shy and will want to run from the road if they know you’re coming. Slow down when approaching blind spots to avoid possible collisions.
• Keep your eye out for drivers. Often vacationers are so busy looking at the sights that they miss cyclists riding nearby. Ride your bike defensively and keep your reflexes honed for the unexpected.

For more Banff tourism information and information on mountain biking in Banff National Park, please go to CanadianRockies.net.