A Perfect 7 Day Itinerary for Canmore, Banff and beyond!

The Canadian Rockies are vast and every stop is stunning, so in order to get the best of your vacation, plan to spend 7 days in this area at a minimum. If you want to visit Jasper, add an extra 4 days. Of course, you can do it in less time and it will still be great but the abundance of nature definitely requires time to stop and breathe and isn’t that what a vacation is all about.

Day 1: Calgary to Canmore

Flying into Calgary airport is the first step, the Rockies are located approximately 1 hour west of the airport but the views start almost right away. If you have a late flight, it may be worth spending the night in a Calgary hotel and enjoy the drive in daylight as it is a special experience to get closer to the huge structures that appear once you exit the city.

Day 2-3: Canmore

Canmore is the first town in the Rockies and although not as well known as Banff and Jasper, it really has lots to offer. Bordering Banff National Park and Kananaskis Country, it offers an array of adventure activities and feels more off the beaten track than the National Park trails.

I highly recommend this as your first stop and spend at least two nights in Canmore. It is less touristy than Banff or Jasper and the mountain views are spectacular from all directions.

The other reason we love Canmore is that it has a very authentic Canadian feel, the majority of restaurant and cafes are locally owned and are top class. The “touristy” shops are generally Canadian produced crafts and souvenirs. Canmore also has a great selection of local breweries and distilleries which allow a behind the scenes experience and of course lots of tasting.

Accommodation in Canmore is also a little different than the National Parks. Vacation condos have exploded here and this gives great options for guests, from pent houses to studio condos. This type of accommodation is not as common in Banff and Jasper so a good reason to check it out if you like to stay in condo style accommodation rather than hotels.

The hiking and biking trail systems around Canmore are well maintained and there are lots of options in terms of different lengths and experience levels. The Canmore Nordic Centre is packed full of incredible mountain bike trails in the summer. There is also a great biking trail to Banff called the legacy trial which is a good test of your fitness. However, renting an e-bike will defiantly eliminate the hard work and you can still enjoy the views!

Kananaskis country is a provincial park located beside Canmore. Alberta Parks does a fabulous job of maintaining a multitude of trails of varying length and elevation. This area is off the beaten track with little cell signal so do some research before you go. Canadian Rockies Experience offer a great Kananaskis mini tour which will give you a good introduction to this stunning area. This private tour includes luxury transportation, a short hike that is suitable for most and a picnic that is anything but ordinary. We recommend the afternoon timeslot as it allows for a quieter experience, often with a beautiful sunset on the way home. Click here for more details

Day 4: Banff

Banff townsite was built with the sole purpose of attracting tourists. Therefore, it is beautifully planned with great views of Cascade Mountain from the downtown. Streets are named after the local animals and an array of cute shops and eateries line Banff Avenue.

Must see spots around Banff Townsite include:

The Minnewanka loop – this short drive has multiple stunning spots, Cascade ponds, Two Jack Lake, Johnson Lake and Lake Minnewanka. There are many picnic options at these locations and opportunities to hike along lake shores.

The Norquay Lookout – a great elevated spot to get a view of Banff Town, the big horn sheep seem to like the view also and you will often find them hanging out in the meadow. As with all wildlife, they are wild, do not feed them and keep your distance.

Vermillion Lakes – if you want that iconic photo of the lakes with the huge structure that is Rundle mountain in the background, this is the spot. Sunrise and sunset are stunning times to visit this location. Canadian Rockies Experience does a great sunrise tour in this exact location. Click here for more details

Tunnel Mountain drive has some great viewpoints, the hoodoos and surprise corner where you get a great view of the iconic Banff Springs Hotel. If you pack your hiking boots, you will see the trailhead for Tunnel Mountain, this is a great opportunity to reach a summit without too much hard work or time.

Day 5: Yoho and Kootenay National Park

Get out of Banff and explore the other national parks, first stop is Kootenay National Park. This is a small park located in British Columbia. Our top stop here is Marble Canyon, a short hike which will give you stunning views of this impressive narrow and deep canyon.

A short drive West, takes you to Yoho National Park. Our two favorite stops here are Emerald Lake and Takkakaw falls. Emerald lake is a stunning lake where you can rent canoes or hike around the lake. Takkakaw falls is one of the highest waterfalls in Canada, when it is in full flow, you can get to feel the spray from the thundering waterfall, a refreshing experience on those hot days. Canadian Rockies Experience does a great Lakes, Trains and Canyons Experience that brings you to all these location. Click here for more details

Day 6: Lake Louise and Moraine Lake

No visit to the Rockies is complete without stops at Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. This can be a busy spot in the summer so try to reach this location early in the morning or in the evening. Lake Louise is iconic and full of history, give yourself time to walk along the shoreline. Moraine lake is definitely a must see but with very limited parking is getting very frustrating for the public to access it. Canadian Rockies Experience offers a Lake Louise Twilight Tour which gives access to both Moraine Lake and Lake Louise in the evening when the crowds have left. Click here for more details.

I hope this has given you some great options to make your summer vacation in the Rockies the perfect escape. Explore Canmore are the official destination management organization for Canmore and have a wealth of information. Click Here to explore more. Banff Lake Louise Tourism will give you all the information you need for the National Parks. Click Here for Information

Author Information:

Laura is an Interpretive Guides Association (I.G.A.) Professional Guide. Laura is passionate about guiding visitors around the Rockies and making sure they experience all it has to offer.