LAKES GALORE IN BANFF, ALBERTA
What a great way to end the summer. This was part of a week-long trip with my friends to Seattle, Washington and Banff National Park. We spent two days inside Banff National Park but I would suggest dedicating at least three full days inside the park if you would like to explore more. We went end of July, beginning of August which is peak season in Banff and also the “warmest” time of the year (highs of 50-60 degrees). I had an amazing time at Banff and I’ll definitely be planning another trip there soon. Here’s my 3-2-1 guide to exploring the Canadian Rockies.
3 THINGS TO DO
Lake Louise
One of the coolest things about Lake Louise besides the clear, serene, turquoise water is the Lake Agnes Trail (4.7 miles) that leads up to the Lake Agnes Tea House. This is one of the toughest hikes I’ve ever done. It is a very steep hike so be prepared to run out of breath the minute you start. The views are totally worth it and knowing that there was a cup of hot chocolate at the top with my name on it made the hike a tad bit easier. The Lake Agnes Tea House offers a variety of cafe goodies. Be sure to read up on the history of the tea house which is provided on the menu.
Mount Norquay Chairlift and Peyto Lake
With an elevation of up to 7,000 ft, a chairlift at Mount Norquay is a great way to get a scenic view of the Canadian Rockies. We booked our charlift with Discover Banff Tours and scheduled our lift first thing in the morning at 9 am so yay to no crowds and no wait. This is a popular area to spot some wildlife so don’t be surprised if you see a grizzly bear while on the chairlift.
After our chairlift, we set out to the famous Peyto Lake, another glacier-fed lake in the Canadian Rockies. For a great view of the lake, take the easy 1.7 mile hike to the Peyto Lake Panorama Overlook. For an even better, less crowded view keep walking east for about 0.2 miles. You won’t regret it.
Canoeing at Moraine Lake
Out of the three glacier-fed lakes I visited in Banff, Moraine Lake was my favorite. This was a perfect first time canoeing experience. We didn’t plan to canoe at Moraine Lake, but the when the opportunity presented itself, we jumped on board. Canoe rentals are available to book with Moraine Lake Lodge on a first-come first-serve basis. The cost is $120 CAD plus tax per canoe for one hour and each canoe can accommodate up to 3 people. Canoeing along Moraine Lake or any lake at Banff is a must-do. Hands-down best experience ever!
2 PLACES TO EAT
Banff is a resort town located inside Banff National Park and there are plenty of shops and restaurants in this area. Check out Park Distillery Restaurant and Bar while exploring the town. This is a perfect place to get a good meal after a long day of exploring in the park or shopping around town.
While exploring Calgary, I ate dinner at Heaven Restaurant. This is a super cute and cozy cafe that offers gluten-free Venezuelan food. A Canada trip is not perfect unless you have some poutine and right down the street within walking distance from Heaven Restaurant is The Big Cheese Poutinerie.
1 PLACE TO STAY
I spent three nights at Hotel Elan, a luxury boutique hotel in Uptown Calgary, Alberta. I loved my stay at Hotel Elan because it was very convenient to the lively 17th Avenue. There are numerous shops and restaurants all within walking distance in this area.
