Banff National Park has been my backyard almost my entire life.
I definitely took the moutains, the views and the lakes for granted when I was younger, but have embraced the day hiking in the area over the past few years.
Here are a few hikes you can explore in the area:
- C Level Cirque
- Troll Falls
- Copper Lake and Smith Lake
- Saddleback Pass
- Johnston Canyon and the Ink Pots
For hiking in Banff, make sure:
- You have purchased a national park pass
- You have bearspray with you and have been told how to use it
- Take layers for warmth – the wind and snow can be brutal at the tops of the hikes or when you break the tree line
- Have back up plans in case the parking at your hike of choice is full
- Bring snacks and water (place all trash in your backpack during your hike)
Banff National Park has an unlimited amount of hikes available. These are a few around the area to try!
C Level Cirque
This one starts near Lake Minnewanka which is a location in itself to visit. My sister and I were attacked by mosquitos on this hike, so bring bugspray as almost the entire hike is in the trees. We thought it was going to come out to a more obvious viewpoint, but it ended a bit abruptly and the trail beyond the viewpoint we made it to was unlcear so we stopped here.
Troll Falls
This is a family friendly hike that most people can go on. There are multiple falls to see and visit, and you can make it a bit of your own adventure with how far in you want to walk. The parking does get busy in the summer months!
Copper Lake and Smith Lake
Just off of highway 93, this trail is at the beginning of Twin Falls and Shadow Lake – there is ample parking for this reason. The first section to Copper Lake is flat and short, and the second section up to the ridge above Smith Lake does have most of the hike’s elevation. You can walk down to the lakeshore we chose to turn back at the ridge.
Saddleback Pass (via Paradise Trail)
Starting in the Lake Louise parking lot means you have to plan accordingly! We went in the afternoon in October but anytime in the summer, the parking lot will be busy. Instead of going right at the lake, go left – towards the Fairview lookout and then keep going! This hike would’ve been packed with larches but we were a couple weeks late (check out other larch hikes for Larch Madness). A steady incline to the pass, and you can continue up Saddle Mountain (left) or Fairview Mountain (right) – we did neither!
Johnston Canyon and the Ink Pots
A classic hike – summer or winter! If you can somehow see it dueing both seasons, then you are in luck. It gets crazy busy because the walk has a platform for most of it along the canyon, some elevation and dirt/rock paths. The viewpoints of the lower falls turns into a lineup in the summer, so keep going to the upper falls. Past that are the Ink Pots which are small ponds that can be really pretty in the summertime.
The Ink Pots
You can also add on another fe kilometers to get to the Ink Pots just past Johnston Canyon. I don’t have the Strava route recorded but if you plan to have time for this, then I definitely recommend! There is more elevation, but less crowds as most people stop at the canyon.
