Anna Banff National Park is an incredible bucket-list destination and it’s no surprise that so many tourists flock to this dreamy mountain getaway every year.
The town of Banff, is the home-base and epicenter for many voyages to Banff National Park. It’s such a cute mountain village with astounding scenery, fantastic restaurants and unique points of interest.
I was blown-away by Banff National Park, and I hope everyone gets a chance to experience this unforgettable destination. I wrote this travel guide to help you plan a perfect trip with these top-recommendations for what to do in the Town of Banff.
Related Posts: How to Visit Lake Moraine.
Tunnel Mountain Summit Hike
Tunnel mountain is one of the smaller mountains in the area and the trailhead is easily accessible from the town of Banff. There is a small parking lot at the trailhead on Tunnel Mountain drive, but it can fill up. Park at the train station instead (IT’S FREE) and walk to the lower trailhead located on St. Julien road.
This was the first trail we did, and it’s not long or rugged, just 2.7 miles, 860 feet of elevation gain. The Tunnel Mountain hike helped us acclimate to the terrain and elevation. The trail offers great views of the town, the Fairmont hotel, the golf course, and Mt Rundle.
Bow Falls scenic trail to the Bow Falls Rapids
The Bow Falls trail head can be picked up at the end of Banff Ave near Cascade Gardens. It’s an easy, flat trail that follows the chilly blue river to a set of cascading rapids. There are some stairs and benches sprinkled along the way for plenty of opportunities to relax, enjoy the scenery or enjoy a picnic lunch.
Admire Mount Rundle
Mount Rundle is a Banff Icon. It’s ridge line is razor sharp and looms over the city and surrounding mountains. It’s majestic and impressive. There is a great viewpoint of Mount Rundle off of Highway 1, going south right before the exit for Banff.
I know a ‘highway turnout’ doesn’t sound like it should be recommended as a top sight to see, but I was floored every time we passed it and I’m glad we finally took a break to admire Mount Rundle from the viewpoint.
Banff Cave and Basin
The Cave and Basin is located outside of the downtown area and is a site of historical importance- it is considered the birthplace of the town and national park!
This is an underground thermal spring, discovered when the trans Canadian railway was being built. It’s located outside of the downtown area.
You can visit the museum and go underground to see the hot spring and cave for $9 CAD
Banff Upper Hot Springs and Sulphur Mountain
Banff Upper Hot Springs are located on the nearby Sulphur Mountain. You can gain entry to this natural outdoor hot spring for $17.50 CAD for adults (prices decrease for seniors and youth), and even rent a towel/swimsuit if needed.
It’s open until 10pm, (entry stops by 9:30). They don’t take reservations and tickets need to be purchased at the site. The temps vary seasonally, and fall between a min of 81 degrees Fin the summer and rise to 116 degrees F in the winter. I highly recommend planning a trip to the Upper Hot Springs to relax after a strenuous day of hiking.
Check out Lake Minnewanka
Lake Minnewanka is glacier fed lake is larger than the big names: Moraine and Louise, is located about 10 min drive from the town of Banff. The name is derived from the Nakoda term for “lake of spirits”. An ironic translation, as there is a flooded town beneath the lake.
Minnewanka Landing was a a thriving resort town in the late 1800’s, it even had a log cabin hotel – a log hotel, called the Beach House. The village was in use until 1912, when a dam was built in favor of hydroelectric power. The remains of the town, well preserved by the frigid waters, can be visited by scuba diving.
Other popular lake activities: lake cruise, canoeing, biking and picnicking.
Check out Cascade Gardens and Cascade Ponds
Cascade Gardens, located at the top of Banff Ave and in the shadow of Cascade mountain, this lovely garden is easy to miss. Its tucked away behind the fairytale worthy parks administration building offer an enchanting enclave to inspire Thomas Kincade himself. Wander the meandering stone path to a secret garden bursting with flowers, romantic gazebos, and gurgling ponds. Open admission (it’s free!!).
Cascade ponds– This area is another hidden gem just outside of downtown, its a serene spot to enjoy a picnic or BBQ while admiring the reflections of the Rockies in glassy calm waters.
Plenty of photo ops around the wooden footbridges, yellowing birch trees (in the fall), and looming mountains.
Visit around sunset and stay for a little bonfire. Cascade ponds has fire pits, as long as you use wood purchased from inside the park.
What to eat in the Town of Banff
2 iconic Canadian treats are beaver tails and poutine. It would be a tragedy if you leave without trying these.
Beaver tails are a Canada’s answer to fried dough and is reminiscent of American carnival treats. It’s a yeast dough, pulled into the rough shape a beaver tail, deep fried to crispy and slathered with toppings like Nutella, ice cream, or fruit.
They’re approximately 1 million calories and could power a semi. It likely takes several years off your life expectancy, but I don’t see why that should dissuade you.
Similar warnings can be made about poutine, and again, should be ignored. Poutine is a traditional Canadian French fry based dish with gravy and cheese curds. It originated in Quebec and it’s Canada’s eloquent and elevated answer to cheese fries.
Where to eat in the Town of Banff
Where should you go? Banff Poutine, Banff Ave Brewing, and even Beavertails is a recommended spot for getting poutine.
Where should you not go? Aardvark Pizza and Subs, with a reputation declining so fast we heard the locals whispering about it in the streets. I actually feel bad about writing that, but I feel like it’s valuable advice- there’s too much great food here to afford a disappointing meal.
Three bears brewing. This place was recommended by a local specifically for their pizza, but can’t you get pizza any where? Not like this. This restaurant was amazing and had a great beer selection. You must try the elk and kale pizza (with homage dough cold fermented for 72 hours) and Alberta Bison ribs with a pomegranate glaze. I’m writing this post a whole month after returning from Banff and I can recall precisely what we ordered because it was very memorable.
Banff Ave Brewing: A local brewery with rotating discounted meals. The food was decent, but the prices were amazing- large portions for half price! The beer selection includes creative brews and many tried and true options. The venue has a big seating area upstairs with a small patio overlooking the eponymous Banff Ave. Honestly, the staff was awesome and we chatted with our servers at length about life in Banff.
Banff Grizzly house– A well-known Banff restaurant specializing in steak and Fondue
Wild flour bakery and coffee shops- This is artisanal shop bakes their bread fresh every morning!
Banff National Park is epic. To be honest, I never really thought I’d be able to make the trip. Then one day, I found a cheap flight, and decided, why not? And I am so glad that I finally got to experience this travel bucket-list destination. I hope this inspires you to make travel plans to visit Banff and enjoy it as much as I did. Thank you for reading 🙂 and if you are planning a trip to Banff, I’d love to hear about it- drop a comment below.
