The Ultimate Guide for Banff and Jasper National Parks in 7 Days // AWAYWITHMARS

Banff and Jasper National Parks offer the perfect adventure through the Canadian Rockies. Get ready for lakes of the brightest blues and emeralds, filled with wildlife of all shapes and sizes, and set against a backdrop of towering icy mountains and glaciers.

It’s a bucket-list trip for anyone who loves the outdoors. Here’s the perfect 7-day itinerary for you to road trip through our favorite Canadian national parks!

Mt Rundle from Tunnel Mountain View Trail, Banff

First, a few logistics.

When to go: We went in early summer (mid-June), before the crowds got too hectic, and after most of the snow on the roads had melted. I’m sure Banff and Jasper are stunning in every season, but I was pretty happy with our choice. The roads were easy to drive, the weather was perfect for camping, and we had long summer days of daylight (5:30AM sunrises to 10PM sunsets).

How to get there: Fly into Calgary and rent a car for the quick 90-minute drive to Banff National Park.

Rental car note: If you don’t have primary insurance coverage on rental cars through your credit card, this might be the only time I recommend it. Our rental care insurance agent told us it’s common for rocks to crack the windshield and I assumed he was just trying to upsell us. Sure enough, it happened to us on our last day and we were so thankful our credit card had us insured.

How to get camping gear: If you are flying into Calgary like we did, you might want to rent camping gear when you arrive. We had a great experience renting from Rent-a-Tent and got everything we needed in one package.

Note: they don’t rent pillows or sleeping bags. We packed sleeping bags and pillowcases in our suitcases and picked up $4 pillows from the Calgary Walmart.

Day 1 & 2: Stay in Banff

From the town of Banff, you can easily explore a few of the top hiking spots, viewpoints, and lakes within a 15-30 minute drive. It’s a charming little mountain town with a main street for shopping and restaurants. Plus, the Bow River runs right alongside it for some great views.

Stay in an oTENTik at Two Jack Lake Campground if you can book it in time. They’re spacious canvas tents with log beds and stunning lakeside views of one of my favorite lakes in Banff.
Banff Campground is also a great option, where you’ll get a sneak peek at the breathtaking view from Tunnel Mountain on your way to the campground from Banff.
Canoe down Bow River to Vermilion Lakes if the weather’s nice!
Catch sunrise at Two Jake Lake to watch the sunlight spread across Mt. Rundle and reflecting on the water.
Wander the shores at Lake Minnewanka, one of the longest lakes of the Rockies.
Take the Mount Norquay open-air chairlift to the peak for insane views. If you’re into mountaineering, do the via ferrata (Italian for “iron road”) here which takes you on a guided route with suspension bridges, ladders, cable climbs, and more.
Hike Ha Ling Peak trail if you’re looking for a gorgeous summit (and a little bit of a challenge). It’s only 3.5 miles round trip, but you’re starting at 5400 ft in elevation and gaining another 2500 ft during the hike. Plus, a bit of scramble on loose rocks and scree at the end. You’ll end up right along the top of a ridge with crazy views on both sides.

Day 3 & 4: Explore Lake Louise and Moraine Lake in Banff

Lake Louise and Moraine Lake are on everyone’s list when it comes to Banff National Park, and they really don’t disappoint. Keep in mind that the tour buses do stop at both, and you will likely be fighting crowds with selfie sticks when you first arrive. Just walk a little bit further down the trail in order to find some peace and quiet.

For lodging, there’s a wide range of great lodges and hotels in Lake Louise. Lake Louise Campground is also a great camping option right outside of town

On the way to Lake Louise, stop at Johnston Canyon for waterfalls, canyons, and limestone cliffs. It’s all paved trails, stairs, and viewing platforms for a relatively easy walk. If you’re feeling adventurous, seek out the (not-so-secret anymore) canyon in the photo below.
Walk around Lake Louise, rent a canoe, or grab a bite to eat on the outdoor patio of Lakeview Lounge at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.
Moraine Lake is the little sister to Lake Louise, but with arguably even better views. It’s set in the Valley of the Ten Peaks, and your best view is from Rockpile Trail. You can hike around the lake or rent a canoe (which we did) to get away from the crowds!
For a longer hike, try the Lake Agnes Teahouse Trail or the Plain of Six Glaciers Trail.

Morant's Curve, Banff — Morant’s Curve, Banff

Day 5 & 6: Drive through Jasper on the Icefields Parkway

If you thought Banff was wild, then Jasper’s untouched wilderness will take your breath away. This drive is one of the most beautiful in the world, where every turn brings a different and unique landscape. If you’re driving in the morning, keep an eye out for bears (and other wildlife). They’ve been known to be particularly active and visible then.

Stop just off the side of the road at Bow Lake at the base of Bow Summit. You’ll get a glacier-fed lake, a glacier, and snow-covered mountains all in one vista.
Peyto Lake‘s overlook is a quick uphill hike to see the most unbelievable turquoise blue water (caused by glacial rock flour).
Camp at the Wapiti Campground right along the Athabasca River.
Walk on the Athabasca Glacier on the Columbia Icefields. The drive to the glacier on the Ice Explorer is an adventure on it’s own. Make sure to bring a bottle so you can collect some ice-cold glacier water to drink.
Visit Maligne Lake for its charming boathouse and cruise out to Spirit Island. You can also kayak and backcountry camp at Maligne Lake if you’re ready to paddle 2.5 to 8 miles each way.
Get your fill of misty waterfalls, deep canyons, and bridges over rushing rivers at Maligne Canyon, Sunwapta Falls, and Athabasca Falls.

Day 7: Stop in Yoho National Park on your way back to Banff

If you have time before you head back to Calgary, then check out Yoho National Park. It’s a lesser-known but equally beautiful park just to the west, and you’ll pass it on your drive back.

Make a quick stop at Emerald Lake if you haven’t gotten enough of gem-colored lakes. Grab a bite under one of the bright yellow umbrellas at Emerald Lake Lodge.
Check out another stunning waterfall at Takakkaw Falls
See where the powerful Kicking Horse River carved a Natural Bridge into the rock.