Thinking about spending a couple weeks in Banff this Summer. Much to do there during non-ski season?

I haven't been there in the summer, but summer is supposed to be peak season. The town may be a bit crowded, but the park outside of town won't be. Note that Banff is still one of the most popular honeymoon destination for the Japanese.

I was there in late summer six or seven years ago. Lots of wonderful hiking, glaciers, and gorgeous lakes. Then hit the hot springs at the end of the day. Also a fine golf course there, but I didn't get to play it.

I happened to be there during their music festival, and it made the visit that much more fun (afro-cubanismo jazz that year).

Plan to drive on north and spend some time in Jasper--a littler more wild and rugged, with elk grazing in people's yards in the evening. On the way, stop in at Lake Louise and spend a few hours exploring. Also, a ride up on top of the Columbia glacier is pretty amazing.

I signed up for a couple of raft trips up there, as well. Neither was particularly challenging, but it was a wonderful way to enjoy some spectacular scenery.

If you're an outdoors type, it's well worth doing!

JP

I spent two weeks there during July of 2000. We had a wonderful time - hiking, canoeing, hiking, checking out the glacier, hiking, watching the aniamls, hiking, going to outdoor plays, hiking, horseback riding, hiking.

Did I mention we did some hiking?

Anyway ... there are some great hikes - going to see the "ink pots" was a fun one. If you're interested, drop me an email and I'll send you those we liked the most. Canoeing right there out of town was good too. We brought our lunch, secured oursevles in some water grasses and ate 50 yards from an eagle who just seemed to watch us as much as we did him.

We booked early (three months or so out) and had difficulty getting the places we wanted on the days we wanted. We moved around a bit - stayed just out of downtown Banff for five nights (Buffalo Mountain Lodge), and then at some cabins (Johnston Canyon Resort)I really enjoyed on the river on the ink pot trail. That was a great spot - really peaceful - but if you stay there be sure to get an end cabin on the river and away from the highway or it won't be so peaceful. Johnston Canyon is off the Bow Valley Parkway, which you will always find animals on - just look for all the cars pulled off the road.

You will see lots of animals - it was amazing. Elk, bear, longhorn sheep, owls, eagles, etc. It's a very beautiful place. I thought Lake Louise was overrated, but there's another lake - Moraine Lake - that we hiked at that looked great to stay on (the lodge there was booked).

The color of the lakes in summer will astound you - some of the brightest turquoise blue I've ever seen.

Have fun and feel free to email me if I can help in any way.

I would second Moraine Lake. Couldn't remember the name, so I didn't try to describe it. Beautiful, beautiful place!

I live in Calgary.....you'll fly thru here on your way out there.

Banff is extraordinarily commercialized now and the locals here avoid it like the plague.

After you've seen it go to Jasper....3 hours north. You'll like it a lot more as it's not one giant money sucking trap, but with the equivalent beauty of Banff and a fantastic drive up highway 93.

Have a great trip.

If you take the drive from Baanf to Jasper (which is spectacular!) there is a narrated audio tape that is timed. It gives history, flora, fauna, folk tales, geography, etc. We loved listening to it.

If you are interested and can't locate one, email me and I will look at the address on the label.

driving from Banff to Jasper is the best you can do on earth.
moraine lake is awesome!

see it all!
natural beauty!

Can I go against the grain and say I preferred Banff to Jasper? Banff is more contained, and since we didn't have a car, life was easier for us there. Scenery is fantastic, (I believe someone may have mentioned the hiking ). We also did a half day rafting - not too scary for first timers. And then we went for a massage at the hot springs so we wouldn't be too sore the next morning. If you are feeling active, walk up Sulphur Mountain, if not cable car up and walk down . The drive to Jasper is fantastic, Moraine Lake v nice, but disappointed by Lake Louise (although it was snowing at the time). Cave and basin (just out of Banff) v nice too. Eating places good, shopping good.

Enjoy the hiking and horseback riding around Lake Louise. Prettiest lake I've ever seen.

grab a mountain bike and ride the loop around Lake Minnewanka just outside of the Banff townsite. Great single track and incredible views. Get a full-sus... the roots are rather bumpy.

Agree fully with what everyone has said. In fact, Banff is more busy during the summer than during ski season (learned that in my Tourism class last semester).

1. Hot Springs
2. Sulfur Mountain
3. Lake Minniwanka
4. Lake Moraine
5. Lake Louise
6. Jasper
7. Columbia Icefields
8. Public gardens
9. Bow falls
10.Golf at the Banff Springs course (your ball flies 10-20yds further because of the altitude)
11.Backpacking to Skoki Lodge

I think that Banff is more fun in the summer than in the winter, personally.

From the easyInternet cafe in NYC.

O

How are the crowds there today? Clearly the best public internet locale.

Wasn't Banff the STD capital of Canada in the mid-90's? I recall reading that in a newspaper article on a trip to Calgary & Banff several years ago.

SDF_Traveler


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"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- Ben Franklin

[This message has been edited by SDF_Traveler (edited 06-11-2003).]

Banff is nice, but I also second the Lake Moraine and Jasper posts.

I took my favorite horseback riding trip from Canmore (just outside the park near Banff) - it was overnight (they had cabins in the mountain so it wasn't totally roughing it.

Enjoy your trip, its really beautiful country.