We'll be in Banff for 3 days and then traveling to Jasper where we'll have 2 days. Our group is 6 adults and 9 kids ages 8-18 y.o., plus a 3 year old (which complicates things).

We're planning to do a private raft with Wild Water Adventures (the one that allows 8 yos; 3 yo will stay back w/ mom) one day while we're in Banff. Also planning to do a Glacier private tour with Ice Walks on our travel day from Banff to Jasper.

Looking for other suggestions that would work for our group. We'll have different levels of hikers so I'm thinking of things like Lake Louise, w/ half of our group just going to the lake and the other half hiking up to the Tea House. Not sure what my chances are for getting shuttle passes for 16, knowing it'll have to be two separate reservations; any advice there is greatly appreciated. Also intrigued by Yoho and that area if it's less crowded and easier to navigate with a big group. I always get great advice from here and appreciate everyone's input!

2 ...

Report Post

Posted by Do Stop Believing

Member since Aug 2022

6 posts

Posted on 5/20/25 at 3:45 pm to Tigers13

Beautiful part of the world. Some personal suggestions/highlights:

Canmore: cool town about 20min before Banff; the Bow River Loop is a beautiful, flat, and very easy 1.5 mile loop; you could likely do this with your whole crew and then get a meal in the town center.

Banff (in town): Tunnel Mountain Summit is a cool, beautiful hike that you can walk to from downtown; definitely moderate/maybe somewhat strenuous for the kids and elder flatlanders. Very accessible, could do this with part of your group and let others explore town.

Banff National Park: highly recommend Peyto Lake (easy for everyone); Mistaya Canyon Waterfall was also really cool and pretty quick/easy.

Visiting Lake Louise with a big group will be challenging, even getting shuttle tickets in advance can be tough. My advice would be to only take those that are willing to get there early in the morning (like by 7AM at the latest), should be able to park a car at that time. Leave the others in Banff for the day.

Yoho is great, but Banff will provide plenty of good stuff to fill your 3 days there.

0 ...

Report Post

Posted by highcotton2

Alabama

Member since Feb 2010

10320 posts

Posted on 5/21/25 at 1:09 pm to Tigers13

I would definitely go to Moraine Lake. I enjoyed it more than Lake Louis. The hike to the Tea House was not that great in my opinion. Johnston Canyon had some pretty cool views. Be sure to get there early before the tour buses. Not fun with crowds. We got there at daylight and hiked the whole way in and saw 2 people. On the way back out about halfway back it was solid line of people.