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2 open days in Banff

Posted on 3/4/25 at 9:20 pm
Posted by The Donald
Member since Jun 2013
414 posts
Posted on 3/4/25 at 9:20 pm
Flying to Calgary and driving to Banff in June. After getting to Banff my wife and I will have 2 full days with nothing planned so far. After those 2 days, we’re spending 4 days at the fairmont on a work rewards trip.
What should we do on the 2 open days? We’re staying in downtown Banff at the Moxy for the 3 nights before staying at the fairmont for 4 nights.
Thanks!
Posted by lsugerberbaby
baton rouge
Member since Mar 2008
2954 posts
Posted on 3/5/25 at 8:38 am to
Lake Louise --> Mirror Lake --> Lake Agnes Tea House
Moraine Lake --> Larch Valley --> Sentinel Pass --> Mount Temple
Johnson Canyon --> Ink Pots

That's if I only had two days.
Posted by The Donald
Member since Jun 2013
414 posts
Posted on 3/6/25 at 8:21 am to
You would do all these things in 2 days or that’s how you’d rank them?
Thanks!
Posted by AUFANATL
Member since Dec 2007
4622 posts
Posted on 3/6/25 at 11:50 am to

A little confused by your itinerary. Will you have free time during the four days you are staying at the Fairmont for work?

If so, I would use that to explore immediate local points of interest like Lake Louise, Johnston Canyon, etc. and use the full free days before to move further out - exploring the Icefields Parkway or doing a long hike, etc.

Posted by lsugerberbaby
baton rouge
Member since Mar 2008
2954 posts
Posted on 3/6/25 at 1:48 pm to
I enjoy more strenuous hikes, so for me:

Moraine to Mt. Temple (Even if you make it to Larch Valley, I think you'll be pretty amazed).

Johnson Canyon/ Ink Pots

Lake Louise
Posted by The Donald
Member since Jun 2013
414 posts
Posted on 3/6/25 at 2:15 pm to
quote:

little confused by your itinerary

Arriving into Banff on Sunday night. We have Monday and Tuesday with no plans yet. Once we get to Wednesday thru the following Sunday, we have plans at the Fairmont and surrounding areas thru this group work trip.
This post was edited on 3/6/25 at 3:09 pm
Posted by GITiger66
Member since Dec 2019
323 posts
Posted on 3/6/25 at 6:06 pm to
Drive up the ice fields parkway to jasper. Lots of amazing sites along the way. Spend the night in Jasper. Visit Jasper NP and lake maligne and others. we enjoyed that area more than the Lake Louise area.
Posted by AUFANATL
Member since Dec 2007
4622 posts
Posted on 3/6/25 at 6:40 pm to

If you want a good hike that isn't too strenuous then drive up to the Sunshine Village ski resort, ride the lift up to the top and hike the Sunshine Meadows loop.

But your best day out will be driving the Icefields Parkway and stopping at all the scenic points. Start early, get a map and plan out the mile markers for where you want pull over and explore.

Posted by The Donald
Member since Jun 2013
414 posts
Posted on 3/6/25 at 9:49 pm to
quote:

But your best day out will be driving the Icefields Parkway and stopping at all the scenic points. Start early, get a map and plan out the mile markers for where you want pull over and explore.


Do these maps show the mile markers and what’s at each one to possibly explore?
Posted by GITiger66
Member since Dec 2019
323 posts
Posted on 3/7/25 at 10:33 am to
download the GyPSy Guide (now GuideAlong) app. they have a part specifically for the ice fields parkway. We used it and it was great. tracks your path (gps enabled) and tells you all kinds of useful information. the drive is incredible and there are a bunch of cool lakes, hikes and waterfalls. Definitely get the guide app.
Posted by The Donald
Member since Jun 2013
414 posts
Posted on 3/7/25 at 8:32 pm to
Will do! Super helpful!
Can’t wait for this drive! Going to do it on the Monday of that week
Posted by GITiger66
Member since Dec 2019
323 posts
Posted on 3/7/25 at 10:17 pm to
Also - go to Kumana Bistro. it’s the restaurant at Pine Bungalos in Jasper and the best meal that we had on that trip. The cabins looked cool but we booked late and they were full so we didn’t actually stay there. but the restaurant was amazing
Posted by lctiger
Member since Oct 2003
3379 posts
Posted on 3/15/25 at 8:54 am to
May want to try and catch moraine lake for sunrise on the day you are driving up icefields parkway, it is near the fairmont at lake Louise and on the way to icefields parkway from Banff. It’s breathtaking at sunrise. Can’t drive to the lake itself, we took shuttle from Fairmont lake Louise. Since you are staying at the Fairmont in Banff, maybe they will work something out for you
Posted by nctiger71
North Carolina
Member since Oct 2017
1395 posts
Posted on 3/15/25 at 12:10 pm to
quote:

Drive up the ice fields parkway to jasper. Lots of amazing sites along the way. Spend the night in Jasper. Visit Jasper NP and lake maligne and others. we enjoyed that area more than the Lake Louise area.
We stayed in Lake Louise and got up early and drove up the Icefield Parkway. We didn't get quite to Jasper as we had to get back to walk on the glacier at the Columbia Icefield.
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We had bought the tickets on line and had a timed entry but they told us they would have honored a later time if possible. You get on a regular bus and they take you to a place where you get on the vehicle that goes on the glacier. Then we went to the glass bottom viewing platform.
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The whole event took about 2 1/2 hours.

Hwy 1A/93 (Bow Valley Pky) parallels Hwy 1 between Banff and Lake Louise (the town). Morant's Curve Viewpoint is just off 1A not too far south of the Ski Resort that is a must see, IMO. Just a great panoramic view. This picture does not do it justice.
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If you have time take Hwy 1 to Emerald Lake. Go by Takakkaw Falls on the way to EL. It's a little out of the way but worth the time. Also, on that drive stop by the The Spiral Tunnel Viewpoint. They move a lot of goods by train in Canada and the spiral tunnel is how they got over the mountain.
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It's a tossup to me as to whether Takakkaw Falls (assuming there is glacier melt) and the Morant's Curve view is the single most impressive sight we saw on our trip.

We used Guide Along on this trip but I don't recall if both the Icefield Parkway and the ride to Emeral Lake were on the same purchase or a separate one.
Posted by The Donald
Member since Jun 2013
414 posts
Posted on 3/15/25 at 12:16 pm to
This is tremendous info!! Thanks for sending!
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