Last updated on June 9th, 2024 at 01:06 pm

Guest Posted by Fariha Shanta

Banff National Park in Canada is every traveler’s dream, and what better season than to visit in summer. Now, there maybe dozens of things to do in Banff in summer but to make your trip memorable you’ll need these helpful tips below that are shared by my dear friend Fariha based on her own experience.

We drove to Jasper, the longest drive from Calgary Airport, and then drove south into Banff. If you have the luxury of time, by all means, drive into Banff from the airport and do the Icefields Parkway Banff to Jasper drive and back. TIP: Give yourself a little extra time at the airport for your return flight to the United States as you have to go through customs in Canada airport before you board the plane. 

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Important Things to Know Before Visiting Banff, Lake Louise, & Jasper in Summer 

1. RENTAL CAR

There is no other way to see Banff & Jasper than to do a road trip. Make sure you book a rental car in advance, i.e., right after you book your flight tickets.

We originally had a sedan, but thankfully we upgraded to an SUV with built-in navigation. This was the best decision we made because many areas do not have cellular service, so being able to put our locations into the navigation was a real lifesaver. And I mean this because we most definitely got lost one night. TIP: It is super important to have a built-in navigation system in your rental car or have an offline Google map downloaded on your phone.  

2. DRIVING & PARKING IN BANFF & JASPER

The roads are pretty clear, and you won’t see too many drivers until you are in Banff. It was nice that we never ran into any traffic on the highways. Just watch your speed limit, as it’s easy to speed when no one else is on the road; just ask Richa, who managed to get a speeding ticket on an empty National Park road. We barely saw any traffic lights until we were in the little towns of Banff and Jasper. 

Banff gets very busy in summer, and it’s not easy to find parking spots. There are overflow parking lots with shuttles running to the lakes. We could not do the hike on one of our days because we could not get parking. We tried to park at a lot with a shuttle, but the wait was TWO HOURS. TIP: Get there before 8 am to ensure parking, especially if you are trying to do this on a weekend. 

You will be lucky to see a sign in the dark for a gas station, so make sure your tank is full whenever you see a station. We were lucky that we didn’t run out of gas at any point; our SUV had great mileage! We passed one of our hotels when it was dark, and luckily two girls who happened to get a flat tire were able to lead us back on the right track. This is a huge reason to download an offline Google map when your navigation system cannot locate a place or lose service. TIP: Try to ensure you get to your destination before the sun sets due to the limited lights and signs. 

It will save you a lot of anxiety trying to figure it out without any data service. Make sure to stop along Icefields Parkway, there are some stunning views and even bears! Keep reading for more info on these viewpoints.

TIP: Keep in mind that there are no lights, limited signs, and very few rest stops while on the road between Banff to Jasper. 

3. WATER and FOOD

As I had mentioned before, there are not a lot of stops for food; hence I highly recommend making sure you are loaded with snacks and water in the car. In the US, we are so used to rest areas and food places every couple of miles, but up in Jasper and Banff, it was not the case. You will find many options to eat in the towns of Jasper and Banff but very limited while driving.

At one point, we got to the town of Jasper, and the road was blocked from the town due to a freight train. We luckily found a parking lot and walked through the tunnel to a grocery store nearby as these freight trains could block the roads for a very long time. 

Bring a refillable water bottle and keep yourself hydrated at higher elevations. 

4. BUG SPRAY

If you are traveling to Banff, Lake Louise, or Jasper in the summer, then you need to pack bug spray just as much as you need to bring bear spray with you.

We hiked up to the Valley of 5 Lakes near the town of Jasper. It was easy, they said. And, to be fair, it was a fairly easy hike, but unfortunately, none of us thought to bring bug spray. The mosquitoes were EVERYWHERE. They bit through our clothes and on our heads, they swarmed us, and it was terrible. So terrible we only made it to one small lookout point at the Valley of the 5 lakes. We probably had a combination of 100 bites between the 4 of us, if not more. And sadly, it ruined some of our fun and sleep as we were so itchy! Alas, it was a lesson learned because we picked up bug spray at our very next stop, but the damage was done. So just a reminder, lakes + mosquitos = very itchy week.

5. BATHROOMS 

If you are not outdoorsy, it’s important to know that many bathrooms in national parks are latrines. This means they look like toilets that lead to big holes in the ground. Make sure you bring hand sanitizer and baby wipes and make it quick!  I’ve been on quite a few outdoor adventures and can rough it, but if it’s not your thing, this will be a whole new experience. We did a boat tour to Spirit Island from Lake Maligne in Jasper National Park, and there were no bathrooms on the island or on the boat. So make sure to use the restrooms before getting on board if you decide to do this boat ride. 

As I mentioned above, there are very few stops on the roads in Banff or Jasper for bathroom breaks, so it’s better to use a bathroom when you see it rather than holding it hoping you will find something on the way. 

6. WHAT TO WEAR IN BANFF IN SUMMER 

Do not underestimate the Canadian summers, if you can call them summer at all. We thought we would be okay not layering up in August, but we were wrong. It can be hot, cold, rainy, or even snow in one day. TIP: Make sure to pack a fall jacket even though you are visiting in summer. 

One thing we all wish we had packed was a pair of gloves. It was cold on some of the hikes, and gloves would have been very helpful when we went canoeing. 

I personally carried a waterproof jacket so I wouldn’t have to hold an umbrella, and I was able to wear a few layers underneath it. This was really helpful when it started to drizzle while we were canoeing. I also brought this backpack which was lightweight but could hold a lot of things, like the layers I would remove. I would recommend a packable down coat, one of my friends had one, and I was jealous as I added extra layers. 

We also only traveled with one carry-on each since it was four girls and we were moving from place to place; it was easier to manage. This is actually the only way I travel these days, and if you don’t already own compression packing cubes, then I would highly recommend them. I also thought we might need some “cute” clothes for nice dinners or going out, but this was not true. Everyone was casual, and I wish I didn’t bring any of them because I did not need them. And it was too cold to look that cute by the evening. 

People have suggested wearing hiking shoes while in Banff & Jasper, and while it might help in strenuous hikes, it’s not absolutely necessary. We all wore sneakers and were totally okay.

7. WHAT TO SEE & DO IN SUMMER 

In addition to sightseeing, you can also indulge in these fun summer adventure activities –

• Canoe on the lakes
• Boat Ride (Lake Minnewanka and Lake Maligne)
• Hike (Our fav hikes mentioned below)
• Jasper Skytram
• Lake Louise Gondola
• Banff Gondola
• Banff White Water Rafting tour

Find more fun things to do in Banff on Get Your Guide:

Here are my favorite stops with breathtaking views: 

• Lake Moraine – In fact, I wish we went canoeing here instead of the more famous canoeing on Lake Louise. While they both have their reasons, I personally loved the color of the water at Lake Moraine. 
• Lake Louise – A beautiful spot to soak in the glacial beauty. From Lake Louise, stop by Chateau Fairmont for a lunch or a midday treat to warm you up.  If you plan to do the Lake Agnes hike on Lake Louise, know that it’s a 3-hour hike where you can get tea at the top. It closes at 5 pm, so make sure you have enough time to get up there and grab some tea. 
• Lake Maligne in Jasper – Take the boat tour to Spirit Island. It was really beautiful. You can even stop at The View for a Kombucha- vodka-infused drink if you are into that sort of thing, which we were. 
• Peyto Lake – The color is unreal. 
• Bow Lake– And, while you are near Peyto, take the ten min drive to see Bow Lake, which is also stunning. 
• Hector Lake
• Old Fort Point and Beauvert Lake 

TIP: There are no garbage cans, and I encourage you to throw anything out before heading up that slope. We had coffee cups with us on our hike to keep us warm, but carrying them up and down the trail was annoying. 

8. HIKING IN BANFF, LAKE LOUISE, & JASPER IN SUMMER

Here are the hikes we did and highly recommend if you like an adventurous vacation.

• The Valley of the 5 Lakes – As I mentioned, we only made it to one of the lakes due to the mosquitos. The hikes did not require hiking shoes. 
• Johnston Canyon Upper and Lower springs – This is a very popular hike in Banff. The hike is less intense but very crowded. The lines to see the waterfalls got pretty long. Since this is a kid-friendly hike, there are many families, so be prepared for the wait. 
• Maligne Canyon – This hike was also pretty short and was paved; very easy if you have 30 minutes to spare. 
• The Lake Agnes trail – This was the most challenging hike we did. The trail starts from Lake Louise and ends at the Agnes Tea House at the top. It is a 3-hour hike, so make sure you have water, a good spirit, and snacks on the go. Gloves would also be helpful as it was a chilly time at 8 am to be hiking. 

9. SPOTTING WILD ANIMALS

Spotting wildlife in the Canadian Rockies is one of the most exciting things to experience. While driving on Icefields Parkway, we saw 3 bears in the wild! You will notice them easily because people will have pulled over, pulled out their cameras, and taking pictures. 

TIP: I understand you want to see these animals in the wilderness, but remember you are in their home, so making a loud noise, feeding them, and getting too close would not be in your best interest or theirs.

We pulled over, sat quietly in the car, and took some photos and videos. Some people drove by and started yelling (Big No No!). Remember to respect their space. Sadly, we didn’t see any other animals other than those pesky mosquitos.

10. SAFETY IN BANFF

Finally, while Canada is very safe, we didn’t see any police officers or hospitals along the road from Banff to Jasper. The first hospital we saw was in the town of Banff. TIP: Remember, if something happens, you might not have cell reception to make an emergency phone call. 

We felt fairly safe the entire time, but we also didn’t have the need for emergency services. 

We were a bit anxious when we got lost and didn’t run into any other drivers on the road or have any places to stop to ask for directions.  While you can dial 911, you don’t always have cell service inside the National Park. TIP: I would just reinforce what I said earlier, get to your accommodation before the sun sets, have enough gas in the tank, and have a navigation system. 

Lastly, while Richa and Gaurav made their trip in May, I highly recommend going in the summer months of July and August. While they saw frozen lakes, we saw the deep blue views of glacial lakes, and it was so worth it! TIP: For these summer views of glacial lakes in Banff, plan your trip between the end of June to early-mid September.

I hope this post will come in handy in planning your next summer trip to Banff. Don’t forget to share these tips with friends and family as well.

Happy & Safe Traveling!