27 Things To Do In Banff This Summer

Welcome to my ultimate summer activity breakdown for Banff! If you're seeking incredible adventures and unforgettable experiences, you've come to the right place. Banff National Park and the surrounding areas offer an abundance of activities for everyone!

Below you will find some of my top things to do in the summer - from the touristy bucket list items to the less well-known hikes and activities. Together we will cover everything notable in and around Banff National Park. I’ll explain what stops are a necessity on your next visit and those which I would personally steer clear of!

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Let’s start with the most popular things to do in Banff National Park during summer…

Lake Louise & Moraine Lake

Two of the most photographed and iconic locations within Banff National Park are Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. Both lakes are located approximately 40 minutes from the town of Banff and each have mesmerising turquoise waters on which you can canoe, paddle board, or simply relax on the shoreline.

These lakes have many stunning trails to hike around and even remote tea houses you can visit during the summer months! Given their beauty, you are guaranteed to experience crowds in these locations. Driving is not recommended because of the high tourism levels so booking a shuttle in advance is your best option. There are plenty of shuttle providers around but I have found the Moraine Lake Bus Company to offer an excellent service to both Lake Louise and Moraine Lake.

Make sure to read my full guide to Moraine Lake before you visit so you have all the information about how to get there and what to do in the area!

Book a shuttle

Johnston Canyon

If you're out adventuring in the park, Johnston Canyon is a stop that is worth doing! This impressive trail winds through a limestone canyon and leads to two gorgeous waterfalls.

As this is one of the most popular trails in Banff National Park, I would recommend visiting early in the morning or later in the day to beat the crowds. Also, if you have time for a longer hike, I would start early in the morning and continue to the Ink Pots. These beautiful little blue pools are magical and worth the extra kilometres on your hike. Take a picnic and enjoy the sunshine.

Find my full guide to Johnston Canyon here.

Banff Gondola

The Banff Gondola is another iconic stop within the park and something I recommend to most visitors.

This scenic gondola ride will take you to the top of Sulphur Mountain where you will be able to admire the stunning panoramic views over the town of Banff and surrounding mountains. If you are planning to hike a few mountains while you are here, you can skip this stop. But, if hiking a mountain is not your priority, get this gondola instead because the views at the top are very worth it.

Make sure to purchase your gondola tickets in advance during the summer to guarantee your spot. You can buy them here!

Top tip - Book a table at Sky Bistro in advance so you can enjoy a cocktail or a nice meal with incredible views. It makes your time at the top even more worth it!

If you are on a budget, check out other alternatives here - Banff On A Budget

Ski Resort Gondolas & Chairlifts

If you are after a similar summer gondola activity but want to step out of town, check out any of the three ski resorts nearby.

Sunshine Village Ski Resort, Lake Louise Ski Resort and Mount Norquay all have great summer gondola and chairlift options to access a range of hiking trails, viewpoints and restaurants. Each resort has quite different offerings so you’ll have a great time whether you visit just one or all three.

Top Tip: If you are visiting just one, the hike to Rock Isle Lake at Sunshine Village is my absolute favourite. Follow this up with lunch in the sun at Trappers and you have the perfect day.

You can pre-purchase your tickets here:

Sunshine Village

Mount Norquay

Lake Louise

White-Water Rafting

If you are looking for some adrenaline-pumping adventure, try your hand at white-water rafting! With some of the most pristine rivers and mountain views, rafting in the Rockies is like nothing else.

The closest options are in Kananaskis where you can raft down Horseshoe Canyon’s awesome whitewater and try a cliff jump. They offer a small and large cliff jump option and it was the highlight of the tour!

This is the perfect half-day adventure from Banff - Book in advance here.

Rock Climbing & Via Ferrata

If you are looking for a unique experience, Banff offers incredible rock climbing to test your skills and push your limits.

For a guided climbing experience, make sure you check out the Via Ferrata at Mount Norquay! With multiple tour options, you can get a taste for via ferrata climbing on a tour that requires no previous experience. You can also cross suspension bridges and climb the mountain while getting incredible views of Banff!

For self-led climbing opportunities, Banff has plenty of amazing climbing routes including along the Sunshine access road, on the Hoodoos trail and just out of Banff at Grassi Lakes.

Icefields Parkway

For an incredible day of sightseeing, make sure to check out the Icefields Parkway. If you are visiting both Jasper and Banff, you will be driving this road already but if you are only coming to Banff, make sure you visit a section of this road at least!

The Icefields Parkway is one of the best drives in the world for the incredible scenery. I would recommend driving at least as far as Peyto Lake, but if you have time, I would head to the Athabasca Glacier and have that as your turnaround point. This spot is 2 hours and 20 minutes from Banff so a visit will take you most of the day.

The Athabasca Glacier is one of the most accessible glaciers and you have a few options for enjoying the area. Firstly you can hike towards the glacier for up-close views but you can’t step on it here. Alternatively, you can join a tour to go on the glacier and explore it. Personally, I have done the Ice Explorer tour with Pursuit and I don’t think it’s worth the investment. On this specific tour, they drive you onto the glacier and you have about 30 minutes in a roped-off area to stand on the glacier and get photos. There are no ice features here and it’s so overcrowded it really takes away from the experience. If I were to revisit, I would consider doing a guided glacial hike with IceWalks. Their approach seems much more in-depth and valuable for your time spent on the glacier. If you are interested you can find more information here

If you are driving the road yourself, I highly recommend purchasing the GuideAlong Icefields Parkway GPS tour, it's approximately $12 and the amazing guided tour will help you make the most of your time on the parkway! Tip: If you are travelling the rest of the Canadian Rockies, check out their audio tour bundle!

Alternatively, If you don’t have a vehicle, or would prefer to experience the road on a guided tour instead, Radventures is a great local tour company offering day trips in this area. Their Icefields Parkway Small Group Adventure is an excellent 8 hour experience.

Lake Minnewanka

Keeping it more local, Lake Minnewanka is a popular spot for tourists and is one of the biggest lakes in the Banff area.

You can go on a cruise of the lake, rent your own boat or hire a kayak for the afternoon. There are also plenty of hiking trails and picnic stops in the area. I would recommend hiking to Stewart Canyon while you are there!

This lake is also part of a loop of 3 other lakes all within a few minute’s drive. Two Jack Lake, Johnston Lake and Cascade Ponds are all also beautiful stops you may as well do while you are out there.

Emerald Lake & Yoho National Park

Just an hour from Banff, Yoho National Park is a beautiful area to explore. The highlights of the park include Emerald Lake, Natural Bridge and Takakkaw Falls Falls. After a few hours of exploring, stop in the tiny town of Field for lunch, I recommend visiting Truffle Pigs - book ahead if you can!

Also note, these stops are completely achievable on your own however, if you don’t have a car or want the added bonus of a local guide and no parking stress, a tour may be your best bet! If so, check out the “Go Chasing Waterfalls in Banff & Yoho National Parks” tour by Radventures.

Bow Falls & Surprise Corner

Other amazing local spots to check out on your visit are Bow Falls and Surprise Corner. These spots are across the river from each other but both offer an amazing view of Bow Falls and from Surprise Corner you will get that postcard view of the Fairmont Hotel!

Banff Hot Springs

The Banff Hot Springs is a very popular spot but I would actually recommend against it.

While a visit to the hot springs sounds relaxing and rejuvenating, the amount of people squished into one concrete pool is not.

In the last few years, the price to access the hot springs has more than doubled, and visitation levels continue to soar. Especially if you are visiting town in summer, there is no need to sit in a 40* pool of water. If you're looking to go for a swim, I would recommend one of the nearby lakes or rivers instead! I'll be cold but it's so refreshing and has much less congestion.

If you are looking for a spa experience - I have one I recommend HIGHLY, just below.

Some alternative activities and stops to consider!

Hiking

A visit to Banff wouldn't be complete without some time on the trails. While Johnston Canyon, Lake Louise and Moraine Lake are beautiful spots - not everything you do in Banff needs to be found on a must see list!

The scenery here is incredible so go check out a trail that not every visitor is going to experience. Kananaskis is one of my favourite areas to hike and AllTrails is full of wonderful suggestions.

Some of my favourite trails include Cirque Peak, Surrail Ridge, Boom Lake, Arnica Lake, Floe Lake, Tent Ridge and Mount Smutwood.

Kananaskis Nordic Spa

The Kananaskis Nordic Spa is the best, best, best place to visit if you are looking to relax and rejuvenate during your stay.

This adult only facility is never overcrowded, offers a beautiful range of hydrotherapy experiences and has excellent treatments available. You can even get a cheese board in your robe… it doesn't get much better than that.

Honestly, this one should be on more must-see lists, it's amazing and worth every cent.

Rent a SUP

Canoeing on one of the beautiful lakes in the Rockies is on a lot of bucket lists however it is incredibly expensive and competitive, often requiring wait times of over an hour.

Instead, I would recommend hiring an inflatable kayak or paddleboard from a local company and heading out to one of these iconic lakes for sunrise. With your own watercraft and an early start to the day, you will have a morning to remember on the water and hopefully the place mostly to yourself.

An offsite rental (aka you pick the paddleboard up in Banff and take it wherever you want) will mean you also have the watercraft for the day so you can visit multiple lakes for a fraction of the cost.

Visit a patio for a drink in the sun!

With stunning scenery everywhere you look, it makes sense that Banff has some incredible rooftop patios.

Some of my favourite patios in town are the Elk and Oarsmen and Rose and Crown. Both of these have stunning rooftop views! Magpie and Stump is another great outdoor option with a great vibe and fun decor, the only downside is the high walls restrict any view of the mountains!

Take to the skies and see the Rockies from above

The Canadian Rockies are some of the most beautiful mountains in the world and there’s no better way to appreciate their scale, than from above.

Helicopter tours are an incredible way to take in the scenery and Rockies Heli Canada is one of the best providers. Opt for a Scenic Helicopter Tour or extend your experience by combining the Scenic Flight with an Exploration Hike. Note that operators are based outside of the National Park boundaries so you will need to drive to get there!

Canoe on the Bow River

If you want to stick close to the heart of Banff, the Banff Canoe Club offers both tours and rentals on the Bow River.

Just a few minutes walk from Banff Ave, the Bow River runs through Banff and is a beautiful spot to be on a sunny day. Rentals here are cheaper than you will find on the major lakes and the scenery is just as stunning. Take a canoe out and if you’re lucky you might even spot some wildlife in the process.

Rent an E-Bike

Looking for something more adventurous? Rent an e-bike and go ride along the highway 1A, also known as the Bow Valley Parkway. This is a beautiful stretch of road between Banff and Lake Louise, with Johnston Canyon located at the midpoint.

The road has a few small hills but as someone who isn't an avid bike rider, I would say it's very achievable on an ebike. There are even plenty of places to stop for a picnic on your journey!

If you want to make a whole day of it, there are also trails you can do along the highway - check out Hole In The Wall, Johnston Canyon or the Inke Pots to make it a hiking and biking adventure.

Note: you can do this independently or on a guided tour - totally up to you!

Visit the markets

Each summer there are weekly markets in the town of Banff.

Operating in Central Park, these markets are the perfect place to be rain or shine. While the market is completely outdoors, there is nothing like a relaxed wander among stalls, getting a hot chocolate or iced latte and enjoying the day.

Vendors are constantly changing so there is always something new to explore. These markets are typically held on Wednesdays during summer but make sure to check the updated information before going!

Go Horse Riding

If you are looking for a unique way to see Banff, why not trot through the park on horseback?

Horseback tours are very popular in Banff and Discover Banff Tours and Banff Trail Riders bring you the best options. You can view all the tour options here, or opt for the classic 1-Hour Bow River Horseback Ride.

Get a flight of beer at 3 Bears Brewery or Banff Ave Brewing Co

Banff is a foodie town at heart and there is a great selection of food and drinks around every corner. Visiting a brewery is always one of my favourite ways to get to know a new place and here in Banff, we have 2!

3 Bears Brewery and Banff Ave Brewing Co. are two popular stops worth popping into on your next visit. Whether you are after a quick pint or a cheeky flight, both breweries have unique tap offerings and are always changing up their rotating, seasonal tap as well. There’s always something new to try!

Go on a distillery tour at Park Distillery

Another great option within the food and beverage scene is to visit Park Distillery and Restaurant.

This on-site, working distillery is responsible for many of the spirits consumed in Banff National Park and each day at 3:15 pm, they offer a free tour! This is a great way to learn more about the area and some products that have influenced Banff’s drink scene significantly. You can also organise private tours here!

Go for a swim at Johnston Lake

Johnston Canyon is one of Banff’s hidden gems, although I say ‘hidden gem’ very lightly. Considering over 4 million people come to Banff each year, there isn’t much here that goes untouched but Johnston Lake is one spot that flies under the radar.

This lake is just outside of town and accessible by car or public transport. Considering it is a smaller lake, the water here feels a little warmer than the other glacial bodies of water during summer. It’s such a great spot to go for a swim, take the paddleboard out or go for a picnic.

There is also a lovely 3km walking trail around the loop which is the perfect easy walk!

Go Backcountry Camping

After something even more off-grid? Rent some backcountry gear from Backtrax and go spend a night out in nature! There are so many good backcountry trails in the area including Floe Lake, Taylor Lake and Mount Assiniboine. If you’re up for a bit of a drive, the Bugaboos has been one of my favourites so far!

This is a sure way to have an experience you won't forget.

*Applebee Dome Campground, Bugaboos Provincial Park*

Grab a cocktail at the iconic Rundle Bar

The Rundle Bar at the Fairmont Banff Springs, is one of the most beautiful locations to sip on a cocktail in the Rockies. With incredible views and even better drinks, this bar is worth visiting.

Bonus: You will also get to see the beautiful Fairmont Hotel - aka the castle of Banff.

Play a round of Golf

If golfing is your thing, make sure you check out the Fairmont Banff Springs Course.

This course is stunning and with Rundle Mountain as a dramatic backdrop for your game you'll be glad you experienced it! Finish your round with a stop at the Waldhaus for incredible food, views and even a game of pool.

Mt Norquay Road Lookout

Finally, there is a nice lookout, two thirds of the way up Mount Norquay road. Completely free, this spot is lovely for a quick stop, a picnic lunch or a sunset from above!

Alternatively, as the sun sets over the mountains, Banff transforms into the perfect platform for stargazing. The clear night skies offer unparalleled views of twinkling constellations, perfect for a romantic evening under the stars.

If you can’t tell by now, Banff has so many activities and things to do!

I’ve been living in this little town for the last two years and I am still finding amazing new locations so you should have plenty to pack your next visit with.

Happy travels!