Banff and Jasper Master Thread

[yahaatim]

Im confused about the banf gondola, as the complaints were about bringing kid along and long lines down as we are adults and can hike without problems is it worth it (waiting the way down 30 min or an hour is fine for us) or is lake louise gondola much better (or none)?

also im doing one very early morning to beat the crowds at lake louise and moraine (be their by 5am), im seeing that you cant drive to moraine lake and need to book the shuttle in advance, should i do moraine 1st with shuttle and try to make lake louise before 9am or vice versa?
wich is a nicer sunrise and to walk around?
thanks

banf gandola imho. But keep asking around everyone has diff opinions

[Wizard]

Where does everyone here stay? Is there any good hotel in Banff or any way to get the Fairmont for points or less than $1K/night?

[ben moshe]

I'm visiting banff next week bez"h.
It looks as the park canada shuttle to lake louise and moraine is a newer system and you need to reserve in advance (2 days before In my case) has anyone been their since the new system was in place?
Also what time is recommended as I'm staying in canmore, is sunrise necessary  or is arriving 9am going to be similar in beauty and crowds?
Thanks

[JudahMcB]

I'm visiting banff next week bez"h.
It looks as the park canada shuttle to lake louise and moraine is a newer system and you need to reserve in advance (2 days before In my case) has anyone been their since the new system was in place?

I visited Lake Louise and Moraine Lake yesterday. I tried to book the Canada Parks shuttle 2 days in advance. I logged in a little before 10am Eastern and tried to book two tickets at exactly 10am on the nose and it was already sold out. There was one ticket available for a 3pm departure but that was too late for me and since I was looking for two tickets I declined.

I already had a backup reservation with hoponbanff.com and they worked out really well. They use a school bus - not a coach bus - and it has no AC but it was completely fine. They were the cheapest private bus company I could find and they had a generous 24-hour cancellation window. All of the other private bus companies I checked were more expensive and had a 72-hour cancellation window (probably to lock you in because they know the Parks shuttle can only be booked 48 hours in advance). I booked with HopOn weeks ago and hoped that I could get the Canada Parks shuttle 48hrs in advance and then cancel with them. It obviously didn't work out that way.

I hope you have better luck getting a Parks shuttle reservation but make sure you have a plan B.

Also what time is recommended as I'm staying in canmore, is sunrise necessary  or is arriving 9am going to be similar in beauty and crowds?
Thanks

According to our bus driver, the sunrise tours to the lakes are a scam. Although the sun rises around 7:30am, sun doesn't get into the valley until around 9:30am. So viewing it shortly after sunrise is not much different than viewing it at night (supposedly). You need good sunlight to see the beautiful aqua color reflected off of the surface of the lake. We experienced this: when we got to Lake Louise at 11:15am it was very sunny and the color of the lake was majestic. By 1:30 when we left it was overcast and wasn't special at all.

Lake Louise was very busy between 11:00 and 1:30. However, if you walk 2 to 3 minutes along the Lakeshore trail there are plenty of spots where you can stand right by the edge of the lake and take a photo with no one else around you. Walk another 5 minutes down the trail and the crowds really thin out. I bet if you walk down to the end of the trail you'd pretty much have it to yourself (we didn't get that far). We had no problem finding a shady spot on the rocks to eat our lunch. We really enjoyed Lake Louise even with the crowds.

Maureen Lake was also very busy when we got there at 2:15 pm. However, like Lake Louise, it didn't detract from the experience. There were plenty of spots along the lakeshore trail where it's just you and the lake. The Rockpile trail was extremely busy but it doesn't affect your view.

I still recommend getting to each lake as early as you can, but if you don't, it's not the end of the world. And if you plan to do any of the non-standard hikes at any of the lakes then you can do it at any time of day because 99% of people just do the Lakeshore trail and move on.

[Hashemhelps36]

Hi all. We are hoping to visit Banff mid-September for an extended weekend and wanted to ask your advice regarding our itinerary.

Friday- Landing at Calgary 1:49pm. I expect it will take an hour or two to get through Customs? Then maybe we have time for a brief trip (Kananaskis) before Shabbos starts at 7:41 pm.

Now for Question 1: I am debating between spending Shabbos in Calgary vs. Canmore. Can I walk to any beautiful scenic sights in either location on shabbos? I know that there is a Chabad in Canmore near Banff  as well as a frum shul in Calgary with a few kosher places there but my question is really: what we will actually DO or SEE on Shabbos day to maximize our (very short) trip? Can we take any walkable hikes in Canmore without getting in a vehicle?

Sunday morning: Lake Louise, Yoho National Park, Emerald Lake, anything else?
Monday: more sightseeing. Question 2: Stay in Banff area or go down to the Icefields/Jasper?

Tuesday morning- head back to Calgary for our 9AM flight.

I know it's a very short trip but is it still doable? Also: the temperature forecast for our dates (mid-September) show Cloudy with chance of Rain.
Question 3: Is it still worthwhile to go?

[ben moshe]

Hi all. We are hoping to visit Banff mid-September for an extended weekend and wanted to ask your advice regarding our itinerary.

Friday- Landing at Calgary 1:49pm. I expect it will take an hour or two to get through Customs? Then maybe we have time for a brief trip (Kananaskis) before Shabbos starts at 7:41 pm.

Now for Question 1: I am debating between spending Shabbos in Calgary vs. Canmore. Can I walk to any beautiful scenic sights in either location on shabbos? I know that there is a Chabad in Canmore near Banff  as well as a frum shul in Calgary with a few kosher places there but my question is really: what we will actually DO or SEE on Shabbos day to maximize our (very short) trip? Can we take any walkable hikes in Canmore without getting in a vehicle?

Sunday morning: Lake Louise, Yoho National Park, Emerald Lake, anything else?
Monday: more sightseeing. Question 2: Stay in Banff area or go down to the Icefields/Jasper?

Tuesday morning- head back to Calgary for our 9AM flight.

I know it's a very short trip but is it still doable? Also: the temperature forecast for our dates (mid-September) show Cloudy with chance of Rain.
Question 3: Is it still worthwhile to go?

If it works with your budget than go with canmore, it's a very nice over their,
Also try to add johnston canyon if possible,
Regarding icefield Pkwy you should do the first 40 to 50 miles it's short and the views  and lakes are awesome (IMHO some lakes on icefield Pkwy like bow and peyto lake are not to be missed and are equal to lake louise just without the hassle and crowds) if you could make it to colombia icefield great
Regarding kanaski park n thursday I wld recommend staying in banff area and go to lake minawaka or the town of banff