Topic Wiki

List of TR's:

Kosher Food/ Restaurants:
Chabad of the Rockies (Canmore) offers fresh eat-in, takeout and Shabbat meals: https://www.chabadrockies.org/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/6321517/jewish/Kosher-Food-for-Purchase.htm

The local supermarkets (e.g. Nesters or IGA in Banff) have many kosher shelf products.

There's frozen chicken and some meat products here, also a kosher aisle of dry foods: Safeway Glenmore Landing - 1600 90 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2V 5A8, Canada

Synagogue:
None, though check GoDaven for temporary minyanim

Things to Do:

Download the GuideAlong app (formerly known as GyPSy Guide) and purchase the package for the Canadian Rockies Tours for $24.99. This self-paced guided audio tour covers Banff National Park, Lake Louise, Yoho National Park, Jasper National Park and more. It's an incredibly useful and informative app.

Banff
Johnston Canyon hike, Upper Falls recommended, 2 hr round trip.
Banff Gondola, take boardwalk (15 min, spread out stairs) to peak for amazing views
Mountain Biking - e.g. Tunnel Bench Loop (moderate, lots of fun with great views)
Bow Falls and Bow River
Lake Minnewanka and Two Jack Lake loop drive - boat cruise tour and speedboat rentals available

Lake Louise (45 min drive from Banff)
Shoreline trail walk
Canoe rentals
Lake Agnes teahouse hike (moderate, 2.5 hrs round-trip, can continue to Little Beehive or Big Beehive)
Plain of 6 Glaciers hike (moderate, 5-6 hrs round trip, Tea House along the way)
Lake Louise gondola


Moraine Lake (30 min drive south from LL)
2023 Update: Access by personal vehicle to Morraine Lake is no longer allowed. The only options to get to Morraine Lake are by Canada Parks Shuttle, private Lake Morraine bussing companies, and maybe a private tour bus. Local Banff bus service (Roam) may also have a shuttle to Morraine in addition to their service to Lake Louise. Reservations for busses get booked up early, so plan at least 3-4 days ahead. [Parking is extremely limited, arrive very early or later in the day, road is closed when parking is full.]
Walk along lake
Canoe rentals sometimes available
Rockpile climb to great viewpoint

Athabasca Glacier Adventure (90 min drive from Lake Louise or Jasper)
Early arrival recommended (first tour is at 10:30am, book online in advance)
2 hour duration, bring bottle to drink glacier water
Wear layers, temperature is unpredictable
Skywalk is a tourist trap, you can skip it and stay on bus to return to parking lot

Icefields Parkway drive from Athabasca Glacier to Banff with scenic stops:
Parker Ridge trail 2-hour round-trip hike (medium difficulty, uphill climb)
Peyto Lake viewed from Bow Summit (cars must park in lower lot and walk 10 min, but later in the day the upper lot can be used)
Mistaya Canyon (beautiful pull-off hike along Icefields Pkwy. Hike is about 10 minutes down to a powerful river rushing through a canyon with waterfalls)
Bow Lake (quick pullout stop)

Jasper

Yoho National Park
Takakkaw Falls
Emerald Lake
Natural Bridge


Hotels:

Getting Around:
A car is basically a must, though there are shuttles from Banff to the major attractions.
The nearest commercial airport is Calgary (YYC), a 90 min drive from Banff.

Notes:

« Last edited by JudahMcB on July 12, 2024, 01:49:36 PM »

Author Topic: Banff and Jasper Master Thread  (Read 186019 times)

Offline Saulius

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #500 on: July 18, 2017, 08:50:14 AM »
Anyone can recommend where to do ww rafting in the banff/jasper area? It seems the best place is on the kicking horse river, however there are many places that offer it.

There is rafting in Jasper, but it's Level 2, which is calm water, no thrill at all, so not sure if it's worth it.  It might be Level 3 in the early Summer when the water level is higher.

Kicking Horse River would be better (has some level 4) which would be a bit more thrilling & intense.

Offline Specialized

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Smoke from BC
« Reply #501 on: July 18, 2017, 10:01:29 AM »
Due to wildfires in BC, visibility is terrible here in Calgary, my assumption is it is no better in the mountains. Anybody out there, please keep us updated about how far north it goes, and what else you can do. Is the ice explorer still good? Can you see in Jasper?

Offline aarony

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #502 on: July 18, 2017, 11:35:17 AM »
wow, this really throws a monkeywrench into our plans.  seems like there is alot of smoke and haze, perhaps we will extend our time in vancouver instead...

Offline Specialized

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #503 on: July 18, 2017, 11:44:36 AM »
Vancouver is still good?

Offline Specialized

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #504 on: July 18, 2017, 11:50:43 AM »
One easy way to check visibility in Banff: The banff gondola has an online camera which is updated every few minutes. If you don't like what you see, you can always call Brewster to ask them for visibility on the Gondola.

Offline Saulius

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #505 on: July 18, 2017, 01:17:11 PM »
One easy way to check visibility in Banff: The banff gondola has an online camera which is updated every few minutes. If you don't like what you see, you can always call Brewster to ask them for visibility on the Gondola.

Also see: http://openmaps.gov.bc.ca/kml/wildfire/map.html & http://firesmoke.ca/forecasts/viewer/run/ops/BSC-WC-01/current/

Offline amx

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #506 on: July 19, 2017, 12:45:29 AM »
I'm here now went around banff,lake Louise,yoho etc.. definitely a haze not very clear out here but pretty never the less.

Offline blue eyes

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #507 on: August 02, 2017, 12:45:58 AM »
any update on the haze? were leaving end of the week.
Also regarding Calgary, debating between hotel blackfoot and the carriage house inn. Hows the kosher restaurant in the carriage house inn? do they serve Shabbos meals?
Any recommendations?

Offline Galitzyaner

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #508 on: August 04, 2017, 10:50:47 AM »
Eh, you're just bitter from ending up in Yoho by mistake .
Is Yoho NP really not worth the time? '
(Or is this just an inside joke?! ;) )

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #509 on: August 04, 2017, 10:56:42 AM »
(Or is this just an inside joke?! ;) )

That, pretty much .
Check out my site for epic kosher adventures: Kosher Horizons

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #510 on: August 04, 2017, 11:23:07 AM »
With minyan, I'd go to Edmonton. It's a very nice community.
Is there a reason to stay in there over Shabbos vs. Calgary?

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Re: Banff and Jasper Master Thread
« Reply #511 on: August 07, 2017, 04:35:29 PM »
Proposed itinerary for next week. We're traveling with 3.5 year old twins and meeting up extended family at a rented house in Kicking Horse Mountain Resort  near Golden, BC. While I'd love to see some popular sites, I'm mindful of the crowds this time of year, and actually prefer a less popular, but still refreshing, day of hiking/mountain biking over waiting in lines to go up a gondola.

Need to fill in a bit.
SUN: Arrive YYC 9:41 PM; Will probably overnight at Marriott YYC Airport (In terminal) due to late arrival
MON: Head out towards Banff; Overnight at Delta Hotels by Marriott Kananaskis Lodge
TUES: Overnight at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort (BC)
WED: Overnight at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort (BC)
THURS: Overnight at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort (BC)
FRI: Overnight TBD (may stay at KHMR)
SAT: Overnight TBD (may stay at KHMR)
SUN: Overnight TBD
MON: Depart YYC 12:30 PM

Offline Galitzyaner

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Re: Banff and Jasper Master Thread
« Reply #512 on: August 24, 2017, 01:51:24 AM »
Is kosher wine and/or GJ readily available in Calgary?
Or is it better to bring along?

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Re: Banff and Jasper Master Thread
« Reply #513 on: August 24, 2017, 01:01:16 PM »
there is some available

Offline Specialized

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Re: Banff and Jasper Master Thread
« Reply #514 on: August 25, 2017, 10:17:47 AM »
Gj is in Superstore on Macleod, Safeway in Glenmore landing, and Sobey's in Bridlewood. Wine is at a few liquor stores, very small selection, Galil wines. I know Co-op on Southland carries, but others do as well. Many of us buy wine in bulk twice a year, so IDK exactly which stores are best for one bottle at a time.

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Re: Banff and Jasper Master Thread
« Reply #515 on: August 25, 2017, 03:52:47 PM »
Co-op on Southland also has GJ in the grocery store and it's on sale for $5.50/1.89 liter.

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #516 on: August 25, 2017, 03:58:08 PM »
Is there a reason to stay in there over Shabbos vs. Calgary?
Go to Edmonton if you already saw everyone in Calgary during the week and want to meet all the nice folks up north. If you have the time for it, West Edmonton Mall is a great attraction for kids.

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Re: Banff and Jasper Master Thread
« Reply #517 on: August 25, 2017, 05:13:48 PM »
Just to fill in with what we ended up doing. It was a fantastic trip!! I would happily go again.


SUN: Arrive YYC 9:41 PM;  overnight at Homewood Suites YYC ($51 on Hotwire)

MON: Pick up rental car; Visit Tunnel Mountain overlook and take small hike with the kids there; continue west to Lake Louise and walk around the lake (too touristy and crowded for my taste, but the gang really wanted to go and my kids were most excited that they got to ride a school bus from the over flow parking lot to the lake). Overnight at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort (VRBO rented house) in Golden, BC.

TUES: Adult men hiked the 21 km iceline trail in Yoho National Park (pretty moderate/difficult climb) and women took the kids to hike to Wapta Falls in Yoho. Overnight at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort (BC)

WED: Recover from muscle aches! Take the wife and kids to Tatakawa Falls in Yoho for a small hike and look at the falls; spent afternoon renting a canoe with my kids at Emerald Lake in Yoho (pricey at $60 for an hour, but a relative bargain compared to Lake Louise)  Overnight at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort (BC)

THURS: hiked the trail around Emerald Lake with my kids and father-in law while my wife went white-water-rafting with my MIL on the Columbia River; Karaoke in the media room of our vacation home. Overnight at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort (BC)

FRI: Mountain Biking in Golden on the Moonraker trails on Kicking Horse Mountain Resort; Overnight at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort (BC)

SAT: Shabbos at the house and walked around the ski-resort; Overnight at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort (BC)

SUN: Depart Golden, BC; drive bia Bow Valley Parkway, hike Johnston Trail in the morning (over-rated IMHO, but probably because it was so crowded), check into Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel (1 bedroom suite with beautiful mountain views purchased on the DDF) (I thought the service was actually excellent and rooms were well appointed (if not old)) and enjoy a late afternoon/evening stay at the spa.

MON: Drive to YYC, return rental car and Depart  12:30 PM

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Re: Banff and Jasper Master Thread
« Reply #518 on: August 27, 2017, 08:37:37 PM »
There seems to be such an array of options for gondolas/chairlifts I'm not really sure which one(s) are worth paying these steep prices for.

There's the
Banff Gondola,
Sunshine Village Gondola/Standish xyz,
Lake Louise Gondola/chairlift,
Mt Norquay chairlift.

Then in Jasper there's the Jasper Skytram.

Every one of these charges a crazy admission and all claim spectacular views.

Can someone knowledgeable here please clarify what's hot and what's not?

TYVMIA

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Re: Banff and Jasper Master Thread
« Reply #519 on: August 31, 2017, 11:53:06 PM »
How does the free Discovery Pass for Canada Parks work? It says on the website they are available in any CIBC branch. Should I stop on the way to get one, or can I easily get one in Banff?