Topic Wiki

List of TR's:

Kosher Food/ Restaurants:
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:


Author Topic: Banff and Jasper Master Thread  (Read 155840 times)

Offline Jm1248

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #280 on: November 01, 2015, 02:23:20 AM »
Anyone have the email of general manager at fairmont lake louise?

Offline RabbiGoldenberg

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #281 on: November 01, 2015, 07:54:54 PM »
It's probably not cold enough consistently to turn the lake into an ice rink. Right now, we are averaging 15 degrees at night at lake louise, 25 in calgary, datlytime in the 50's. Idk how things will be at the end of the month

Offline RabbiGoldenberg

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #282 on: November 01, 2015, 08:03:46 PM »
Ski season is November to May

Offline Jm1248

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #283 on: November 01, 2015, 08:39:37 PM »
Is there anything of interest to do near Calgary? Im arriving in Calgary thurs afternoon and being back in Calgary for Shabbos so I am uncertain if its worth driving down to Banff for such a short period of time

Offline elya

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #284 on: November 02, 2015, 01:24:47 AM »
Is there anything of interest to do near Calgary? Im arriving in Calgary thurs afternoon and being back in Calgary for Shabbos so I am uncertain if its worth driving down to Banff for such a short period of time
Banff is an hour's drive from Calgary.

Offline RabbiGoldenberg

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #285 on: November 02, 2015, 09:25:03 PM »
Is there anything of interest to do near Calgary? Im arriving in Calgary thurs afternoon and being back in Calgary for Shabbos so I am uncertain if its worth driving down to Banff for such a short period of time
Check out Olympic Park (cop) they have a luge, all the downhill stuff, ice rink, etc. Callaway park is in the same neighborhood. It is a small amusement park. If you arrive in the early afternoon, try hiking in Canmore/Kananaskis

Offline Jm1248

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #286 on: November 02, 2015, 10:11:07 PM »
Check out Olympic Park (cop) they have a luge, all the downhill stuff, ice rink, etc. Callaway park is in the same neighborhood. It is a small amusement park. If you arrive in the early afternoon, try hiking in Canmore/Kananaskis
Thank you

Offline Jm1248

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #287 on: November 15, 2015, 01:05:18 PM »
Check out Olympic Park (cop) they have a luge, all the downhill stuff, ice rink, etc. Callaway park is in the same neighborhood. It is a small amusement park. If you arrive in the early afternoon, try hiking in Canmore/Kananaskis
calaway park is closed until May. Would COP have what to do in late November? Also, will there be hiking trails in Canmore/kananaskis open at that time?

Offline RabbiGoldenberg

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #288 on: November 17, 2015, 08:04:21 PM »
Olympic Park is open year round. Trails in Canmore depend on the snow, will probably be open. Canmore is a bit before the mountains.

Offline RabbiGoldenberg

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #289 on: November 17, 2015, 08:10:52 PM »
It's been pretty warm all week and the snow on the ground is all melted. It's hard to imagine that in a week, the grassi lakes will be frozen, grotto canyon unpassable, or the trails so snowy you just can't go. Worst case, you'll buy a pair of snowshoes grom the local Marshals

Offline Jm1248

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #290 on: November 19, 2015, 01:58:16 PM »
Thanks!

Offline RabbiGoldenberg

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #291 on: November 22, 2015, 01:55:03 AM »
Calgary has been unseasonably warm this November, but skiing conditions this year are best ever out west. Everything is open except a few places in BC, and there is record snowfall, all powder. Rent equipment near COP and take it to Kananaskis on day one. Banff will be spectacular.

Offline Jm1248

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #292 on: November 22, 2015, 02:39:45 AM »
Calgary has been unseasonably warm this November, but skiing conditions this year are best ever out west. Everything is open except a few places in BC, and there is record snowfall, all powder. Rent equipment near COP and take it to Kananaskis on day one. Banff will be spectacular.
Great! I can't rent equipment by Kananaskis? Why rent by COP?

Offline Jm1248

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #293 on: November 22, 2015, 02:43:14 AM »
Also, do you any info about the Lake Louise World Cup? I just found out it's going to be next weekend and I will be in that area on Sunday

Offline RabbiGoldenberg

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #294 on: November 22, 2015, 01:27:19 PM »
Don't know abt world cup, could be there are rental places there, just know there is one near COP which is on the way

Offline wayfe

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #295 on: December 06, 2015, 08:01:01 AM »
Anybody visit the Keyhole Springs? How accessable are they?
"I would rather have questions that can't be answered than answers which can't be questioned."
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Offline Jm1248

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #296 on: December 06, 2015, 03:19:08 PM »
Anybody visit the Keyhole Springs? How accessable are they?
http://forums.clubtread.com/27-british-columbia/49609-pebble-creek-keyhole-hot-springs-via-lilwatakwa7-trail.html
According to this it should be accessible although its a 5 mile hike

Offline high end hobo

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #297 on: February 10, 2016, 12:26:55 AM »
cheapest hotel with points in the Banff area?

Offline Ergel

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #298 on: February 10, 2016, 12:37:10 AM »
I think only points hotel in Banff is the Fairmont. Only other choice would be residence inn in Canmore
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Offline sams

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Re: Banff Master Thread
« Reply #299 on: February 10, 2016, 03:01:50 AM »
Quality inn 15 min away if have choice points