Lonely Planet Banff, Jasper and Glacier National Parks

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• Publisher: Lonely Planet
• Year: 2020
• Print ISBN: 9781786575920
• eBook ISBN: 9781788689564

Lonely Planet: The world's number one travel guide publisher Lonely Planet's Banff, Jasper & Glacier National Park is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Hike Banff's backcountry, mountain bike in Jasper and spot bears in Glacier - all with your trusted travel companion. Get to the heart of Banff, Jasper & Glacier National Park and begin your journey now! Inside Lonely Planet's Banff, Jasper & Glacier National Park: Colour maps and images throughout Highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests Insider tips to save you time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots and being safe and responsible Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, prices, transit tips, emergency information, park seasonality, and hiking trail junctions, viewpoints, landscapes, elevations, distances, difficulty levels, durations Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, camping, sight-seeing, going out, shopping, summer and winter activities, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss Cultural insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - history, geology, wildlife, conservation Covers Banff National Park, Jasper National Park, Glacier National Park, Lake Louise, Lake Minnewanka, Bow Valley, Backcountry, Kananaskis Country, Lake O'Hara, Jasper Town, Blackfeet Indian Reservation, and more The Perfect Choice: Lonely Planet's Banff, Jasper & Glacier National Park is our most comprehensive guide to Banff, Jasper & Glacier National Parks, and is perfect for discovering both popular and off-the-beaten-path experiences. About Lonely Planet: Lonely Planet is a leading travel media company and the world's number one travel guidebook brand, providing both inspiring and trustworthy information for every kind of traveler since 1973. 'Lonely Planet guides are, quite simply, like no other.' - New York Times 'Lonely Planet. It's on everyone's bookshelves, it's in every traveler's hands. It's on mobile phones. It's on the Internet. It's everywhere, and it's telling entire generations of people how to travel the world.' - Fairfax Media (Australia)eBook Features: (Best viewed on tablet devices and smartphones) Downloadable PDF and offline maps prevent roaming and data charges Effortlessly navigate and jump between maps and reviews Add notes to personalise your guidebook experience Seamlessly flip between pages Bookmarks and speedy search capabilities get you to key pages in a flash Embedded links to recommendations' websites Zoom-in maps and images Inbuilt dictionary for quick referencing Important Notice: The digital edition of this book may not contain all of the images found in the physical edition.

Banff National Park

Day Hikes

Banff Town & Around

Lake Louise & Around

Icefields Parkway

Overnight Hikes

Driving

Cycling

Other Activities

Sights

Tours

Sleeping

Eating

Drinking & Entertainment

Shopping

Banff National Park

Why Go?

In the hit parade of top sights in Canada, Banff justifiably ranks as many people’s number one. As much a piece of Canadian history as a natural wonder, the nation’s oldest national park, founded in 1885, is what Canada is all about: a feral, but largely accessible, wilderness that attempts to cater for everyone – and largely succeeds – from bus-tour seniors to hard-core mountaineers.

Indeed, one of the great beauties of Banff is its juxtaposition of the untamed and the civilized. Grizzly bears roam within growling distance of diners clinking cocktails at the romantic Banff Springs Hotel, while weary hikers fresh from summit attempts queue up for ice cream with golfers clutching nine irons. Striking a clever balance between yin and yang, Banff is a park with two distinct personalities. Popcorn on Banff Ave or rehydrated soup at a backcountry campground in the middle of nowhere? Take your pick – or enjoy both!

Road Distance (KM)

Best Hikes

A Healy Pass

A Plain of Six Glaciers

A Larch Valley

A Cory Pass Loop

Best Places to Stay

A Skoki Lodge

A Fairmont Banff Springs

A Paradise Lodge & Bungalows

A Buffaloberry

Entrances

There are four main road entrances into Banff National Park. All are open year-round, weather permitting. The main East Gate is on Trans-Canada Hwy 1, 7km (4.3 miles) west of Canmore, and has manned tollbooths where you can purchase park passes (they all accept cash, cards and check). If you already have a pass, you can use the right-hand lane to avoid queuing at the tollbooths. The other park entrances are on Trans-Canada Hwy 1 eastbound from Yoho National Park, Hwy 93 northbound from Kootenay National Park, and Hwy 93 southbound from the Icefields Pkwy. If you’re driving, remember to hang your pass from your rearview mirror so that park staff know you’ve already paid.

DON’T MISS

A major lure of the Lake Louise area is its two hike-in teahouses built in the first half of the 20th century by some of the park’s early pioneers. Moderate but well-trodden trails to each establishment help hikers get away from the intense clamor of the lakeside and into a calmer, more serendipitous realm.

The Lake Agnes Teahouse sits 3.5km up a steep-ish trail in a hanging valley beside a beautiful lake. It was built in 1901 by the Canadian Pacific Railway and has been serving tea and other snacks (including scones) since 1905. The Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse is within viewing distance of the Victoria Glacier (behold the thunderous avalanches) at the head of Lake Louise. It was constructed by Swiss guides in 1927 and has been in the tea business since 1959. The 5.5km trail to reach it is slightly gentler than the Lake Agnes trek.

Both teahouses sit at 2100m above sea level. Neither has electricity nor road access; supplies are brought in by foot, horse or helicopter.

When You Arrive

A Buy your park pass from the tollbooths at Banff’s East Gate or from a park visitor center. Daily passes cost C$9.80/8.30/19.60 per adult/senior/family. Children 17 years and under get free admission.

A Check the latest trail reports at the Banff Information Centre or online at www.pc.gc.ca/apps/tcond/cond_e.asp?opark=100092.

A Some campgrounds operate on a first-come, first-served system: arrive early at your chosen site (ideally by 11am) for the best chance of securing a pitch.

PLANNING TIPS

Accommodations in Banff and Lake Louise are expensive and scarce in summer, so book early. To cut costs, avoid peak months or stay outside the park.

Fast Facts

Area 6641 sq km (2564 sq miles)

Highest elevation 3618m (11,870ft)

Lowest elevation 1310m (4297ft)

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Table of contents

• Contents
• Welcome to Banff, Jasper & Glacier
• Banff, Jasper & Glacier’s Top 20
• Need to Know
• What’s New
• If You Like…
• Month by Month
• Itineraries
• Activities
• Family Travel
• Travel with Pets
• Banff National Park
• Around Banff National Park
• Jasper National Park
• Glacier National Park
• Around Glacier National Park
• Waterton Lakes National Park
• Understand Banff, Jasper & Glacier
• The Parks Today
• History
• Geology
• Wildlife
• Conservation
• Health & Safety
• Clothing & Equipment
• Directory A–Z
• Transportation
• Behind the Scenes
• Our Writers