You know those bucket list locations that you drool over pictures of, but secretly wonder if they really look like that? Banff does. The bluest lakes and highest mountains draw people from all over the world to this sliver of heaven. If you ever get the chance to go, do it! And if not, I hope these pictures are a reminder of the unmatched creativity, splendor, and beauty of our Great Creator.
I feel our family hit a great itinerary this week, but that was in large part due to research done beforehand! Tips we got from blogs and quick google searches made a huge difference...it's shocking how few people actually put in the time to search things out. Hopefully I can pass on a couple tips to you through our itinerary.
Grassi Lakes Hike, Canmore Reservoir, and Whiteman's Pond
We stayed in Canmore, a town about 30 minutes outside the town of Banff. It was less crowded and had some killer smoothie cafes! Our first full day we decided to stick in Canmore to hike Grassi Lakes. The first incredible view was overlooking the bright blue Canmore Reservoir. Then we hit an awesome waterfall, and we weren't even to the main attraction yet! Grassi Lakes were two pools of the CLEAREST water I have ever seen. I could see logs in the water straight through to the bottom.
Tip: After you reach Grassi Lakes, if you go up and cross underneath the water pipes, there is a trail to Whiteman's Pond. It's a best kept secret, and we had the place to OURSELVES! We skipped rocks, played baseball with sticks, and soaked up the solitude. Definitely worth the extra 15 minutes to get there!
Two Jack Lake and Johnson Lake
We rented inflatable paddleboards and kayaks in Canmore from Bow Valley Surf. They were great, and helped us pack our rental van tight. We started on Two Jack Lake and took a picnic, nap break, and found a hammocking spot.
Fun Fact: there's a rope swing hanging from a tree on Johnson lake (see 2nd to last picture in slide show). Ashlyn (my sister) and I did it! Dare you to go to Johnson lake and do it :)
Bears and Bow Lake
On the drive to Peyto lake we had a couple wildlife encounters! We got an awesome view of this bear by the road. We also stopped by Bow lake which was a little different from most areas we saw due to the glacier/ice formation near top of the mountain. Worth a stop for sure!
Peyto Lake
Ahh Peyto Lake. I think at the end we all agreed this was our favorite...definitely a CAN'T MISS. The viewing is all from above the lake, but the bright blue is hard to beat.
Tip: After a short hike, you'll reach a viewing area, likely crawling with people. KEEP GOING! Within a few more minutes there is a rocky viewing area only a few people continue to. This was one of the best things we found out in researching before the trip. We even continued a few more minutes and found an area we had to OURSELVES for about 30 minutes, where most of these pictures were taken.
Moraine Lake
It's no surprise Moraine Lake is one of the most photographed lakes in the world. The deepest blue water of any of these lakes, colorful canoes, mountain backdrop, and massive tree-line make snapping an amazing picture an easy task. Parking fills up, so it's best to head to Moraine in morning or evening. These pictures were taken on our way back from Peyto as clouds from a rainstorm rolled out.
Sunshine Village Hike and Gondola
The Sunshine Village hike was unlike any I've ever been on. It seriously felt like a magical forestland and I don't know quite how to explain it. The pictures don't do it justice! We took the Gondola up the mountain and then hiked around the lakes you can see in the pictures. It felt like a movie scene and a lot like what I would imagine Switzerland to feel like. For a unique experience, I would not miss this!!
Lake Louise and Hike to Mirror Lake, Lake Agnes, and Little Beehive
We woke up really early one day to view sunset on Lake Louise and the serene reflection before the canoes went out was one of my favorite views of the trip. Lake Louise parking also fills, so like Moraine, it's best to get there early or late. On Lake Agnes hike we reached mirror lake, which is more like a pond. Continuing up the mountain, you'll reach Lake Agnes, which had an INCREDIBLE reflection. No filter on these pictures guys! This is all legit. The Lake Agnes Tea House is a fun stop to hang out and drink some tea on the top of a mountain! There is a wait, but it's a unique experience and I figure if someone is going to go to the effort to fly tea up a mountain, I sure as anything am gonna drink it :)
We continued up on the Little Beehive trail which gives a great view of Lake Louise from above. There is also a Big Beehive trail but we were encouraged that the view is better from Little Beehive, so we went that way!
Tip: Taking a bit of a different trail back (follow a map) leads around the back side of Lake Louise and although it's a bit longer, a decent chunk at the end is a flat walk by the lake! This gives a great view of the iconic Fairmont Hotel. On the back side is clay that people walk out on to get pictures that kinda look like standing on the middle of the lake...if you can stand the cold water!
Amazon Gear I ACTUALLY Use
We got almost all of our paddle boarding pictures THROUGH these protective phone pouches! And we tested total submersion with a Kleenex inside...100% dry!
This lightweight hiking bag goes EVERYWHERE with me...and is the perfect size for my Eno and straps. Definitely recommend.
If you haven't gotten on the hammocking bandwagon, what. are. you. doing? Seriously, I use mine all the time and it's definitely a purchase you won't regret!
This is a trip I will never forget. If you're reading this because you are about to head to Banff, I'm so excited for you! I hope these tips help a ton. And if you're just reading for fun, THANK YOU! And I hope you'll add Banff to your bucket list :)
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