Long Weekend in Banff

Banff is so close to the western US, just a 2.5 hour flight from Salt Lake City! Instead of spending the weekend in LA or Jackson, Banff will blow your mind. It feels like Europe although without the price tag. Its mountains are around the same elevation, 11,000 ft as others in Colorado and Utah but many were carved with glaciers which makes them steeper and look more grandiose. Others have long parallel ridges that look like they were uprooted from the ground, exposing sedimentary layers like limestone and shale.

Here is a long weekend Itinerary:

Day 1

Hike Johnston Canyon - a beautiful gorge with waterfalls. 3.4 miles round trip. Starts at Johnston Canyon Resort on Bow Valley Parkway. Ink Pots 2 more miles. Trial can get crowded, leave early.

Take the Mt. Norquay Chairlift, see views of the Banff valley, each lunch at the top. This is better than other chairlifts and gives you a panoramic view of the area.

Visit Banff Hot Springs

Dinner in Banff and explore the town.

Day 2

Lake Louise Day (go early and make reservations to beat crowds).

See Fairmont Hotel, lunch at Whitehorn Bistro. Hike from top to Consolation Lake or hike to Lake Agnes Treehouse where they serve tea and pie at the top. Take gondola to top, see Moraine Lake.

Hike the kid freindly Bow Glacier Falls.

Day 3

Drive up the Icefield Parkway. See map here

Stops: Must see - Bow Lake (great at dusk to see animals, Payto Lake Hike, Glacier Skywalk Experience, Big Hill and Big Bend viewpoint.

Optional - Saskatchewan, Athabasca or Crowfoot Glaciers, Weeping Wall, Parker Ridge Trail, and Athabasca Falls.

Bonus Day 4

Big Canoe on Bow River, Canoe dock on the corner of Wolf street and Bow avenue, or River raft in Kananaski. http://www.chinookrafting.com, http://www.rafting.ca, http://www.raftbanff.com 

Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel - historic hotel with a 5 pin bowling alley - call to make a reservation.

Here is some more info and logistics.

Drive times:

Canmore to Banff is a 30 minute drive.

Lake Louise 40 min from Banff

Lake Louise 1 hour from Canmore.

Places to Eat:

Banff Ave Brewing Company

Bow Valley Grill

Ice Cream at Cows

High Tea at the Fairmont

Hotels

We stayed at the Hidden Ridge Resort. If you can splurge and find a reservation the Fairmont Lake Louise and Banff Springs are incredible.