10 Summer Road Trips You Won't Want To Miss From Banff National Park
Elouise Paabo
Banff is one of the most famous little hubs in North America, laden with young Aussie tourists trying to live their working holiday dream of partying and snowboarding.
However, the short summer brings an entirely different experience to the postcard famous destination.
With the overwhelming amount of tourists that fill up Banff avenue, it’s the perfect time to escape to the mountains and find those undiscovered gems that make Banff National Park and the surrounding areas one of the most beautiful in the world.
1. Sunshine Village
Sunshine Village is a great getaway in the summer, as for some reason the everyday tourist is unaware that you can access the resort in the summer, so you’ll only be greeted by those passionate about the alpine life. With lakes beyond that visible from the chairlifts, you can actually walk further than you can ski in the winter months. Hiking gives an entirely new feel to the ski resort and you’ll likely find an array of animals that usually hibernate in the winter such as the local Sunshine Village bear. Perhaps if you're lucky you’ll even see a moose.
2. Johnson Lake
Just a 10 minute drive from Banff, you’ll find yourself in a magical oasis with a glistening lake full of people enjoying the many water activities the lake has to offer. Stand up paddle boarding, canoeing and lying on blow-up water beds you’ll want to soak up that warm summer sun knowing it won’t be long before the snow returns and you’ll be strapping up your snowboard boots.
3. Grassi Lakes
About a 20 minute drive from Banff and only a few minutes away from downtown Canmore, hides two small lakes that are as green as Mountain Dew you’ll want to have a sip. You’ll do a short 30 minute hike up a pretty steep hill which can be challenging if there is snow about, but once you find the lakes, it will be like finding your very own Narnia. Immerse in this newfound world of yours and you won’t want to leave.
4. Mount Bourgeou
One of the lesser known hikes yet one of the closest hikes to downtown Banff is the Mount Bourgeou scramble. It will take you about 10 minutes to drive to the trailhead and once you start hiking it can be easy to feel like you're not going anywhere with endless switchbacks hidden among the trees. But eventually when you go past the tree line, you’ll feel like you’re walking in the clouds. The first stop at the top of the mountain you’ll find two small but gorgeous lakes. In exhaustion, it can be tempting to stop the hike here, but with a challenging yet rewarding scramble you can go all the way to the very top and although it can be windy up there, you’ll see views of the entire Goats Eye mountain and Sunshine Village ski resort. So if you're a ski bum like myself, you’ll be over the moon to see the ski resort from a completely new perspective.
5. Fernie
One of the most beautiful drives you will ever do in your life is the four hour drive between Banff National Park and Fernie. After a four hour drive in the summer, you’ll want to cool down and the best place for that is at Silver Spring Lake where you’ll find something for everyone. Either cool down by the water and relax on the rocks while soaking in the view, or take the more extreme option and go cliff jumping. Most people who love the mountain life pick the second option. During the long summer days take a hike to Spineback Ridge where you’ll walk along a narrow ridge and really push the senses while you feel literally on top of the world.
6. Bow River Banff
Located right on the doorstep of downtown Banff you can take a 5 minute walk and find an escape from the chaos that is Banff in the summertime. If you've got a spare afternoon, take a walk down to the Bow River and you can sit and watch the animals for hours on end, feeling like Snow White walking through the forest you’ll easily make friends with a deer or two. If you’re feeling up for another 20 minutes of walking you’ll find, Surprise Point Lookout which gives you a stunning view of the Banff Fairmont Hotel. If you didn’t already feel like you were in a fairytale you will now.
7. Moraine Lake
If you've ever seen a photo of Canada with an insanely bright blue lake, it’s most likely you saw a photo of Moraine Lake. The best time of day to come to Moraine Lake is sunrise so you’ll miss the crowds of tourists but you’ll also see something so beautiful you'll realise every inch of hard work that got you to Canada was worth the wait. Take an easy 5 kilometre hike on the Consolation Lakes trail where you’ll wander through a magical forest only to be met by another hidden lake in a valley of rocks. You’ll think you stepped back in time 66 million years ago to the Dinosaur age.
8. Whistler Ski Resort
If you're looking for a true summer adventure head out to Whistler Ski Resort this summer. Although it’s famous for its incredible ski runs, in summer you’ll be greeted with mountain biking, hiking, rafting and you can catch the PEAK2PEAK Gondola which takes you from Whistler mountain to Blackcomb mountain, offering 360 degree views of the beautiful world of Whistler Village. The Gondola has a glass floor so you better not be scared of heights as it holds the world record for the longest Gondola between two towers. You’ll find yourself suspended in the air for 4.5 kilometres soaking in the incredible views beneath you.
9. Twin Lakes Hike
Only a two hour drive from Banff, you’ll exit Alberta and enter British Columbia. Nestled among the mountains and the forest, you’ll find two of the most stunning lakes you've ever seen. After hiking 463 feet in elevation from the parking lot, take a refreshing dip in either lake as you’ll likely have the place to yourself at this hidden gem.
10. Icefields Parkway Jasper
Driving through the Icefields Parkway from Banff to Jasper you’ll be hugged by beautiful mountains, rivers, waterfalls and glaciers on either side of you as you take one of the most scenic drives in the world. The first time I did this drive I saw my first bear in Canada, as well as three baby cubs, it was something else. This is definitely a drive where you won’t want to forget your camera at home, even though any photo will be incapable of capturing the true beauty of this unforgettable drive.
