How to Spend the PERFECT Week in Banff, Yoho, and Jasper

Seven days might seem too short to soak up everything Banff, Jasper, and Yoho have to offer, but it’s just about the average duration most travelers spend exploring this incredible region. Luckily, a week is still enough to experience a breathtaking sampling of the area’s beauty.

If you’re planning your adventure and haven’t quite nailed down your Canadian Rockies itinerary, we’ve got you covered. This sample seven-day itinerary is designed to help you maximize your time in the mountains. It highlights the iconic sights of Banff and Jasper, with a scenic one day detour through Yoho’s waterfalls, emerald lakes, and rugged alpine charm. This Banff itinerary strikes a balance—packed with memorable experiences, yet designed to keep things stress-free and efficient.

Day 1 – Arrive and Stay in Banff

Stroll Banff Avenue

Woohoo! You have arrived in Banff, which means you can now officially begin your vacation. Whether you checked into your hotel late last night or this is your first day, it’s time to tackle the day in Banff.

First, we recommend that all first-time visitors to Banff get acquainted with Banff Avenue. Strolling down Banff Avenue is well worth a few hours of your time. Grab a coffee from Sudden Sally or Whitebark and begin to wander. Take a bit of time to stroll into all the stores on Banff Avenue and soak up the atmosphere. There are plenty of inexpensive souvenir shops, but there are also some truly unique places to shop. We love venturing into All in the Wild Gallery and Rocky Mountain Soap!

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Walk to Cascade Gardens

From Downtown Banff, walk all the way to the end of Banff Avenue. This is where you will see a beautiful brick building. Built in 1937, it is Parks Canada’s first administration building and the largest structure of its type within Canada’s national parks. It symbolizes the development and progress of Canada’s first national park.

You can take a great photo of Banff Avenue from the Administration Building, with Cascade Mountain looming above it. If it’s summer, you’ll also notice beautiful, well-cared-for flowers everywhere. That’s because this stop is the Cascade of Time Garden, so make sure to take some time and smell the roses, enjoy the gazebo, and admire the flora and fauna (please leave no trace).

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Walk to Bow Falls

From Cascade Gardens, continue your walk to Bow Falls via the Bow Falls Trail. In just 20 minutes, you will reach one of the most stunning waterfalls in Banff. At 9 meters high, it’s not a tall waterfall in Alberta by any means, but it is still one of the best attractions that’s walkable from Downtown Banff.

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Enjoy Lunch in Banff

Either try your luck at getting a table at Waldhaus Pub & Biergarten at the Banff Springs Hotel near Bow Falls or walk back to Downtown Banff via the Bow Falls Trail for lunch. A few of our favorite lunch spots are Nourish Bistro, Three Bears Brewery, and Hankki (for affordable eats!).

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Drive Lake Minnewanka Scenic Road

After lunch, we recommend hopping in the car for one of the most scenic drives in the Rockies! Along this 24 km route, you’ll hit four stunning lakes. The first is Cascade Ponds, situated directly beneath Cascade Mountain. After continue on to Johnson Lake, where you can enjoy a nice, gentle walk around the lake if you want more walking.

The next point of interest is the famous Two Jack Lake, where you’ll get a different view of Mount Rundle. It’s a great place to get out on the water if you happen to have a paddleboard or kayak. *Note that there are no rentals here. After Two Jack, continue driving to Lake Minnewanka, the largest lake in Banff at 21 km long and 142 meters deep.

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Evening Cruise on Lake Minnewanka

If you’ve followed this Banff itinerary so far, your first day has already been long, so this next suggestion is totally optional. However, it’s a fun evening out on the water that breaks up a day of walking.

The Lake Minnewanka Cruise is a one-hour panoramic cruise that takes you around the lake. These cruises head to Devil’s Gap at the end of Lake Minnewanka and then return. It’s a stunning way to take in the surroundings. If you’re on an adult adventure and love beer, then you can only enjoy the Lake Minnewanka Beer Voyage Cruise in the summer. This 90-minute cruise runs daily at 5:00 p.m. and allows guests to enjoy local craft brews while taking in the views.

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Free option! If you want a beautiful hike around Lake Minnewanka, the short hike to Stewart Canyon is a good one. This is a short 6km round trip hike to and down Stewart Canyon. Most of the trail follows along Lake Minnewanka for epic views the entire time. Eventually, the trail reaches a wooden bridge over Stewart Canyon and the Cascade River, offering a beautiful view down the canyon. The trail is well-graded and has almost no elevation gain, making it great for getting the legs moving without pumping the heart too much. It’s a great area to spot some wildlife, but be sure to carry bear spray and check for trail closures.

Enjoy Dinner in Banff

There’s no shortage of restaurants in Banff to enjoy. A few of our favorites are Banff Social, Bluebird, Fat Ox, Good Folk, and Hello Sunshine!

Day 2 – Explore the Park!

Morning at Sunshine Meadows

The Sunshine Gondola offers exceptional lift-assisted hiking in Banff National Park. The scenic gondola transports hikers to a high alpine landscape renowned for its outstanding mountain views, alpine lakes, and abundant wildflowers. We love the gondola because it provides hikers access to a otherwise difficult-to-reach alpine environment. If you’re visiting in July and August, this is one of the best places to see the gorgeous alpine wildflowers pop!

Plan to spend 4-5 hours hiking around this area. Once you are at the top of the lift, there are a myriad of hiking trails you can enjoy. It’s very well signposted and hikes range from easy to difficult.

Not much of a hiker – check out the Banff Gondola! The Banff Gondola is near Downtown Banff and has many attractions and exhibits at the top. On top of the Banff Gondola guests can walk the wooden boardwalk to Sanson’s Peak.

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Rent Bikes and go for a Spin

After the gondola, it’s natural that you may be a bit tired from hiking. If so, a great activity to do is rent a bike or e-bike and take a cruise around Downtown Banff. We recommend heading to the Fairmont Banff Springs golf course, where there is a nice paved biking path you can enjoy. You can easily rent bikes from Banff Cycle.

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Dinner Downtown

If you are looking for a nice night out in Banff, consider reserving a table at Brazen, Fat Ox, Good Folk, or Bluebird.

After Dinner View at Surprise Corner

Surprise Corner is one of the quickest free things to do in Banff. You can walk here, but driving or biking to the viewpoint is the easiest option. Here, you will find amazing views of the Bow and Spray Valley, including the best vantage point of the iconic Banff Springs Hotel, one of the best hotels in Banff. If you want to venture out on an easy hike, you can also go on a 7.7km hike through the Hoodoos from Surprise Corner.

Day 3 – Moraine Lake and Lake Louise

Nearly every first-time visitor to Banff has Moraine Lake and Lake Louise on their Banff itinerary, and rightfully so! They are some of the most beautiful lakes in the world and today is the day to go and see them.

It’s essential to note that, being so beautiful, they are very busy and popular, and accessing them requires some advance planning. If you’re reading this itinerary well before your trip, it’s time to start thinking about how you’ll get to Moraine Lake and Lake Louise. You cannot drive and park at Moraine Lake, and parking is extremely limited at Lake Louise to the point where we don’t even recommend trying to drive there during the summer months.

For that reason, we recommend people start looking into all the ways to get to Moraine Lake and Lake Louise. The most popular option are the Parks Canada shuttle buses, which must be booked in advance. Plenty of private tour operators will also take you to the iconic lakes. We cover how to get to Moraine Lake and Lake Louise extensively on the blog, so please check out these articles for further reading.

• How to Get to Moraine Lake
• How to Get to Lake Louise
• All About the Moraine Lake Shuttle

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Sunrise at Moraine Lake

Many visitors have seeing Moraine Lake at sunrise high on their list. To do this, you can either book the Parks Canada Alpine Start Shuttle in advance, look into a private full-day tour, like this one offered by Radventures, take a shuttle from Banff or Canmore like Via Via, or book the private Moraine Lake Bus Company Shuttle Bus.

Whether or not you catch Moraine Lake at sunrise, there are many things to do in the area. Once at Moraine Lake, it’s all about hiking or canoeing on the lake. One of our favorite easy hikes is to Consolation Lakes, which takes approximately 2-3 hours round trip. For a more challenging experience, consider hiking to Sentinel Pass, which will take most of the day.

However, you don’t have to hike around Moraine Lake, and you don’t have to catch it at sunrise either. Another fun activity is canoeing on Moraine Lake. Canoe rentals operate on a first-come, first-served basis and generally start operations around 8:30-9am.

If canoeing isn’t for you, consider taking an hour to head up the Rockpile Trail, which offers a world-class view of Moraine Lake and the Ten Peaks behind it.

Lake Louise

It’s recommended to take one day to see both Moraine Lake and Lake Louise since they are in the same area. You can easily connect the two via the Parks Canada Lake Connector Bus (you must have a shuttle reservation). If you have booked a tour or private shuttle, such as Fairview Limo, nearly all private tours include both Moraine Lake and Lake Louise on their schedules.

Many visitors to Lake Louise simply walk the lakeshore, but you can enjoy plenty of hiking there if you did not do so at Moraine Lake. The most popular is the Lake Agnes Teahouse Trail. If you decide to hike to Lake Agnes, you can continue and get great views from the Beehives. You could also continue your hike up to Mount Saint Piran, or to the Plain of Six Glaciers. There are lots of hike options around Lake Louise!

If you’re not up for a hike, the other popular activity is to rent a canoe from the Boathouse and enjoy the lake from the water.

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Optional Hike to Marble Canyon

If you’re staying Downtown Banff, you will have to travel back to Banff after your epic Lake Louise and Moraine Lake day. This next option is only for those with energy, as it involves detouring on the Banff Windermere Highway and driving into beautiful Kootenay National Park. Far from the madding crowds of the popular Johnston Canyon, it’s here you can find Marble Canyon. This is an excellent alternative for those wanting a quieter yet accessible canyon hike that can be completed quickly after a day at Moraine Lake and Lake Louise.

Note: This day could be made easier if you choose to stay one night in Lake Louise. There are many reasons to stay in Lake Louise over Banff. But for today, it’s great for having better access to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake and for easier access to the Icefields Parkway. For a luxury stay, we recommend The Fairmont, and for a cabin stay we recommend Paradise Lodge.

Day 4 – Drive the Icefields Parkway to Jasper

Rise and shine! We recommend waking up early again today. Today is the day you’re going to drive one of the most beautiful drives in the world. If you’re staying in Lake Louise, you’ll be able to get an earlier start to your day, as the start of the Icefields Parkway is just a few km from Lake Louise. If you’re staying in Banff, you’ll have about an hour of extra driving time.

The Icefields Parkway, also known as Hwy 93 North, is a scenic drive connecting Banff and Jasper that attracts visitors from around the world. One can enjoy a drive in nature, surrounded by waterfalls, rock spires, ancient glaciers, and turquoise lakes.

This 232 km double-lane highway runs along the Continental Divide. It will take the entire day to drive the whole thing, and you definitely won’t see everything. We’ve driven this route many times and still always see new things along the drive. We cover the Icefields Parkway extensively on this blog, and we recommend you check out our massive guide of places to stop at along the way. Some of our favorites are:

• Herbert Lake
• Bow Lake
• Peyto Lake
• Mistaya Canyon
• Panther Falls
• Boundary Lake
• Tangle Creek Falls
• Stanley Falls
• Sunwapta Falls
• Athabasca Falls

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Optional Hike Parker Ridge or Wilcox Pass

If you want to break up your day driving with a nice long hike, there are two we’d recommend. Both are near the halfway point of the road trip.

Parker Ridge is my favorite hike along the Parkway, and I recommend it to most people who have a few hours to spare and want to go hiking. The Trailhead is situated not far from the Columbia Icefields Centre. Hikers can reach the ridge after a gradual 2.5 km (one-way) climb on an easy and well-marked trail, with no technical or scrambling required.

The other great hike option would be Wilcox Pass. This is also near the Columbia Icefield Centre and provides excellent views over the Athabasca Glacier.

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Optional: Athabasca Glacier Tour

Right on the Banff/Jasper border is the Athabasca Glacier. Here, there are many tour offerings to enjoy on the glacier, which is great if you’ve never seen a glacier before. Stopping here is another nice way to break up the drive, have lunch, and get your feet moving. Tour offerings here include:

• The Icefields Explorer experience is where you can take massive vehicles out on the Athabasca Glacier. This is a hit with families!
• The Columbia Icefield Skywalk: The Skywalk is included in the Columbia Icefield Glacier Adventure Tour package with the Icefield Explorer vehicles. This is where you walk on a glass-bottomed platform over the Sunwapta Valley.
• Icewalk: You don’t have to take the massive Ice Explorer vehicles to walk on the Glacier. Instead, you can book an Ice walk tour if you are fit and able. An Ice Walk tour is a much more personal experience, with a certified guide who will safely take you on the glacier and provide insights and explanations of what you are looking at. We highly recommend booking an Ice Walk tour and not trying to walk on the glacier yourself, which can be very unsafe.
• Ice Odyssey: A more expensive but intimate experience is offered through the Ice Odyssey tour. This is a fully interactive glacier experience where you will venture out onto the glacier with a small group. You’ll have an extended amount of time to ask questions and learn about the geology for nearly an hour.

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Dinner on Pyramid Lake

By the time you roll into Jasper, it’s been a pretty long day on the road. It’s time for dinner and a cold beverage. There are plenty of restaurants to enjoy downtown. Our favorites include Jasper Brewing, the Maligne Range, and Terra. If you are searching for something a bit more special, head up to Pyramid Lake and make reservations at Aalto.

Day 5 – Jasper Day

Enjoy Downtown Jasper

Spend the morning wandering the streets of Downtown Jasper. Pay a visit to the Two Brothers Totem Pole and step inside the train station for a bit of interesting history. Make sure to grab a coffee at Snowdome Coffee and a light breakfast at Lostlands Cafe.

Drive Maligne Lake Road

Get in the car and get ready to tackle the most beautiful drive in Jasper, if not all the Canadian Rockies. Maligne Lake Road is a scenic drive that starts near Jasper and ends 46 kilometers at stunning Maligne Lake. Along the way, you’ll stop at some of the most beautiful sights in the park. You’ll want to allocate at least 6 hours for this entire drive with all the stops and time at Maligne Lake, but honestly, you could spend the whole day on this road.

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Stop at Medicine Lake

Medicine Lake is an easy pull-off where you can enjoy the views for 10-15 minutes. Though technically part of the Maligne River, it looks like a lake to the untrained eye, especially when it swells with water from the big thaw, which occurs in late spring and summer.

Many people are unaware that Medicine Lake is also known as the “disappearing lake,” as the water drains out through sinkholes at the bottom, travels through a cave system, and resurfaces downstream in the winter.

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Lunch at Maligne Lake

Eventually, you’ll come to a dead end on Maligne Lake Road, which is Maligne Lake. When you arrive at Maligne Lake, be sure to carve out some time in your schedule for lunch here. There are several food options available. The Lake House Café offers both grab-and-go food and hot food service. There’s also the Waffle Hut, which is pretty self-explanatory for the type of food they serve, and The View Restaurant is a sit-down restaurant right on the lake.

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Maligne Lake Cruise to Spirit Island

Maligne Lake is renowned worldwide for its scenic natural beauty. It’s the largest natural lake in the Canadian Rockies and a must on any Jasper itinerary.

The lake’s grandeur, as countless glaciers run off into the lake below from the Hall of Gods, is beyond compare. On a sunny day, the waters of Maligne Lake sparkle a dazzling cerulean blue. You can enjoy the lake from the lakeshore, but it’s best to book a cruise to Spirit Island to take in the area’s beauty.

The Maligne Lake Cruise is one of the most popular things to do in the Rockies, so booking in advance is essential. There are two options to book. The Classic Cruise is the standard option, lasting approximately 1.5 hours. It will take visitors to Spirit Island, where you can get out on the shore and enjoy the famous view for 15 minutes. Along the way, a knowledgeable guide will share information about the area’s past, including its significance to the Stoney Nakoda people, while you take in the stunning glacial views.

Some people want more time at Spirit Island, if this is you make sure to book the Premium Cruise ahead of time. This costs approximately $30 more and provides an additional 15 minutes (for a total of 45 minutes) at the Spirit Island viewpoint.

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Evening on Lac Beauvert

If you’re not completely “laked out” by now, head to one of the most beautiful lakes in Jasper (I say that a lot, but it’s true!). Edith, Annette, and Beauvert Lakes are all very close together, and you can easily enjoy all three in one day. My absolute favorite lake in Jasper is Lake Beauvert, which boasts some of the most transparent water I’ve ever seen and is an incredibly blue color.

Day 6 – Drive to Yoho National Park

If you have more time, it’s recommended to spend it in Jasper. However, this itinerary covers just a week. So, if this is all you have, then it’s time to head back in the car and get back on the Icefields Parkway, heading back the way you came. Stop off at any points along the road that you missed the first time and set the GPS for Takakkaw Falls.

Lunch at Truffle Pigs

This day might feel long as you’re coming from Jasper, so make sure to either pack a lunch or plan to stop at the well-revered Truffle Pigs restaurant in the town of Field.

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Stop at Tak Falls

Takakkaw Falls is at the end of the Yoho Valley Road. At 373 meters, it is the highest waterfall in the area, and even one of the tallest waterfalls in all of Canada. Unlike many amazing sights in the Rockies, this one requires very little effort to see.

Just a 5-minute walk from the parking area, you can get up close and personal with Tak Falls. Multiple picnic benches and chairs surround the area, allowing you to take in the scenic views of the Yoho Valley. We recommend spending 30 minutes to one hour here.

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Possible Hike to Laughing Falls

If you’re up for a bit more of a walk after a long drive, there’s a great one to another waterfall. Look for the trail to Laughing Falls from the Tak Falls parking lot. This 8km (round trip) hike will lead you to Laughing Falls, a much quieter, albeit not as impressive, waterfall. With minimal elevation gain, it should take less than 1 hour to reach the falls, but it will be a nice way to get some walking in and say you went for a hike in Yoho!

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Head to Emerald Lake

Emerald Lake is one of the finest lakes in the Canadian Rockies. Like Moraine Lake and Lake Louise, it’s popular but not nearly as busy as Banff’s famous lakes. Due to its popularity and limited parking, we highly recommend ending your day here to enjoy the lake without the crowds and experience a generally quieter time. If you want a nice walk, there’s a beautiful trail around the lakeshore.

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Stay Overnight at Emerald Lake Lodge or Cathedral Mountain Lodge

There are two nice lodges in the area that are well worth a stay if your budget allows. Emerald Lake Lodge is the only lodge on Emerald Lake, while Cathedral Mountain Lodge is located on Yoho Valley Road. Both provide that rustic Canadian lodge experience that is such a special find in the Canadian Rockies.

Day 7 – Spend the Day in Canmore

After your time in Yoho, it’s time to get closer to the Calgary Airport in preparation for your flight out. The best place to do this is in the beautiful mountain town of Canmore.

Head here for a relaxing afternoon strolling Main Street, grabbing a coffee at Eclipse, and taking in the views from the Canmore Engine Bridge and Policeman’s Creek Boardwalk. If you’re feeling like you want to go for a hike, check out Grassi Lakes or enjoy a scenic float trip down the Bow River with Canmore Float Tours.

Depending on the time of your flight, you can either choose to spend the night in Canmore or drive to Calgary and stay at an airport hotel to make your next morning a bit easier.

Things to Keep in Mind

You Need a Parks Pass

You need a National Park Pass to visit Banff and Jasper National Park. You can read more about getting one here.

A Car is Ideal for this Banff Itinerary

Although you can easily get around Downtown Banff without a vehicle, you’ll be best served by renting a car for most of this itinerary, especially in Jasper, where there is little public transport. That being said, it’s possible to reach many hot spots using Roam Transit, although you will be subject to their bus schedule and times, meaning you may not be able to make the most of your time here.

Book Hotels in Advance

In the summer, booking hotels in advance is imperative. It’s extremely busy here between June and September, and hotels do book out. The sooner you book, the better, and the better rates you will get! We have a great article if you’re curious where to stay in Banff.

This is a Summer Focused Itinerary

This Banff, Jasper, and Yoho itinerary is focused on visiting in the summer, between May and October. This is when attractions like the Sunshine Meadows Gondola and Maligne Lake Cruise are running, as well as when you’ll find unfrozen blue lakes, sunny days, and patios to enjoy.