You'll fall in love with Banff National Park in the fall.
Sure, a late season fall camping trip is a bit of risk. I mean, this is Canada so you never know what the weather will be, but we were prepared for all of it.
The risk is worth it...
You'll fall in love with Banff National Park in the fall.
Sure, a late season fall camping trip is a bit of risk. I mean, this is Canada so you never know what the weather will be, but we were prepared for all of it.
The risk is worth it though because fall just might be the best time of year to explore Banff National Park in Alberta. The golden fall colours of the trees contrasting against the snow-capped mountains and the blue of the waters and the sky is stunning.
Lucky for us, we took a chance and were rewarded with a spectacular weekend enjoying the sites, hunting for golden larches and enjoying a post-hike warmup at Radium Hot Springs across the border in BC.
Two Jack Lakeside Campground is a very popular campground near the Town of Banff. It 64 large and well treed unserviced sites as well as 22 walk-in tent sites and 10 oTentiks. This is our favourite campground in the area. To get a spot here we...
Two Jack Lakeside Campground is a very popular campground near the Town of Banff. It 64 large and well treed unserviced sites as well as 22 walk-in tent sites and 10 oTentiks. This is our favourite campground in the area. To get a spot here we had to book the day Banff National Park front country reservations opened in January!
There is a nice, leisurely trail that runs through the Two Jack Lakeside Campground to a day use area and viewpoint. The trail follows along the shoreline.
The Two Jack Trail from our campground to this viewpoint was just over 3km round trip. If you aren't up for the walk and still want to watch the sunset, you can always drive up the road towards Lake Minnewanka to get to this spot too.
The Vista Lake Trail is 2.7km round trip. It begins with a 165m descent to the lake which means you will have a 165m climb out of the valley at the end of your hike. Fortunately, the views and fall colours are great.
There are some amazing views along the Arnica Trail in Banff National Park. From here you can see a weather system starting to roll in....good thing we brought our daypacks with everything we will need.
A quick change into something more waterproof and a stop to capture the same viewpoint that we stopped at earlier...although the view was gone this time as the snow fell.
Is there a better way to warm up after am 11km hike through snow and rain than to hit Radium Hot Springs? We think not.
Radium Hot Springs is an hour down the road from the Vista & Arnica Lake Trailhead. The drive leads through another beautiful...
Is there a better way to warm up after am 11km hike through snow and rain than to hit Radium Hot Springs? We think not.
Radium Hot Springs is an hour down the road from the Vista & Arnica Lake Trailhead. The drive leads through another beautiful Rocky Mountain Park, Kootenay National Park. The hot springs are just over the border into British Columbia.
The Cascade Gardens at the Parks Administration Building in the Town of Banff are beautiful all year. Banff's very own secret gardens we built nearly a century ago and a just as beautiful today as they were then. This is an ideal spot for a quiet...
The Cascade Gardens at the Parks Administration Building in the Town of Banff are beautiful all year. Banff's very own secret gardens we built nearly a century ago and a just as beautiful today as they were then. This is an ideal spot for a quiet picnic on a gorgeous fall day.
For over 100 years, the Banff Fur Trading Post has been 'THE' spot for authentic Indigenous arts, crafts, jewelry, moccasins and mukluks. The Trading Post is famous for more than one reason though. It is also home to the mummified remains of a...
For over 100 years, the Banff Fur Trading Post has been 'THE' spot for authentic Indigenous arts, crafts, jewelry, moccasins and mukluks. The Trading Post is famous for more than one reason though. It is also home to the mummified remains of a merman! According to legend, the Merman is from Lake Minnewanka meaning the Lake of Spirits.
The Bow River Trail is a mostly paved trail located in the heart of downtown Banff. Portions are wheelchair accessible and there are plenty of benches to rest at along the way. This trail connects to Fenland, Legacy, Hoodoos, and Bow Falls trails...
The Bow River Trail is a mostly paved trail located in the heart of downtown Banff. Portions are wheelchair accessible and there are plenty of benches to rest at along the way. This trail connects to Fenland, Legacy, Hoodoos, and Bow Falls trails for those looking to lengthen their adventure.
Cascade Ponds is a beautiful park just outside of Banff along the road to Lake Minnewanka. There are a few small ponds connect by a 1km trail and few pedestrian bridges with beautiful views of Cascade Mountain. This is another great spot for a...
Cascade Ponds is a beautiful park just outside of Banff along the road to Lake Minnewanka. There are a few small ponds connect by a 1km trail and few pedestrian bridges with beautiful views of Cascade Mountain. This is another great spot for a picnic and an ideal place to spend an afternoon.
It was nice having the opportunity to visit Johnson Lake again and to see the beautiful views. We were here for a snowshoe last winter, but it was in the middle of a snowstorm. Johnson Lake is one of the warmest lakes in Banff, so it is a popular...
It was nice having the opportunity to visit Johnson Lake again and to see the beautiful views. We were here for a snowshoe last winter, but it was in the middle of a snowstorm. Johnson Lake is one of the warmest lakes in Banff, so it is a popular water sports and picnicking destination.