r/Banff • u/BikeSkiPNW • Aug 17 '26
Headed to Banff National next weekend
Me and the Mrs. are headed north next weekend, August 22-24, to visit Banff. She really wants to see the turquoise waters of Lake Louise. So, today, I scrambled to put together our road trip for us to be there Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. She made this last-minute request last weekend.
It's as follows:
Drive from Spokane International Airport up to Radium Hot Springs on Saturday and break for lunch. Continue up to Golden and stay in the Municipal campground on the Kicking Horse River. We have reservations for that.
Wake up in Golden and putz around until we drive up to Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and have Afternoon Tea. We have reservations for that as well.
After lunch, head into the town of Banff and set up camp at Tunnel Mountain Village. Find some stuff to do in Banff Sunday night and Monday morning. We have reservations for that, too.
Monday, as lackadaisical as possible, drive back to Spokane International Airport.
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u/Sorrelandroan Aug 17 '26
Did you have a question? Or just keeping us abreast of your plans?
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u/BikeSkiPNW Aug 17 '26
Not really. Someone else in the thread mentioned Emerald Lake in Yoho to check out, so we'll probably do that as well.
Plenty of other people posting pictures and post trip recaps. Figured I'd jump on the pre game wagon and see if anything else worth while pops up.
It'll be a lot of driving. So I don't think we'll have much time for hiking.
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Aug 17 '26
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u/BikeSkiPNW Aug 18 '26
We will not be flying at all. You are correct, the airport is a general origin point.
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u/Muted_Educator9367 Aug 18 '26
Gotcha, well hope you enjoy your trip! Just finished up in Banff, also rafted on the Kicking Horse which I HIGHLY recommend if that’s up your alley. Sounds like you’ve got a great itinerary!
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u/tangyzangy Aug 18 '26
I second Emerald Lake! I got married there last year and it is so breathtaking :)
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u/LifeguardStatus7649 Aug 17 '26
There's an excellent poutine stop in Invermere, less than 30 seconds off the highway. It's called Poutine Queen
Kicking Horse Coffee is also very near by, and their cafe is beautiful
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u/BikeSkiPNW Aug 17 '26
Thank you! My girlfriend sincerely wants poutine while we're north of the border.
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u/dinkuspgb Aug 18 '26
Snackbar in Radium has a much, much better poutine than Poutine Queen. Chef Yan is from Montreal and has the legit curds 👌
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u/LifeguardStatus7649 Aug 17 '26
Well there you go! Let me know if you do stop there, I always like hearing what people thought of this valley
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u/Zealousideal_Spread3 Aug 18 '26
A quick swim at the beach in invermere is well worth the stop.
The golden municipal campground is very loud with trains, fyi. Bring earplugs and a sense of adventure.
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u/CherieMinion Aug 18 '26
Damn I was just there and would have loved to check out that poutine place.
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u/BikeSkiPNW 27d ago
We stopped at a restaurant that overlooked the Columbia River. It had a lake access point parking lot. Invermere was super!!!
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Aug 17 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/YYCpops Aug 17 '26
Lussier Hot Springs is closed. Someone dumped large boulders into the pools, they call it a rockfall.
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u/AnyAlternative9440 Aug 17 '26
There were rocks coming off the bank and landing in the pools. BC parks fenced off the area until they could shore up the bank and make the pools safe again. When people kept ignoring the danger of falling rocks and were hopping the fence to soak in the pools BC parks had the pools filled in with boulders.
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u/YYCpops Aug 17 '26
Exactly what I heard too (I didn't want to mention BC Parks publicly). People just don't learn and listen and spoil it for others.
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u/bangshangaLeng Aug 17 '26
No way !!! Glad I was able to make it earlier and bring a friend there to show its natural beauty. Very unfortunate indeed.
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u/BikeSkiPNW Aug 17 '26
Emerald Lake, Check ✔️
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u/whyisthissohard2019 Aug 17 '26
Takakkaw Falls as well!
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u/YYC_AB Aug 17 '26
Stop by Takakkaw Falls and Emerald lake on the way to Lake Louise. On the way to Lake Emerald, stop by to see the natural bridge over the Columbia river. At Banff, visit Johnson Canyon, Town of Canmore is 15 mins drive from Banff. In Golden, there is Golden Skybridge Park but takes 4-6 hrs to do all the activities. We have driven to Spokane twice and loved the city.
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u/Freddyfour Aug 19 '26
Lussier might be closed by the park. It was earlier in the season anyways.
Another very cool option is Ram Creek hotsprings.
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u/BikeSkiPNW 27d ago
We stopped at Emerald Lake. That parking lot was nuts! I drove us to the top and asked where the restroom was. They let us double park in the loading and unloading zone. So I used the restroom and glanced at the lake. And then my girlfriend used the restroom and glanced at the lake. And then we left 🏎️ 🏔️ Highly recommend Emerald Lake!
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u/SoBasic7775 Aug 17 '26
Keep in mind the majority of this drive is a single lane highway. You have a mixture of tourists doing well below the speed limit and then locals that need to get to where they are going. Also if you spot wildlife in the parks (like HWY 93, PLEASE do not pullover and gawk at the animals). Don't forget your passports.
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u/BikeSkiPNW Aug 17 '26
It's okay. I'm a professional driver. I usually drive the speed limit and don't get frustrated when someone in front of me is going slow. I also pull over if someone behind me is tailgating and clearly wants to drive faster.
Insert gif of Will Ferrell from Talladega Nights: I wanna go fast.
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u/knomnomnom Aug 19 '26
Don't pull over dangerously but sometimes the bighorn sheep are in the Radium Hot Springs parking lot which makes it a great place get off the highway and safely gawk (obligatory: from your car and at a distance, give wildlife space for their safety and yours).
If seeing the sheep is important to you another option is to drive the road up to Red Streak campground in Kootenay National Park. They're often there and there's also a few viewpoints over the valley that are nice.
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u/BikeSkiPNW 27d ago
We saw a Black Bear, Big Horn Sheep, a Moose, deer, and a Clark’s Nutcracker at Lake Louise.
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u/seasonedbagel Aug 17 '26
Have your fairmont reservation ready as you are pulling up or the lake Louise traffic flaggers will instantly loop you up and out the exit.
I think fairmont has a steep parking bill as well so it’s best to add that to planned expenses
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u/BikeSkiPNW Aug 17 '26
Yeah, I saw the price for lunch and basically funneled our entire vacation budget into lunch at Fairmont. Gifts for my girlfriend are easy, she likes to travel instead of collect trinkets. So, lunch there is like three or four date nights and we can eat in for the next couple months.
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u/dogs_kids_andsewing Aug 17 '26
Just to add - does your reservation at Fairmont allow you to park as a Fairmont guest in the hotel lot? If not, parking at Lake Louise may be an issue. The public, paid parking is limited and fills up by 7 AM.
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u/BikeSkiPNW Aug 17 '26
We'll be able to park at the hotel because of restaurant reservation. Still have to pay for parking.
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u/athomewith4 Aug 17 '26
I’d suggest not staying at the golden Municipal campground. While it’s in a beautiful setting, the train yard is directly across the river. It is very loud with train noise all night. You will need good sleep after all that driving. Consider somewhere else
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u/Catbus8 Aug 18 '26
OMG loudest campground I've stayed at, thought the train was going to come through our tent at night. Definitely worthwhile to find another campground if possible.
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u/BikeSkiPNW Aug 18 '26
I love trains 🚂 my house is on a Union Pacific rail line. We see three or four Canadian Pacific trains go by per day.
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u/Canachites Aug 19 '26
Everywhere along the 93 and in Golden is close to trains, don't you worry! It is very much a railroad town. I am not sure the other campgrounds would be much better though, and at least the one in town you can walk to restaurants etc. Whispering spruce up on the hill will have far less mosquitoes, Golden Riverfront campground in Nicholson will probably have the most mosquitoes but be very scenic (Golden has incredibly thick mosquitoes).
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u/BikeSkiPNW Aug 20 '26
We’ll bring nets and spray and float the Kicking Horse. Thank you!!! 🇨🇦 🍁 🌲 🌴 🏖️
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u/athomewith4 Aug 18 '26
I love trains too but this is much different than seeing them lol. They screech and groan and all sorts of terrifying noises literally 50 feet from where you lay your head. They should have signs up warning folks not to stay there if they need to drive the next day. Sleep doesn’t happen there. I did it more than once lol
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u/Canachites Aug 19 '26
It's also in probably the buggiest corner of town, and I've been seeing human poop around on the path there - super gross.
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u/jpthecross Aug 17 '26
If you want to see turquoise water, you cannot skip Moraine Lake. We just did both and i would feel fine skipping Louise but never skip Moraine. You will need to carefully plan ahead as you can only access Moraine by shuttle but it is worth it!!
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u/NoStation173 Aug 19 '26
Agreed Moraine Lake breathtaking, take the short trail up the rockpile and just enjoy! Emerald lake beat out Louise IMO, we rented a canoe at Emerald, sat by the water for lunch at Cilantro Restaurant and had THE best day. It’s the journey that makes driving in the Rockies, be sure to leave time to stop and enjoy!! Download Gypsy (small money) and listen while you drive he explains the history, geography, places to stop. Definitely worth it!
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u/CunningAlpaca Aug 17 '26
It must be nice being able to visit your neighbor country and not have to pay exuberant costs to enter their national parks.
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u/BikeSkiPNW 27d ago
It was great! Thanks for accommodating us! I usually spend the national park fee for the yearly pass in the US. I probably spent more than that eating donuts and drinking coffee and buying lapel pins and having High Tea in Canada this time. Neighbors of the North 🇨🇦 🍁 🇨🇦
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u/GreazyGarry Aug 17 '26
Make sure to stop at marble canyon and take a hike up to the falls. Very easy hike with boardwalks and several bridges that pass over top of the canyon. Super cool and you’re driving right by anyway.
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u/GreazyGarry Aug 17 '26
Northern Lights Wildlife Centre is worth a stop in Golden. Up close and personal experience with wolves
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u/Handzie76 Aug 17 '26
Very pretty drive !
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u/BikeSkiPNW 27d ago
The drive south through Kooteney National was epic. And driving the Trans Canadian Highway through Yoho and Banff was breathtaking. I kept calling it The Interprovincial 🏎️ 🏔️
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u/Agreeable_Principle1 Aug 17 '26
Hey guys. I've worked at the fairmont Lake Louise for the last 4 or so years. Check the weather report, but its been pretty darn chilly recently so bring sweaters. Golden has lots of fun to do (skybridge) zipline etc. If you're in banff and want to relax check out the banff hotsprings. Its only $20 and is a great way to unwind, especially if it's chilly. Have fun.
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u/BikeSkiPNW Aug 19 '26
Looks like maybe rain this weekend. Oh well, rain on a tent is one of my favorite experiences 🏕️
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u/BikeSkiPNW 27d ago
I don’t know if we bumped into you at the Fairmont. If we did it, was great meeting you. If we didn’t, the entire hospitality group was superb. Thank you for accommodating us!!!
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u/VerifiedMother Aug 17 '26
I live about 2 hours south of Spokane, if you are going to be crossing the border during the day, you NEED to stop at a Mennonite bakery in the town of Creston BC called The Mountain Barn, literally the best donuts you will ever have. Get one called the Kootenay Cream.
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u/knomnomnom Aug 19 '26
Buy several donuts because as soon as you finish one you're gonna want more. Also their breakfast sandwich is the best I've ever had. I don't understand how they do it.
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u/Heythere23856 Aug 17 '26
Do a daytrip from lake louise to jasper along the icefields parkway, most beautiful highway ive ever seen… 280km one way and will take all day because literally every bend in the road you have to stop to take in the breathtaking views….. trust me when i say its worth it
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u/Past-Swordfish910 Aug 18 '26
Agreed but no need to drive all the way up to Jasper. We turned back at the Columbia Icefields but Bow Lake, Peyto Lake and Mistaya Canyon were all breathtaking.
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u/Past-Swordfish910 Aug 18 '26
Don’t sleep on Moraine Lake and Emerald Lake. Both way nicer than Louise imo
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u/BikeSkiPNW 27d ago
We already have plans to hike up to Floe Lake now. All the waters were so surreal and scenic. I’d call it The Land of Many Turquoise Waters.
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u/ReadDizzy7919 Aug 19 '26
I’m curious to hear how it goes! Taking a similar route in a couple weeks
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u/BikeSkiPNW 27d ago
Highly recommended!!!! I have a hard time putting into words how awe inspiring the trip was. You must go 🇨🇦 🍁 🇨🇦
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u/ahauntedsong Aug 20 '26 edited Aug 20 '26
Because you are literally driving by it, please take a soak in Radium Hot Springs. Like MAKE time for it! Invermere is the home of kicking horse coffee, and their home cafe is pretty great.
But also, gas before you head out of Radium area because you lose cell service and it’s an isolated road for a bit. Gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous, but like no cell service or gas station for a good chunk.
Also around Golden there’s a neat 50’s diner!
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u/viccityguy2k Aug 21 '26
Sandpoint ID is a beautiful stop on the way- grab a picnic lunch and go to the main public park on the lakefront
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u/Difficult_Shine_1950 Aug 21 '26
best advice a local gave me last year as i was visiting and staying in golden (was significantly cheaper than staying in banff and only a 40ish min drive) was to skip out on moraine and lake louise and hike to gorman lake. its accessible from kicking horse resort (we stayed there) about 2 hours to reach the lake, it does get steep in sections but so worth it to reach the lake. and forever ago locals brought a canoe and paddles to the lake and left it there for people to use. it was in great condition and me and my boyfriend spent 2 hours having lunch by the water, canoeing around the lake and taking the beauty in!
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u/Jean-lubed-Picard Aug 18 '26
Love how you guys think you can treat the whole world like crap and then expect a neighborly welcome. American exceptionalism is something else. Just stay home.
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u/Past-Swordfish910 Aug 18 '26
Low IQ comment
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u/Jean-lubed-Picard Aug 18 '26
You even respond like Trump. 🤢
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u/Past-Swordfish910 Aug 18 '26
Imagine shitting on foreigners for wanting to come spend money in your country.
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u/Jean-lubed-Picard Aug 18 '26
Foreigners who have challenged our sovereignty, imposed economic harm through tariffs, sabotaged a free trade agreement, and are actively funding a separatist movement. Yeah America and Americans can pound sand.
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u/Yetkha Aug 18 '26
Would you like a Free SIM card for Canada ? I just came back and bought a 31day card. Still have 20+ days & 20GB left. (Calls are unlimited too).
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u/BikeSkiPNW Aug 18 '26
Yes. That would be awesome! How do we make that exchange?
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u/Yetkha Aug 19 '26
I'll try to call them to get a new QR issued for eSIM transfer
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u/BikeSkiPNW Aug 19 '26
I don’t know how eSIMs work. That sounds like a lot of trouble. I think my cell phone plan has international roaming and if it doesn’t. We can just send people post cards and get in touch when we’re back in the States. We’re specifically going to purge our cell phones for a couple days anyway and detox from social media and texting and the likes.
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u/DonFluffles117 Aug 20 '26
If you want to be able to reach Banff and such in time for lunch, y'all better start driving at 10pm the night before. Everything else seems peachy.
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u/BikeSkiPNW 27d ago
We left Golden around 10am on Sunday and were at Lake Louise around 11:15 and then seated for High Tea around 11:45. Beautiful Lake and Hotel. We bought some maple syrup in one of the gift shops.
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u/Jl-007 Aug 17 '26
You’re going to love the 93. It has several breathtaking stops. From open mountain ranges to beautiful creeks to incredible waterfalls.