Banff National Park: Things to Do, Late Spring

Getting to Banff

A Kayak flight deal was the promotion that brought us to researching Banff as a quick-trip destination. We flew on West Jet to Calgary International Airport. Banff National Park is a 1.5-hour drive from the airport, and it’s an easy and scenic drive. The highway is wide the whole way, so you will not have to worry about driving near the edge of cliffs. You will pass the town of Canmore on your way to the park, which is a good location for lodging if you are not staying in Banff.

Be sure to drive carefully in Canada. We got a speeding ticket while in the park, so just a reminder to really watch your speed on the highway, even if it feels like you’re driving slowly. Once inside the park, there are plenty of pull-off areas along the road to admire the scenery and take pictures.

Purchasing your Pass

You can expect a line of cars when you get to the park entrance. Passes can be purchased here at the drive-up window (we used a credit card to purchase). Make sure to display your pass on the left side of your dashboard to avoid fines.

You can click here to learn about the different passes that are available for purchase at Banff National Park.

Please visit the Government of Canada website to view a full list of prices.

You can purchase your pass at the park entrance or buy it online through the Banff Lake Louise website.

Weather: Banff in the Spring

Lake Louise

Weather can be unpredictable so be sure to bring a waterproof jacket and clothing for both warm and cool temperatures. During my visit, I was comfortable in shorts or leggings in the morning and would change into jeans and a long sleeve shirt in the evening. I brought a thermal jacket with me, but I never needed it. Most of the tourists I encountered were dressed for outdoor activities, so there’s no need to worry about dressing up for strolling in the town.

We spent our last day in Banff driving further into the mountains and gained some elevation. Higher elevation can mean cooler temperatures and wind. Keep this in mind if you will be doing a day-long tour so that you can pack the layers you might need for the changing weather.

You can click here to view the May weather averages for Banff

Link to the current weather in Banff

Daylight Hours: Banff in the Spring

Lodging

We stayed at the Banff Park Lodge and Conference Center. One of the things that I enjoyed most about this hotel was the closeness to Banff town center. We could return from our daytime activities and not have to worry about driving anywhere for dinner. It was also fun to be able to leave our hotel for a quick breakfast and then return to grab our hiking gear.

Activities in the Town

The town of Banff is packed with stores offering tasty treats and goodies.

The town of Banff is a walkable and exciting area for visitors of all ages. You will find plenty of souvenir shops, ice cream, and restaurants to choose from. We especially loved The Spirit of Christmas store for all Christmas decor you could dream of! Another fun place was Beaver Tails, which offers large flat “beaver tail” pastries with your choice of delicious toppings like hazelnut and maple spread.

We really enjoyed trying different sweet treats at Beaver Tails in downtown Banff.

Beaver tail pastry with maple glaze.

Banff Park Museum is the oldest surviving federal building in any Canadian national park and it’s conveniently located right in town. This history museum provides a chance to learn about the terrain and the wildlife that make Banff their home. You can click here to view fees and hours of operation.

Bow River flows through the southern side of Banff and is the perfect location for a quiet evening stroll. You can follow the river to Banff Surprise Corner for spectacular views of the mountains and the famous Fairmont Banff Springs.

Just Outside of the Town

Banff Gondola

This image of the town of Banff is just part of the incredible view you will see from the top of the Banff Gondola.

Just a 10-minute drive south of town, this gondola is unlike one you’ll find at a typical ski resort. After riding up to the top of the mountain, you can grab a drink at the coffee shop or dine in one of the restaurants. There are indoor interactive activities for kids, and plenty of deck space outside to take in the impressive view.

We walked along the lengthy deck to the lookout tower. After our outside stroll, we went to the top deck, where we received complimentary refreshments and listened to live music. I would advise you to reserve your tickets in advance if you are visiting during a busy time.

Once at the top of the gondola, I grabbed myself a latte and stepped outside. You can see the sign saying do not feed the bighorn sheep. We continued to walk along the long deck to take in the views.

Moraine Lake

Moraine Lake in Banff National Park Alberta, Canada

Don’t miss visiting Moraine Lake. Located about 30 miles north of Banff, Moraine Lake is a beautiful location for all ages to explore. I didn’t do a whole lot of hiking at the lake, but there is a small trail just off the parking lot that leads to a great viewpoint. I also found Moraine Lake to be very peaceful. You could walk along the shore of the lake to get away from the crowds. It’s a wonderful place to relax and enjoy the scenery.

Lake Louise

View of Lake Louise from the Fairview Lookout.

Lake Louise was much more crowded than Morain Lake, but that’s probably because it’s also the location of the renowned, Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. The luxury resort offers a wide range of activities. I was recommended to try out the afternoon tea (link for reservation details here).

For a great photo opportunity of Lake Louise, visit the Fairview Lookout. This 0.7-mile trail leads to a small lookout deck with an impressive view. The trail is located just off of the Lake Louise parking lot and has a marked trailhead right as you enter the forest. There were a couple of slippery spots along the trail due to ice and melting snow, but the short hike was definitely worth our time.

Johnstons Canyon

It’s nearly impossible for me to pick a favorite activity during this trip, but hiking Johnstons Canyon ranks right up there with the top things to do in Banff National Park. This hike has you walking alongside limestone cliffs and much of the trail involves walking on a catwalk. You can look down and see the powerful river flowing right below your feet!

One of the beautiful waterfalls along the trail. Some people are more daring, but the water is so powerful that I advise keeping your distance.

Hiking at Johnstons Canyon can be crowded, but many people just walk to the lower falls, which are around 0.6 miles up the trail. I recommend going to the upper falls also. The total length of the out and back trail is around 3 miles, so it’s fairly easy to do this hike as well as other activities during the day.

When we reached the upper falls, a beautiful rainbow appeared right over the top of the waterfall. It was a peaceful spot to take in the scenery. I completed this hike during the evening and finished around 7 pm. There was plenty of light and doing this might help you experience fewer crowds.

The Upper Falls were a beautiful sight to see at the top of Johnstons Canyon trail.

Ideas Outside of Banff

Jasper National Park Glacier Skywalk

I’m sad to say that I wasn’t able to add this activity to my plans, but I really want to do this during my next visit! If you are able to make the drive out to Jasper National Park, consider checking out the Glacier Skywalk. The Skywalk is a viewing platform with a glass floor that provides incredible views of the Athabasca glacier. The Glacier Skywalk has dining and shops to add to the experience.

Your Trip to Banff

One long weekend in Banff is not enough time to enjoy all that the park has to offer, but you can still fit in a variety of awesome nature activities. I really loved visiting over the last weekend in May because we did not experience heavy crowds and the extra hours of sunlight allowed us to fit more activities into our day. If you enjoy visiting mountain towns, Banff will certainly become a favorite! Banff National Park is well known, so you probably won’t find yourself alone in some of it’s most popular locations, but if you keep this in mind you are bound to fall in love with Banff.