What are /r/Banff's favorite Products & Services?

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By saying that you're not experts in packing for outdoor supplies, definitely look at a bunch of other hiking posts and PLAN what you're going to pack. Anyone can stuff a backpack with a bunch of crap, but there's always a method to the madness and if you want to enjoy yourself, pack smart and stay dry. Lay it all out prior to packing your suitcase(s) and have a little checklist or whatever. I am speaking from experience and if it weren't for my wife, there are a few hikes I probably wouldn't have returned from if it weren't for her diligent planning. Check out the 10 essentials and go from there.

I'd highly recommend a couple dry bags for the things you (obviously) want to stay dry, but also include a change of socks, undershirt, hat, etc. Because like others have said, you'll experience almost every season while hiking there. I had 1 dry bag during my trip to Banff and wished I had more to separate clothes from other things.

And I'd definitely recommend hiking poles. Not just because of the terrain, but it just makes the consecutive days of hiking that much easier on your body. And in case there is any dangerous wildlife, you have somewhat of a "weapon".

Lastly, and this is just personal preference, but I wish I brought either a nicer camera, or some sort of a lightweight tripod to get really good shots with my wife and I. The landscape is absolutely STUNNING and you'll want to take a picture like every 20 seconds as new views come into sight. You'll want to document your trip as best as possible and keep revisiting it to remember the beauty in this world and the awesome fact that you had the opportunity to see one of the most beautiful places on this planet.

Either way, ENJOY!!!

did a quick search and found this one near elbow river. most recent review was from December 13 so it should hopefully still be in good condition.

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/alberta/canyon-creek-ice-cave-trail

Check Environment Canada's weather for Banff, when it's really going to pour it will say "Showers" and put a number in millimetres on the amount of rainfall. Anything else is "chance of showers", often with a percentage such as 30% chance of showers. Technically that 30% means that in 30% of the weather models they've run they got rain, but as a local it often feels more like it's going to rain in the park and there's 30% chance you'll be standing under the cloud when it rains and a 70% chance you'll be standing next to the cloud that's raining.

So if it's 30% you can hope for the best and I wouldn't let it limit your day, there's a chance you won't see rain at all, or just get spit on. If it's 60% I would say expect for it to rain but it might only be for 5 minutes or an hour and not enough to stop you from doing what you're doing, while if it just says showers or if it has it in in millimetres then just know you ware going to get wet, and anything over a few mm means you're going to get drenched, that's when you want to be in shelter and plan for the rain to take up a majority of the day.

As a reference, I'm going camping this weekend and it says 60% chance of showers Fri/Sat and it's not enough for me to change my plans yet, but I might try timing when I set up my tent.

Another good resource is Dark Sky, if you click on the individual days it breaks it down to the hour level, sometimes even the minute, so you can tell if it's going to get better or worse throughout the day and time things well.

These are two of my favourite, relatively short shikes on the drive between Lake Louise and Jasper:

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/alberta/wilcox-pass

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/alberta/parker-ridge

Wilcox pass gives you over the Columbia Icefields, high over the hundreds of tourists you can encounter at the visitor centre and the glacier itself. The view is quite stunning.

Parker Ridge is very popular, for good reason. The view is amazing.

Johnston Canyon and the Plain of Six Glaciers hikes are hugely popular, for good reason. It's worth going to at least the Upper Falls at Johnston Canyon. Plain of Six Glaciers has heaps of variants and options. I'd recommend trying to get ahead of the crowds on both. Perhaps it won't be so busy by mid September, I'm not sure.

Drive out of Banff, up towards Norquay Ski Hill. It's a windy road up, but there's a point that you can pull in that has an amazing view.

Make sure to get out in the morning or evening, if you want a better chance of seeing wildlife from you car. The drive to Maligne Lake is a good place to spot bears (saw two moose last time I was out that way). Obviously follow park rules and be safe.

The view over Peyto Lake is amazing. I have a feeling it's signposted as Bow Summit Lookout, or something to that effect. Make sure to take in that view.

Jasper's Skytram is great fun. You can do some decent hiking from the top as well. Sometimes they do free breakfast if you book to go up in the morning - well worth it. Indian Ridge is one of the hikes up there, but there's plenty you can ramble around.

If you really like your driving, you could also swing by Yoho, driving perhaps as far as Field, or Golden. Some beautiful places in that area. Same for driving the 93 through Kootenay, or taking a spin around Kananaskis. It's all beautiful.

Such a gorgeous spot. My wife and I got a sick puzzle with pretty much this exact view after our trip in 2019. Did the Sentinel pass hike after seeing the sun rise on Moraine, something I'll never forget!

Reminds me of the classic book When Do You Let The Animals Out? which is filled with all sorts of random questions real tourist have asked in the Canadian Rockies.

Questions like:

>At what elevation does an elk become a moose?

Where can I find alpine flamingos?

How do the elk know they're supposed to cross at the elk crossing signs?

Where do bears nest?

Don't all Canadians wear raccoon hats?

Next time, go to Amazon. They sell chargers for those batteries there and are really cheap. That's what I did one time it happened to me. Got a charger delivered in two days. If you pay extra, you'll get it next day.

LP-E6 LP E6N Battery Charger, LP Charger Compatible with Canon EOS 90D, 80D, 70D, 60D, 60DA, 7D Mark II, 7D, 6D Mark II, 6D, 5D Mark IV, 5D Mark III, 5D Mark II, 5DS, 5DS R, R5, R6 DSLR Cameras & More https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HGDSN5M/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_YAAP4D7R16N9RZFMHKPG

If you park at the gates (limited parking) I believe it is still a 6k walk to the trailhead. When I visited this summer we rented e-bikes and rode from town. It made for a much easier though longer day but worth it. Not sure the reasons as to why your companion can’t cycle but the walk to the trailhead might be fatiguing enough. Just researching it now and supposedly if you make a reservation at blackswift bistro you can drive up and hike from there! https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/alberta/johnston-canyon-trail-to-upper-falls

I think Peyto Lake will be open by March 2020 so i would highly recommend that. Its the least known of the popular lakes to go to in Banff but still busy. I proposed at Peyto Lake last August so ill tell you my experience of it. The initial viewpoint of Peyto lake and the parking lot is extremely busy. However there is a spot at Peyto lake that not many people know about. Once you get to the trail head, you will then take that trail to the initial viewpoint, where most people end up. Once you get to the initial viewpoint, you will then take a left go down a trail that is enclosed in trees but keep going, you are on the right path. You will keep going until you see the trail get larger and then its just following the trail all the way up to the "second" viewpoint". This leads to the Bow lake trail. The second viewpoint is on the fairly steep hill but its so worth it. When i went up there to propose, there were like 5 people up there. Follow this trail: Bow Summit and Peyto Lake Viewpoint

Here a picture from our proposal if you want a reference: Peyto Lake Proposal

PM me if you have anymore questions! Good Luck and Congrats!

Ice Cleats are always a good idea. Also, I suggest downloading the AllTrails app. You can search for easy hikes/walks in and around Banff.

As for driving, the highways are pretty clear & dry, and once you get into the Banff townsite, just keep it nice and slow. I believe they plow & sand the roads, so don't worry. You can also talk to the car rental agency and request all-wheel or 4-wheel drive, or at the very least, a vehicle with winter tires.

If you're going on the long weekend, Johnston Canyon will be insanely busy, so go to Silverton Falls. It's just as beautiful, and virtually empty, and it's a pretty easy and quick hike.

Assuming the day use area at Peyto Lake is indeed closed all summer, I think you would have to do some more significant hiking and scrambling to get a good view of the lake.

Observation Peak is one option - https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/alberta/observation-peak?u=i

Just note that this is not a straight forward trail as it involves negotiating terrain that is not a maintained trail.

I'm going with some girlfriends the 26-31st. A friend of mine was just up there and said that this trail led to a nice blue glacial lake!! https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/alberta/valley-of-five-lakes-and-wabasso-lake?u=i

Here's the kayak result for Paris. The orange overlay is where tourist tend to go. The orange dots are hotels.

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You can go there for a week on a flight+ 4 star hotel package deal for under $754 USD (This is per person based on 2 travelers)

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https://www.kayak.com/packages/Paris-France-Charles-de-Gaulle-ACDG/2019-10-18/2019-10-25/-1,-1/2/0,0,0/YYC?sort=price_a&fs=price=-806;stars=-0,2

this is the one I have currently. Its a lot smaller than the one pictured in the REI article I linked above. This is the one I have seen most often used by US govt (park service, forest service, etc). But it seems hard to find a seller for that one.