Guide to Banff and Lake Louise in Summer (Photos + Best Tips) | Elizabeth Rider

If you’ve ever thought of visiting Banff and Lake Louise in Canada’s Rocky Mountains during the summer months—do it!

We just returned from a week of exploring the area, and, while it was a long 11-hour drive home to Seattle, it was SO worth going.

This was my first trip to Banff and honestly everywhere you turn looks like a painting.

Towering mountains, shimmering turquoise lakes, dense forests, and that fresh, clean mountain air—it’s simply breathtaking in summertime.

I’m creating this first-timer’s guide to Banff and Lake Louise with info I wished I’d had before we went in summertime. I’m sharing what we did, where we stayed, and key tips for planning your own trip to Banff and Lake Louise, especially if it’s your first time during summer months.

Banff: Nature, Spectacular Views, and the Iconic Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel

We started our trip in Banff, a small mountain town that’s the perfect home base for exploring the area.

Getting to Banff

You can drive to Banff, but be warned: it’s located far north in the Canadian Rockies, in the province of Alberta.

From Seattle, we first went to Flathead Lake in Montana to visit my family (an 8-hour drive from Seattle), and Banff was about a 6.5-hour drive north of there. The drive home was 11+ hours, which was OK, but LONG.

You can also fly into Calgary, which is the closest major airport.

There are also likely smaller airfields to fly into if you have access to regional airlines, but Calgary will be the best bet for most people.

From Calgary, it’s about a 2-hour drive. You can rent a car or take one of the many shuttles available that go back and forth (research and book ahead if you plan to do that).

Where We Stayed

We stayed at the Fairmont Banff Springs, and it truly lives up to its iconic reputation. The hotel itself was built in 1888 and looks like a castle nestled in the mountains with panoramic views of forests, rivers, and peaks.

A few things to know about the Fairmont Banff Springs:

• The hotel is historic (old but beautifully maintained), and the rooms are on the smaller side. Our bathroom was especially small—the toilet practically touched the shower—but this is part of its charm and history.
• We booked a Fairmont Gold room, which gave us access to an exclusive lounge and excellent service throughout our stay. The lounge offered a great breakfast and snacks & drinks served in the afternoon before dinner, which was a nice addition.
• Everywhere in Banff is busy in peak summer season. Our taxi driver told us he thinks it’s even busier in summer than it is in winter. It’s still worth going, just know you’ll need to plan ahead. For example, if you don’t have a reservation you’ll likely not get a table (I go into more detail on that below).
• Canadians are friendly and lovely people. Everyone we encountered was friendly and accommodating. However, since things are so busy, they often can’t accommodate last-minute requests even though they want to.

Best Tips for Banff

• ✅ Book dinner reservations weeks (or months) ahead during peak season: Walk-ins are rarely accepted when it’s busy because they simply don’t have room. We booked 2 weeks out and still had a hard time getting reservations. If you don’t have a reservation for dinner, you’ll be eating at a grab and go coffee shop (which can be great, but if you want to sit down to dinner, secure reservations in advance).
• ✅ Expect small, historic rooms: If you choose to stay at the Fairmont, know that this is part of the charm. All Fairmonts are wonderful hotels, but the rooms here are small compared to other Fairmont hotels and hotels in this price range.
• ✅ Bring layers: Mountain weather can change quickly, even in summer. It’s hot in the day and can get chilly at night.
• ✅ Try a hike or river rafting: Hikes are free and awesome; I downloaded the “AllTrails” app, and I highly recommend that. You can pick your trails and download the trail map in case you lose service. Other activities are easy to book and very rewarding.
  • We loved the “Tunnel Mountain” hike, which was about 1,000 ft vertical gain and 5.7 miles roundtrip from the hotel. (Photo below!) You can see the entire valley from the peak.
• ✅ Give yourself time to explore the town of Banff: There are plenty of cute little shops (like a Christmas shop, art galleries, candy stores, local artisans, and more), good restaurants, and beautiful walks.

Lake Louise: Worth the Trip!

After Banff, we drove about 45 minutes to Lake Louise and stayed at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, the only hotel directly on the lake.

Should You Go to Lake Louise?

Yes!

Lake Louise is simply breathtaking. It’s the most turquoise water I’ve ever seen outside the Caribbean! The colors change during the day, and it’s magical. Definitely a bucket list trip.

The biggest thing that surprised me is that it’s very busy during the day with day visitors. Mornings and evenings are much quieter, but the crowds were big the evening we arrived. You had to kind of weave in and out of people near the lakefront right outside of the hotel. At other times over the next few days, the situation was more manageable. It has become increasingly popular, and with social media recommending it, more and more people are visiting at peak summer times (we were there the second week in July).

A MUST-SEE: Watching the sunrise at Lake Louise was one of my favorite moments of the entire trip. The light starts to shift around 5:15 AM, and just before sunrise, the mountain reflection appears on the lake—it’s an extraordinary thing to see if you’re visiting.

Here’s a photo of Lake Louise at Sunrise:

Best Tips for Lake Louise

• ✅ Book dining reservations early: We planned ahead based on what I read online, and we saw people turned away at every meal who didn’t plan ahead. Louiza is a great restaurant onsite that we enjoyed (photo below). The Fairmont hotels are known for their High Tea experience. The High Tea at the Chateau looks over the water, and it is a very fun (albeit expensive) thing to experience.
• ✅ Wake up early for sunrise: This is a MUST. It’s the quietest and most beautiful time to experience the lake. The reflection of the mountain shimmers on the lake at sunrise on a clear day.
• ✅ Canoe rentals are a fun way to get on the water: It’s a great family activity. (Photo below)
• ✅ Plan a walk around the lake shore: It’s flat, easy, and stunning. There are more intense hikes around too if that’s what you’re looking for. We took the short but steep hike up to the lookout over the lake and chateau (see photo below), which was also enjoyable. Get the “AllTrails” app or ask the hotel concierge (if you’re staying there) for options.
• ✅ Visit Lake Moraine if you can: Access is limited, but hotel shuttles and tours can take you (see my comments below on visiting Lake Moraine).
• ✅ Be prepared for daytime crowds: It was crowded, but it was fine. Mornings and evenings are peaceful and worth it.

Photos from Lake Louise:

A view of the hotel from the Fairview Lookout hike at Lake Louise:

The Fariview lookout hike is about 40 minutes with some pretty steep gains to a small overlook with sunning views of the hotel set against the lake.

Dinner spread at Louiza:

High Tea spread overlooking Lake Louise:

Canoeing on Lake Louise:

Moraine Lake: A Hidden Gem Nearby

If you’re visiting Lake Louise, add Moraine Lake to your itinerary—it’s about 30 minutes away and just as beautiful, but with a different feel.

We were there at sunrise and it was a bit cloudy, but still worth it.

IMPORTANT ABOUT ACCESS TO MORAINE LAKE: In recent years, Canada restricted private vehicle access to Moraine Lake to reduce crowds and protect the area. Now, the only way to visit Lake Moraine is by designated shuttles with special permits. The hotel offers a designated shuttle service that can be booked through them.

We did the Fairmont’s sunrise experience at Moraine Lake, and it was a highlight of the trip. Watching the soft morning light hit Moraine Lake’s deep turquoise water and dramatic peaks was absolutely worth the early wake-up call. We got up at 4 am with 2 teenage girls to do it, and we’d do it again if that tells you anything! 🙂

If you have time, definitely go—it’s one of those “when will I ever have the chance to do this again!?” moments that’s fun to experience.

Banff & Lake Louise Final Thoughts

Banff and Lake Louise exceeded all expectations and are absolutely worth the trip. The scenery is some of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen, and both Fairmont hotels make an incredible base for exploring.

If you’re planning a trip, book early, plan your meals ahead of time, and don’t miss a sunrise or two—it’s a trip you’ll remember forever.

Want More Travel Tips?

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