How To Escape the Crowds In Banff

I received an Instagram message the other day. It’s mid-July, and Banff National Park is just as busy and beautiful as it gets. The person is visiting and finds Banff way too crowded for their liking. They’ve asked if I have any local tips for escaping the masses.

We’ve now lived in the Canadian Rockies for six years and have been writing about them for over four of those years. We get out and explore at least 5 days a week and rarely see crowds. We’ve been on more hikes, climbs, and bikes without people than with people. Much of this is secret local know-how, but our crowd-free success comes down to strategy.

How To Escape The Crowds In Banff

Visit in the Shoulder Season

July and August are the best times in Banff for reliable weather. A good summer day in Canada is undoubtedly glorious. However, while it is some of the most promising sunny and warm weather, it also means crowds, high prices, and a risk of wildfire smoke.

If you want to escape the crowds in Banff, the first thing to do is plan your trip outside the summer months. May, early June, late September, and October are great times to travel and see fewer visitors. Yes, you are gambling with the weather, but it’s always beautiful in the Rockies. We should add you can not visit the famous Moraine Lake in May.

You can also consider a winter trip to Banff. You’ll trade in the canoes and hiking trails for skates, skis, and snowshoes. Plus, nothing is more beautiful than seeing the peaks here topped with a fresh layer of white. Curious about what each month will bring? Check out our month-by-month guide to Banff!

Start Early

The busiest times in the park are between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. If you want to avoid crowds, especially at popular destinations like the Banff Gondola, Banff Hot Springs, or the Maligne Lake Cruise in Jasper, we recommend starting your adventures before 9 a.m. – the earlier, the better!

For example, sunrise at Moraine Lake is a particularly peaceful time, and if you get out on the water or walk the lakeshore trail and stay away from the Rockpile Trail, it’s unlikely you’ll see anyone. However, at 9 am, the bus tours arrive, and the area doesn’t get quiet again until the evening.

Start Late

We hardly ever encounter crowds on hiking trails in the summer. One of our secrets? We start our hikes late in the day. How late? For longer hikes, sometimes we will be at the trailhead around 4 or 5 p.m., knowing that by the time we reach a summit or our destination, no one will be around.

We’ve had the famous Johnston Canyon to ourselves multiple times. To be honest, we’ve never personally seen it crowded. How? Well, for one, hiking it in the winter is guaranteed a more peaceful experience. It’s also a quick and easy hike, so we’ll arrive around 8 p.m., knowing that nearly all visitors are off enjoying dinner. It’s plenty of time to finish before dark.

It’s a strategy that works for us, and if you are comfortable hiking outside of prime hours, it could work for you, too. Bring headlamps if you think you’ll be hiking in the dark; they’re always in our packs!

Avoid Weekends

If you’re on a weeklong vacation, avoiding the weekend is impossible. However, if you’re visiting on a five-day trip, we recommend planning for a Monday through Friday visit. Weekends are busier than weekdays in Banff because Albertans love exploring their parks and mountains. This means planning your visits to the more popular attractions and sights on weekdays is a good idea.

Get Off of Main Street

If there were a “Times Square” in Banff, it would be Banff Avenue. This is where most of the main restaurants, shops, and hotels are in Downtown Banff. Even though most of Banff Avenue is pedestrian-only in the summer, it can still be very busy between June and mid-September.

If you need a little space, break away from Banff Avenue. We recommend walking to Cascade Ponds, Bow Falls, and over the Banff Pedestrian Bridge. You can also walk to the Fenland trail and Vermilion Lakes.

Stay in Canmore

Canmore is the mountain town that neighbors Banff. It’s also a tourist town but still sees fewer tourists than Banff. Walking down Main Street in Canmore is a much different experience than walking down Banff Avenue.

There are still great restaurants in Canmore, some fantastic things to do, and plenty of hotels to stay at. You could easily spend your entire vacation in Canmore alone. Most people use Canmore as a base for exploring Banff, as it’s just a 20-minute drive away!

Go Into Kananaskis

Most visitors haven’t heard of Kananaskis Provincial Park, but we recommend researching it for things to do and putting it on your radar! Kananaskis borders Banff and has some fantastic lakes and trails to explore. Many trails here are less crowded than in Banff, but they are just as stunning. Calgarians love to recreate here, but it’s very quiet during the work week.

Head to Jasper

The Town of Jasper is about three hours north of Banff, another beautiful mountain town in the Canadian Rockies. It’s much more laid-back than Banff and far less bougie and crowded. When we visit Jasper in August, it can feel a bit relieving as there is no overcrowding downtown or at the shoreline of the beautiful Maligne Lake.

Head to Golden, Revelstoke, Radium, and Beyond

These are all small mountain towns in British Columbia, not too far from Banff National Park. None of them are as beautiful as Banff, but they are less crowded, cheaper, and less commercialized. You can add them to your itinerary to escape the masses of bus tours. However, aside from Whistler, we wouldn’t consider them a substitute for Banff, Canmore, or Jasper.

Time Your Visit to the Famous Lakes Strategically

Moraine Lake and Lake Louise are the most famous lakes in Canada, let alone Banff. Millions of people want to visit the beautifully blue waters, and they are a highlight of many people’s trips.

We have visited both lakes too many times to count, and each time, they take our breath away. Although both are extremely busy, they are still 100% worth visiting—ensure you are strategic about your visit.

We recommend visiting both lakes before 9 a.m. or later in the evening after 5 p.m. Additionally, hiking around the lakes will get you away from the crowds, as most visitors only visit the shoreline, snap a quick photo, and then leave.

Remember that visiting Moraine Lake is now restricted, and you must plan your visit in advance. Parking is still permitted at Lake Louise but is very limited, so we recommend using the Parks Canada shuttles or a private tour operator.

Get Out on the Water

One of the best ways to escape the crowds in Banff in the summer is to take to the water. There are so many amazing lakes here where you can paddle. These lakes are huge, and as soon as you paddle away from the shore, you’ll discover peace and quiet – even at Moraine Lake and Lake Louise!

You can rent canoes on Moraine Lake, Lake Louise, Lake Minnewanka, and Emerald Lake in Yoho. It’s also possible to rent paddleboards and kayaks from Banff Canoe Club and discover other lakes like Vermilion Lakes, Bow Lake, and the Rundle Forebay in Canmore.

Get Hiking

Over 4 million people visit Banff annually, but most never get more than 1 km from the road. To really get away from the crowds, it’s best to go hiking. There are over 1600 km of maintained hiking trails in Banff. Then throw in Jasper, Kananaskis, Kootenay, and Yoho National Park, and you are spoiled for choice.

Those who work for their views will be rewarded with quiet time in the park. We always say the further and higher you hike, the fewer people you will see. Some of the busiest hikes in the park are Johnston Canyon, Lake Agnes, the Beehives, Tunnel Mountain, and Sentinel Pass, so avoid them or time your hike strategically (start early/late, as mentioned before).

We have many hike suggestions on this blog that vary in length and difficulty – get started here.

Book a Cabin Stay

We love staying in cozy cabins; thankfully, Banff has many of them. The cabin stays provide a unique way to stay in Banff, away from the crowds on Banff Avenue. Some of our favorite cabins are in very secluded spots.