As you all know, Fernando and I recently found a shared love for hiking and the outdoors. We have started planning trips based on hikes and make hiking our priority when traveling. Let me tell you now, Banff is a hiker’s paradise! It would take years to be able to truly enjoy all of the beautiful and unique trails the area has to offer.
We were only in Banff for about a week but it was just enough time to enjoy some amazing hikes that we will truly never forget! We visited in early October 2019 and it was absolutely perfect!
Here is a recap of all of the hikes we did during our trip and a little bit of information on each trail. We use the app All Trails to track our hikes and I highly recommend downloading this app if you are a hiker!
*Keep in mind, we stopped quite frequently to take in the views and take pictures, so our times and distances are a little off. But taking your time is highly recommended when the views are so breathtaking. No need to rush it!
Upper Grassi Lakes Trail
We did the Grassi Lakes hike on our very first day in Canada. We had flown into Calgary from New Orleans and drove straight to Canmore, so we wanted to stretch our legs a bit after a long day of travel. We didn’t want to waste any time and needed to see some views asap!
It was definitely a perfect start to our trip! We were able to see gorgeous green lakes, waterfalls, snow and it only got us more excited for the days to come!
Upper Grassi Lakes recordings:
Distance: 3.0 miles roundtrip (Loop)
Elevation Gain: 685 feet
Time: 1 hour 53 minutes
Tips & Recommendations:
-DO THE UPPER TRAIL! It was absolutely stunning and worth every step!
-Always take the scenic route. When we came across the split in the trail with a sign saying “More difficult” or “Easy”, I was reluctant to take the harder trail being that I was exhausted from traveling, but I am SO glad my husband decided to take it anyway. We would have missed out on some amazing views if we had taken the easy route!
-The “Easy” trail is literally just a gravel road leading up the mountain. Nothing special and no views. The “More difficult” trail really wasn’t too bad and the views were incredible!
Lake Agnes Teahouse Trail
This is the hike I was looking forward to the most! As soon as we booked our trip to Banff I was stoked to hike up to the teahouse and enjoy the views and some hot tea.
We started our hike not realizing what was to come. We were expecting a simple little 5 mile hike, easy peasy. Little did we know, the trail was completely frozen over towards the top of the trail. After a lot of slipping and sliding, a few tears and using all of our energy we made it to the teahouse!
Sidenote: the slide down was MUCH more fun than the struggle up!
Lake Agnes Teahouse Trail recordings:
Distance: 4.8 miles roundtrip (In/Out)
Elevation Gain: 1,174 feet
Time: 2 hours 52 minutes
Tips and Recommendations:
-Bring cash! The Teahouse only accepts Canadian cash, so make sure to have some on hand.
-There is no running water at the Teahouse, so the only restrooms are mountain outhouse style.
-Come prepared and bring spikes/traction devices for your boots. We had no clue that the trail was iced over and we had a really rough time making it up the last mile or so. We highly regret not having spikes with us. It was a learning experience for sure!
-Wear layers! I cannot express this enough. The weather changes so frequently in the mountains. Make sure you’re prepared for anything.
Johnston Canyon (Lower and Upper Falls)
I’m not going to lie, as cool as Johnston Canyon was, this was probably my least favorite trail we hiked. Maybe I was just tired and cranky that morning, but I struggled with this one. This trail was also one of the more crowded ones so you didn’t get to really experience the peacefulness we were hoping for. That being said, I still think Johnston Canyon is a must if you’re in the Banff area!
Johnston Canyon Upper and Lower Falls Trails recordings:
Distance: 4.2 miles roundtrip (In/Out)
Elevation Gain: 1,010 feet
Time: 1 hour 54 minutes
Tips and Recommendations:
-Arrive early! The parking lot is pretty large, but still fills up quickly. It is also much nicer when there are less tourists on the trails.
-Don’t expect magnificent waterfalls. The falls were all pretty and I definitely stopped to marvel at all of them, but they were not what I was expecting.
Plain of Six Glaciers Trail
This trail was my absolute FAVORITE trail we have hiked so far! I loved every single second of this hike. It was the most challenging hike we had ever done, but it was SO rewarding! The terrain changed every mile or so, so you always had new views in sight. The end of the trail overlooks a glacier and Lake Louise in the distance.
Oh, and did I mention there’s another teahouse along this trail too? It’s even more secluded than the Lake Agnes Teahouse and so cozy and charming. The delicious food, tea, and chocolate cake were just an added bonus. 😉
Plain of Six Glaciers Trail recordings:
Distance: 11.4 miles roundtrip (In/Out)
Elevation Gain: 2,263 feet
Time: 6 hours 2 minutes
Tips and Recommendations:
-Same as the Lake Agnes Teahouse, bring cash! There is no power or cell service up there so credit cards are a no go. Also, no running water here either, so restrooms are outhouse style.
-Truly appreciate and take in the views. They are absolutely incredible and can’t be compared to any of the other trails I mentioned above.
-Take your time! Again, this trail is SO rewarding and you will want to savor every second of it.
If you are ever in Banff be sure to hike some of these trails. I know I cannot wait to go back and do some more exploring!