The town of Banff and Banff National Park are located in Alberta, Canada.
The type of trip you plan to Banff is highly dependent on the season. With temperatures ranging from 41 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit (5 to 22 degrees Celsius), summer is ideal for hiking and enjoying the iconic, turquoise alpine lakes and is the most popular (and priciest) time to travel to Banff. With three ski resorts, Banff is also prime for winter travel. Spring and fall are considered “shoulder seasons”, when you can find more affordable accommodations and smaller crowds but a bit more uncertainty with regards to the weather. To see golden larches (trees with needles that change color in the fall), you’ll need to plan a trip for late September or early October and cross your fingers. The needles fall off shortly after changing color.
This itinerary is specifically for five days in Banff in late October. We visited October 20 to October 24, 2022 to be exact.
Granted, there is no guarantee late October weather will be the same this year. The first snowfall of the season happened during our trip so we were able to sneak in some shoulder season outdoor adventures before fully resigning to the (fall) winter wonderland.
Day 1: Land in Calgary and Rent a Car
Calgary International Airport is the closest airport to Banff. Rent a car and drive one and half hours from Calgary to Banff.
Hidden Ridge Resort
Hidden Ridge Resort is a good option for accommodations. It’s a short drive from major attractions like downtown Banff and Lake Louise and has a heated pool and hot tub with quite the view.
Moraine Lake (will likely be closed)
Moraine Lake is a hugely popular Banff attraction and if you’ve seen the sunrise photos, you know why. It’s open from June – October, so there is a good chance it will already be closed during a late October visit. Save it for your next trip if you’re fortunate enough to make it back. That’s what I’m hoping for. Keep in mind, Moraine Lake is closed to personal vehicles year-round but public transport, shuttles, and tours can get you in when the lake is open.
Day 2: Lake Louise
Lake Louise is one of the most famous of several turquoise alpine lakes in Banff. The water gets its color from rock flour, fine-grained particles that are carried into the lake by melting glacial water. Lake activities like canoeing and paddle boarding will no longer be offered in October, but the lake likely won’t be frozen yet, so you can still enjoy the views. Another benefit of this time of year is with fewer visitors, you don’t have to stress about parking. We arrived late morning and there were plenty of spots. Even with less tourists, be ready to be a good samaritan and trade photo-taking with others. It’s such a beautiful place you never know when a stranger might ask you to take their surprise proposal picture.
Hike: Big Beehive to Plain of Six Glaciers
If you’ve made it to Banff before the first major snowfall of the season, many epic Canadian Rocky Mountains hikes will still be accessible. The hike to Big Beehive starts at Lake Louise and leads you past Mirror Lake and Lake Agnes Teahouse, up to a picturesque lake view at the summit. You can continue this hike to Plain of Six Glaciers and loop back down to Lake Louise. The teahouses along the way will be closed but you can still view them from the outside. This loop is 12.4 miles long and rated ‘hard’ on AllTrails. Keep in mind you will have to pack hiking poles in your checked luggage if you plan on flying with them. We completed the hike without poles.
Day 3: Johnston Canyon, Icefields Parkway, Bow Lake, and Peyto Lake
Your next day will be less physically demanding with shorter hikes and sightseeing.
Johnston Canyon
There are two short hikes at Johnston Canyon, Lower Falls Trail (1.4 miles) and Upper Falls Trail (3.3 miles). The trails are paved paths that pass through limestone cliffs and lead to waterfalls. The Upper Falls Trail was closed by mid October and ice cleats may be needed when the paved paths start to freeze.
Drive Icefields Parkway
Icefields Parkway is a scenic stretch of Highway 93 North that connects Lake Louise to the town of Jasper in Jasper National Park.
Bow Lake
Your first stop on the Icefields Parkway is Bow Lake. Stop here to stretch your legs while walking around the lake.
Peyto Lake
Continue driving north to reach Peyto Lake. It’s an 0.8 mile walk from the parking lot to Peyto Lake Viewpoint. Although short, the trail was steep and slippery from recent snow. By mid October you may benefit from poles and spikes to reach Peyto Lake.
Day 4: Explore Downtown Banff
After two days of hiking and driving reward yourself with a relaxing day. Start your morning with a Tim Hortons coffee and doughnuts and spend the day exploring downtown Banff.
The area is walkable and you can check out restaurants and shops. Go to Three Bears for craft beer and lunch, Park Distillery, for cocktails, and The Bison for a nice dinner on your last night in Banff.
Day 5: Departure
On your last day, you’ll head back to Calgary for your departing flight. While you accomplished a lot in five days in Banff, know that you’ll probably leave wanting more and thinking about the next time you can come back.
