Introduction
Planning a trip to Banff can feel overwhelming. There are so many incredible places to see, and if you’re anything like me, you’ll quickly realize you can’t fit everything into one trip. If you’re planning a 7 day Banff itinerary, I hope this guide makes planning your trip a little easier. This is the exact itinerary our family followed, along with the places we loved, what we’d skip, and the little things we wish we’d known before visiting Banff National Park.
One thing you’ll quickly learn about our family is that we don’t try to see everything. We like to prioritize the experiences we’re most excited about, leave room for spontaneous adventures, and not plan every second of every day.
This blog is everything we did, what we’d absolutely do again, what we’d skip, and all the little tips we picked up along the way.
I hope it helps you plan a Banff trip your family loves just as much as we did.
Before You Go
A few things I wish I knew before our trip:
- Stay in Canmore. If I planned this trip again, I’d stay there for the entire week. It was the perfect home base.
- Book your Moraine Lake shuttle early. The Parks Canada shuttle is only about $7 per person and sells out months in advance. If you miss it, they release more tickets 48 hours before.
- Don’t feel like you have to do sunrise at Moraine Lake. We booked the 9:00 a.m. shuttle and honestly thought it was perfect for traveling with kids.
- Bring your swimsuits to Quarry Lake. We packed ours for the trip but left them at the Airbnb that day and immediately wished we’d brought them.
- Pack bug spray. Especially if you’re planning on stopping at Sundance Park after dinner.
Day 1 | Arrival
Our flight landed late Saturday night, and by the time we finally found our rental car (after somehow walking what felt like the entire Calgary airport), we were exhausted.
We made it to our Airbnb, crashed immediately, and called it a night.
✨ My Tip
If you’re deciding between staying in Banff or Canmore, I’d personally choose Canmore again. I’ll share more on why later in this post, but it ended up being the perfect home base for us.
Day 2 | Exploring Canmore, Quarry Lake & Downtown Banff
Today’s Stops: Mountain Bagel • Quarry Lake • Downtown Banff
We intentionally kept our first full day pretty relaxed, and looking back, I think it was the perfect way to ease into the trip.
We started the morning in downtown Canmore with breakfast from Mountain Bagel, then grabbed coffee across the street at Eclipse Coffee Rosters before picking up a few groceries for a picnic.
The bagels were delicious (I’d absolutely go back), but if you’re ordering the breakfast sandwich, I’d vote for one more egg.
From there, we headed to Quarry Lake, and honestly, this ended up being one of the biggest surprises of the trip.
Before we left, Quarry Lake wasn’t even close to the top of my list, but it quickly became one of those places we all wished we’d planned more time for. We walked the trail, spread out our picnic, and before long the kids were playing in the water.
We had packed swimsuits for the trip…we just didn’t bring them that day.
Within minutes we were wishing we had.
The kids wanted to stay so much longer, and looking back I wish we had planned to spend most of the afternoon there instead of just stopping by. It ended up being one of those slower, simple moments that everyone loved.
After a little downtime back at the Airbnb, we headed into downtown Banff to wander the shops before grabbing dinner at Nourish.
I’ll be honest…Nourish was just okay for us. Nothing was bad, but it also wasn’t somewhere I’d make a point to go back to on our next trip.
👨👩👧 Family Tip
One of our favorite parts of this day wasn’t a big attraction, it was simply slowing down. If your itinerary allows, leave yourself room for afternoons like this. Sometimes those end up being the memories your kids talk about the most.
Day 3 | Bow Valley Parkway, Johnston Canyon, Natural Bridge & Emerald Lake
📍 Today’s Route: Bow Valley Parkway → Johnston Canyon → Truffle Pigs → Natural Bridge → Emerald Lake → Sundance Park
I’ll be honest…I kind of butchered the driving plans this morning. Looking back, I definitely would’ve grabbed breakfast first instead of heading straight to Bow Valley Parkway because we ended up backtracking later.
We woke up early hoping to spot some wildlife along Bow Valley Parkway. One advantage of traveling from Florida is the two-hour time difference—it made those early mornings much easier. Unfortunately, we didn’t see any animals that morning, but I still think it’s worth the drive. Looking back, I think we just didn’t drive far enough into the parkway.
From there, we grabbed breakfast in downtown Banff before making our way to Johnston Canyon to hike to the Upper Falls. The trail was beautiful and definitely worth doing, but it was also the busiest hike we did all week.
After lunch at Truffle Pigs, we grabbed a coffee from the little convenience store next door before making the short drive to Natural Bridge.
I almost treated this as a quick photo stop, but I’m so glad we didn’t.
If you’re comfortable climbing down, make your way to the little beach area below the bridge. We spent the next hour skipping rocks while the kids played by the water, and it ended up being one of those simple vacation moments that everyone loved.
Our last stop of the day was Emerald Lake, and it completely lived up to the hype.
We got in line for canoe rentals about 30 minutes before they closed, and every few minutes a staff member would come out and tell everyone near the back of the line that there was a good chance they weren’t going to make it out on the water.
The whole time I just kept telling my family, “Things work out for us…just watch.”
A few minutes later, the group in front of us decided to leave the line.
If they hadn’t, we wouldn’t have gotten a canoe.
Instead, we ended up with the very last canoe of the day, and to make it even better, they let all four of us ride together, even though they normally only allow three people.
It honestly felt like it was meant to be.
We finished the evening back in Banff with a quick dinner at Hankki before letting the kids burn off the rest of their energy at Sundance Park. It ended up being one of the coolest playgrounds we found on the trip with giant slides, climbing structures, a bike track, and a skate park.
The only downside?
The mosquitoes were relentless.
📍 Don’t Miss
If you’re stopping at Natural Bridge, don’t just take a picture and leave. Climb down to the little beach area if you’re comfortable. We spent almost an hour there skipping rocks, and it ended up being one of our favorite unexpected stops of the entire trip.
Day 4 | White Water Rafting & Exploring Canmore
📍 Today’s Route: Canmore → White Water Rafting → Downtown Canmore
We started the morning slowly with coffee before walking over to the little river near our Airbnb. The kids spent some time playing by the water while we enjoyed our coffee, and honestly, mornings like this ended up being some of my favorite parts of the trip.
Originally, we had planned to hike Grassi Lakes that morning, but after arriving in Banff we found out the trail was closed due to damage.
Instead, we made a last minute decision to book a white water rafting trip with Chinook Rafting, and I’m so glad we did.
We’d been waiting years for both of our kids to be old enough to go, so everyone was excited.
On the drive to the rafting launch, we spotted bighorn sheep, and during the trip we even saw wild horses, which ended up being some of the best wildlife sightings of our entire vacation.
The rafting itself was so much fun and easily one of our favorite adventures of the week.
Afterward, we headed back into downtown Canmore for lunch at Bella Crusta. Everything is served on homemade focaccia bread that’s baked fresh daily, and it was absolutely worth the stop.
Of course, we couldn’t leave without grabbing ice cream before wandering around downtown Canmore for a bit and heading back to the Airbnb.
🌊 Worth the Money
If you’re traveling with kids who are old enough, I’d absolutely recommend white water rafting.
It was one of those experiences we talked about long after the trip was over, and I’m so glad we decided to book it even if it wasn’t part of our original plan.
Day 5 | Moraine Lake
📍 Today’s Route: EpiCanmore → Moraine Lake → Rockpile Trail → Lakeshore Trail → Golden
We woke up early for what ended up being everyone’s favorite day of the trip.
Before heading to our shuttle, we stopped at EpiCanmore for breakfast, and I don’t think I’ve ever been more disappointed that we found a restaurant so late in our trip.
Everything is homemade, and it was easily our favorite breakfast of the week. We ordered sweet crepes with homemade Nutella, a savory crepe, quiche, and coffee, and every single thing was delicious. They even have gluten-free crepes, which was a huge bonus.
After breakfast, we made our way to the Moraine Lake shuttle.
One thing I didn’t realize while planning this trip is that you can’t drive your own car to Moraine Lake. Most visitors need to take the Parks Canada shuttle, and the least expensive tickets sell out months in advance.
Since I definitely wasn’t planning that far ahead, we ended up trying our luck with the additional tickets that are released 48 hours before each date. It took a lot of refreshing, but we eventually grabbed four tickets for the 9:00 a.m. shuttle.
Despite Moraine Lake being one of the busiest places in Banff National Park, I honestly didn’t think it felt overwhelming. Maybe we got lucky, but it never felt crowded enough to take away from the experience.
Our first stop was the Rockpile Trail, and the view at the top completely lived up to the hype.
It was, without question, the prettiest lake we saw during our entire trip.
After taking in the view, we grabbed a snack from the café before continuing along the Lakeshore Trail.
This ended up being everyone’s favorite hike of the week.
It was easy, peaceful, and gave the kids plenty of opportunities to stop, climb on rocks, play by the water, and just be kids. I think that’s exactly why they loved it so much.
By the time we made it back to the shuttle, it had started raining, which somehow felt like the perfect ending to such an incredible day.
From there, we drove to our second Airbnb in Golden before grabbing dinner in town for the night.
👨👩👧 Family Tip
Don’t stop after the Rockpile.
I think a lot of people walk up for the iconic view, take a few pictures, and head right back to the shuttle. If you have the time, keep walking along the Lakeshore Trail. It ended up being our favorite hike of the entire trip and was surprisingly kid friendly.
Day 6 | Lake Louise & Lake Agnes
📍 Today’s Route: Ethos Café → Lake Louise → Afternoon Tea → Lake Agnes Trail → Mirror Lake
We had a pretty relaxed morning before heading back to Ethos Café for breakfast and coffee.
By this point, it had officially become our favorite coffee shop of the trip. The breakfast sandwiches were so good, the coffee never disappointed, and bonus points because they actually make their own syrups (iykyk).
Earlier in the week, I managed to grab one of the last reservations for Afternoon Tea at the Fairmont Lake Louise, and I was excited because I’d seen it recommended all over the internet.
I will be so honest…
I thought it was a waste of money.
I know people love it, but for us it felt like a tourist trap, and I wouldn’t book it again—not even for the experience.
If you’re deciding between spending your money on High Tea or hiking to the Lake Agnes Tea House, I’d skip High Tea every single time. Grab tea and a snack at the tea house instead.
After lunch, we started hiking toward Lake Agnes with plans to continue up to Little Beehive.
Coming from sea level in Florida, my kids definitely didn’t love this hike as much as the flat Lakeshore Trail at Moraine Lake. It was much steeper, and by the time we reached Mirror Lake, everyone had reached their limit.
We ended up doing a cold plunge, hanging out by the water for a bit, and decided to turn around.
Could we have pushed through to Little Beehive?
Probably.
But we all agreed it wasn’t worth listening to the kids complain the rest of the hike just to check another viewpoint off the list especially since we’d already done High Tea and weren’t planning to stop at the Lake Agnes Tea House.
If your kids love hiking, I’d absolutely continue on to the tea house, grab a snack, and make your way up to Little Beehive. I’ve also heard the Plain of Six Glaciers hike is another beautiful option if you’re looking for something longer.
👨👩👧 Family Tip
Don’t feel like you have to finish every hike just because it was your original plan. We turned around at Mirror Lake, and honestly, we never felt like we missed out. Sometimes it’s better to end the day with happy kids than push through just to say you made it to the top.
Day 7 | Icefields Parkway & Golden Skybridge
📍 Today’s Route: Ethos Café → Bow Lake → Peyto Lake → Golden Skybridge
We started our last full day with breakfast and coffee at Ethos Café. By this point it had officially become our favorite coffee shop of the trip, so we had to go one last time before heading home.
Originally, I had planned for us to drive all the way to the Athabasca Glacier, but by this point everyone was getting a little tired of being in the car. Since it was also my husband’s birthday, I let him choose what we did that day instead.
Looking back, I don’t regret it, but if we ever come back, the glacier is probably the first thing I’d add to our itinerary. After reading more about it, knowing it won’t be there forever makes me wish we had made the extra drive.
Our first stop along the Icefields Parkway was Bow Lake, where we walked down to the water and took a few pictures before continuing on to Peyto Lake.
I’ll be honest, I’d heard so many people say Peyto Lake was one of the prettiest lakes in Banff National Park, so I was really excited to see it. The view from the lookout was beautiful, but I was a little disappointed that you couldn’t actually get down to the water. I think that’s why I loved Moraine Lake and Emerald Lake so much more—you don’t just look at them, you actually get to experience them.
If you have more time than we did, I’d definitely keep driving down the Icefields Parkway. You’ll pass Waterfowl Lakes, the Athabasca Glacier, and eventually make your way into Jasper National Park. You can also book the Columbia Icefield Adventure, where you ride a massive Ice Explorer vehicle out onto the glacier. It’s definitely on our list for next time.
After turning around, we headed back toward Golden Skybridge.
My husband really wanted to do something thrilling while we were there, so he and my 9-year-old son decided to do the Canyon Swing.
I cried at the top.
Seriously…I was never afraid of heights until I had kids, but watching my 9-year-old willingly swing off the side of a mountain just about sent me into cardiac arrest.
Meanwhile, he thought it was the coolest thing he’d ever done and was asking if he could go again before we even left.
Before we left the kids climbed the rock wall, we walked across the suspension bridges, rode the mountain coaster, and spent the rest of the afternoon exploring before grabbing dinner at Turning Point in Golden.
I’ll be honest…the food was not great.
After dinner, we headed back to the Airbnb to pack up the car for our early flight home the next morning. Since it’s about a three-hour drive from Golden to the Calgary airport, this is another reason I’d personally choose to stay in Canmore for the whole trip if I were planning it again.
🎢 Worth the Stop?
If the Canyon Swing is already on your bucket list, I definitely think Golden Skybridge is worth the stop.
If you’re not planning to do the Canyon Swing, I honestly don’t think I’d go out of my way just for the Skybridge. The suspension bridges and mountain coaster were fun, but for us, the Canyon Swing was the highlight. You can also find other adventures around Golden like ATV tours and horseback riding if that’s more your style.
Day 8 | Heading Home
We woke up early for the three hour drive back to the Calgary airport.
We almost missed our flight as Canada has stricter time limits for when you can check your bag in.
Thankfully, we made our flight, made it home safely, and left Banff with some pretty incredible memories.
Looking back, this was easily one of our favorite family trips we’ve taken.
Final Thoughts – 7 day Banff Itinerary
Banff completely lived up to the hype.
It was one of the most beautiful places we’ve ever been, and I already know we’ll be back.
There are still so many things we’d love to do next time—driving all the way to the Athabasca Glacier, visiting Jasper National Park, hiking Grassi Lakes (hopefully after it reopens!), and maybe…just maybe…I’ll let my son do the Canyon Swing again.
If I had to narrow down a few of our favorites, here’s what we’d recommend:
🏔️ Favorite Lake: Moraine Lake
🥾 Favorite Hike With Kids: Moraine Lakeshore Trail
🥾 Favorite Hike for Adults: Lake Agnes (I’d continue to the Tea House and Little Beehive next time.)
🛶 Favorite Experience: Canoeing at Emerald Lake
🌊 Favorite Adventure: White Water Rafting
☕ Favorite Coffee Shop: Ethos Café
🥞 Favorite Breakfast: EpiCanmore
🍕 Favorite Lunch: Bella Crusta
👨👩👧 Favorite Slow Moment: Quarry Lake
💰 I’d Skip: Afternoon Tea at the Fairmont Lake Louise
If there’s one thing this trip taught me, it’s that you don’t have to see everything to have an amazing time.
We chose to prioritize the places we were most excited about, left room to change plans, and didn’t stress about checking every single attraction off the list.
If you’re planning your own 7-day Banff itinerary, I hope this helps you build a trip that fits your family instead of feeling like you have to squeeze in every attraction.
Looking back, I wouldn’t change that approach at all.
If you’re planning your own Banff trip and have any questions, leave them in the comments below or send me a message on Instagram. I’m always happy to help another family plan an incredible trip.
Happy travels!
P.S Enjoy these cute pups I got to snap a photo of while at Moraine lake!
