I'm planning a trip for September to head to Banff and Jasper. I have been really wanting to head up that way for years and it looks like this is my will be my year. So I'm reaching out to all of you that have been there to supply me with tips on where to go and what to see and such. I won't be doing much hiking, my traveling partner won't be up for that. We are looking for wildlife and grand vistas, the usual stuff. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.
Hey, I live in Banff so am posting from locals perspective. If you are not going to be hiking...too bad really as there are alot of world class hikes here, then I guess you will be mostly driving around.
For wildlife you are gauranteed at least sheep and elk. Minnewanka loop road, Mt. Norquay road, and Sunshine Village road are all going to put out for bighorn sheep. Highway 1a and 93N for everything else. Also be sure to drive highway 93N from Lake Lousie north....it is not to be missed. Bow Lake, Crowfoot glacier lookout, Peyto Lake lookout, Athabasca Glacier etc are all worth the drive with views all the way..too many to mention. A good option with a good chance of seeing a bear is to ride the summer chair lift at Lake Louise...not sure when they run until though.
Be sure to drive in to Morraine lake.
Depending on what time of September you are here it may be larch prime time, in which case you would be a fool to not go for a hike. Larch meadows at Morraine Lake is an easy hike and makes for prime viewing...along with a ton of other options for hikes but i'm only mentioning the super popular ones here. If you can swing it, Lake O'hara is also gobsmacking with easy hikes and outstanding views of larches etc.
...so many options but out of all of them if you do nothing other than drive then be sure to hit the Icefields Parkway (93N).
Hey Tim,
Sounds like it will be a fun trip. Check out a small book called How to Photograph the Canadian Rockies by Darwin Wiggett. Lots of suggestions for places to photograph in both Banff and Jasper. It's available thru Amazon.
time2clmb has given you some good suggestions, GP. I'd also suggest you drive through the Kananaskis area (it's south of Banff). This is a good place for bears. Be cautious of course. And for accommodation, pre-book in Canmore. It's also close to Banff but outside the park so a little less expensive.
This was taken inside the Edith Cavell glacier which is outside Jasper:
First off ...... I'm envious! I've been there twice, each time for 10 days, once in September and once in October. I preferred September. There are jaw dropping views everywhere and I'll list some of my favourites here and suggest you don't miss them but, for sure, I will have missed some so please forgive me. None of these involve big remote hikes.
Banff
Vermillion Lakes at sunset; Lake Minnewanka and Two Jack Lake; Cascade Ponds; Sulphur Mountain (on foot or via gondola); anywhere along the Bow River (in or out of town); Tunnel Mountain; be sure to drive along the Bow Valley Parkway to Lake Louise, it's much more leisurely and interesting, take in Johnson Canyon while you are there.
Lake Louise
Lake Louise itself; Chateau Lake Louise (some say a bit of an eyesore but stunning nevertheless); Lake Agnes (an excellent short hike above Lake Louise); Moraine Lake (arguably even more beautiful than Lake Louise); Morants Curve (railway and Bow River in perfect unison);
Jasper
Pyramid Lake (and Patricia Lake); Maligne Canyon, Medicine Lake, Maligne Lake (take a boat to Spirit Island as late in the day as you can, it's a must see for me); Whistlers via the Jasper Tramway; Miette Hot Springs (take a dip in the warm outdoor pool); Mount Robson; Mount Edith Cavell;
Icefields Parkway
This is one of the most spectacular drives I have taken and for a Scotsman this is saying something! My favourite stopping places are Castle Mountain; Bow Lake; Herbert Lake; Peyto Lake; Columbia Icefields; Athabasca Falls; Sunwapta Falls; and just about every other pullout you can find.
Don't forget to take the trip along to Yoho National Park. Here you'll see Emerald Lake (stunning); Natural Bridge; Takakaw Falls.
As far as wildlife goes you have a chance of seeing elk, goats, big horned sheep, grizzlies and coyotes pretty much anywhere.
Have a great trip and I look forward to seeing your photo diary
time2clmb wrote:
Hey, I live in Banff so am posting from locals perspective. If you are not going to be hiking...too bad really as there are alot of world class hikes here, then I guess you will be mostly driving around.
For wildlife you are gauranteed at least sheep and elk. Minnewanka loop road, Mt. Norquay road, and Sunshine Village road are all going to put out for bighorn sheep. Highway 1a and 93N for everything else. Also be sure to drive highway 93N from Lake Lousie north....it is not to be missed. Bow Lake, Crowfoot glacier lookout, Peyto Lake lookout, Athabasca Glacier etc are all worth the drive with views all the way..too many to mention. A good option with a good chance of seeing a bear is to ride the summer chair lift at Lake Louise...not sure when they run until though.
Be sure to drive in to Morraine lake.
Depending on what time of September you are here it may be larch prime time, in which case you would be a fool to not go for a hike. Larch meadows at Morraine Lake is an easy hike and makes for prime viewing...along with a ton of other options for hikes but i'm only mentioning the super popular ones here. If you can swing it, Lake O'hara is also gobsmacking with easy hikes and outstanding views of larches etc.
...so many options but out of all of them if you do nothing other than drive then be sure to hit the Icefields Parkway (93N)....Show more →
Thank you very much for all the information, I really do appreciate it. I do plan on other visits in the next few years, there will be many hikes on those trips
angel manguel wrote:
Hey Tim,
Sounds like it will be a fun trip. Check out a small book called How to Photograph the Canadian Rockies by Darwin Wiggett. Lots of suggestions for places to photograph in both Banff and Jasper. It's available thru Amazon.
I'm planning a trip for September to head to Banff and Jasper. I have been really wanting to head up that way for years and it looks like this is my will be my year. So I'm reaching out to all of you that have been there to supply me with tips on where to go and what to see and such. I won't be doing much hiking, my traveling partner won't be up for that. We are looking for wildlife and grand vistas, the usual stuff. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.
Tim
Tim: September is wonderful with the 3rd week in September being the best.
For Banff Landscapes near road:
1) Vermillion Lake is easy from banff - 10 minutes - and always works for sunrise.
2) Two jack Lake is easy from banff - 15 minutes - on the minnewanka highway
3) Morain Lake is spectacular in Jun from the rock pile - about 40 minutes from Banff
4) Herbert Lake is very nice for Sunrise - about 10 minutes from Lake Louise - 5km up icefields parkway
5) Peyto Lookout is very easy from highway
6) Bow Lake sunrise with fall colors is spectacular
7) Wedge Pond in Kananaskis is great for sunrise
8) Highwood Pass in Kananaskis is one of my favorites
For Banff area wildlife:
1) The elk in early morning willl be herding on the drive to Minnewanka - this is a good spot
2) For grizzly - go to Kananaskis - they will be eating the berries along the road - late evening mid week is best. Give me a pm when you get closer and I will tell you where they are
3) For moose - Kananaskis - near Engridine lodge either early or late and usually you will get great pictures
4) For bighorn - near Exshaw between Canmore and Morley. Alternatively, drive to Radium Hot Springs and you will see lots of bighorn.
For Jasper Landscapes:
1) Medicine Lake either sunrise or sunset
2) Patricia Lake sunset
3) Edith Cavel - sunrise just down from hostel
4) Tangle falls - is great
5) Take the boat tour to spririt island on Maligne - they don't give you much time but what a spot
6) Helicopter to Berg Lake - in and out - spectacular
For Jasper Animals:
1) Elk, Elk, Elk bugling, mating... near Jasper park lodge is my favorite spot in the smaller lakes but almost anywhere early morning.
2) The drive to Maligne lake usually produces great bears, elk opportunity
3) Early morning toward Miette is opportunity for wolves - buty you have to be luck. Same for bighorn and mountain goats.
If you are only doing 1 hike, hike the Larch trail early in the morning. Give me a call and I will go with you.
If you are doing a 2nd hike, reserve Lake Ohara, and walk up to opabum basin.
Helicopter to Mount Assiniboine for landscapes shots - they are spectacular.
Follow my link to smugmug and pick a picture and ask me and I will give you directions.
Baker Creek Chalet is a great central spot for Lake Louise/Banff
Jasper Park Lodge is my favorite in Jasper but Beckers Chalet is another great choice.
Scott
Jul 08, 2012 at 01:16 AM
Charlie Shugart Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
Tim- Lots of excellent suggestions from people more knowledgeable of the two parks than I.
But here's my $.02 worth:
In Jasper- the drive past Medicine Lake and on to Maligne Lake is always great for dramatic close-up rugged mountain scenery (worth more than one trip, perhaps- especially if the weather changes). It often is also good for wildlife- especially bighorn sheep.
The boat trip on Maligne Lake to Spirit Island is excellent. The way to beat (sometimes) the brief turnaround is to be there early on a weekday. Ask if you can take a boat excursion to the island, skip its return, and catch it on the next trip. I did that and it was perfect!
Charlie
If you are going to Kananaskis, I would drive down highway 40 and then come back on gravel road toward Canmore. Beyond Engredine lodge you will find moose but not as frequently as the section near Engridine lodge.
in September, from past years the best spots for grizzly are near the lower end of the paved road to Highwood pass. There are lots of bufalo berries, and they are there to fatten up.
hnilsson wrote:
time2clmb has given you some good suggestions, GP. I'd also suggest you drive through the Kananaskis area (it's south of Banff). This is a good place for bears. Be cautious of course. And for accommodation, pre-book in Canmore. It's also close to Banff but outside the park so a little less expensive.
This was taken inside the Edith Cavell glacier which is outside Jasper:
First off ...... I'm envious! I've been there twice, each time for 10 days, once in September and once in October. I preferred September. There are jaw dropping views everywhere and I'll list some of my favourites here and suggest you don't miss them but, for sure, I will have missed some so please forgive me. None of these involve big remote hikes.
Banff
Vermillion Lakes at sunset; Lake Minnewanka and Two Jack Lake; Cascade Ponds; Sulphur Mountain (on foot or via gondola); anywhere along the Bow River (in or out of town); Tunnel Mountain; be sure to drive along the Bow Valley Parkway to Lake Louise, it's much more leisurely and interesting, take in Johnson Canyon while you are there.
Lake Louise
Lake Louise itself; Chateau Lake Louise (some say a bit of an eyesore but stunning nevertheless); Lake Agnes (an excellent short hike above Lake Louise); Moraine Lake (arguably even more beautiful than Lake Louise); Morants Curve (railway and Bow River in perfect unison);
Jasper
Pyramid Lake (and Patricia Lake); Maligne Canyon, Medicine Lake, Maligne Lake (take a boat to Spirit Island as late in the day as you can, it's a must see for me); Whistlers via the Jasper Tramway; Miette Hot Springs (take a dip in the warm outdoor pool); Mount Robson; Mount Edith Cavell;
Icefields Parkway
This is one of the most spectacular drives I have taken and for a Scotsman this is saying something! My favourite stopping places are Castle Mountain; Bow Lake; Herbert Lake; Peyto Lake; Columbia Icefields; Athabasca Falls; Sunwapta Falls; and just about every other pullout you can find.
Don't forget to take the trip along to Yoho National Park. Here you'll see Emerald Lake (stunning); Natural Bridge; Takakaw Falls.
As far as wildlife goes you have a chance of seeing elk, goats, big horned sheep, grizzlies and coyotes pretty much anywhere.
Have a great trip and I look forward to seeing your photo diary
Thank you very much David. I am dying for the drive on the Icefields Pwy, been looking at pictures of it for a loooong time!!! I know you have some grand vistas in Scotland so that endorsement means just that much more
