The Shape of the Week
This route starts in Calgary, spends three nights around Banff and Lake Louise, drives the Icefields Parkway, and finishes with two nights in Jasper. It works best from mid-June to late September, when high trails are mostly snow-free and the Lake Louise and Moraine Lake shuttles run (in 2026, until October 12).
You need a car for most of it. Calgary's airport is roughly a 90-minute drive from Banff. At the end, Jasper is about four hours from Edmonton, so flying into Calgary and out of Edmonton saves backtracking. Driving back to Calgary is also possible but long.
A Parks Canada pass is needed for every day you spend in the parks. If you are visiting for a week, the annual Discovery Pass ($83.50 for an adult, $167.50 for a family or group in one vehicle) usually costs less than daily passes, and it covers Banff, Yoho and Jasper.
Days 1–2: Banff
Day 1. Drive from Calgary and settle in. In the afternoon, walk the Fenland Loop (1.9 km) or climb Tunnel Mountain (2.3 km one way, 275 m gain) for a view over the town. Bow Falls is a short walk from downtown.
Day 2. Ride the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain, or hike the 4.8 km trail to the top. In the afternoon, drive to Lake Minnewanka, the largest lake in the park, and finish with a soak at the Banff Upper Hot Springs.
Johnston Canyon, normally a standard Banff stop, has been under temporary closures since October 13, 2026 for rock slope remediation. Check Parks Canada bulletins before planning around it.
Day 3: Lake Louise and Moraine Lake
Book the Parks Canada shuttle from the Lake Louise Park and Ride at the Lake Louise Ski Resort. Moraine Lake Road is closed to private vehicles, so the shuttle or a commercial tour is the only practical way in. The adult fare is $12.75 plus a reservation fee, and the ticket includes the Lake Connector bus between the two lakes.
Start at Moraine Lake and walk the 0.7 km Rockpile Loop, or hike to Larch Valley (4.5 km one way). Take the connector to Lake Louise and hike to the Lake Agnes tea house (3.9 km one way, 495 m gain). Stay overnight in Lake Louise village if you can, to shorten tomorrow's drive.
Day 4: Yoho National Park
Yoho, just across the British Columbia border, is about half an hour west of Lake Louise. Emerald Lake has a flat 5 km loop around its shore. The Natural Bridge, where the Kicking Horse River has cut through rock, is on the way. Takakkaw Falls, one of Canada's highest waterfalls, is reached by a steep, seasonal side road with tight switchbacks that is unsuitable for long trailers. Return to Lake Louise for the night.
Day 5: The Icefields Parkway
The Icefields Parkway runs about 230 km from Lake Louise to Jasper. Fill up with fuel before leaving, as the only station is at Saskatchewan River Crossing, and expect no cell service for most of the route. Good stops, from south to north:
- Bow Lake and the Crowfoot Glacier viewpoint
- Peyto Lake, a short walk from the Bow Summit parking lot
- Mistaya Canyon (0.6 km walk)
- Parker Ridge (2.7 km one way) for a view of the Saskatchewan Glacier
- The Columbia Icefield, with the Athabasca Glacier opposite the Icefield Centre
- Sunwapta Falls and Athabasca Falls
Allow eight to ten hours with stops.
Days 6–7: Jasper
Jasper is quieter than Banff and was badly affected by the July 2024 wildfire, which destroyed about a third of the town's structures. The town is open to visitors, but some trails, day-use areas and attractions in the surrounding valley are still closed or being rebuilt. Maligne Canyon, for example, remains closed for 2026. Check Parks Canada's Jasper bulletins before you lock in plans.
Options for day 6 include the Maligne Valley if it is open, Pyramid and Patricia lakes just north of town, and Jasper's dark skies after sunset; the park is a designated dark-sky preserve. On day 7, drive to Edmonton for a flight, or take a longer route back south.
Booking Checklist
- Accommodation: Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper fill months ahead for July and August. Book first.
- Shuttle: Lake Louise and Moraine Lake shuttle seats are released partly in April and partly two days before each departure at 8 a.m. MDT.
- Car: One-way rentals between Calgary and Edmonton often carry a drop-off fee, so compare it with the cost of driving back.
- Weather: Snow is possible at higher elevations in any month. Pack layers and a rain shell even in July.
