Alternatives to Banff National Park in Summer

A look at what's ahead
A look at what's ahead on the Lineham Ridge hike

I love visiting Banff National Park but in the height of the summer I tend to avoid the town of Banff and any of the mainstream sites and hiking trails. I’m not a fan of crowds. Fortunately, there are excellent summer alternatives to Banff National Park during the peak summer period, and many aren’t far away.

If you’re like me and a little crowd adverse try some of the following equally awesome experiences in Alberta. Even though they’re not in Banff, be sure to reserve campsites and hotel rooms well in advance. I have found since COVID showed up that natural areas and campsites are far busier than they once were.

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Recommended reading: Places to Stay in the Canadian Rockies

Kootenay National Park – one of the quieter alternatives to Banff National Park

If you’re driving to Kootenay National Park from Calgary you’ll still end up going through the gates of Banff National Park. If you don’t have a pass already you can get one in person at the gate. But if it’s a weekend you can expect seriously long line-ups so get there early. (You can also order your pass from Parks Canada ahead of time.)

It’s about a 40-minute drive to the boundary of Kootenay National Park from the Banff gates. Kootenay National Park doesn’t see nearly the number of visitors that Banff does – in large part because it’s not nearly as developed. But it’s equally beautiful. To plan your visit to Kootenay National Park click here.

One of the must do hikes is the easy one up Marble Canyon

Tokumm Creek is a beautiful turquoise colour
Tokumm Creek is a beautiful turquoise colour

Where to stay in and around Kootenay National Park

You have the option of both front-country and back-country camping. Check out the Kootenay National Park website for information and reservations. In the Village of Radium Hot Springs in British Columbia there are loads of affordable accommodation options.

Just outside of Kootenay National Park is Storm Mountain Lodge. It’s a great place but a pricier option than camping.

Nipika Mountain Resort is outside the park boundaries but it’s another great option, especially if you’re into mountain biking as it’s available onsite.

Our cozy cabin at Nipika Lodge
Our cozy cabin at Nipika Mountain Resort
Mountain biking at Nipika Mountain Resort with beautiful views of the Kootenay River as a backdrop
Mountain biking at Nipika Mountain Resort with beautiful views of the Kootenay River as a backdrop

What to do in Kootenay National Park

In Kootenay National Park I highly recommend backpacking the Rockwall Trail. It’s a tough 4 – 5 day adventure that delivers big time on mountain scenery.

There are also day hikes up to many of the campsites used on the Rockwall Trail. I would suggest a day hike to Floe Lake in particular – as one of the top alternatives to Banff hikes.

Consider the 17.7 km Kindersley-Sinclair Col loop hike and the guided hike to Stanley Glacier to look for fossils. You must reserve that one in advance. And don’t miss the short, easy but stunning hike up Marble Canyon. 

Should you be visiting on a cooler summer day, plan a drive through the park so you can enjoy a soak in Radium Hot Springs.

Floe Lake on the Rockwall Trail in Kootenay National Park is one of the great alternatives to Banff
Floe Lake on the Rockwall Trail in Kootenay National Park

Check out Yoho National Park 

Yoho National Park is one of the great alternatives to Banff National Park. The park offers some of the best mountain scenery in the country, especially in the Lake O’Hara area. It can get busy, but its definitely one of the quieter alternatives to Banff.

Try the hike to Sherbrooke Lake or the Paget Lookout as an example.

Head to one of four campgrounds in the park, including a walk-in, first come, first served campground near Takkakaw Falls where there’s a very high probability of scoring a beautiful campsite. Then spend several days hiking in the area. The Iceline Trail is fantastic. 

If you stay overnight at the Stanley Mitchell Hut (run by the Alpine Club of Canada) or camp nearby then you have access to phenomenal mountain hiking in the President Range. Don’t miss your chance to do the hike to see the Burgess Shale fossils when you’re in the park by making a reservation here.

You can also stay overnight in Field at one of the many B&B’s and Golden, British Columbia is only about a 50 minute drive away. The lovely Emerald Lake Lodge is another option.

Access to Yoho National Park is via the Trans-Canada either heading west about an hour from the gates in Banff National Park or east from Golden.

Our walk-in campsite near Takakkaw Falls
Our walk-in campsite near Takakkaw Falls
Summer Alternatives to Banff National Park
Beautiful hiking on the Iceline Trail
Emerald Lake in summer - one of the prettiest alternatives to Banff
Emerald Lake in summer

Alternatives to Banff – Waterton Lakes National Park

Waterton Lakes National Park is a three-hour drive from Calgary and one of the best alternatives to Banff. The park borders Glacier National Park in Montana. You can expect gorgeous mountains and glacial lakes. Although it will be busy, it won’t be anything like Banff. 

Where do you stay in Waterton?

I highly recommend a drink or a meal at the Prince of Wales Hotel for the view alone. The hotel is a little run down but you can’t beat the location.

One weekend I stayed in the Waterton Glacier Suites and would recommend them if you want to do some of your own cooking.

What can you do in Waterton?

Waterton Lakes National Park is home to over 250 species of birds and 60 species of mammals including a healthy grizzly and black bear population. It’s also considered to be one of the wettest and windiest places in Alberta – something to keep in mind if you’re planning to camp.

Some of the things to do in Waterton in summer include fantastic hiking, biking, horseback riding, and a boat ride down the length of Waterton Lake. The night skies are dark too and excellent tours are available. 

I’ve done numerous hikes in Waterton and all were phenomenal.

The Crypt Lake hike is one of the more unusual ones you’ll ever do in Canada as it includes a ladder, tunnel and chains. The Lineham Ridge hike takes you into gorgeous red rock country with fantastic mountain views. 

Take the shuttle and do the Carthew-Alderson Trail as a one way hike. Expect very diverse scenery – from mountain to prairie views. 

There are also camping options; choose from nine wilderness campsites and a campground in town that is vehicle accessible. For more information visit this website. Book EARLY! 

Read:  20 + Best Things to do in Waterton in Summer

Fantastic horseback riding in Waterton Lakes National Park - even for beginners
Fantastic horseback riding in Waterton Lakes National Park – even for beginners
Views you get on the Lineham Ridge hike
Views you get on the Lineham Ridge hike
View from Bear's Hump
View from the Bear’s Hump – an easy hike in Waterton

Alternatives to Banff – the much quieter Crowsnest Pass area

The Crowsnest Pass area is not on the radar of many people and yet it’s got top-notch scenery including mountains and waterfalls, Canada’s second largest landslide, a host of cute towns and lots of accommodation options. Also, it’s just a 2.5 hour drive from Calgary.

You could easily visit this area, cross into British Columbia, check out Fernie and Cranbrook and return to Calgary via a stop in Kootenay National Park. You’d lose the crowds completely.

Where can you stay in the Crowsnest Pass area?

I’ve tried out two places so far – Country Encounters in Coleman – which I quite enjoyed and The Kanata Inn in Blairmore which is a tad more basic.

There are loads of other options including camping beside the pretty Lundbreck Falls.

What can you do southern Alberta’s Crowsnest Pass area?

There is a surprising amount of excellent hiking. One in particular – the hike to the top of Turtle Mountain – may cause a bit of an adrenalin rush as it takes you to the point where Turtle Mountain broke away and caused the Frank Slide.

This post showcases five of the best hikes in the Crowsnest Pass area. Don’t miss a stop at the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre. And consider bringing your bikes as you can cycle the 23 km Crowsnest Community Trail. It’s a scenic way to visit all the communities.

There's a campground a stone's throw away from Lundbreck Falls
There’s a campground a stone’s throw away from Lundbreck Falls
Window Mountain Lake in the Crowsnest Pass Area
Window Mountain Lake in the Crowsnest Pass Area
One of the Alberta hikes with a fabulous backdrop
Quite the backdrop for the hike up Turtle Mountain

Visit the Canmore area as one of the alternatives to Banff

Canmore is both the gateway to Banff National Park and one of the points of entrance to Kananaskis Country. With a population of about 14,000, Canmore has all the amenities you need along with great access to hiking and biking trails.

Where can you stay in Canmore?

Canmore offers the whole range of accommodation options from B&B’s to the intimate Paintbox Lodge run by Olympian Sara Renner and her husband to the newer Basecamp Resort where you can make your own meals and enjoy a hot tub with a view.

I also highly recommend the Malcolm Hotel, especially if you like an outdoor pool with a view.

Nearby there are campsites at Bow River Provincial Park and Lac des Arcs.

What can you do around Canmore?

There is so much to do around Canmore that you don’t need to venture into Banff National Park. But you could on a bike by cycling the fabulous Legacy Trail – and it’s easy to rent bikes in Canmore. There are also some lovely family-friendly bike paths around the town, especially along the river.

If you love hiking, you won’t be compromising on the trails in and near Canmore. They are easy alternatives to Banff.

There’s enough hiking in the Canmore area to keep you busy for a week or more.

The Grassi Lakes are always a popular choice. Do the steep hike to the top of Ha Ling Peak for stellar views. Try Mount Lady McDonald or the more difficult EEOR Peak.

The High Rockies Trail, the westernmost section of the Trans-Canada Trail in Alberta, offers superlative scenery and caters to both hikers, trail runners and mountain bikers. The starting point is at Goat Creek, near the trailhead for Ha Ling Peak.

You can also go caving in Canmore. See what you think of the laundry chute. I’m not a fan.

Beautiful views from the Bow River Trail - one of the summer alternatives to Banff
Beautiful views from the Bow River Trail in Bow River Provincial Park
Summer Alternatives to Banff National Park is the hike up Ha Ling
The steep hike up Ha Ling Peak
Now that's a view of Canmore
Now that’s a view of Canmore from EEOR

Summer alternatives to Banff: Kananaskis Country via Highway 40

You don’t have to go to Canmore to get into Kananaskis Country. Just drive from Calgary to Highway 40 and head south. It’s only about an hour’s drive to get into Kananaskis Country and it was one of the less crowded alternatives to Banff until COVID hit. Now it’s getting busy too so I’d encourage you to try the harder hikes if you want to lose the crowds.

Once you’re in K-country as it’s often called, you can road or mountain bike and hike to your heart’s content.

For road biking I recommend the ride up Highwood Pass – the highest paved road in Canada. There are mountain biking trails everywhere in K-country. I’ve only done a couple – the easy one to Troll Falls and another behind the Delta Hotel so check in with Kananaskis Outfitters to get some local knowledge. They rent bikes too.

There’s lovely hiking at the top of Highwood Pass including the fantastic Pocaterra Ridge hike and the easier Arethusa Cirque hike.

Closer to Mt. Engadine Lodge (where you’ll often see moose) there are some excellent hikes. I’ve never done Tent Ridge but it’s one everyone I talk to raves about. The hike to Buller Pass is a beauty as is the hike to Black Prince Cirque. I’d also recommend the South End of Lawson hike.

You could literally spend weeks exploring Kananaskis Country. As of 2021 you need a Kananaskis Conservation Pass which you can purchase online. For access from Calgary, Kananaskis Country ranks at the top for summer alternatives to Banff.

Where to stay in Kananaskis

There are lots of overnight options from front and backcountry camping  to a stay in a tipi stay at Sundance Lodges, to the newly renovated Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge and the wonderful Mt. Engadine Lodge – my personal favourite.

Recommended reading: A Complete Guide to Camping in Kananaskis

Pocaterra Ridge - one of the summer alternatives to Banff National Park
The Pocaterra Ridge hike is at its peak in larch season – one of the great summer alternatives to Banff
Superb views from the high point of Kananaskis Lakes
Superb views of Upper Kananaskis Lake from the South End of Lawson hike

 

Beautiful Warspite Lake
Beautiful Warspite Lake that you visit on the Black Prince hike

Even if Banff National Park is very busy there are enough choices near the park that a summer visit is still extremely worthwhile. And if you avoid the town of Banff, and head for the backcountry, you can almost always enjoy a peaceful, wilderness experience. Just book backcountry campsites early.

Location map of alternatives to Banff National Park in summer

                                                         

Click on the photo to bookmark to Pinterest boards.

Alternatives to Banff National Park in summer

 

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