Jump to content

Calgary/Banff in October?


Beau Vine

Recommended Posts

Fly into Calgary and drive to Banff. Easy.

Not sure what you'll face weather wise there in October. I've been in summer and we had days of 70s and then a front came through with a dusting a snow at elevation. The winters are pretty tough there, but the plus is that the ski season is very long - we just skiied there in late April and it was fantastic. Their ski season is 178 days and is often perfectly skiable into May.

The Banff Springs Hotel is one a kind, and worth a visit/drink. The rooms are pricey and small, from what I hear. Banff is pretty, but it's a ski town so there's 'stuff'. If you want to get away from it, best keep driving. 

Lake Louise gets all the praise, and rightfully so as it's beautiful. The Fairmont has a great location, but with its stucco facade feels more modern  than the Banff Springs. Expensive, but good food (particularly the Walliser Stube). Just down the road, Deer Lodge is a rung or two below but maybe has more rustic charm. 

I've stayed at the Emerald Lake Lodge, and the location is tops as it's harder to get to - they limit the number of cars that can drive up that way. 

The hiking around and above either Lake Louise or Emerald Lake is just incredible. Highly recommended to hike to one of the backcountry 'Tea Huts' for lunch or a mid-day break. The entire area is an outdoor playground, and there are so many beautiful places to hike to - Bow Lake, Plain of Six Glaciers are two which stand out for me. The Kootenay Park has more geothermal activity which is an interesting visit. The Columbia Ice fields are also worth a visit, and even continuing up all the way to Jasper brings you to a different terrain and town vibe. 

The Grizzly activity is no joke. You will see one. Know how to handle yourself in the backcountry and you'll be fine. Frankly, the moose and elk are probably more dangerous, but...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

So we leave this week and it's supposed to be 60s in Calgary and high 50 low 30 in Banff.  I suppose we'll get out hiking more than anticipated in that weather, but Jasper is nearly 4 hours past Banff, so not doing that.

Recommendations on where to eat in Banff?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...
  • 6 months later...

Headed to Calgary tonight, Banff tomorrow through Monday. First time going and I'm pretty excited.

Hope the weather cooperates for hiking but we have rain gear if needed. I think one of our hikes will be Plain of Six Glaciers. Not sure what else but I guess Lake Louise and Moraine Lake are a given.

Eating at The Maple Leaf tomorrow night.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...
  • 5 months later...
5 hours ago, Nonbryan said:

Ha!  Rules.

 

Imagine a cross of Courtney Cox, Kristen Davis, and Mary Lou Retton.

So basically she's female and has brown hair.

We're planning on a couples trip to Banff & Jasper this summer as well.  Daughter (I posted pics on TOS) went there last year and raved about it. 

Apparently the Four Seasons in Jasper is all individual cottages/cabins.  Will very likely try to stay there for at least some of the trip.  Will see if I can get suggestions from her to post here.

Edited by DDD Dad
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 years later...
2 hours ago, UTexasFight said:

Bump

eyeing a trip in August

anything to add?

Canmore has some nice places to stay. not sure if it’s something that matters to you but it’s a little cheaper and quieter, less crowded. it’s a nice place. only about a 20 minute drive to Banff. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

25 minutes ago, futureman said:

Canmore has some nice places to stay. not sure if it’s something that matters to you but it’s a little cheaper and quieter, less crowded. it’s a nice place. only about a 20 minute drive to Banff. 

Thanks. Yep, that’s why we’re looking there.

I can live with 20 minutes from Banff if it means ~$100-$200 cheaper per night 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have been to Banff many times and it’s my wife’s favorite place to go to.  I think she would move there if we could.  We stayed in Canmore once at a hotel/condo type place and it was really nice and quiet.  Have stayed at the Fairmont in Banff for work trips a few times and its the best but that is also on my companies expense account.  Definitely rent a car and head towards Lake Louise.  Next to Lake Louise is Moraine Lake which in my opinion is one of the best views in the world if you go to the left when you get there and walk up the rock formation about 5 minutes.  We have taken the gondolas at Lake Louise up to the top to check out bears and have lunch on the outside deck which is great (although the wife and kid were disgusted at me when I ordered the lunch special of rabbit stew which was fantastic).  I would also check out Emerald Lake and Peyto Lake.  For waterfalls we went to Takakkaw Falls which is great and we also enjoyed the hike at Johnston Canyon Upper and Lower Falls and the road that takes you there is known for a good chance to see wild animals.  We have seen Grizzly bears and moose on that highway.  We have also driven farther north to the ice fields to walk on the glacier.  My kid enjoyed that a ton.  I honestly can’t remember the restaurants we have eaten out (some high end in Banff and some cheaper places) but they have all been pretty good.  Across from the Fairmont in Banff you can take a gondola up to the top of the mountain ridge and walk on a wooden path that takes you to a ranger station that is pretty cool.  Also attached to the Fairmont is a bowling place with 5 pin bowling with a little ball (like a bocci ball) that is a bunch of fun for kids and adults.  If you are a golfer, the golf course in Banff Springs is spectacular with Elk roaming around the greens and whatnot.  Hope that helps.

  • Hook 'Em 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 5/18/2022 at 7:29 PM, Beantown Express 2.0 said:

I have been to Banff many times and it’s my wife’s favorite place to go to.  I think she would move there if we could.  We stayed in Canmore once at a hotel/condo type place and it was really nice and quiet.  Have stayed at the Fairmont in Banff for work trips a few times and its the best but that is also on my companies expense account.  Definitely rent a car and head towards Lake Louise.  Next to Lake Louise is Moraine Lake which in my opinion is one of the best views in the world if you go to the left when you get there and walk up the rock formation about 5 minutes.  We have taken the gondolas at Lake Louise up to the top to check out bears and have lunch on the outside deck which is great (although the wife and kid were disgusted at me when I ordered the lunch special of rabbit stew which was fantastic).  I would also check out Emerald Lake and Peyto Lake.  For waterfalls we went to Takakkaw Falls which is great and we also enjoyed the hike at Johnston Canyon Upper and Lower Falls and the road that takes you there is known for a good chance to see wild animals.  We have seen Grizzly bears and moose on that highway.  We have also driven farther north to the ice fields to walk on the glacier.  My kid enjoyed that a ton.  I honestly can’t remember the restaurants we have eaten out (some high end in Banff and some cheaper places) but they have all been pretty good.  Across from the Fairmont in Banff you can take a gondola up to the top of the mountain ridge and walk on a wooden path that takes you to a ranger station that is pretty cool.  Also attached to the Fairmont is a bowling place with 5 pin bowling with a little ball (like a bocci ball) that is a bunch of fun for kids and adults.  If you are a golfer, the golf course in Banff Springs is spectacular with Elk roaming around the greens and whatnot.  Hope that helps.

All of this is accurate.  I did an identical trip in 2017. Down to the lakes and waterfalls even. The drive from Banff to Jasper is known as the Icefields Parkway and is considered one of the most beautiful drives in the world. 
 

Download this app and it makes the experience so much better. Uses GPS and tells you all the history and facts about everything as you drive. 
 

https://gypsyguide.com/tour/canadian-rockies/

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/gypsy-guide/id1460032075

  • Hook 'Em 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 5/21/2022 at 12:09 AM, Biff Tannen said:

All of this is accurate.  I did an identical trip in 2017. Down to the lakes and waterfalls even. The drive from Banff to Jasper is known as the Icefields Parkway and is considered one of the most beautiful drives in the world. 
 

Download this app and it makes the experience so much better. Uses GPS and tells you all the history and facts about everything as you drive. 
 

https://gypsyguide.com/tour/canadian-rockies/

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/gypsy-guide/id1460032075

Oh excellent.

Gypsy guide is great. Have done several of the theirs but didn’t realize they had one for that part of Canada 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 hours ago, UTexasFight said:

Oh excellent.

Gypsy guide is great. Have done several of the theirs but didn’t realize they had one for that part of Canada 

Yep, anytime I drive to a national park or similar I look to see if Gypsy has a guide.  It's a game changer.

  • Hook 'Em 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 hours ago, KingBobo81 said:

I'm heading to Banff in about three weeks - first time up there. Staying at the Fairmont Banff Springs. Thinking it is not going to suck. I'm doing the Via Ferrata at Mt. Norquay. Has anybody here done that/have a review?

The rosemary old fashioned at the Fairmont in Banff is quite tasty.  

  • Hook 'Em 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 5/26/2022 at 3:55 PM, KingBobo81 said:

I'm heading to Banff in about three weeks - first time up there. Staying at the Fairmont Banff Springs. Thinking it is not going to suck. I'm doing the Via Ferrata at Mt. Norquay. Has anybody here done that/have a review?

Haven't done the Via Ferrata, but the Fairmont is legit.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...
On 6/20/2022 at 7:41 AM, KingBobo81 said:

d31aa042a96c627bdc3319b1b4a5d4e4.jpgAfter numerous flight cancellations or delays, finally made it to the Fairmont Banff Springs last night - not a bad view to wake up to today.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The Rosemary Old Fashioned is pretty tasty at the Fairmont Banff Springs.  Go bowling across the street for some fun.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 6/20/2022 at 7:41 AM, KingBobo81 said:

d31aa042a96c627bdc3319b1b4a5d4e4.jpgAfter numerous flight cancellations or delays, finally made it to the Fairmont Banff Springs last night - not a bad view to wake up to today.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

ugh, that looks rough. sorry man. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 6/20/2022 at 6:41 AM, KingBobo81 said:

d31aa042a96c627bdc3319b1b4a5d4e4.jpgAfter numerous flight cancellations or delays, finally made it to the Fairmont Banff Springs last night - not a bad view to wake up to today.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Air Canada fucked you, too, eh?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Some trip highlights from the first couple days - great weather at Lake Louise and Moraine Lake today. It wasn’t super crowded, but I was thankful we took the Roam public transit from Banff to Lake Louise and connector shuttles to Moraine so we didn’t have to worry about parking. Canoeing line was short when it opened and there was no wait to eat at the Fairmont Lakeview Lounge.

The last photo is what appeared as soon as i sat down for lunch at Sky Bistro (Banff Gondola restaurant that was surprisingly good) on Monday.

I’m using the Gypsy app and doing the Icefields Parkway tomorrow, or at least as much as I can get done in a day trip.



a89ba6bbf6387895d599d2a8c81ac401.jpg
58c04eb1ae7e981e324423964c5f1109.jpg
0b5bf2929fb9a6d236fa6532ad07f832.jpg
1eb5731ccd10f99f93c60390e7a08c7d.jpg
2586234e493f35e408a756fe2710285f.jpg
1f22b33bacd9994642e1d93d59df9ccc.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  • Hook 'Em 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



×
×
  • Create New...