Hiking trails in Banff National Park vary based on the weather in terms of difficulty and accessibility. 

Traveling to Banff in the spring, you might be out of luck when it comes to some trails because conditions aren’t there yet. 

That was the case for us this May.

Although the weather was mid-60s and beautiful, there was still snow and ice on the trails, especially at higher elevations. 

That being the case, some trails are closed up until about June when the weather is peaking.

On our list was Castle Mountain.

Weather, or maybe even construction, diverted us away. 

At any rate, it was closed off. 

So, we prioritized other hikes. 

Depending on your fitness level and hiking prowess, the hikes I list below are mainly directed at those staying in or very close to Banff for a short stay. 

We basically had an extended weekend to cover as much ground as we saw fit. 

Could we have been more aggressive? 

Hell yeah. 

Could we have been more relaxed? 

Yep, totally. 

Our hiking itinerary fell somewhere between those two. 

Let’s dive in. 

Moraine Lake, Then Lake Louise to the Tea House

At the very peak of my list was seeing these two lakes and hiking whatever trail was in the vicinity. 

We started at Moraine Lake. 

Late May, the lake was totally frozen. 

I’m not going to lie, that was a bummer. 

I wanted to see that turquoise water reflect those snowy, jagged mountains in the worst way. 

I suppose I’ll have to go back during the summer months. 

Schucks. 

However, what was actually pretty cool about the lake being frozen is that we could walk out (with great caution) and see the mountains and surrounding area from a totally different perspective than what’s most commonly shown on Instagram. 

We walked out onto the lake, hiked around, goofed off, and then clambered to the top of the Rock Pile. 

The hike was a short wake up, warm up. 

We drank our coffee, took it easy and watched the sun come up. 

That was one of the best mornings I’ve had in a very, very long time. 

Next was Lake Louise. 

Brace yourself. 

If you do as we did, you’ll soon join the flock of tourists that stormed the shores of Lake Louise. 

Moraine Lake in the early morning hours is a tranquil vista of rugged Canadian wilderness. 

Lake Louise by mid-morning is swarming with people — even during the off season. 

Be ready to accept that. 

If it’s any consolation, though, traffic broke up significantly on the trail to Lake Agnes Tea House. 

Moving away from the crowds, you start your ascent toward the tea house. It’s about a 5-mile hike that’s full of switchbacks, a few grand vistas, many lodgepole pines, and a much-needed relaxing cup of tea at the top. 

Unlike the easy going nature of Moraine Lake, the hike to the tea house is an actual hike. It takes a couple of hours to complete, so bring water, snacks, and good conversation.

Also read: Should I buy bear spray in Banff National Park?

Johnston Canyon to the Ink Pots

Johnston Canyon early in the morning is a great hike, especially going to the Ink Pots. 

This trail takes you on a 5-mile hike through the woods, along the canyon walls, passed waterfalls and over a river to where the Ink Pots are. 

The Ink Pots are a number of small pools of clear water that show what look like a number natural springs bubbling up from the sandy waterbed. 

You can hike along these pools of water, take a load off on one of the many benches, or lay in the grass a while and take in the surrounding peaks and river running through the valley. 

It’s about as picturesque as it gets. 

On a beautiful day, it has to be one of the most peaceful places around, with relatively little effort to get there. The hike itself is fairly easy, with a fair amount of up and down, and a few places to watch your footing when you get close to the ink pots.

Foot traffic definitely picks up as the morning bleeds into the afternoon.

My suggestion: Go early. 

Then, stop at the cafe on your way back. 

Quick note: If you park in the lot, you’ll have to pay. It’s about $15 CAN to park there.

Tunnel Mountain

A roughly 2-mile round trip hike takes you to the top of a mountain standing at 5,500 feet — without leaving town. 

The Tunnel Mountain trail was the first place we went to after checking into our hotel in Banff. 

Close by, easy to access, it’s a friendly trail for those getting their bearing in the area. 

For us, it was a good way to acclimatize to the higher elevation and to stretch our legs after being in the car. 

On a clear day, you’d have plenty of opportunities to look far out to the surrounding peaks and valleys, over the town of Banff, and more. 

On a foggy day, be prepared to meet a wall of mist and cloud. 

We saw an elk on our trek to the top. 

That was wild.

Around Lake Minnewanka

Lake Minnewanka reminded us of home.

(Lake Minnetonka.)

The familiarity drew us in and we’re grateful for it. 

The lake and others in the area make for a scenic drive and great hiking. 

Parking in the main lot, we walked along the shores of Lake Minnewanka, jumping on and off the trail. 

The day we visited, the lake was a deep blue. 

Choppy. 

Clouds came in, covering the peaks. 

The pines emanated a full green. 

Not rain, but mist flew sideways to slicken up the walkways and puddle up the trail. 

It was a cool day. 

A cool hike. 

Peyto Lake

The biggest drawback to only spending a long weekend in the area was that we had to be real picky and choosy about where we went and what we saw. 

We could not leave without seeing Peyto Lake. 

Could not. 

When I make it back to the Canadian Rockies, at top on my list are driving more of the Icefields Parkway and visiting Jasper.

We only made it as far as Peyto Lake, which was enough to stir that hunger for more. 

Great mountains rise rapidly along this scenic highway, creating massive walls of snowy saw blades that block the sun and share the skies with clouds. 

The identical trees made a sea out of the valleys, going on and on for miles and miles. 

Taking this view in on one of the clearest of days was a gift that I’ll hold in memory as long as I can. 

As long as I can. 

Peyto Lake, although not a rigorous hike, was a short tromp through rotten snow to witness the bluest of lakes not made up of salty waters. 

It rivaled the Mediterranean Sea and stuck out so vividly from its surroundings that it almost looked unnatural. 

But it was. 

That exists in nature.

And I was lucky enough to see it. 

It wasn’t the distance or a gruff trek that made hiking in this so memorable, but being present in a truly remarkable landscape and trying my best to remember as many details as possible.

At each place we went, I’d try to paint the whole scene in my head with hopes of storing it away for a long, long time. 

I say it often, but I really do feel beholden to this place. 

I can not wait to get back to the Rockies.

Where in or around Banff have you hiked? What trails would you recommend and what is the difficulty? Leave a comment below.