Hidden gems in Banff
Skip the tourist circuit. These Banff spots are the ones locals actually send their out-of-town friends to.
Top spots in Banff
Lake Louise
OutdoorsDay trip
Glacial turquoise lake under Victoria Glacier — canoe or hike Plain of Six.
Moraine Lake
OutdoorsDay trip
Valley of the Ten Peaks — shuttle-only, go for sunrise.
Banff Upper Hot Springs
OutdoorsSulphur Mountain
Soak in mineral pools with mountain views, open year-round.
Johnston Canyon
OutdoorsBow Valley Pkwy
Catwalks over waterfalls; ice-walks in winter.
Larch Valley
OutdoorsMoraine area
Golden larches peak late Sept.
Lake Louise Ski Resort
OutdoorsLake Louise
4,200 acres of powder across four faces.
Where to eat
Eden
$$$$French tasting · Rimrock Resort
Alberta's only AAA 5-Diamond — tasting menu with a view.
Three Ravens
$$$Modern Canadian · Banff Centre
Top-floor windows looking at Cascade Mountain.
Park Distillery
$$Campfire-style · Banff Ave
Rotisserie chicken and house-made vodka.
Tooloulou's
$$Cajun / Brunch · Caribou St
Line out the door for beignets and jambalaya.
Bear Street Tavern
$$Pizza / Pub · Bear St
Wood-fired pies and 24 beers on tap.
Frequently asked
- Locals' under-the-radar picks include Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Banff Upper Hot Springs. These are the places that don't show up on the first page of mainstream travel guides.