Mistakes to Avoid When Visiting BANFF National Park

We travel a lot, and we want to help you avoid the making the mistakes we make. We recently returned from Banff National Park, and we learned a thing or two. Banff has a lot of attractions and can be expensive. It can also have unpredictable weather. Watch to discover how to make the most of your trip to Banff National Park.
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⚡️Are you overwhelmed in the planning of a trip to Banff and/or Jasper National Park? Don't be! Make your trip less stressful by getting our must-have travel guides, complete with step-by-step itineraries: wereintherockies.com/banff-ja...
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⚡️Getting to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake is Complicated! Download our FREE pdf. Guide includes shuttle, bus, and tour options as well as reservation windows. rockies.ck.page/7d9edcc653
Other GREAT resources: 👇
⚡️Banff Playlist: • Banff & Jasper
⚡️Visit our website to learn more about Banff National Park: wereintherockies.com/banff/
⚡️Banff 101 For the First-time Visitor: • Banff 101 for First-Ti...
⚡️Riding Banff’s Glacier Monster Truck | Columbia Icefield Adventure & Skywalk: • We tried the Glacier M...
⚡️11 Great Restaurants in Banff: • 11 Great Restaurants i...
⚡️Discovery Pass: parks.canada.ca/pn-np/ab/banf...
⚡️Pursuit (activity passes): www.pursuitcollection.com/
Visiting Other Locations? We have more resources: 👇
⚡️Travel guides to Glacier, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and more: wereintherockies.com/store/
⚡️Glacier Playlist: • Glacier
⚡️Read our article How to do the Grinnell Glacier Hike and Many Glacier Boat Tour: wereintherockies.com/grinnell...
⚡️Read our article Can You Swim in Glacier National Park: wereintherockies.com/swim-in-...
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0:00 Introduction
0:30 Banff gondola on a cloudy day
1:40 Park passes
3:00 Understand the shuttles
4:41 Weather
5:32 Crowds
7:10 Overscheduling
7:33 Red chairs
7:49 Not bundling attractions
8:51 Spending too much money
9:34 Calgary
10:17 Not having a game plan
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[@michaelczekaj3021]

We're leaving in a few days and I know all we've learned from your videos and guides we are going to have a wonderful time!

[@michaelcrawford9425]

Great advice guys! I couldn't agree more.

[@mojopahitvlog8473]

Thank you for your good information knowledge.Full watching because really useful. Thank you

[@overwatchxrescue]

Definitely some great tips! Banff is a huge park, which can feel overwhelming at times, especially if you're unfamiliar with it.

[@MooseAndersonProductions]

I love the way you guys differentiate between couples vs families. I, myself, travel as a couple, but many people do not. They have kids, and you make the nuances of this known in your videos. This is a great benefit, on top of all the information you provide for all travelers. I have always wanted to go to Banff. You were instrumental in my trips to Yellowstone years ago. I am lurking, taking notes, and planning, in case I actually am able to make a trip to Banff. Also watching your Grand Canyon, Arches, Colorado, Zion, Monument Valley,….😂🤣😂🤣 Just LOVE, love, love your videos and both you guys! Thanks for all you do to help us vacationers. I can’t recommend We’re in the Rockies enough to travelers. 🫎

[@WereintheRockies]

Thanks so much Steve!

[@LiveInnerCity]

Great tips, Couldn't agree more!

[@A4allroads]

It really pays to be prepared. I actually prefer to be over prepared that way I can limit my chances of having a bad experience. If you are uncomfortable or stressed out you’re not going to enjoy yourself. You will need a vacation after your vacation. Thanks for the video. What a beautiful area!

[@MooseAndersonProductions]

Agree 100%. Planning is paramount. ‘Winging it” will never be as successful, as research & planning.

[@AplinsintheAlps]

Such great travel tips, as usual! And Cheryl, I love that you're repping your brand with your baseball hat!

[@WereintheRockies]

Thanks so much!

[@KhurshidsChannel]

Beautiful video. We visited Banff in the summer of 2023. We did not have enough time to visit all locations. I think we need to do another one. Thank you for sharing.

[@WereintheRockies]

You should!

[@markkaroo]

good video!

[@chitrarajan4712]

Hi..very nice video. . Will be visiting banff in june.can you please suggest tour company in banff.

[@WereintheRockies]

We have not used a tour company in Banff, therefore we do not have a recommendation. Do a google search and look at reviews to find a good one. Good luck!

[@Yut-ru5hu]

Hi how long did it take for the discovery pass to ship to you in the US? Also, does the annual membership start on date of purchase? Or it starts from the first day you use at the Banff national park? Thank you for the informative video!

[@WereintheRockies]

Starts from the date of purchase. Can’t remember exactly how long but I think it was a few weeks to arrive

[@Komainu959]

I'm sure it depends on the country you are purchasing from. If you're going to Banff from Calgary you will pass the town of Canmore, their visitor center sells the pass and it is BEFORE the Banff entry gate. You'll save a little on postage as well. As for when the pass activates. The annual pass starts from the MONTH of purchase. So a pass purchased on May 10, 2024 will have a sticker on it 05/24 to indicate it was purchased in May of 2024 and would be valid until May 31, 2025.

[@dianemitchell4445]

Where can I buy the bundle activities for Banff National park? Any recos? Thanks a lot.

[@WereintheRockies]

www.banffjaspercollection.com/attractions/pursuit-pass/ Thanks for watching.

[@margsangster8994]

May I ask what dates you were in Banff please? Cheers from Australia

[@WereintheRockies]

We were there in August 2023.

[@punkydebutante1]

If your not driving do you need park pass

[@WereintheRockies]

Technically, yes. They only check the vehicles, but they say you’re supposed to have one. You may consider checking with the shuttle or tour company you might be using to see what they say about it.

[@cartooninspires]

When did u go

[@WereintheRockies]

This trip we visited Glacier NP, Banff NP and Jasper NP.

[@Jamie-ec4mf]

You can skip the gondola and enjoy the hike for free

[@Komainu959]

Hike is over 10km with over 700m elevation gain. It's mostly just switchbacks and is very well maintained so zero chance of getting lost. Don't forget you also have the boardwalk "trail" at the top so if you want to do this expect and are in pretty good shape expect to spend at least 5-6 hours as you'll also want to explore the terminus and maybe watch the video and just relax to take in the sights. Been to Banff multiple times, spend the cash to see this if it's in your wish list as you will be constrained by time more than anything else. If you're really strapped for cash but want a similar view go visit "the green spot" on Mt. Norquay. You can drive right up to it. Other more useful ways to use your time? Vermillion lakes, Two Jack Lake, Bow Falls, Surprise Corner, Banff sign, One of the pedestrian bridges over Bow River, Whyte Museum, Cave and Basin, Banff Hot Springs, Fenland Trail, Lake Minnewanka, Bankhead, Hoodoos, Cascade of Time garden, Buffalo Nations, Fairmount Springs, Banff Park Museum, Csscade Ponds, visit the moose statue in front of the Moose Hotel, do the Bow River walk, the Rec Center, walk down main street and that's just the stuff to do in the immediate area in the Banff townsite and I've probably forgotten more than a few other good ones.