Visiting Banff National Park in May: What to Do & What Not to Do
So you’re considering visiting Banff National Park in May? I’m here to tell you the things that I wish I’d known before visiting this Canadian bucket list item- namely that the picture I had in my head of turquoise lakes and boat rides was totally unrealistic! Don’t let this completely deter you, however- as Banff is pretty darn magical any time of year. Bring clothes for all seasons (you’ll be hot one day and freezing the next), get your camera ready, and consult this list of dos and don’ts ahead of time…it’ll help you plan accordingly!
DO:
Stay at Banff Inn. Located right on Banff Ave in the heart of town, it was the perfect base for exploring the area. It also came with a lot of perks, including comfy beds, a spa, an onsite Italian restaurant called Carlito’s that delivers to your room (hell yeah!) and a free underground parking garage.
DO:
Go to Lake Louise! It might be snowy, and most of the lake will be frozen over, but it is still stunning. After, pop into the luxurious Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise for a warm drink or a bite to eat with a view, and take a look around…it’s pretty darn fancy. If I had a lot of money to spare, I’d have booked that place in a heartbeat!
DON’T:
Plan on seeing Lake Moraine, it’ll be closed. If like me, you had dreams of seeing these beautiful blue waters and kayaking around amongst green trees, you’ll have to come back in the summer.
@lorolo77
DO:
Go to Johnston Canyon. It’s an easy day hike with well marked trails and catwalks, perfect for families and people of all fitness levels. There are two sets of falls to explore- the lower and the upper. You can expect to walk about half a mile to reach the lower, and a mile and a half to reach the upper. If you want to go beyond the upper falls and visit the Ink Pots, which are aquamarine colored pools nearly 2 miles further, see my next point.
DON’T:
Hike to the Ink Pots without proper footwear. The trail from the Upper Johnston Falls might be a little treacherous…and icy! It slows you down considerably, and may double your expected hiking time. We wore sneakers and ended up turning around. The Lems boots that I purchased for the trip would have been a smart idea to wear that day! They’re super light and great shoes to travel with if you’re conscious of your luggage weight. They’re also cute enough to wear casually outside of a hiking situation!.
DO:
Visit Vermillion Lakes. Located just a few minutes outside of downtown Banff, these lakes are a wonder at sunset. The mountain reflections in the water are just incredible. Sit at the edge of the dock and soak in the scenery.
DO:
Get brunch at Tooloulous. This is THEE spot to get brunch in town, and you’ll probably see a line out the door. You might get lucky like we did, though! Because we were only two people and all the groups ahead of us were larger, we got seated right away. The eggs Benedict and waffles are to die for!
DO:
Eat at Pacini Restaurant, an authentic Italian spot right on Banff Ave. After a day of hiking and exploring, a big bowl of pasta and a make your own garlic bread station will be everything you’ve ever wanted and more.
DO:
Drive around aimlessly. Some of the most amazing things we saw up in Alberta were just off of the side of the highway. You may even run into some wildlife! We saw a moose and a baby bear…though the latter wasn’t under the best of circumstances. He came out of nowhere and crossed the highway…taking a hit from our front bumper. Luckily, I was able to brake fast enough that the impact wasn’t too hard. After a little roll, he ran off into the woods. I hope he wasn’t hurt! That said, be alert, and don’t speed.
DON’T:
Try to hike Rockbound Lake unless you have snow shoes, you’ll drown in snow. Upon initial research, this 5 mile hike seemed doable, and the pictures of the lake seemed well worth the effort. In practice, however, this was a bad, bad idea. About 3 miles into the hike, which had a moderate but steady incline, we found ourselves knee deep in snow, breaking the surface every few steps. When we realized it had taken us 5 hours to hike only a few miles, we knew we’d never make it up and back before dark and threw in the towel. We met two Canadian guys on the trail that were the only other brave souls trying to reach Rockbound Lake that day, and they informed us that it would have been impossible to reach anyway. Tower Lake, the lake just before you reach Rockbound, was apparently frozen over and covered in snow as well. Got a few good laughs and some exercise, though!
There you have it! Some amazing experiences, a few disappointments, and valuable lessons learned. Feel free to ask any questions or share your own Banff experiences in the comments below!