Best Banff Viewpoints + Scenic Stops | Canadian Rockies
visited: august 2018, August 2021, june 2022Welcome to one of Canada’s most iconic landscapes: Banff National Park. Though the park is incredibly popular with experienced hikers and nature lovers, outdoor novices can still easily appreciate the beauty of the mountainous terrain.
This guide is for you if you’re after those low-effort, high-reward kind of views, no hiking required! Below are some of the most stunning drive-up viewpoints in the park, and stops on the Banff half of the Icefields Parkway — one of the most scenic drives in the world.
To explore Banff National Park, you need a valid Parks Canada Discovery Pass. You can find more information on that here.
The famous view at Lake Louise
Banff is made for road trips, with long drives between popular stops. To make the drive more fun, I recommend you download the Guide Along app — like a personal tour guide that plays automatically while you drive past landmarks and some lesser-known viewpoints.
Cascade Ponds Picnic Area
Just across the Trans Canada Highway from Banff town, you’ll find the Cascade Ponds Picnic Area — equipped with seating, fire pits, and a beautiful backdrop. Stop for a meal, an evening campfire, or just to appreciate the landscape and watch the ground squirrels pop in and out of their underground homes.
You can find fire-ban info for Banff National Park online, or in person through posted signage or checking in at the visitor centre about current conditions.
Mount Norquay Lookout
Up a winding road, navigating the elevation of Mount Norquay, you’ll find the perfect place to enjoy sunset with views of Banff Town and its surrounding mountains. We grabbed pizza in Canmore and headed to Mount Norquay for dinner and a view.
Drive the road with care and keep your eyes peeled for wildlife, the area is perfect for sightings! We’ve seen bighorn sheep and bears with cubs climbing up the trees on this road during our visits. If you’re lucky enough to encounter wildlife while driving, please remember to:
Stay in your car.
Don’t drive too close.
Reduce your speed, but don’t come to a complete stop.
In summary: Slow down, take a photo, and continue on.
These rules are in place for both your and the animals’ safety. It isn’t safe for them to be too comfortable around cars or people, nor is it safe for humans to be too comfortable around them. You don’t need to be afraid, but you do need to respect them!
Moraine Lake
A glacial lake, surrounded by a stunning backdrop of mountains, Moraine Lake is far from a “hidden gem”, but is well worth the crowds in my opinion. Over the past near decade of travel, it has remained one of my all-time favourite sunrises. The alpenglow? Exquisite! The milky blue lake? Unforgettable.
Since my last visit, Parks Canada has implemented crowd control measures, helping to control the negative effects of high traffic on natural landscapes. For this reason, you can no longer access the lake by car. You are allowed to walk in — 12 kilometres (7.46 mi.) each way — or you can book your spot on the shuttle bus.
Lake Louise
Easily the most famous view of the Canadian Rockies, Lake Louise is Banff’s worst kept secret. The glacier-fed lake and mountainous landscape are swarmed by tourists each hoping to see the iconic view for themselves. And no judgement, of course I’ve been one of them!
Though the view alone is worth checking out, the area has so many easy walks and more challenging day hikes worth considering for your visit.
My suggestions for Lake Louise:
Arrive early… like really, really early to beat the crowds and guarantee a parking spot without having to wait!
Consider having high tea at the Fairmont Hotel. My mom and I went with my aunt and her friend. Definitely a fun experience, with tasty finger food treats and a lovely view of the lake to enjoy.
Leave the car, and hit the trails. I know, I know, “Meg, this is a viewpoints post!” But hear me out, whether you choose to tackle one of the more vertical routes, or just follow the flat, paved one along the lake’s shore. The serenity of the landscape with a few less people is truly worth the extra steps! And if high tea isn’t your thing, the tea house up at Lake Agnes is the low-key version.
→ check out some of Banff’s nearby day hikes — I recommend the Beehive Hikes (little or big) for incredible views of Lake Louise below.
Go out on the lake.* Whether it’s in a canoe in the summer, or on skates in the winter, the experience is sure to be magical (if not a little pricey).
Vermilion Lakes
Located right along the Trans Canada Highway, outside of Banff Town, you’ll find the Vermilion Lakes. Stop into the roadside parking or enjoy the view as you drive on by, but either way, the landscape is worth your attention.
Lake Minnewanka from the Picnic Area
Lake Minnewanka
Follow Lake Minnewanka Scenic Drive along its western perimeter and take in the views of the second longest lake in the Canadian Rockies parks. At the northern end of the scenic drive you’ll find the picnic area, boat tours, and trails leading into Stewart’s Canyon.
You would never know it today, but Lake Minnewanka was home to a popular summer lodge at the turn of the 20th century. When a dam was constructed in the 40s to help with rising energy demands, sending the lodge to the bottom of the lake it once watched over. Now, it sits submerged below the lake’s placid surface, only visible to those diving into the depths.
Bow Lake (Icefields Parkway)
About 40 kilometres (24.85 mi.) into the Icefields Parkway when heading north from Banff, you’ll find Bow Lake. This easy pull-off is one of countless breathtaking views on the drive between Banff and Jasper, and is a strong competitor to Lake Louise if you ask me. Glacier-fed lake, check. Mountains dominating the landscape, check. Easy access with plenty of parking, check!
On the mountain that stands on the side of Bow Lake across from the road, you can see Crowfoot Glacier. From the road, its size might not fully register, but it covers approximately 1.5 square kilometres (370 acres) which is wild to think about. As big as it is, glaciers are shrinking at an alarming rate. So while you’re taking in the beauty and incredible size of these glaciers, remember that it is our collective responsibility to minimize our impact on the environment.
Bow Lake under June snow
Herbert Lake (Icefields Parkway)
If you begin your drive along the Icefields Parkway in the early morning, stop by Herbert Lake. Think: less dramatic, more intimate. But the mirror-like reflection seen in the water on a calm day? Stunning.
It’s the perfect stop for a quiet moment of reflection. Pun absolutely intended.
The view reflected in the mirror-like lake in the soft morning light
Saskatchewan River Crossing (Icefields Parkway)
Where Highway 11 and the Icefields Parkway meet, you will find the site used by fur traders to cross — you guessed it — the Saskatchewan River back in the 1800s. The wide riverbed’s water levels fluctuate depending on rainfall, glacial run-off, and more. But no matter the conditions of the river, one thing is certain: the views are gorgeous.
Central Park
We grabbed some ice cream at Little Wild down the road and headed to the park to enjoy it. There’s tons of space to lay out a blanket for a picnic and plenty of benches and tables to sit at to enjoy the sun, mountain views, and fresh air.
If you’re travelling with kids the park also has a playground — perfect for blowing off some energy!
People enjoying the weather in Central Park
Bow Falls
Just a short distance from Banff’s Main Street you will find Bow Falls. The falls aren’t tall or cascading, but the powerful rushing water is mesmerizing nonetheless. Take a seat on one of the benches to enjoy the view, or take a stroll along the Bow Falls Trail — a well-maintained, short path that follows along the water’s edge.
A young elk seen from our car
Golf Course Road Loop
Just a little further down the road from Bow Falls, you’ll find the Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course. If you’re interested in getting a few swings in, the views here are hard to beat.
However, if golf isn’t your speed, and you’re hoping to see some wildlife stay in your car and continue along the road past the course. It’s very common for elk to be eating on the shoulder of the road here. Drive slowly and keep your eyes open for them as you go!
