A Complete Guide To Visiting Banff National Park in April

As of now, you do not need a COVID test to enter Canada. However, you will need to provide proof of your vaccination status. You must upload all your travel documents to ArriveCAN. This is mandatory. You can check out travel.gc.ca for more information on the travel requirements needed to enter Canada as the requirements are subject to change.

The Great Canadian Rockies! When I first came across Banff National Park, the turquoise water of Moraine Lake immediately made me add Banff to the top of my travel bucket list. Banff is home to beautiful blue lake lakes, unbeatable hiking trails, and stunning panoramic views of the mountains. I rarely seek out the cold for travel. The only other winter bucket list destination I have sought out was Iceland (check my previous blog post). Check out my epic 3-Day complete guide to visiting Banff National Park in April to see why you should consider adding it to your travel bucket list.

After scrolling through photos of Banff in the summer and fall, I decided to see what it had to offer during the winter and spring time. Winter and Spring in Banff is considered off season. Prices for accommodations are fairly cheap in comparison to the summer and fall and it is also less crowded. After comparing the seasons, I decided to visit Banff in April. This is a very in-between time to visit Banff. It isn’t hot enough for the blue lakes to be visible, but the snow is starting to melt.

How to get to Banff, Alberta

Banff National Park is in Alberta, Canada, making the closest airport Calgary International Airport (YYC). Once you arrive at Calgary International, you can choose between renting a car or opt to take the shuttle bus to Banff. I personally recommend renting a car to increase your chances of being able to fully witness Banff and all of its beauty. If you do consider renting a car, keep in mind that it is a 90-minute scenic drive before you reach Banff. When I do rent, I only use Alamo because of how cheap their prices are.

Day 1: Arrive in Calgary and Downtown Banff

Following the 90-minute drive from Calgary, I finally made it to Banff! I checked in to the Peaks Hotel & Suites, which I booked through hotels.com, and it did not disappoint. This hotel was beautiful, clean, and in the heart of Downtown Banff. I made sure to get a room with a balcony to ensure that I get the most perfect view of downtown Banff.

After checking in, I had lunch at Tooloulou’s. It was a quick 4-minute walk from my hotel. Tooloulou’s is a Cajun creole inspired restaurant and having spent some years living in New Orleans, it was a no brainer that this would be my first stop. I highly recommend checking this place out.

Aside from the most breath-taking views, downtown Banff is filled with tons of restaurants, souvenir shops, shopping, and more. If you are wanting to do some skiing or snowboarding, there are tons of shops where you will be able to find everything you need. Whenever I travel, I always pick up a picture frame from the souvenir shop to add to my collection of picture frame souvenirs. Exploring downtown Banff reminded me of a hallmark Christmas movie. It's a small, family-focused town, with dogs on every corner.

Downtown Banff

Day 2: Snow tubing and Johnston Canyon Trail

I had an afternoon 1:30pm snow tubing reservation at Mt. Norquay. You can choose between the morning session (10am-12:30pm) or the afternoon session (1:30pm-4:00pm). I only stayed for an hour and found this to be more than enough time. Mt. Norquay was surreal. A perfect winter wonderland. If you are looking to ski or snow board, Mt. Norquay is the place for you.

Getting to Mt. Norquay from my hotel was around 10-minutes. When you are driving, the roads can be very dangerous due to the extreme curves. I would suggest going the speed limit. You’ll also want to make sure your camera is always ready; the views are magnificent. I was able to capture a beautiful Panoramic photo of Banff with the mountains in the background.

After snow tubing, I headed over to Johnston Canyon Hiking Trail. This was a quick 25-minute drive from Mt. Norquay. I highly recommend checking out Johnston Canyon. When you start your hike, you have the option to hike the lower falls, upper falls, or both. I settled for the lower falls due to how icy it was. I suggest getting snow cleats if you are planning on visiting during the winter. I can’t tell you the number of times I almost fell. The hike to the lower falls was an hour round trip and so worth it. If you are wanting to do both, set aside 2.5 hours. If you are considering hiking Johnston Canyon, this is your sign to go for it. It was absolutely stunning.

Day 3: Banff Gondola, Morant’s Curve, and Lake Louise

Day three was filled with good food, great views, and amazing adventures. I had an 11:10am reservation for The Banff Gondola which included a lunch reservation at the Sky Bistro. The Banff Gondola was 8-minutes from my hotel. They do recommend getting there a bit earlier due to limited parking. I didn’t experience this, but every experience is different.

The lower terminal elevation is 5,194 feet above sea level and the upper terminal elevation is 7,846 feet above sea level. The gondola holds up to four individuals per gondola. It is an 8-minute ride (2,292 feet) to the top of Sulphur Mountain. Once I reached the top, I was met with the most spectacular panoramic scenic view of Banff. Side note, it was FREEZING. If you are planning on visiting between the months of December and April, you’ll want to bundle up.

The building has four floors and on the third floor you will find Sky Bistro. Be prepared for an amazing lunch with a view. There are two ways you can experience Sky Bistro; the Sky Experience or À la carte dining. The sky experience includes your admission to the Banff Gondola and your choice of appetizer and entrée. If you opt for the À la carte dining option, admission and dining will be sold separately.

Following a great lunch experience, I headed over to Morant’s curve. Morant’s Curve is a 10-minute drive from Banff Gondola. I had a navigation system equipped with my rental, making it easy to find. However, if you are operating without a navigation system, Morant’s Curve is fairly easy to find due to how well it is signed when driving. Once you arrive, there is a tiny parking lot directly across from the viewpoint. Be sure to drive with caution as the roads are icy during this time.

I found Morant's Curve to be one of the most beautiful, photographed spots while in Banff. The mountains, Canadian freight train and Bow River all serve as a remarkable background for your photos. Getting a photo with the freight train in the background is the most difficult part. There is not a set schedule for the train, so the times of when the train will run are unknown. Some will get lucky, and some won’t. I heard the train horn just as I was getting ready to leave. I was still unable to get a decent picture with the train in the background. For the scenery alone, I would add Morant's Curve to your itinerary.

Lake Louise is a must-see when visiting Banff. Some would even consider this to be the main attraction outside of Moraine Lake. From Morant's Curve, Lake Louise is a 7-minute drive. During the winter, Lake Louise mirrors a winter wonderland. The lake was frozen solid, covered with layers of snow. I wasn’t expecting Lake Louise to look as beautiful as it did due to the snow, but boy was I wrong. Of all the views that Banff has to offer, this was by far my favorite.

From the months of December through March, Lake Louise offers a hockey/ice skating rink and over-sized ice sculptures. Due to going in April, I couldn’t witness any of it as it was closed for the season. However, Lake Louise definitely lives up to its reputation. Unfortunately, due to the snow, Moraine Lake was not accessible. I’ll have to add both of these beautiful places to my itinerary the next time I visit to witness the blue lakes.

Day 4: Back to the United States

I checked out of my hotel at 8:20am and begin my 90-minute drive back to Calgary for my 12:40pm flight. One thing you should note on your drive back to Calgary, gas stations are limited. I recommend filling up prior to departure or making sure you have at least half a tank of gas before you head to Calgary. I was a little bit under half a tank when I left Banff and was able to make it to the gas station near the airport.

Making it to Calgary at 10:15am, I was able to drop off my rental, check in, go through customs, and have lunch while still having enough time to make it to my gate. Checking in and going through customs was a breeze, but I would still recommend getting to the airport at least two hours before your flight just in case you run into a crowd.

Before you can enter the US, you must take a COVID test within 1 day of your departing flight. COVID tests in Banff are not free. I paid $35 USD. Most places require an appointment, but there are a few places that accept walk-ins. I went to Gourlay’s, which was a 2–3-minute walk from my hotel. Wherever you decide to take your COVID test, make sure they provide proof stating that you tested negative or you will not be able to enter the US. This is for fully vaccinated travelers as well.

Banff was one of the most amazing destinations I have had the pleasure of experiencing thus far. I already can’t wait to visit in the summer and fall. I hope this guide was able to provide you with the inspiration you need to plan your next trip to Banff. Be sure to like, share, and subscribe to my blog. If you aren’t already, follow my travel Instagram page (@viewsfromclaudia) to find out where my next adventure will be.