All lovers of the great outdoors should camp in Banff National Park because it provides a chance to truly get outside and commune with nature. The 6.641 square kilometers of stunning Rocky Mountain landscape that makeup Banff National Park are home to rocky peaks and ridges, dazzling icefields and glaciers, lush forests, and floral meadows. Get down to the basics at one of these fantastic Banff campgrounds if you want to immerse yourself in nature!
You might have a better view of some of the distinctive landscapes and wonderful wildlife in the area if you go camping close to Banff. It’s possible to view deer, elk, caribou, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, and even bison. Although incidents involving humans are rare, it is important to exercise caution because the area is also home to wolves, coyotes, and black and grizzly bears. You may experience the magnificence of nature up close by hiking in the backcountry, which will take you further into the forest and away from the busy paths.
Backcountry camping is a wonderful family activity that will help you bond with your children and teach them valuable life lessons. No matter your age, camping in the woods has been demonstrated to be a pleasurable pastime that also improves physical and mental welfare. A visit to one of these Banff campgrounds is certain to be memorable and pleasurable even if you’re traveling alone, with friends, or with family; it’s a great way to spend a long weekend or a vacation.
Wilderness Camping National Park Of Banff.
The Banff National Park is a particularly unique location to experience the backcountry. As a backcountry user, you can gain access to priceless natural beauties that are rarely seen by park visitors and enjoy them without the crowds that are usually associated with the attractions that are easier to access.
This section of the website for Banff National Park is made to assist you in organizing a risk-free and pleasurable trip to the park’s backcountry while preserving as much of the ecosystem as you can.
The majority of people who utilize the backcountry in Banff National Park are walkers, although, on established trails, you can also travel by horseback or bicycle.
When should I leave?
May to October is the prime hiking season in Banff National Park. Much higher-elevation mountain passes and paths are likely to be unreachable until late June. The biggest stream flows occur in June and July; more isolated paths have fewer bridges and call for stream fording. Although the best months for backcountry hiking are July and August, snow can still fall at higher elevations during the summer. Despite lower temperatures and a higher likelihood of snowfall, September is typically drier than July and August.
Animals And People
Wildlife, including grizzly bears, black bears, cougars, elk, and wolves, can be seen in Banff National Park. Wildlife requires as much good habitat with as few human surprises as possible in order to properly raise their young and maintain a healthy population. All portions of the park, including the paved trails and roads, may have wildlife interactions.
Tips
- Bear spray should always be carried, kept handy, and used as directed. In Banff and Lake Louise, Parks Canada visitor centers and a few shops sell bear spray.
- Emit sound. You run the possibility of unexpected wildlife encounters while you are quiet. Be cautious when passing through the shrubbery, near water, especially when approaching blind corners. Keep your group close together, and always be alert to your surroundings.
- Give wildlife some room. You put your own safety in peril if you approach wildlife. Additionally, you might make animals lose their innate fear of people.
- Keep dogs in constant physical control and on a leash. Dogs are not permitted on some trails and in backcountry shelters.
- Don’t bring your drone outside. Drones annoy other park visitors and wildlife.
Rules and etiquette for the backcountry
Keep to trails.
The soil and vegetation are harmed by cutting through switchbacks in the trail, leaving the area vulnerable to additional erosion. At all times, you must stay on the authorized trails.
Campgrounds
Use the tent pads supplied to reduce your impact on the environment and camp only in the specified campgrounds listed on your backcountry permit. Any campground’s maximum length of stay is three consecutive nights. A reservation can accommodate up to 10 persons and five tents. Per tent pad/site, a maximum of 4 people and one tent are permitted. When asked by Parks Canada officials, campers must have a copy of their backcountry permit on hand (either on paper or in the form of a screenshot).
Unplanned camping
Only in approved areas is indiscriminate camping allowed. Make sure you set up your tent at least five kilometers from the trailhead or a designated campground. Set up your tent at least 70 meters (m) from the closest water source and 50 meters (m) or more from the trail. Keep food preparation and storage far from your tent. Between April 1 and November 15, food containers that can withstand bears are required. Since campfires are not allowed in impromptu camping locations, be sure to include a stove and fuel.
Random camping necessitates the acquisition of a backcountry permit, which is only available in person at the Banff and Lake Louise Parks Canada visitor centers, by phoning 403-762-1556 or by dialing 403-522-1264.
Mountaineering, climbing, and glacier travel
Mountaineers can only bivouac in unforested regions and need a backcountry permit. You can purchase your permit over the phone at 403-762-1556 or 403-522-1264 or personally at one of Parks Canada’s visitor centers in Lake Louise or Banff.
Alternatively, various alpine huts run by the Alpine Club of Canada in the park (403-678-3200) are perfectly situated for these activities.
Campfires and cooking
Every wilderness traveler should have a portable stove with fuel or gas. In the designated kitchen, you can both cook and eat. Only the provided shared metal fire rings are allowed for campfires. You may not wear rock rings. Some campgrounds do not permit burning. Use only fallen deadwood for your campfire, keep it small, and watch it closely if you have one. Use the soak, stir, soak technique to ensure that fires are completely put out.
Food safety
All food, trash, toiletries, and cooking supplies must be kept in the food lockers or on the bear poles supplied at authorized campgrounds to prevent luring bears and other wildlife to your campsite. Between April 1 and November 15, bear-resistant food containers that have been certified by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee are required for places where impromptu camping is permitted and should, whenever feasible, be hung. Invest in a rope and hang your supplies away from your campsite (see illustration). Contact a Parks Canada visitor center for further details. At the conclusion of your visit, remove any trash, food, equipment, and personal items.
Fishing
Everyone who is 16 years of age or older must possess a National Park Fishing Permit in order to fish in Banff National Park. Children under 16 are exempt from needing a permit but still require an adult’s company. The child’s harvest counts against the permit holder’s allotted harvest. These licenses can be obtained at a Parks Canada visitor center or at the majority of neighborhood shops that sell fishing equipment. Provincial licenses for fishing are invalid. For further information, visit the page on fishing regulations.
Washing
Wash thoroughly away from any water sources and use as little soap as possible (even biodegradable soaps are pollutants). Bits of food waste should be strained and disposed of when washing dishes. Flow strained water across the ground.
Put trash in bags.
Pack it out if you pack it in. Littering is against the law and dangerous for wildlife. Garbage disposal is not permitted in food lockers or restrooms.
Get rid of human waste properly.
Make advantage of the offered restrooms. If there are no nearby outhouses, pick a location distant from trails, campgrounds, and water sources that is at least 70 meters away. To access the soil layer with the dark color, dig a hole 12 to 16 cm deep. Do not compact the soil when you fill the hole with it. Toilet paper and used hygiene items should be packed away.
Just take pictures
For the enjoyment of others, leave all rocks, fossils, horns, antlers, wildflowers, nests, and other historical or natural things in their natural settings. Within national parks, it is forbidden to take, alter, destroy, or deface any natural or cultural resources. For information on low-impact backcountry travel, go to leavenotrace.ca.
Weapons are not allowed.
In national parks, firearms—including pellet guns, bear bangers, bows, slingshots, and comparable tools—are not allowed. Parks Canada advises carrying and being familiar with bear spray for protection against wildlife.
Share the path
Mountain bikers, trail runners, equestrian riders, and hikers all use backcountry trails. To ensure everyone’s safety, kindly let people go before you.
To where?
In the backcountry of Banff, there are well-maintained hiking trails and approved campsites with outhouses, tent pads, food storage cables or lockers, picnic tables, and metal fire rings where fires are allowed. The possibility for seclusion is greater in the park’s most distant parts, but hikers must be independent because routes may not always be kept up. Hikers must have route-finding and navigational skills, and they must be equipped to cross streams safely. Traveling in the woods requires careful planning and preparation.
Use the brochure Backcountry Trails in Banff National Park to assist you and your group in planning the ideal vacation by viewing a map of the backcountry trails and camping spots.
Shoreline Trail around Lake Minnewanka
This lakeshore trek or bike ride is well-liked in the early or late seasons. The hike leaves at the Lake Minnewanka Day-use Area trailhead and follows a similar path back. Spend an additional night and explore Aylmer Lookout or Aylmer Pass. Be mindful of strong, unforeseen winds when paddling to these campsites, as they can make the journey hazardous or challenging.
Trail restrictions are in place from July 10 to September 15 in order to lessen disturbance to grizzly bears. Dogs and bicycles are not permitted. Bear spray and four-person groups are necessary.
Lake Glacier
A well-liked early-season hike leaves from a trailhead on the Icefields Parkway north of Saskatchewan Crossing (93N). Hikers can camp at one of Banff National Park’s biggest backcountry lakes by following this trail.
Cairo Lake
Hike through Healy Pass to reach Egypt Lake Campground from the parking lot of Sunshine Village ski area. If you can, spend two nights there to explore the numerous lakes and breathtaking mountain views.
Loop Skokie
This tour begins with a 4-kilometer climb up the Temple access road and departs at the Fish Creek trailhead near the Lake Louise ski resort (no vehicle access). Before descending to Baker Lake, ascend over the aptly called Boulder Pass and pass by Ptarmigan Lake. The second day involves traveling via Skoki Lodge National Historic Site and around Fossil Mountain to reach Merlin Meadows. At Ptarmigan Lake, re-join the access trail after ascending Deception Pass.
Bryant Creek, Assiniboine, and Sunshine
This famous journey travels along a portion of the Great Divide Trail. You can take a gondola for a charge to the trailhead at Sunshine Village ski area. As you travel through the ecologically delicate alpine terrain to the Howard Douglas Lake campground, take care to stay on the trail. On day two, get ready for a long drive through Citadel Pass to Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park. Camp at Marvel Lake or McBride’s Camp on night three after returning to Banff National Park after a hike over Assiniboine Pass or Wonder Pass. At the Mount Shark parking area in Spray Valley Provincial Park, the journey ends through Bryant Creek.
To lessen disturbance to grizzly bears, trail restrictions and closures are in place on Allenby Pass and Assiniboine Pass from August 1 to September 30.
This journey passes through three distinct areas, including provincial parks in British Columbia and Alberta. Get the necessary backcountry passes and permissions as needed for each district.
Sunshine, Vista Lake, and Egypt Lake
The Vista Lake lookout on Highway 93S is connected to the Sunshine Village ski area (which is reached by taking a fee-based gondola) via a network of stunning high-country trails. On the way, explore the alpine lakes in the Simpson Pass, Healy Pass, and Egypt Lake regions. Hike over a stunning part of the Great Divide Trail that crosses Whistling Pass to the Ball Pass Junction Campground. The Ball Range is visible from here, and you should keep an ear out for the hoary marmots that live nearby. Travel to Twin Lakes and the campground there via Gibbon Pass. Before making the last drop to the highway, the remaining portion of the trail meanders by a number of picturesque lakes.
Trail of Sawback
Forty minutes and 3.5 kilometers of walking from the Fish Creek trailhead is the Norquay Shuttle to Cascade Amphitheatre trailhead (summer service), which is provided by Roam Public Transit in Lake Louise.
Three breathtaking mountain passes are crossed on this difficult journey. The trail connects the Town of Banff with the town of Lake Louise and travels through a sizable chunk of Banff National Park. There are trailheads at the Fish Creek trailhead and the Mount Norquay ski area (near the Lake Louise ski area). There are other routes that could be taken; the above suggestion is for a 7-day route. Commercially-led horse rides frequently visit some parts of this region.
In Banff National Park, The Best Backcountry Campsites
Lake Glacier
Guide to the Glacier Lake Backpacking Route
The early season is a terrific time to go this route. The area will be free of snow and ice in late spring due to the area’s low elevation, and the gradual, undulating track is ideal for a “warm-up” trek to increase your early-season fitness!
One of the nicest campgrounds in Alberta is Glacier Lake, a hidden gem. You won’t have to squeeze past others because it’s usually quiet, either as a result of the distance from the trailhead or the relative “ease” of the climb. A genuine bit of backcountry bliss, this camping.
The hike is short enough that you can still finish both in a day despite the 2.5-hour journey from Banff to the trailhead. The braided Howse River can be seen beautifully from the beginning of the hike-in, with Mt. Murchison serving as an impressive background. Large clumps of buffalo berries can be found along the rest of the walk, which is mostly in the trees(When bears are out looking for them in July and August, exercise extreme caution.)
The height difference between Glacier Lake and the trailhead is just about 210 meters, but the trail ascends and descends a short rise that is a shoulder of the neighboring Survey Peak. Near the trail’s finish, keep an eye out for a survey sign from 1928 that has been carved into a tree.
The five tent sites are located near the edge of Glacier Lake, the fourth-largest lake in Banff National Park. As one of the few backcountry campsites that permit campfires (in fire rings), you might need to carry your own firewood because the surrounding area has been quite thoroughly cleared of deadfall. However, this is one of their top picks for camping close to Banff.
For a longer excursion, consider taking a daily stroll along the lakefront towards Lyell Glacier and visiting a historic cabin.
Cairo Lake
The Egypt Lake Backpacking Route Guide
Access to the trailhead is from the Sunshine Village parking lot. From Banff, go 7.7 km west and turn into the Sunshine Access Road. The same trailhead as for Healy Pass is located behind the base lodge.
This trek to Egypt Lake in the Banff National Park includes one of the best Rockies paths and is a truly classic example of wilderness camping. After ascending Healy Pass, you’ll descend to the breathtaking Egypt Lake. The wildflower season at this campground is in full bloom in July and August, making those months the ideal times to visit. However, September may be just as beautiful when the trees turn vivid shades of orange and red in the fall.
Every member of your group will enjoy exploring the wilderness at Egypt Lake in Banff, which is home to several iconic Rockies landmarks. The best alpine wildflower meadow in the park, Healy Pass Meadows, is accessible by ascending the route, which at first follows Healy Creek. Rolling rainbow hills of flowers can be found under the shade of the Monarch Ramparts, a crown-shaped rock wall that can be seen from nearby Sunshine Village.
One of the biggest backcountry campgrounds in Banff National Park, the campground is located on a bench above the lovely Pharaoh Creek.
From the campground, there are a ton of opportunities for day walks and stunning places to discover. You can hike the 5.0 km Pharaoh Lake-Black Rock Lake trip, the short, steep rise to Mummy and Scarab Lakes, the high, marmot-filled Whistling Pass, or even cross into British Columbia for a walk to Talc Lake.
If you’re a new traveler, this is among Alberta’s top campgrounds. The rustic Egypt Lake Shelter offers a strong roof and walls, as well as a cozy fire to tell tales around, for colder nights or for those who are a little hesitant about sleeping in a tent for the first time. This can be reserved by phone or online using Parks Canada’s reservation system. The Healy Creek campsite is around 5.0 km from the trailhead, so if you wish to explore this area without carrying your pack for 12.4 km, you can divide the route over two days.
Mount Inglismaldie/LM11
Lake Minnewanka Backpacking Route Map
Amazing wilderness campsites along Lake Minnewanka are accessible by a short hike and include breathtaking scenery. They can’t think of anything better than watching the sunset over Lake Minnewanka while sipping wine together on the beach.
The largest lake in Banff is Lake Minnewanka, with a length of about 28.0 km. It’s southern, and five northern edges each have one backcountry campground. LM8, LM9, LM11, LM20, LM22, and LM31 are all named, although their distance from the trailhead makes them easier to distinguish.
On Lake Minnewanka, there are numerous backcountry campgrounds that are wonderful and beautiful and allow campfires. Their favorite camping is LM11/Mt Inglismaldie. It is the ideal distance—short enough to travel in a single day but far enough away to avoid day hikers. The best beach is also there.
This is a fantastic early-season alternative because you can paddle across clear waters or soak up the sun on the beach while some tourists are still skiing in May higher up in the Rockies! Since Lake Minnewanka is the only lake in Banff National Park that permits motorized boats, you can carry a lot more supplies (and alcohol) to the campsite if you have access to a boat. If you’re in a boat, watch out for the wind because it might make paddling quite difficult.
The intersection of the Aylmer Pass route is closer to LM8 and LM9; the pass, lookout, or summit scramble are wonderful sites to visit if a longer excursion with day hiking alternatives is more appealing to you. Because deer frequently visit LM8 and LM9, there are frequently more opportunities to receive a tick there.
The LM8 campground is closed between the dates of July 10 and September 15, and there is an annual travel restriction on the Minnewanka paths prohibiting the use of bikes, dogs, or groups of fewer than four people.
Lake Baker
Backpacking Baker Lake and Skoki Region Route Guide
Access to the trailhead is through Whitehorn Drive, which leads from Lake Louise to the ski area. After the 1A, turn right at the Skoki Lodge sign and park 1.0 km down at the Fish Creek trailhead.
For hikers, staying at Baker Lake is a must-do experience and a must-do for anyone considering a backpacking journey across the Canadian Rockies. You can count on staying in one of the top campgrounds in Banff, as well as stunning scenery, a piece of history, and some breathtaking views.
Fly fishers like to hang out at Baker Lake, a high subalpine lake in the Skoki area of the Lake Louise wilderness. The arduous 4.0 km climb to the Temple day lodge, the trail’s official beginning, begins at the Lake Louise ski-out, where the walk begins. If you’re traveling at the appropriate moment, you might be able to get a ride on the Skoki lodge van as it travels to Temple to pick up its guests.
You hike from Temple Lodge to Ptarmigan Lake at Boulder Pass, a place with lots of animals. On the east side of the pass is Baker Lake. You may do a lengthy 14.2 km loop hike around Fossil Mountain from the campground, pausing at the historic Skoki Lodge (they suggest stopping for $ 5 afternoon tea there).
Consider a scramble up Fossil Mountain itself if you’re seeking a greater challenge. You can also take a day trip from Baker Lake to the magnificent Skoki Lakes (Zigadenus and Myosotis), but you’ll need to do some route planning to make a circle over Packers Pass, down to the Skoki Valley, and back over Deception Pass.
This can be combined with overnight stays at Merlin Meadows and Red Deer Lakes campgrounds to make a multi-day journey that covers more than 40.0 kilometers in 3–4 days. This vacation is incredible, and they wholeheartedly endorse it!
Exeter Lakes
Backpacking Devon Lakes Route Guide
Take highway 93, often known as the Icefields Parkway, north of Lake Louise for 23.3 kilometers to get to the trailhead. At the trailhead across the street, the journey begins.
Devon Lakes is the best option for a genuine multi-day hiking journey through some of the park’s most spectacular terrain. You may reach two secluded alpine lakes located deep inside the park on this 61.0 km hike, 40.0 km of which are above the treeline. Although it’s a beautiful experience, it can only be attempted from July through September.
You will spend the night in Fish Lakes Campground, which is situated close to Fish Lake in a lush, forested region and has five tent sites, similar to Glacier Lake. You’re not really roughing it at this campsite because there are picnic tables and a bathroom. You’ll also require the bear pole, and you should be cautious of the bugs. They are often tough!
Planning ahead is essential if you wish to try this incredible journey, even if this location is not as busy as Glacier Lake due to its isolation.
Heaven Valley
Although Paradise Valley is a fantastic place to backpack, reservations may only be made 24 hours before the beginning of your trip because this area is a prime grizzly habitat. Reservations must be made in person at the Parks Canada Visitor Centers in Lake Louise or Banff.
They enjoy this trek since it takes us to the side of Sentinel Pass, which is away from Moraine Lake and has some of the nicest vistas in the park. Regrettably, bear activity frequently causes the campground to be closed from July through September. For safety, groups of four are necessary. Off Moraine Lake Road is where the hike begins. At Paradise Valley, there are eight backcountry tent sites with breathtaking views. Finding a spot shouldn’t be too difficult because the trip is quieter and less popular.
Pass Molar
This is a 4-day, 3-night journey that starts at Mosquito Creek on the Icefields Parkway and travels 52.0 kilometers across two breathtaking mountain passes and some of the most breathtaking views Banff has to offer, including large, open expanses of alpine meadows bordered by towering peaks. The first night should be spent at Mosquito Creek, the second at Fish Lakes, and the final one at Molar Creek. Alternatively, you might go the other way and reverse those campsites. Please take care not to pass the campsite at Molar Creek, which is only identified by a single, simple-to-miss sign.
Banff’s Sawback Trail
Access to the trailhead is through Whitehorn Drive, which leads from Lake Louise to the ski area. After the 1A, turn right at the Skoki Lodge sign and park 1.0 km down at the Fish Creek trailhead.
Prepare for the Sawback, a 74.0 km trek that will take you across the imposing, rugged Sawback Mountain Range, if you’re eager for a true backcountry expedition in Banff. Three equally difficult mountain passes will be climbed, and you’ll get to experience a variety of the different terrain that Banff is famous for. It will take you 4 to 6 days to complete.
Although there isn’t much elevation gain over those 74.0 kilometers, the long distances and difficult terrain can be difficult. For this particular backpacking journey, it is imperative that you are aware of your limitations and of yourself.
Planning ahead is key to making sure you have all the campsites you want in the appropriate sequence for this trip; you should make reservations as early as you can in the year, especially if you’re traveling during the busiest summer months. However, if you manage to complete them all, rest certain that every step of the journey is a genuine alpine experience.
F.A.Q.
Does Banff provide backcountry camping?
In Banff National Park alone, there are more than 50 backcountry campsites, and there are more than 1,600.0 km of hiking trails to bring you there. All of these trails and locations can only be reached by yourself, usually by hiking, though some are also reachable by boat or bicycle.
Can you camp outside in Banff?
Random camping is only permitted with permission in certain remote locations. Only in person at the Parks Canada visitor centers in Banff and Lake Louise, or by contacting 403-762-1556 in Banff or 403-522-1264 in Lake Louise, is it possible to obtain a backcountry permit for sporadic camping.
Where can I camp in Banff National Park?
Banff National Park camping. Only those who have a current national park camping permit and a valid national park admission pass are allowed to camp in authorized sites. Note: In order to camp at a Parks Canada location, visitors must make a reservation. Although beautiful, the weather in Banff National Park is erratic.
Can you camp for free in Banff?
Free camping
It might be tempting to camp for free in Yoho, Banff, or Jasper National Parks. Never be. No free camping is available, and you will be asked to leave.
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