Glacier to Banff Road Trip – FAMILYTRAVELSUSA

We took Day 1 to relax and get organized for several full days in the park. This included a short drive to Whitefish to enjoy views of Whitefish Lake and dinner in town. There is no shortage of restaurants in both Columbia Falls and Whitefish, where we enjoyed dinner at the Craggy Range. 

While they enjoyed the far-reaching views from the Highline Trail, I was relaxing on the iconic Red Bus Tour with nothing but blue sky views from the open top and a cozy wool blanket across my lap.  I highly recommend this tour, especially if you aren’t comfortable driving on Going to the Sun Road and would prefer to sit back and enjoy the views. For the half-day tour (booked in advance), park at Lake McDonald Lodge and enjoy a warm drink in the uniquely decorated lobby. Then walk outside to see the early morning lake views. Seasonal tours are available from both sides of the park, ranging from half-day to full-day. 
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In the Many Glacier area, you can’t go wrong with taking the boat tour. Take the strenuous hike to Grinnell Glacier, the shorter hike to Lower Grinnell Lake, or just a ride to enjoy the beautiful scenery. Enjoy the mountain landscape as you skim over Switftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine, with a short hike in between. Take in the view of Salamander Glacier. Even with the boat ride, the hike to Grinnell Glacier is still over 7 miles, including an elevation gain. This strenuous hike can take 4-5 hours, so I opted for the shorter hike to the lower lake with a group of folks from the boat and then enjoyed relaxing on the deck at the Many Glacier Hotel, waiting for the rest of my family to return. 

Hit the road the next morning for the roughly 4-hour drive across the border to Canmore. After crossing the border, make a pit stop at Tim Horton’s for coffee, donuts, and breakfast sandwiches. Next stop Calgary, for a trip to the top of the Calgary Tower. Completed in 1968, a gas-fired cauldron was added in 1987 for the Winter Olympic Games. Admission is required to take the elevator to the observation level, where you can step out onto the glass floor and look down to the street. Walk down the street when you leave for a view from the ground. From Calgary, it’s a little over an hour to drive to Canmore. Good to know: there is a convenient airport shuttle we used to get one of our kids from Canmore to the airport. Our rental was right off the Bow Valley Trail with a grocery store just minutes away, and walking trails to explore the town.

We chose Canmore over Banff, mainly because a vacation rental for 6 of us for 4 nights was considerably cheaper. We loved the small-town vibes, mountain views, walking paths to the downtown area, and assortment of restaurants, including popular BeaverTails with its Canadian pastry. It added extra driving time to places like Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, but we felt it was worth it. There are also public transportation options between Canmore and Banff if that appeals to you.

It’s hard to describe how stunning these lakes are when you first see them. Depending on the time of day, the reflection of the sun tints the color of the water to make it even more spectacular. We visited just after Labor Day in early September, and it was still quite crowded. Just a short walk on the trail around Lake Louise will take you away from the larger crowds to enjoy peaceful views. There are other hikes including the Lake Agnes Teahouse Hike, that will give you a higher vantage point. It’s hard to leave, but at some point, board the connecting shuttle to Moraine Lake. There, you will be greeted with another gorgeous glacial lake with a color unlike any I had ever seen. Head up to the rockpile for the best view. Splurge on canoe rentals on either lake for the bucket list experience. 

With so many hiking options around Banff National Park, take Day 7 to pick one or two that meet your interest and skill level. My family decided to tackle the Johnston Canyon to Ink Pots hike (about a 35-minute drive to the trailhead), clocking in around 7 miles roundtrip. I stayed back and enjoyed a leisurely morning strolling the streets of Canmore in search of street art. 

Continue the drive to the border, with a stop in scenic Fernie for dinner (food options are limited just across the border in Montana). We enjoyed dinner on the outside patio at the Bridge Bistro. Spend the night at the Riverstone Family Lodge in Eureka, a little over an hour from the airport, or drive all the way to Kalispell.
 
Plan to arrive at the airport early. Even though the airport is small, it took longer than expected to get through security with everyone arriving at once.