Top Banff Outdoor Activities

Experience the winter wonderland of Banff’s Johnston Canyon on this ice walk tour. Join a professional guide on a hike along the canyon’s steel walkways, to visit the beautiful lower and upper waterfalls, and learn how this majestic canyon was formed. Your excursion includes round-trip transportation, ice cleats, and a hiking pole, plus a light snack and hot chocolate to help warm you up.

Saddle up for a journey through the celebrated landscape of Banff National Park on this guided horseback riding adventure. Get out of the car and onto the trails of the Bow River or the Spray River and enjoy the area’s beautiful outdoor environment, largely unchanged from the days of the pioneers. This equine-themed odyssey includes a guide, use of a horse, and all necessary equipment.

Join an animal-spotting bus tour in Banff National Park, observing the park’s amazing wildlife at dusk on this 2-hour, small-group tour that’s perfect for nature enthusiasts. Enjoy Banff’s beautiful landscapes in the evening searching for elk, deer, bears and more because each tour has a 95% success rate of viewing animals in their natural environment. You'll also hear about the park's efforts to protect animals and their habitat from your expert guide.

Enjoy this full-day tour from Banff, visiting the Athabasca Glacier and the stunning scenery lining the breathtaking Icefields Parkway. This tour travels halfway along the world-famous Icefields Parkway, recognized as one of the top drives in the world passing numerous Rocky Mountain peaks, glaciers, waterfalls, and emerald lakes. Your tour also includes round-trip transport from Banff, a mountain picnic lunch, Glacier Skywalk, and an all-terrain Ice Explorer tour.

Saddle up for a ride along the Bow River in Banff and a Western style cookout. Choose from riding on horseback or in a covered wagon through the beautiful Rocky Mountain terrain. At the dining site, spend some time perfecting your roping skills or relaxing with a game of horseshoes before “tucking in”--that’s cowboy speak for “eating”—a yummy BBQ meal.

Enjoy an introduction to the fun of whitewater rafting on an idyllic stretch of the Kananaskis River during this afternoon excursion that’s perfect for families and groups. During your rafting trip along the pristine waterways of the Kananaskis River, scout for local wildlife and enjoy the unrivaled beauty of the Canadian wilderness. This tour includes optional pickup from select hotels in Banff and Canmore, an experienced river guide, all equipment, and a free digital photo of your rafting adventure.

Discover one of Banff National Park’s most popular hiking trails at night, without the fear of getting lost, during this small-group tour. Equipped with a headlight, explore Johnston Canyon with a guide leading the way, and marvel at shimmering frozen waterfalls and hike along a suspended catwalk. Then, take a break to warm up mid-route with hot chocolate and maple cookies.

Take a charming horse-driven sleigh ride through the snow-covered meadows of Banff during this rustic 40-minute tour. Cozy up with family, friends, or a loved one as your friendly driver whisks you away on a sightseeing tour of the area’s stunning mountain peaks.

Go snowshoeing through the snowy backcountry of Canada during this tour from Baniff, including round-trip transport and your gondola ticket. As you trek across the snow, keep your eyes peeled for sights of the famous Rocky Mountains. Please also note that although this tour includes access to snowshoes, you must come prepared in your own winter clothing and boots.

Saddle up and head out on the Rocky Mountain trails in Banff National Park. Explore the area by horseback with your cowboy guide to see the area in a way you can only experience from on the back of a horse. With a guide in the lead and a guide bringing up the rear, your ride will be a safe, fun adventure in the wilderness.  

Discover Lake Louise and Moraine Lake on this guided tour from Banff. Located inside the Banff National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the lakes are well-known for their distinct turquoise hues. Gain insight into the area’s mountaineering history, admire views of the Valley of Ten Peaks and leave with plenty of frame-worthy photos. Round-trip transportation is included on this small-group tour. Don’t miss this seasonal tour that operates from April to November.

Hike on a frozen creek, and explore surreal rock formations and indigenous wall art on this small-group tour through Grotto Canyon. Your specialist guide explains the unique history and geology of the canyon as you glide past wondrous icefalls in this sublime winter environment. The tour also includes use of ice cleats and a hiking pole, plus a light snack and hot chocolate.

Trek safely through Johnston Canyon in the winter, surrounded by frozen waterfalls and ice pillars, in the company of a guide. This half-day tour allows you to embark on an icy trek without worrying about safety issues or directions; your guide is with you the whole way. Listen to guided commentary on the canyon's formation and see fossils buried in the rocks, giving a window into the past. This moderately difficult hike includes cookies and hot chocolate to warm up with at the conclusion.

Pursue the elusive Canadian Grizzly Bear on this 10-hour excursion through Banff and Yoho National Parks, perfect for animal- and nature-lovers alike. Head out for a gondola ride up to 7,700 feet for a mountain-top lunch at Canada’s highest restaurant, and then take a chairlift ride up to the world’s largest enclosed and protected grizzly bear habitat to see Boo the resident bear rescued as a cub. This full-day trip also includes round-trip transportation, professional guide, lunch and light refreshments.

Widely considered the Banff National Park’s top attraction, Lake Louise is transformed in winter into a snowy wonderland—but booking transportation to reach it independently from Banff is time-consuming. This hassle-free transfer service includes round-trip travel from central Banff, with interpretive commentary from your guide along the way. Enjoy free time to explore Lake Louise at leisure, with snow-shoes and warming refreshments included.

Choose from among four of Banff National Park’s most iconic trails on this 7-hour guided hiking tour with packed lunch. Pick the perfect walk for your level of ability and experience, varying from 4.5 miles (7km) to 6.6 miles (10.6km) in length, with spectacular mountain scenery no matter which option you select. The trip’s four options include explorations of Larch Valley, Stanley Glacier, Consolation Lakes or the Plain of Six Glaciers.

Take an unexpected winter excursion through the landscape of Banff as you search for the park’s famous wildlife on this tour. Head out on a nature-spotting tour to observe animals and learn about their ability to survive the cold winter months. Your morning tour includes round-trip transportation, a professional guide, a light snack and hot chocolate.

Nestled below the peaks of Mt. Rundle and Mt. Cascade, Banff is widely considered among the finest ski resorts in Canada—and the equipment rental queues can be long. With this ski, pole, and boot hire service—geared toward learner skiers—order your kit in advance and beat the queues. Reach the slopes faster with in-house fitting at your accommodation, and relax with slope-side servicing included.

Banff National Park is Canada’s oldest and most celebrated national park - and one worth getting out of the car and onto a trail for. Go back to a simpler time with a 1-hour horseback ride and experience the park at a relaxed pace. Led by your cowboy guide, saddle up and cross through the tranquil Spray River, and get a feel for what it was like for pioneers first settling in this once-wild area.

Explore the historic landmarks and natural wonders near the town of Banff on this half-day, small-group tour. Admire the unparalleled beauty of natural sights including Bow Falls, the surreal Hoodoos rock formation, and beautiful Lake Minnewanka, among others. This guided tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Banff, a professional guide, and light refreshments.

Immerse yourself in Canada's stunning winter landscape on a 4-hour snowshoe tour from Banff to Kootenay National Park. Follow your guide through Marble Canyon and keep your eyes peeled for moose and wolf tracks. The 2-mile (3km) route is along mostly flat terrain and perfect for first time snowshoers. You also enjoy a hot chocolate break with the opportunity to make your own maple taffy in the snow.

Live like a rancher riding through the wilderness during this one-night, two-day guided horseback riding excursion that includes accommodation at a lodge. Saddle-up for a backcountry ride along a trail in view of the Canadian Rocky Mountains and around the Bow River fed by glacial waters. At the lodge, enjoy wine and dinner and sit by a fire before turning in. Ride confidently back to Banff on day two.

See the best that Banff National Park and the surrounding wilderness have to offer—including Victoria Glacier, stunning Moraine Lake and towering Takakkaw Falls—on this full-day guided coach tour.  Over the course of the day, discover some of the most awe-inspiring natural scenery of the Canadian Rockies, with time to spot some of the area’s diverse wildlife, plus enjoy lunch and round-trip transport from Banff.

Take a walk through a real-life ‘postcard’ during this 7-hour hike amidst the sublime scenery of the Canadian Rockies. Join a knowledgeable local guide on the trails near Lake Louise, pausing as you walk to admire the local geology, plants and animals that make up this stunningly beautiful place. Depending on the season you’ll also enjoy majestic snow-capped peaks, blooming wildflowers or rainbow-hued fall colors. Pack some snacks to ensure you stay fueled up during your trek.