Amazing service! It's my first time visiting Banff and I forgot my fishing gear. I went here to get…read moresome things and they went above and beyond to help me with licensing, getting the right gear, and letting me know the best places to catch fish. I went from having no idea where to go, to having confidence I was in the right spot with the right gear. I ended up catching a nice brown trout because of them. Highly recommend this shop!

Canmore is pretty much the only city you can get gear for fishing near Banff as the outdoor stores…read moretypically cater to hikers/climbers/bikers/runners. The crew at Wapiti were generous in recommendations for our light spinning set up and were able to help me get my permits for fishing for Banff and a day license although my son and I were only catch and release fishing. They sell lead free lures suitable for Banff and gave recommendations for locations along the Bow River in both Banff and Canmore although they have a variety of fly fishing and outdoor paraphernalia. Our first day we got skunked at Banff on the Bow River and snagged but we eventually were able to hook up to trout in Banff in Lake Moraine and along the Bow with new gear on a separate day and different spots along the other pedestrian bridge. Make sure to buy multiple lures if you're spinning cause there are a lot of trees and rocks to get snagged which are the structures that the trout tend to congregate. One thing they might not be able to help you with is FINDING PARKING near certain spots.

I like fun and this was definitely a fun time. From boarding to leaving the ship ride was about an…read more1 hour and a half. My wife and friends enjoyed the whole experience. For me, anything or event that encourages picture taking is perfect. The views on Lake Minnewanka were perfect. This should be on everyone's 'must see / do list' Remember you are in a National Park, so you must get a parking pass for the park...or you WILL get a ticket. Luckily... we came by bus tour. No cars to worry about. The staff at the Lake are amazing from the moment you arrive. You can hike trails, rent canoes or kayaks or take the boat ride. Dress warmly, as it gets cold in the winter months and the water is NEVER warm! Our wonderful guide made sure to explain that to us. There was a nice vibe between the crew and visitors. Another nice piece to this trip. This was simply relaxing and what else could you be looking for on a vacation than to do something that puts a smile on your face and allows you to sit back and relax. It was nice to stand outside the back of the boat and enjoy the view. Their only restriction was to keep the count no higher than eight. Even with a full boat it worked out just fine. I can't recommend this delightful boat tour enough and encourage all to take it if time permits. KUDOs to the team at theLake Minnewanka Cruise

I think i expected more of a speed boat than a tour boat when I booked it so was a bit…read moredisappointed, but it wasn't a bad way to spend an hour. Lake Minnewanka is beautiful and we took this cruise on the most gorgeous day. We had 8 people on our boat tour, which seemed to be less than usual. Our tour guide told us all about the lake and some fun banff stories for about 30-40 minutes, then we stopped for about 5-10 min to take pics on the deck and then rode back in silence. It was a beautiful hour on the lake, but i found myself wishing we used that time to walk around town or do another hike instead. We were told parking at Lake Minnewanka is impossible (like all parts of Banff), but we did get pretty lucky with a spot right away. We also ate lunch at their snack shack which wasn't anything special (hot dog for me and a ginormous slice of pizza for my husband), but convenient. Overall, a fine experience since the weather was so gorgeous, but not one I'd repeat if back in Banff.

BE AWARE - DISHONEST BUSINESS OWNER!!! Received a call at 6:30am the morning of our schedule…read morefishing trip with Anders of Banff Fishing Unlimited. He said the trip was being cancelled due to weather, which seemed very strange because we were only 20 minutes away in Banff Springs and it was a spectacular day with the sun coming up, still air and a perfect weather forecast. He actually said "there are white caps and the waves are crashing over the dock and it was too dangerous". We decided to take a ride up to Lake Minnewanka since we were all dressed and showered. We discovered that there was no such weather problems and that all the other boats were out on the lake catching fish . See photo of my 3 boys and how perfect the lake was. The weather was flawless! This was extremely disappointing as it was my birthday and I was on vacation with my family and the boys were all looking forward to fishing. As a business owner, I understand things happen out of your control, but fabricating a story because your employee never showed up for work is NOT OK! Ruing my birthday and disappointing my kids (we all went to be early the night before) is unacceptable.

We woke up at 7 AM and were at the Lake Minnewanka dock by 8 AM filled with some Tim Horton's…read morecoffee and breakfast sandwiches. I found Banff Fishing Unlimited online and booked a private 4-hour charter for $400. Our fishing guide was a boisterous Alberta native that has been fishing on Lake Minnewanka for over 30 years. The views were gorgeous and the boat itself was roomy, perfect for fishing. We moved to a few different spots all the while spotting some male rams and a bald eagle. You could tell our guide really knew what he was doing. We caught 5 whitefish each (10 total). The national park allows you to keep only trout (not sure why you can't keep whitefish, really wish I'd asked) so we had to release all our whitefish but it was still a great experience. We are beginner fishermen and had an absolute blast. To read more about our adventures, visit Type A Travel blog.

What an amazing time I had at this park! I am a big National Park junkie back in the U.S. and was…read moreexcited to visit my first Canadian National Park. I came with my running group and they combined our runs with various activities around the park. Banff National Park is Canada's oldest national park and was established in 1885. It is known for its mountain peaks and turquoise glacial lakes (Lake Louise and Moraine are the two popular ones). Banff offers year-round outdoor adventures like hiking, wildlife viewing, cycling and skiing. The Town of Banff has lots of shopping and restaurants for those that aren't into the outdoor activities. Banff National Park is located in Alberta's Rocky Mountains and has several large glaciers and icefields. Nearby are Yoho, Jasper and Kootenay National Parks. The Town of Banff is at the center of the park in the Bow River Valley. The park itself has a variety of recorded mammal species. Banff National Park has been successful at reducing the number of animals killed on the roads by building wildlife crossings. We drove under a number of these while driving through the park. They are such a clever idea. My running company booked three runs in and around Banff National Park. The views were gorgeous as we did our trail runs. When I first arrived, we took a tour bus to Lake Louise, Moraine Lake and Emerald Lake (in nearby Yoho National Park). I really enjoyed the beauty of those lakes and was able to do some photography work at them. They are just as pretty in person as the pictures that you see on the internet. The huge crowds in the summer was the only downer part. For activities, we canoed down the Bow River. That was a lot of fun and we got great views of the mountain ranges while on the river. We also did the Via Ferrata at Mt Norquay. It was my first time doing one of these and it was easily one of my favorite activities. On my final day, I took the Gondola to the summit of Sulphur Mountain. You can see the whole Town of Banff from there and the breathtaking mountain ranges all around. The Town of Banff has lots of retail stores, gift shops and restaurants. I ate very well on this trip. Overall, Banff was an amazing experience for me. The flight to Calgary from Arizona wasn't too long and my running company did a great job in booking all of my activities. I look forward to a trip back someday!

I started this draft in 2019. I had to go back to Banff in 2025 as I forgot why I wanted to give…read morethem 5 stars and what to write. Banff National Park is a place where everyone needs to go! They have something for everyone. Nature is at its finest here with lakes, mountains, and wildlife. Even with all the tourists, Lake Louise is awesome. The lake itself is stunning with its turquoise blue water. If you don't feel like walking, go inside the Chateau Lake Louise and have afternoon tea or go souvenir shopping at the gift shop inside the hotel. Moraine Lake is another place that is picturesque. It isn't as popular as Lake Louise, but, it is just as awesome. They have cabins and a gift shop that was closed for the season when we visited. Access to both Lake Louise and Moraine lake is limited. They don't let you drive there anymore. You need to either join a tour, or take the shuttle bus. The city of Banff is a huge populated area inside the park with many hotels, restaurants, shops and even a supermarket. Horseback riding is available. You can take a gondola ride or even go to a hot spring. Banff is a great park. Even my city loving wife, enjoyed our visit to this wonderful national park of Canada.

The iconic landmark in Banff that everyone has to see! However since we came in early March, the…read morelake was frozen over and was a winter wonderland! Although we didn't get to see the clear blue waters of the lake, this was an entirely new view that was just as memorable! Note: You need a Banff Park Pass to enter! You can buy it online or at the booths when you get to the entrance of the park. - PARKING - We parked in the lot right next to the lake as directed by the parking attendants there. There's a lodge with bathrooms in the same parking lot too! You simply walk into the tree area, about 3 minutes, and you'll see the sign of Lake Louise and the lake beyond it! - EXPERIENCE - There are signs of thin ice, but there were so many people walking, running, and even sliding on the lake! We had shoe grips on just in case, which I think were nice to have as we walked - felt very sturdy! I did see other people without grips and they just had to walk a bit slower. They also had an ice rink and snow bar outside! - OVERALL - A beautiful sight to see, even in the wintertime!

Coming to Lake Louise was a last-minute addition on my first trip to Banff National Park. I could…read morenot come all the way here and not see this beautiful lake. Lake Louise is a turquoise-colored glacial lake that is surrounded by high peaks in Alberta's Banff National Park. It is a popular destination for tourists and outdoor enthusiasts. Lake Louise is known for its hiking trails, skiing and canoeing. Lake Louise is 30 minutes west of the Town of Banff. Parking here can be a real pain during peak season. Thankfully I was on a bus that dropped us off at the front. I came here during the summer and the crowds were crazy. But it was so worth it to finally see this lake in person. The water is crystal clear and has a greenish-blue color to it and is surrounded by a mountain range. Lake Louise lake's color is a result of natural geological processes and not artificially enhanced. In the distance you can see the Victoria Glacier. Lake Louise is named after Princess Louise, daughter of Queen Victoria. The historic Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is located at the edge of the lake and offers beautiful views for those that stay there. There are several hiking trails around the lake. I ended up walking the nature trail for a little while to get photos of the lake at different angles. It was hard to get clear shots because there were so many people. But I really enjoyed my time exploring the surrounding area. Coming to Lake Louise was totally worth it and a highlight for me on my trip to Banff National Park. Entry to Lake Louise requires a Banff National Park entry fee or pass. It is highly recommended to ride the shuttle here as parking is limited.

We recently hired Jim, "Banff Chauffeur," to transport us between Calgary and Banff, Banff and Lake…read moreLouise, and, finally, Lake Louise and Calgary. He was jovial, punctual, and patient. We really appreciated him taking us off the beaten path a little bit to see places like JK Bakery Café in Canmore and Peyto Lake. He always had drinks and snacks available.

Had a great tour with Jim. We didn't do any fishing, just had him take us from Banff to Lake Louise…read moreand then to Calgary. He was flexible with our plans that day, especially since the weather was not that great (fog & snow). He's very friendly, knows the area and went the extra distance to make sure my family and me were taken care off. He even jumped out of the truck in the snow to take some pictures of some elk with one of our cameras!

Johnston Canyon may be a bit of a hike but it truly is magical. The trails are accessible for most…read morehikers and lead you to the canyon, over bridges with rushing turquoise water underneath. The Upper Falls is worth the extra kms of trail and the sounds of the powerful falls enraptures you. I love that it's challenging enough to feel like an accomplishment but still manageable for a casual day trip. It's busy during peak summer, but the views are worth it.

Just stopped here while on a tour with Vancouver Journey. We only hiked to the lower falls and in…read morethe snow/ice it takes about an hour to walk there and back. ~350 ft of elevation gain per my Apple Watch. Beautiful icy sights in late March. Definitely wear crampons! Wish we had more time to see the upper falls.

Could've been the lake, or it could have been the wonderful sunset watchin', star gazin' company -…read moreeither way, it's a solid 5-Stars. :) Not only is Ghost lake gorgeous, it's an excellent day use park, home to picnics a plenty and boats of all shapes and sizes. It's only a short an enjoyable drive from Calgary, making it an excellent spot to go for a Sunday cruise. Serene when looking one direction, as you can see the mountains beginning, and then excitingly badass when you look towards the giant dam that sometimes spews out hefty plumes of white water. Intense. If you've got wee ones running rampant (or just irresponsible/drunk adults), keep an eye on them. Since the floods, the Ghost Lake banks have turned into some rather stark cliffs! It's day use only, but there is a camp ground directly across the highway. It's also "Liquor Prohibited", so we definitely didn't enjoy a bottle of wine while sunset watching and star gazing... That would be bad.

Great man made lake. The lake is busy with people enjoying thier watercrafts and the shore is busy…read morewith onlookers. This is a beautiful lake with plenty of parking.