Wondering when the lakes thaw in Banff National Park and whether Lake Louise and Moraine Lake will actually be blue when you visit? In this episode, Banff travel planning expert Celine Brewer breaks down the typical spring thaw timeline for the most popular lakes and what you can realistically expect in late April, May, and June.

You’ll also hear real examples from spring conditions around Banff, plus quick tips for checking current lake conditions before your trip so you can plan your day visiting Lake Louise and Moraine Lake.

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Don’t forget to check out the free guides and planning tools on travelbanffcanada.com and banfftravelplanning.com.

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Worried about driving in Banff or the Canadian Rockies, especially if you are travelling solo? You are not alone. The good news is that most routes around Banff are on well-maintained paved highways, but there are a few key things to know about mountain driving, weather, wildlife, and cell service.

In this episode, Banff travel planning expert Celine Brewer explains what the roads are really like including the Trans-Canada Highway, the drive to Lake Louise, the Icefields Parkway, and other common scenic routes. You will learn what feels “easy,” what feels more remote, where you should plan to be offline, and how to prep so you can drive with confidence and enjoy the views.

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Confused about which park pass you need for Banff? In this episode, Celine breaks down the different passes for Banff, Jasper, Yoho, and Kootenay National Parks, plus the Kananaskis Conservation Pass for Canmore and K-Country. You’ll learn when you need a daily Parks Canada pass vs a Discovery Pass, how the Kananaskis pass works, what’s covered (and what isn’t), and how upcoming free admission days fit into your Banff trip planning.

Banff Park Pass Guide

Buy Park Pass online here or here

Buy Kananaskis Conservation Pass

Save your seat in my Live Banff Trip Planning Workshop!

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Don’t forget to check out the free guides and planning tools on travelbanffcanada.com and banfftravelplanning.com.

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Wondering whether you should add Jasper National Park to your Banff itinerary? In this episode, Celine explains how Banff and Jasper are different, how many days to spend in Jasper, and what you can realistically see with 1, 2, or 3 days, including the Icefields Parkway, Maligne Lake, the Jasper SkyTram, and easy viewpoints. You’ll learn how to plan the Banff to Jasper drive, where Jasper fits in a 7–10 day Rockies itinerary, and when it’s worth the extra driving.

Icefields Parkway guide (top stops and viewpoints)

GuideAlong app for the Icefields Parkway drive

Banff & Jasper itinerary

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Thinking about camping in Banff National Park? In this episode, your Banff travel planning expert Celine walks you through how Banff camping reservations work and how to plan ahead for getting camping reservations this summer. You’ll learn which Banff and Lake Louise campgrounds to consider, when to book for peak summer, and how to camp safely in bear country.

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2026 Camping Reservation Dates

Banff Campgrounds

Jasper Campgrounds

Yoho Campgrounds

Kootenay Campgrounds

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Banff in January and February are peak winter months and home to one of the best festivals of the season: SnowDays. In this episode, Celine shares what makes this time of year unique, including snow sculptures, Ice Magic at Lake Louise, skating, winter hikes, and what conditions are really like.

If you're planning a winter trip to Banff National Park, this guide will help you know exactly what to expect and how to prepare.

Mentioned in this episode:

Banff in January

Banff SnowDays Festival

Ice Magic Festival at Lake Louise

Banff Winter Packing List

Winter traction devices

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Not a skier? You are absolutely not alone and Banff is one of the best winter destinations in the world even if you never touch a chairlift.
In this episode, Banff travel planning expert Celine Brewer walks you through the most memorable winter activities for non-skiers: ice walks, winter hikes, wildlife viewing, scenic drives, hot springs, snowshoe tours, the Banff Gondola, and so much more.

You’ll learn what’s realistic in winter conditions, how to choose between activities, what to book ahead of time, and why Banff is just as magical off the slopes as it is on them.

Links mentioned in this episode

✔ Banff for Non-Skiers Guide
Everything you can do in Banff in winter without skiing

✔ Banff Winter Travel Guide
A complete overview of winter conditions, packing, activities, tips, and planning essentials. You can bundle this with my 7-Day Banff Winter Itinerary!

✔ Sunshine Meadows Snowshoe Tour
One of the most beautiful beginner-friendly snowshoe tours in Banff National Park (affiliate link)

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Don’t forget to check out the free guides and planning tools on travelbanffcanada.com and banfftravelplanning.com.

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Winter transforms Banff National Park into a completely different place. The waterfalls freeze, the crowds disappear, and even familiar trails feel brand new under fresh snow.

In this episode, local Banff travel expert Celine Brewer walks you through the best easy winter hikes in Banff. These hikes are scenic and perfect for first-time winter hikers or anyone looking for shorter adventures.

✔ Easy Winter Hikes in Banff

✔ Banff Winter Travel Guide

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Send in your questions here!

Don’t forget to check out the free guides and planning tools on travelbanffcanada.com and banfftravelplanning.com.

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