A Magical 4 Day Banff Fall Road Trip Itinerary
Planning a 4 day Banff Fall road trip? Just imagine golden larches and magical crisp mornings, of hot chocolates and cozy fireplaces. Banff in the Fall is pure MAGIC! Add in turquoise lakes mixed with golden trees and a sprinkling of snow and you get an actual dream!
Dave and I had such a great time visiting Banff in the Fall from the end of September until the beginning of October (which was the perfect time for larches) and it might just be my new favourite time to visit Banff!
We saw some of the most incredible sights that we had ever seen in our entire lives in the Canadian Rockies. From hiking trail surrounded by golden trees to cozy fireplace evenings and cocktails, this trip made us fall in love with Banff all over again.
In this 4 day Banff Fall itinerary, you’ll find where to stay, the best hikes for larches and tips on making the most of your autumn adventure.
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📍 Where is Banff: Alberta, Canada
✈ Where to fly into: Calgary International Airport (YYC) – Find FLIGHTS here!
📆 When to visit for golden larches: Last week of September – first week of October
🛌 My favourite 3 hotels in Banff:
Moose Hotel and Suites ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 9.0 rating
Fairmont Banff Springs⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐8.9 rating
Beaujolais Boutique B&B at Thea’s House ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 9.9 rating
🚗 Rental car: Rentalcars.com is our go to for the best rental car prices!
My favourite larch hike in Banff: Larch Valley & Sentinel Pass
The Ultimate 4 Day Banff Fall Itinerary
Best time to do this Fall Road Trip
“Kerry isn’t the timing of this trip kinda obvious.. Fall?” Okay, so you will obviously be doing this road trip during Fall but there is a best time to see the Fall colours in Banff. The best time to see the Fall colours and golden larches in Banff is usually from the last week of September until the end of the first week of October.
🎟 National Parks Passes
You will need a National Parks Pass for Banff National Park. You can purchase one of these online on the Parks Canada website or at any MEC Store or on entry to Banff National Park.
Other Tips for Visiting Banff in the Fall
To prepare for your Fall road trip in Banff, check out my blog post Things to Know Before Visiting Banff in October, which has a Fall packing list, tips on where to stay, information on what the weather will be like, closing times for important places like Moraine Lake (no, it doesn’t stay open the entire year), and more!
4 Day Banff Itinerary for Fall
This itinerary includes some of the best things to do in Banff during Fall and the things that we ALWAYS recommend to all of our friends to do if they are visiting Banff during leaf peeping season! 🍂
Day 1 – Banff
Where to stay: Banff – Moose Hotel and Suites
Morning: Coffee and Breakfast
Start your Banff Fall trip with breakfast and the best coffee in Banff at The Wild Flour Bakery Banff. We have been to Banff a few times and we always go back to this place for our morning coffee because it is the closest to Aussie coffee that we can find.
Being a bakery, they also do sandwiches, croissants, granola and frittatas. If you are staying at the Moose Hotel and Suites, it is only about an 8 minute walk to the bakery.
Late morning – afternoon: Healy Pass Hike
Distance: 20.3km/ 12.61 miles | Time: 5-7 hours | Elevation: 868m / 2,847 ft
Healy Pass is one of the best larch hikes in Banff National Park! The hike starts from the Sunshine Village, which is around a 20 minute drive from Banff. It is quite a long hike so make sure you are well prepared with a packed lunch, snacks and plenty of water. If you are feeling even more adventurous, you could turn your hike into a backpacking trip by camping at Egypt Lake.
The weather can change quickly up in the mountains (especially during this time of the year), so make sure you bring layers and wet weather gear.
Most of the hike is through the forest and is not too steep, until the end, which is also when the larches begin to appear. Once you exit the forest and head into the alpine, you will find yourself surrounded by golden larches and you will do a little bit of incline to get up higher.
Evening: Dinner in town
After your hike, you will most likely be hungry and exhausted. Healy Pass makes for a pretty big day! There are loads of restaurants to choose from in Banff. I recommend choosing one and booking a reservation in advance so that you don’t need to wait.
We have run into issues before where we haven’t been able to get into any restaurants in Banff, albeit this was during the peak Summer season so much more busy than Fall. Still, it’s better to be safe than hungry!
Some restaurants that we have enjoyed in Banff before are:
- Elk & Oarsman Restaurant and Bar
- The Eddie Burger and Bar
- Three Bears Brewery
Day 2 – Banff – Lake Louise
Where to stay: Lake Louise – Deer Lodge or Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
Deer Lodge is where we stay. It’s located around a 10 minute walk from the Lake Louise foreshore, however it is currently closed so I recommend booking the Fairmont instead which is located right on the shore of Lake Louise and is literally like a castle.
Morning: Coffee and Breakfast
Head to the Wild Flour Bakery or try another café for breaky and coffee before heading to IGA in Banff to pick up some lunch and snacks.
Midday: Picnic at Cascade Ponds
Cascade Ponds is one of the best places in Banff to see the Fall colours and it is a great spot for a picnic. It is about a 25 minute drive from Banff town and if you have your own paddle board, bring it along because Cascade Ponds is one of the best paddle boarding spots in Banff!
Afternoon: Lake Louise Gondola
The Lake Louise Gondola is only open until the 13th October but until then, it is a great activity to do in the Fall. From the top, you will get incredible views of Lake Louise and Banff and you might even spot some wildlife! Alternatively, you could do the Banff Gondola back in Banff which has incredible 360 panoramic views. I’m a little obsessed.
Day 3 – Lake Louise
Morning: Moraine Lake for sunrise
Whether you are visiting Banff in Autumn or Summer, Moraine Lake is a must-see. You don’t need to visit Moraine Lake at sunrise if you don’t want to, however, if you are into your photography, sunrise is the best time of the day to photograph Moraine Lake because the same hits the mountain peaks behind the lake.
Head up to the Rockpile for the best view of Moraine Lake. It’s just a short 5 minute walk.
Note: The road to Moraine Lake is now closed to personal vehicles. The road is now only open to Parks Canada shuttles, Roam Public Transit, and commercial buses from June to mid-October. The rest of the year the road closes due to the amount of snow it sees. Therefore, if you are dying to see Moraine Lake, make sure you are organised and book a way in well ahead of time.
Midday: Larch Valley Hike
Distance: 8.85km/ 5.5 miles | Time: 3-4.5 hours | Elevation: 560m / 1,837 ft
Larch Valley is another one of the best larch hikes in Banff National Park and my personal favourite. The hike starts at Moraine Lake so you can do it right after seeing Moraine Lake.
You can also add on a few more kms to your hike and do Sentinel Pass as well which I recommend because it is so so pretty and kind of feels a little like Mordor. When you reach Larch Valley, you will be surrounded by golden larches and towering snow-capped mountains). Whereas, Sentinel Pass takes you up above the valley and if you look over the top you will be able to see hoodoos on the other side of the pass.
Afternoon: Fairview Lookout Hike
Distance: 2.4km/ 1.5 miles | Time: 1 hour | Elevation: 145m / 475ft
If you still have some energy left in you, the Fairview Lookout is a great little hike to end the day on. It takes you up to the left-hand-side of Lake Louise where you get a view of the Fairmont Hotel and Lake Louise.
If not, head over to the Deer Lodge or the Fairmont for a drink and some food at the bar. It is the perfect way to end an adventure filled day.
Day 4 – Lake Louise
Where to stay: same as day 2 & 3
Morning: Sunrise at Lake Louise
Sunrise at Lake Louise is just as magical as at Moraine Lake. Don’t expect to have the lake to yourself though because sunrise here is quite the event.
Midday: Canoeing on Lake Louise
Grab some brunch at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, before hopping in one of the classic bright red Canadian Canoes at Lake Louise. You can rent a canoe for 30 minutes or an hour from the Boathouse which is located around to the left of the lake.
Afternoon: Little Beehive Hike
Distance: 8.6km/ 5.3 miles | Time: 2.5-4 hours | Elevation: 535m / 1,755ft
The Little Beehive is one of my favourite hikes in Banff no matter what time of the year it is. When we did this hike in Fall, it actually starting snowing a little at the viewpoint! The trailhead starts from Lake Louise and takes you to one of the best viewpoints of Lake Louise and the Fairmont Hotel.
Want to extend your trip? Here are some more idea of what to do in and around Banff!
Camp or stay at the lodge at Lake O’Hara
Lake O’Hara is an absolutely gorgeous place, especially during Fall. There are loads of golden larches on the trails there, along with epic views and HUGE towering mountains. We felt like we were in alpine heaven!
You do need to be on it if you want to camp there however, as there are limited permits available. You also cannot drive there. Instead, you need to get permits for the shuttle which is just as hard to get as the campsite permits. Read more about how to visit Lake O’hara here.
Do some more hiking in Banff
Banff has loads of great Fall hikes to choose from! You could easily spend another few days in hiking your way through Banff and seeing all of the golden larches!
Hike to some hot springs in Kananaskis
Did you know that there is a hot spring that you can hike to in Kananaskis, around a 1.5 hour drive from Banff. It is located up in the mountains and you will be hiking through Grizzly Bear territory, so a little terrifying but a fun adventure! I recommend doing this hike during the day rather than at sunset like we did and in a group of 4 or more. 😉
Backpack to Floe Lake
If you are an adventure addict like we are and you have all of the right gear, you should definitely look into backpacking to Floe Lake in the Kootenays! We did this overnight hike during Fall and it was insanely beautiful! Read about our experience here!
💭 Our Thoughts
Fall is our favourite time of the year to visit Banff National Park because it’s somehow even more stunning with the golden larches and Autumn colours! I think if you are a photographer, then Fall is definitely the best season to visit Banff in.
You might also enjoy:
- How to Spend a Weekend in Banff: The Ultimate Itinerary
- Beautiful Icefields Parkway Stops You Shouldn’t Miss!
- Amazing Fall Hikes in Banff
- Amazing Things to do in Banff in Fall
- Larch Valley and Sentinel Pass: Best Fall Hike in Banff
- How to Hike Healy Pass in Banff National Park
- How to Visit Banff Without a Car
- Beautiful Lakes to Paddle Board in Canmore and Banff
- How to Visit the Stunning Lake O’Hara
- Everything You Need to Know About Johnston Canyon
- Is the Banff Gondola Worth it?
- The Best Pumpkin Patches Near Vancouver
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