Is Banff Worth Visiting with Kids?

YES, Banff is 100% worth visiting with your kids! If your family loves to hike, explore nature, and see natural wonders like alpine meadows and glaciers, you’ll love a trip to Banff National Park.

It may not be your first thought when planning a family vacation, but the epic mountains, glacial lakes, and the world-class hiking and skiing make it an adventurous family’s paradise.

We’ve been to Banff twice now, and it was not only manageable with our kids, but it became one of our favorite family trips to date!

Banff works beautifully as a 3–5 day trip with school-age kids, but if you plan to ski or explore the Icefields Parkway in depth, consider adding a couple of extra days.

Summer and winter are our favorite times to visit. Summer (June–September) means turquoise lakes, mild weather, and busy but manageable crowds. Winter (December–March) brings snow adventures, smaller crowds, and a magical alpine atmosphere.

The top highlights of our Banff trip for our kids were visiting Peyto Lake on the Icefields Parkway, seeing frozen Lake Louise, snowboarding at Sunshine Village, dog sledding, seeing the northern lights, and the views from the observation deck on the Banff Gondola.

Is Banff family-friendly?

YES! This is a great entry-level international destination for families, and there’s something for every age and ability in Banff. There were loads of hikes, experiences, and restaurants that work well for families.

With our school-aged kids, we were able to go dog sledding, hike along the frozen Grotto Canyon, and take the Banff Gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain for lunch! 

Many activities even have special rates for families with children. We were able to get free tickets for the Banff Gondola for our two kids by going during their morning family hours. You can check out the Banff Gondola website to see if they’re still running this promotion!

Downtown Banff is very walkable with wide sidewalks perfect for strollers. They even close some roads to limit cars during peak months, making it feel even safer to walk with your kids.

We stayed in Canmore on both of our trips, but spent several lovely evenings in downtown Banff after our excursions and hikes. One evening, we were able to walk to dinner at Magpie & Stump, then walk to get dessert, and then walk to the local movie theatre after dark.

We felt incredibly safe the entire time, and it was easy to navigate.

3 Reasons to Visit Banff with Kids

1. Adventure is easily accessible.

You don’t have to travel far to have an adventure in Banff National Park. Hiking, fishing, climbing, wildlife viewing, and boating are all easy to access from most areas in the park.

Within a 15-minute drive of our condo, we found sledding hills, frozen rivers to hike on, explored frozen waterfalls, saw a family of mountain goats grazing along the road, and had a picnic along a flowing glacial river.

2. Incredible views with minimal work.

Even with younger kids or limited mobility, your family can enjoy breathtaking views. Take a gondola up to alpine meadows, stop at scenic lookouts on short drives, or just admire the views from a local café or grocery store. They’re all stunning.

One of our kids’ favorite views was from the top of the Banff Gondola. This adventure requires no hiking at all, making it perfect for younger kids or family members using a wheelchair. On the observation deck, you’re surrounded by the Canadian Rockies and can see mountain tops and valleys for miles.

Bow Lake is another of our favorites. It’s a stop along the Icefields Parkway and has breathtaking views of Bow Glacier and the glacial-fed lake below it, all from the parking lot.

3. Truly unique family experiences.

We’ll never forget dog sledding, standing on a glacier, renting canoes on Moraine Lake, or hiking to a tea house. There are so many things to do in Banff that feel like once in a lifetime adventures.

The mountains, lakes, rivers, trees, and rocks are all different than what we have at home. Our kids loved experiencing the different terrains around the park and on the hikes! We also enjoyed trying new-to-us foods like bison burgers and poutine!

We even saw the Northern Lights at Vermillion Lakes, which was truly a bucket list family experience. As soon as we got the aurora alert, we hopped in the car and drove the short distance to the lookout. We were all in awe as the lights danced across the sky, and it’s a moment we’ll never forget.

Things to do in Banff with Kids

Year-round Activities for Families in Banff

• Banff Gondola
• Icefields Parkway Scenic Drive
• Bow Valley Parkway Scenic Drive
• Johnston Canyon Hike
• Tunnel Mountain Hike
• Banff Hot Springs

Winter Excursions for Families

• Snow tubing or ice skating at Lake Louise
• Skiing or snowboarding at Sunshine Meadows
• See the Northern Lights
• Grotto Canyon Ice Hike
• Dog Sledding
• Ice Fishing

Summer Excursions for Families

• Canoe on Moraine Lake
• Paddleboarding on Vermillion Lakes
• Float Trips on Bow River (age 2+)
• Lake Agnes Tea House Hike
• Athabasca Glacier Guided Hike (age 10+)
• Lake Louise lakeshore
• Fly Fishing

What Surprised us on our Family Vacation to Banff

Banff was easy to travel to with our kids.

This was our kid’s first international trip. We knew that there would be a learning curve, but it was not nearly as difficult as we expected.

Many aspects felt like home, which made it an easier transition for our kids, but different enough to feel like a true international adventure. Banff is now one of our top recommendations for parents traveling internationally with kids for the first time.

We didn’t have altitude sickness.

We’ve struggled with altitude in the Colorado Rockies before, so we were prepared for similar challenges here, especially since our son has asthma. We were pleasantly surprised to have zero issues with elevation during our Banff trip.

The crowds were manageable.

We expected packed trails, no parking, and long waits during our July visit. But by getting out early or waiting until evening, we were able to avoid most of the crowds.

We often found ourselves leaving just as others were arriving. When we went in April, we had several scenic spots all to ourselves and were able to stay as long as we liked.

The early morning Moraine Lake shuttle was totally worth it.

When we visited without the kids, we booked the earliest shuttle through the Parks Canada system. We weren’t sure if getting up that early would be worth it, but being first to the lake meant we were also first in line for the canoes.

We got to enjoy Moraine Lake at sunrise – quiet, uncrowded, and absolutely stunning.

This is definitely a splurge excursion, though. When we went in 2024, it cost $100 per canoe. Your rental lasts an hour, and each canoe can fit up to 3 people. If your kids are very young or you have a larger family, it may not be worth it for you.

We were surprised at how quickly the shuttle tickets sold out. We bought ours on the day Parks Canada released the 2024 summer tickets, and they were completely gone by the end of the day. Book early if you want to go! You can find out more information at the Parks Canada Website.

The kids are already asking to go back.

We absolutely adored our summer week in Banff and knew it was the perfect place to take our kids. What we didn’t expect was just how much they would love it.

Before we were even on the plane home, they were asking when we could go back. They’ve already decided they want to visit Banff in every season, and I agree. Banff for Christmas has a nice ring to it.

Tips for Making the Most of Banff with Kids

Managing Expectations

Planning a realistic itinerary is one of the ways we make traveling with kids easier. Know your kids’ energy and interest levels and plan accordingly. If they aren’t interested in historic buildings, don’t spend hours at the Fairmont, but if you are, then definitely still go.

We always make sure there’s something everyone is excited about on our itineraries, but we are conscious of everyone’s tolerance levels. In our experience, getting a snack before a long walk or excursion helps with patience levels.

Packing Tips

When I start packing for a trip, I like to think ahead to the excursions I have booked and what I’ll need for each one. Guided excursions often have a list of necessary gear and what’s included, and what you’ll need to bring!

We had multiple hikes on our itinerary that can be slippery during late winter/early spring. Instead of paying for guided hikes that include ice spikes, we brought along our own in a checked bag. This saved us hundreds and enabled us to do spontaneous hikes throughout the week!

We also try to pack items that can be used for multiple adventures to save space in our bags. If you’re short on luggage space, consider renting gear locally. There are a lot of outfitters in the area.

Hiking Safety Tips

Grizzly and brown bears are common throughout the park, so if you are hitting the trails or backcountry in Banff, bear spray is a must. Keep it on the outside of your pack and know how to use it.

You cannot take bear spray on a plane, but you can find it at most outdoors stores, hardware stores, and bigger grocery stores.

A solid pair of hiking shoes or boots is a necessity if you’re hitting the trails in Banff. Several popular hikes here have scree or require other technical skills to complete. Make sure to use proper gear and check the rating on the hike to make sure it’s a good fit for your crew.

Weather conditions in Banff can shift dramatically throughout the day. Layers are the easiest way to stay comfortable, no matter what the skies decide to do. Rainstorms (and even snowstorms in higher elevations) can come quickly in the national park, even in summer.

We brought a daypack on every hike with plenty of water, snacks, a first aid kit, our son’s asthma and allergy medicines, extra layers, and our ice spikes! In the summer, we traded out the ice spikes for bear spray.

It’s always a good idea to check the forecast each morning to make sure your planned adventures are still safe. It’s easy to stay safe on the trails if you prepare a bit ahead of time!

Transportation

We highly recommend renting a car for your family trip to Banff. While there are shuttles available, having a rental car gave us way more flexibility, especially for early hikes, scenic drives, and spontaneous aurora chasing at night.

Rental cars can sell out quickly though, so if you’d like to rent a car, you should do that early on in your trip planning.

Where to Stay

We stayed in Canmore on both of our trips, and staying just outside of the city was a great budget saver for us. The drives to the excursions were still very doable, and it even opened up more adventures in Canmore.

The dog sledding adventure was based in Canmore, and some of our favorite memories were on the local Canmore sledding hill. We stayed in VRBO rentals both times and loved having a bigger space, common areas to hang out in, and a full kitchen to cook and save money.

The biggest perk of staying in a VRBO was having our own laundry machines! We used them almost daily to dry out all the snow gear and wash the muddy hiking clothes.

Food and Meal Planning

Typically, we eat breakfast at our rental, pack a picnic lunch for the adventures of the day, and eat out for dinner. This was very doable in Canmore and Banff, and made the trip more affordable.

We loved shopping in the local grocery stores and seeing what was familiar and what was new! Some of our favorite restaurants in Canmore were Das Schnitzelhaus, Red Rock Pizza Company, Marra’s Way Sushi, and Rocky Mountain Bagel Co.

Scheduling

Now that our kids are older, we typically plan 1-2 big adventures each day. When they were younger, we only planned one activity per day. Even now, we make sure there’s plenty of time in our day for exploration, rest, and play. Know your people and consider them when planning your itinerary!

What Age is Best for Visiting Banff?

Honestly, Banff is one of those rare destinations that’s great to visit at almost any age. It’s also a great spot for multigenerational travel. Bring the grandparents, babies, and teenagers along for a trip everyone can enjoy.

Some trails can easily accommodate jogging strollers, you can take a gondola to the summit of a mountain, and nap time can happen during a scenic drive. For teens and older kids, there are unforgettable adventures like snowboarding in the winter or guided glacier hikes in the summer.

Our kids were able to participate in most of the adventures we planned. Our daughter wasn’t quite old enough for the glacier hike (the minimum age was 10), and the Sulphur Mountain trail was a bit too strenuous for her experience level.

We were able to find alternate options that were just as fun, though. We took the gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain and did a family-friendly ice hike in Grotto Canyon instead.

Ready to plan your trip?

Explore more of our family’s Banff guides to help you plan an unforgettable adventure:

• Should You Rent a Car in Banff? Here’s What Families Need to Know
• Banff Family Itinerary: 7 Days of Kid-Friendly Summer Adventures
• 9 Best Photo Spots in Banff for Stunning Family Travel Photos
• 1-Day Icefields Parkway Drive: 5 Best Stops

Happy Travels!
💛 Michelle