Canada is a country of diverse natural landscapes, and there’s lots to see. Growing up here though, I took many spectacular places, such as Banff National Park in Alberta, for granted. I visited the park for the first time only a few weeks ago, and was absolutely blown away by the seemingly endless natural beauty of the place.

There’s so much to do that it can honestly be overwhelming. If you’re planning a trip to Banff, the best advice I can give you is not to pack your itinerary too tight; you’ll inevitably end up rushing through scenery that you’d rather linger and take your time to soak in. With that in mind, here are five places that should be on your must-see list if you’re taking a trip to Banff – and in case you’re wondering, yes, I did take those photos!

1. Make the hike up Tunnel Mountain.

Tunnel Mountain is more of a hill than anything, but it’s walkable from downtown Banff, and it’s the perfect confidence-booster if you’re relatively new to hiking. Plan for roughly a 90- to 120-minute hike round-trip. And since this mountain is more for newer hikers, remember: if you can’t see the peak from ground level because it’s shrouded in clouds… you won’t be able to see anything once you’re in the clouds. I had to hike the mountain twice thanks to that bone-headed mistake.

2. Ride the gondola up to the top of Sulphur Mountain.

It’s a 6-minute gondola ride to the top of Tunnel Mountain, and it isn’t for the squeamish; if you have a fear of heights, the gentle swaying of the gondola won’t help. You’ll be rewarded with sweeping, 360-degree views of the surrounding area when you make it to the top though, and it’s so worth it.

My wife and I packed dinner and ate while we watched the sun dip below the horizon, and it was a spectacular experience. Oh, and by the way… that hill you see in the picture? Yeah, that’s Tunnel Mountain. Just ya know, for scale.

3. Hike the trail around Lake Minnewanka.

Of all the spectacular lakes in the area, Lake Minnewanka has to be the most underrated of them all. We visited the lake during midday on a sunny afternoon, and I was literally the only one shooting this photo. Had we tried to do that on Lake Louise (spoiler alert, I did), it would have been elbow-to-elbow, three rows deep trying to get the shot.

Not only is the lake itself spectacular, but the hike around its perimeter is easygoing and beautiful as well. It extends quite far, and you could easily spend an afternoon exploring the foothills around the lake. Also, of all the lakes we visited, Lake Minnewanka seems like it’s the most inviting to swim in! Glacier water isn’t for me, but hey, if it’s your thing, this is the place to do it.

4. Check out the upper and lower falls at Johnston Canyon.

Johnston Canyon’s walkway runs right through the canyon itself, occasionally departing to lead you on a peaceful trek through the forest, where you’ll encounter Old Man’s Beard and other interesting types of lichen. The walkway follows a beautiful stream before you leading you to the lower falls, pictured here. If you continue down the path, you’ll eventually make your way to the upper falls, which are equally spectacular. If you carry on further still, you’ll make it all the way to the ink pots. The entire trip is around four hours both ways, so you’ll want to plan for an entire afternoon if you’re hoping to trek all the way out to the ink pots!

5. Watch the sunrise at Moraine Lake.

I told you the story of my experience with Moraine Lake in last week’s post, but this list wouldn’t be complete without it. Of all the stops you could make in Banff, Moraine Lake is by far the most amazing to me. The sunrise is so beautiful there that I woke up at 4:00am not once, but twice, just to watch it happen.

If you do want to catch the sunrise, you’ll need to arrive by around 5:20am or so in order to get a parking spot – this one’s no secret, and everyone and their dog will be there with you fighting for a spot. When the sun comes up and paints those mountains though, oh man is it ever worth it. Just sit back and enjoy the Valley of the Ten Peaks.

Also incredible, but less popular with tourists, is the lakeside trail that takes you to the other side of Moraine Lake. There, you’ll come across a boardwalk that ends beside a gently-sloping waterfall that feeds into the lake. If you stand on that platform and just listen, I swear you’ll be able to feel the heartbeat of the world there. It really is a spiritual experience. I can’t believe my wife and I were the only ones there when we visited.

Wrapping it Up

I’d say that Banff is a once-in-a-lifetime trip, but the reality is that I plan to go back several times over the course of my lifetime, because there’s just way too much to see all in one trip. Stay tuned next week, when I’ll have five more spectacular places to visit while you’re in Canada’s oldest national park!