21 Fun Things to Do in Banff With Kids

Are you looking for unique and fun things to do in Banff with kids? We moved to the Canadian Rockies three years ago with our two little boys and we found many cool family activities in Banff.

Turquoise glacier-fed lakes, snowy mountain peaks, and wildlife are definitely a reason why Banff receives more than 4 million visitors per year. And contrary to what you may initially think, there are so many fun things to do in Banff with kids that you’ll need to make some hard decisions. 😉

In this post, I’ve listed fun things to do in Banff with kids that are open year-round, but I also created specific sections for things to do in Banff specifically in the summer. If you plan a visit in the wintertime, I have a long list of things to do with kids in the winter in this other article.

You’ll see that there are a lot of free things to do in Banff with your kids and that more paid attractions are either free for young children or offered at a discounted price.

So let’s dive in.

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1. Wake up at dawn to be one of the first at Lake Louise

Lake Louise is the icon of Banff National Park and the Candian Rockie and it’s probably one of the most visited sights in Banff National Park. That means you’ll want to wake up early to beat the crowds if you’re traveling in the summertime. In the wintertime or shoulder season, it can still be crowded, but no need to wake up at dawn.

During the peak season, from June to mid-October, the parking fee at Lake Louise is in effect. There is a parking fee of $21.00 per vehicle per day to park by the lake entrance. Otherwise, you can use:

• the Parks Canada shuttle from the Lake Louise ski resort parking lot or
• the Roam Bus from downtown Banff.

Once at Lake Louise, there are many things you’ll want to do. Don’t just go to Lake Louise to take a few pictures and let. Plan to spend a great part of the day at Lake Louise to enjoy all the activities such as:

• walking around the lake on the Lake Louise Lakeshore Trail (a 2 km one-way easy trail along the lake)
• admiring the Fairmont Château Lake Louise (and grabbing coffee)

2. Enjoy a tea and chocolate cake at Lake Agnes Tea House

From Lake Louise shore, you’ll be hiking for 3.4 km (one-way) to this beautiful little European-style tea house nestled in the mountains. The teahouse is only open during the peak season (closing around mid-October). It’s one of the great hikes to do with kids in Banff.

The hike is considered moderate, but it totally feasible with a kids’ carrier or with older kids. At the top, you’ll get to order tea, coffee, and some snacks. There is also a small lake.

The views of Lake Louise for the start of the hike are breathtaking.

3. Take a family portrait at the Banff sign

As cliché as it may be, don’t miss the opportunity to have a family photo souvenir with the Banff sign. The Banff sign is located right at the entrance of the town on Norquay Road. It’s within walking distance to the Fenlands trail loop.

If you are driving, park safely at the Fenlands trailhead or at the Fenlands Banff Recreational Center.

This is a fun and free thing to do in Banff that will also be a great souvenir for the family. Many people are stopping by to capture the sign, so you shouldn’t have any problem finding someone to take a portrait of your family.

4. Learn about Banff’s history at the Banff Park Museum National Historic Site

The Banff Park Museum National Historic Site is located in the center of Banff, next the Central Park. It’s the oldest natural history museum in western Canada.

In this museum, you can get face-to-face with Rocky Mountain wildlife! There are more than 5,000 vintage botanical and zoological specimens — from bears and bighorns, to birds and bees.

The museum is inside the oldest surviving federal building in any Canadian national park. It was built in 1903.

When visiting with kids, they’ll want to participate in the Xplorers program and get their badges.

💡 Have a Parks Canada Discovery Pass? Your entrance to the Banff Park Museum National Historic Site is included!

5. Rent a canoe and row across a lake

You have probably seen many pictures of families on canoes or SUPs across the ionic glacier-fed lake. Why not try? It’s one of the most common family adventures you’ll do in the Canadian Rockies.

There is only one canoe rental operator around Lake Louise, and it’s managed by the Fairmont Lake Louise Hotel.

Canoes are available on a first-come, first-serve principle, and they don’t take any reservations.

If you are traveling with young children, you can rent one canoe and fit two adults and two young kids (under 55 lbs each). I would recommend renting a canoe for 2 hours (1 hour may be too limited for the family) to have enough time to enjoy and row up to Victoria Glacier.

They charge $135 per hour for non-hotel guests and $95 per hour for hotel guests. Canoe rentals usually start in mid-June and run until the end of September, or early October (depending on the weather).

For more information on canoe rentals at Lake Louise, check out the Fairmont Lake Louise hotel website.

💡Note: You can also rent a canoe on Moraine Lake.

6. Have the perfect view of Moraine Lake

Visiting Lake Moraine is one of the most epic Banff attractions in the summer. But be warned; you will not be able to see the beautiful Lake Moraine in your own car. As of 2023, you need to take the shuttle. The same shuttle goes to Lake Louise, and both stops are included in the cost.

The lake is beautiful, but just don’t go for a picture and leave. Make sure to try one of the hikes around:

Moraine Lake Shoreline Trail 

It’s probably the easiest trail to do with young kids. You get to see the lake from different viewpoints along the trail, and you’ll enjoy being submerged in nature and mountains. It’s short, with 3.9 km out-and-back and 119 m of elevation gain. Easy peasy!

Moraine Lake Rockpile

Another easy trail that will let you admire the lake from a higher viewpoint. It’s a 0.8 km out-and-back trail.

Consolation Lakes Trail 

This is another beautiful trail surrounded by a lush forest. The lakes here are not turquoise like Moraine, but they’re still beautiful to explore! It’s 7.4 km out-and-back with 262 m of elevation gain. 

Then, you can spend some time by the lake at one of the tiny beaches. The water is freezing, but it’s an amazing experience.

💡 Still not sure how to get to Moraine Lake? All your questions are answered in this article.

7. Escape the Crowd at Cascade of Time Garden

The beautiful Cascade of Time garden is hidden behind an 1800s historic hotel building that is now Parks Canada Administration Office. There is a great variety of flowers and plants, pathways, and gazebos. You can pack a lunch and make the garden your picnic stop.

There is a free parking lot at the garden. You can also easily walk from downtown.

From Banff Avenue, you can continue straight and cross the pedestrian bridge, and you’ll get to the Cascade of Time garden. There is no entrance fee.

8. Relax at the Upper Banff Hot Spring

Operated by Parks Canada, the Upper Banff Hot Spring offers a relaxing and easy-to-access hot pool experience for the entire family, children included.

The pool is open all year round and each day from 10AM to 6PM. Kids under 3 years old can access the hot springs for free.

The Upper Banff Hot Spring shares its parking lot with the Sulphur Mountain trailhead (that leads to the top of the Gondola boardwalk). It’s a nice hot pool, but it’s pretty small and can be really crowded.

💡 Looking for an alternative to the Upper Banff Hot Spring? Maybe you’ll like the Radium Hot Spring pools or the Fairmont Hot Spring Resort pools better.

9. Admire the View from the Banff Gondola

Banff Gondola will bring you to the top of Sulphur Mountain where you’ll have an incredible view of the Rocky Mountains (if the weather allows). At the top of the mountain, you can walk on the 0.5 km boardwalk.

It’s also where you’ll find the Sulphur Mountain Cosmic Ray Station and the 1903 weather observatory.

It’s possible to hike to the top of the mountain using the Sulphur Mountain trail, a 10.9 km out-and-back hard trail (with 756 m elevation gain). Or you can always use the gondola to get to the top of the mountain and hike your way down.

If you’re not sure if the Banff Gondola is worth it, you can read our detailed review here.

💡 The best part of the Banff Gondola? Children 5 years old and under ride for free on the Banff Gondola.

10. Book a Lake Minnewanka Cruise

Lake Minnewanka in Banff National Park is the second-longest lake in the Rocky Mountains. It’s 21 km long and 142 m deep. The lake is glacial due to its depth.

The Lake Minnewanka cruise is the perfect little tour for families. It’s a one-hour boat tour and you’ll have scenic views all around.

The captain and the guides are really knowledgeable. They will tell you all about the history of the lake and the animals around the lake.

11. Search for the Banff Spring snails at Cave & Basin National Historic Site

The Cave & Basin is the birthplace of Canada’s National Parks. This is a great visit for families. The site is beautiful with a historic main building retracing the park’s history.

You can search for the hot spring snails in the Basin and walk down the Cave. There is also an interesting museum inside.

Then, you can hike in the trails to discover natural hot springs and the marshes and admire the view of the Rockies.

When visiting with kids, they’ll want to participate in the Xplorers program and get their badges.

💡 Have a Parks Canada Discovery Pass? Your entrance to the Cave & Basin National Historic Site is included!

12. Grab some snacks at The Lookout Patio at Fairmont Banff Spring

Known as Banff’s best patio, The Lookout Patio is the perfect place for a drink or snack with a breathtaking panoramic view of the Canadian Rockies. It’s located in the beautiful Fairmont Banff Spring hotel.

The outdoor patio offers a beautiful view over the valley and the Bow River. You’ll want to spend the entire afternoon admiring the view.

While you are there, take the opportunity to walk around the hotel. It’s such a beautiful building.

13. Walk along the Bow River

From Banff Central Park, you can walk along the Bow River and admire the view. You can also stop by the small beach for a picnic. Then cross the pedestrian bridge to make your way back to Central Park using the main bridge.

At Central Park, you’ll find a great natural kids’ playground and some public restrooms. There is also the by the main parking lot.

14. Select some Christmas ornaments at The Spirit of Christmas

Located in the heart of downtown Banff, on the commercial Banff Avenue, you’ll find The Spirit of Christmas store. Opened year-round, it’s the best place to find a souvenir ornament from Banff. Once you find our ornament, wander along Main Street, and discover other great places for shopping.

15. Find Easy Hikes in Banff

Banff National Park is the mecca for outdoor enthusiasts and hikers. But you can also find some great short hikes right in Banff downtown, such as:

• Fenland Trail (a 1.8 km easy loop at the entrance of the town)
• Bow Fall Viewpoint Trail (a 2.7-kilometer easy out-and-back trail)
• Tunnel Mountain Hoodoo Trail (a 5.8-kilometer moderate out-and-back trail)

There are so many hikes to do in Banff National Park all year round. In addition to the few easy hikes in Banff town, here are some of our favorites that can be done with kids:

• Lower Falls at Johnston Canyon (a 2.5 km out-and-back trail)
• Upper Falls at Johnston Canyon (a 5.1 km out-and-back trail)
• Jonhson Lake (a 3.1 km loop trail)
• Parker Ridge (a 6.4 km out-and-back trail)
• Peyto Lake Panorama Overlook (a 2.4 km loop trail)
• Bow Summit Viewpoint (a 6.9 out-and-back trail)
• Marsh Loop (a 3.4 km loop trail)
• Cascade Ponds (a 2.4 km loop trail)

If you are traveling during the wintertime, you can check out our favorite winter hikes here.

16. Let the kids burn off energy in one of Banff’s playgrounds

All kids love playgrounds, and it’s also a great activity for parents to relax a bit. There are two main kids’ playgrounds in Banff:

• Central Park Playground
• Banff Rotary Park

Our kids have a small preference for the Central Park Banff playground, but both are great and within walking distance to the main avenue.

There is also a cool playground in Lake Louise, located right by Lake Louise Sport and Recreation Centre. The slide is so fun. With older kids, the Lake Louise playground is definitely more fun.

17. Take a Road Trip Along the Scenic Icefields Parkway

The Icefields Parkway is one of those drives you must take in your lifetime. It is simply breathtaking and there are so many stops to do along the day.

If you are planning on a day trip from Banff, you may not want to drive all the 230 kilometers down to Jasper (but I think you definitely should make it as a 2-3 day trip). There are many stops to do on the way. Here are our favorite family stops:

• Peyto Lake
• Tangle Falls
• Columbia Icefield (You can even do a tour of the Athabasca glacier)
• Goat and Glacier
• Sunwapta Falls
• Athabasca Falls

💡 PRO-TIP Make sure you fill up gas in Lake Louise as there is no gas station (Well, there is one halfway through, but it’s only open in the summertime).

18. Learn fun facts about animal habitats with a guided tour on board a Big Canoe

The Banff Canoe Tour offers a 1.5 hours ride on the Bow River where you’ll learn about the animals living near the river. You might see bald eagles, el, muskrats and maybe even a beaver. If you’re not a fan of guided tours or if the time slots don’t match your schedule, it’s also possible to rent canoes for the family and explore the Bow River.

The guided tours are at 9:00 AM or at 6:00 PM, but it’s open all day for rentals. The meet-up for the tours is at the Banff Canoe Docks, on the corner of Bow Avenue and Wolf Street in downtown Banff.

19. Cool off with a dip in Johnson Lake

Lakes in Banff National Park are glacier-fed lakes that provide amazing opportunities for photoshoots, but that makes them too cold for swimming. Johnson Lake is one of Banff National Park’s “warmest” lakes. If the weather is really great and it’s really hot outside, your kids might want to jump in the Lake to cool off.

20. Spend a day at Sunshine Meadows

At almost 2,400 m (8,000 feet) above sea level, you’ll be surrounded by the beautiful peaks of the Canadian Rockies. And you’ll be at the border of Alberta and British Columbia.

To reach Sunshine Meadows, you’ll take the Sunshine Gondola to the top of the mountain. Then, you’ll have access to different hiking trails. You can also take the Standish Chairlift and be able to admire 3 pristine alpine lakes. With kids, we recommend doing the Meadow Park trail and the Standish Viewing Deck Loop.

21. Paddle on the Vermillion Lakes at sunset

You can also bring your own kayak or SUP to paddle on either Lake Louise or Moraine Lake. But our favorite place to paddle in the Banff is Vermillion Lakes.

F.A.Q Visiting Banff National Park

How Long Should I Stay in Banff National Park?

As you can see, there are many things to do in the town of Banff and in Banff National Park. We initially visited Banff and Kananaskis for 9 days, and didn’t see everything thing. Now that we live an hours away, we go multiple times per year and still discover new trails and activities each time.

I would recommend spending at least 5 days in Banff to get to explore, do some hiking and take time to enjoy the area. But if you only have a weekend, come anyway 🙂

Final Thoughts: Are there things to do in Banff with kids?

You bet there are. Banff is a wonderful place to visit with your kids all year-round. Kids of all ages, even toddlers, will enjoy a visit to Canada’s first national park.