Roam Free with M&G

Nestled within the heart of the Canadian Rockies, Banff is a traveller’s dream, boasting breathtaking landscapes, charming small-town vibes, and endless outdoor adventures. Over five unforgettable days, we explored Banff’s wonders without a car, relying on scenic walks and convenient public transport. Here is a detailed account of our journey.

To get into Banff without a car, we flew into Calgary International airport and took the Banff airport shuttle direct to our hotel. The drive took about 2hrs, and it was so nice as a non-local to be able to relax and enjoy the scenic drive into Banff.

If you are travelling to Banff without a car, it’s a great idea to book a hotel that is within walking distance to the town and also near the bus stop. Yes, it will be more expensive but the peace of mind you will have knowing it’s only a 5-10min walk to the bus will be all worth it, plus everything you need will be a very short walk from your hotel.

Day 1: A Walk-Through Banff’s Downtown Delights

The day began with a quick breakfast at Beavertails. If you don’t know, Beavertails are fried dough pastries which are hand-stretched to resemble a beaver’s tail, crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, served hot with a either sweet or savoury toppings. As I have a sweet tooth, these sounded perfectly up my street and they did not disappoint. We continued our leisurely walk through Banff’s town centre. With its cozy streets lined with shops, cafes, and galleries, the town’s charm was magnetic.

From there, we set off toward the Fenlands Trailhead, pausing at the iconic Banff sign for some Instagram worthy photos. We took a little detour that led us to Vermilion Lake, where the second dock provided the perfect spot for capturing the full beauty of the Lake. After enjoying a peaceful moment and taking what feels like 100s of photos we made our return to finish the Fenlands Loop Walk.

We continued on and made our way to the Cascade of Time Gardens, where the bright flowers where only just starting to bloom, but it was still lovely to walk along the paths around and enjoy the gardens. We did a spot of shopping – the IGA is the best place to go if you are wanting dinner or lunch foods to cook and make yourself. We also did souvenir shopping and discovered the merman at the trading post shop.

After a little break back at our hotel, we decided to catch our first Roam bus to Lake Minnewanka. The journey out took about 40min, it was great to be able to sit back and just enjoy the ride out. Our driver was so lovely, when she saw some mountain sheep resting near a tree she was able to slow down so everyone had a chance to see them. We spent about an 1hr walking around the Lake and then caught the bus back to Banff, walked around town to find something for dinner and we settled on some traditional Poutine.

Day 2: The Magic of Lake Louise

An early start was essential for this day’s breathtaking journey. After a bowl of hot porridge in our room to start the day, we caught the 7:00am Roam bus to Lake Louise. One major benefit of using the shuttles is you won’t need to worry about finding a parking place. On this day, there were wildfires in the neighbouring counties so we did unfortunately have smoke in the distance.

Our day was jam-packed full, we had a few walks to do including the Fairview Lookout Trail. Even though this hike is only 1.5kms, it is a steep and somewhat brutal little walk with a constant up hill climb till you finally reach the viewing platform. Yes, it was hard work (and we are fairly fit hikers) but let me tell you that it is 1000% worth it. The view is just stunning, getting to see the lake from above just takes your breath away. I am also glad we decided to do this walk first and get it out of the way, firstly because it meant that we didn’t have to do this uphill climb when it’s warmer, and secondly we got in before the midday crowds showed up.

Next up, we started Lake Agnes Tea House Trail.  The walk is about 3.8km and its an easy to moderate, even though the dirt paths are great there is a fair amount of uphill walking which can be challenging. After about 2.5km you will reach Mirror Lake, a beautiful scenic spot to catch your breath and enjoy Big Beehive looming above. From there, the trail continues upward. Just before reaching Lake Agnes, you’ll encounter a short staircase and pass a charming cascade tumbling over rocky ledges. Once you’ve climbed the final steps and passed the historic tea house, Lake Agnes reveals itself in all its alpine glory, and suddenly, every aching muscle feels worth it.

We found a bench by the lake and enjoyed our snacks and the incredible view. We then continued our hike with adding the Little Beehive trail to our day. I’m not going to lie, it was a challenging trek. Parts were really steep, the air was cold and the altitude was a getting higher than we’re used to. Definitely had to take multiple stops to catch our breath. It was early June and there were still patches of snow on the ground which was fun to see. After the gruelling 4.3km hike we finally made it back to Lake Louise, found a nice shady spot by the water, and had our packed lunch. After a well-earned break to rest our legs, we finished our day at Lake Louise with the gentle Lakeshore Trail. This easy, laid-back walk traces one side of the lake before looping back the same way. Toward the far end, we were greeted by deep patches of lingering snow, making the stroll feel a bit more adventurous and a lot more fun. This snowy stretch also marks the beginning of the trail to Big Beehive.

After finishing the beautiful Lakeshore Trail, we said goodbye to Lake Louise and caught the Roam bus back to Banff around 4pm. We chose to spend the whole day at Lake Louise to soak it all in, but if you’re short on time, you can split your day with Moraine Lake too. Once we got back to our hotel and freshened up, we kept things easy with a relaxed evening out. With no big plans and craving something simple, we went to The Old Spaghetti Place, a cozy, family-friendly spot with comforting meals. After dinner, it was straight to bed to rest up for another big day of exploring.

Day 3: Hiking Johnson Canyon and the Ink Pots

Day three began with another Roam bus ride, this time Route 9. Our destination? The breathtaking Johnson Canyon and continuing on to the Ink Pots. The trail is 5.5km long and snakes through dense forests, past waterfalls, and over rustic bridges. The full hike (including the Ink Pots) took us about 3.5hrs. The path is mostly uphill, but it’s well worth the effort. There are plenty of spots to pause, soak in the canyon views, and admire the rushing water. At the Lower Falls, you can walk through a small cave for a close-up look, though be warned that there’s almost always a queue (we opted to skip it). Continuing to the Upper Falls, a dramatic viewing platform lets you feel the raw power of the water right in front of you. Depending on how close you get you can feel the water on your face (not so great when your trying to capture its power up close).

Since we’d come this far, we couldn’t resist pushing on to the Ink Pots, and I’m so glad we did. We were met with pristine pools of mineral springs, each a unique hue of blues and greens. Once you make it to the top you will have gained an elevation of 608m, and there are far fewer crowds up there as well. There are benches for you to sit and just take in the sounds of the water and birds in the trees. We found this area so calming and the perfect spot to pull out our packed snacks. After having food, and strolling around the spring pools we make the trek back down, in total the hike is about 11km. We made it back to the base and sat a one of the many tables to rest our legs and grab some food.

As we had time to spare before our bus back to Banff, we went through the gift shop and café that is there. We had made it back to our hotel in perfect time, as not long after there as a mini thunderstorm that brought hail. Thankfully it didn’t last too long so we were able to pop out and grab a bite to eat for dinner.

Day 4: Discovering Moraine Lake’s Hidden Wonders

With a crazy early morning start of 4am(!), we shoved some breakfast in and caught the 6:00am Roam bus to Lake Louise and then caught the Parks Canada shuttle bus to Moraine Lake. Dubbed one of the most beautiful spots in the Canadian Rockies, Moraine Lake lived up to its reputation.

First thing up for the day was The Shoreline and Rockpile Trail. We got up there before 8:30 so there were fewer crowds and we got to see the clouds slowly lift and show us the picture-perfect views of turquoise water surrounded by the towering peaks. Having gotten the photos I wanted we continued the day with Consolation Lakes Trail. This was an easy 6km hike. Right at the start of the trail, you’ll see warning signs about bears in the area. Since the walk leads through dense forest, I’d definitely recommend carrying bear spray. We brought some along and, while we didn’t end up needing it, it gave us peace of mind just knowing we had it. (Though the thought of actually using it was still a little nerve-wracking!)

Once you get to the lake there is a bit of optional scrambling over rocks if you want to get closer to the water. We climbed a little bit to find the perfect rock to enjoy the view and some snacks, plus we got to see a Clark’s Nutcracker bird play around on the rocks and catch bugs. Near the end of our hike, we caught a glimpse of a marmot jumping around the rocks, we also saw pikas and squirrels, it’s a great walk if you love wildlife spotting.

We got back to Moraine Lake and walked along the shoreline, found a spot to enjoy our lunch and just soaked up the sights and sounds of this incredible location. We decided to walk up the rockpile once more to get another view of the lake (as it was a bit later in the day the crowds had definitely increased). We popped into the gift shop and bought some souvenirs. As time came to catch our shuttle bus back to Lake Louise, we got super lucky – not long after arriving at the shelter the clouds came in and it started to rain. We grabbed a few more shots at Louise then decided to catch the Roam bus back to Banff. When we arrived, it was raining—and the showers lingered for a few hours. It turned out to be the perfect excuse for a slow, relaxing afternoon at the hotel. With the fireplace crackling, the whole place felt extra cozy and comforting, making our stay even more memorable.

Day 5: A Bonus Banff Adventure

Before bidding farewell to Banff, we squeezed in one final hike. After a lazy start to our final day, we headed out on foot to Bow River Trail. This is a lovely little hike along the river, starting from downtown it’s a great little walk to do if you have some free time. We stopped at Surprise Corner and, in my opinion, this is one you can definitely leave off the list, even if you’re doing the Surprise Corner to Hoodoos Trail you can forgo this view point.

Hoodoos Trail starts in a very dense forest and at the time we were hiking (early June) it was Elk calving season so there were many warning signs about keeping your distance. We did come across a Cow elk and her calf but thankfully we were far enough that she wasn’t worried about our presence. We continue the hike, past the forest and climbing up hills. Some parts were a struggle as it felt like we were climbing up hill for hours, it finally leveled out and we could start to see the hoodoos come into view.

Once we made it to the Hoodoos, we found the perfect spot for lunch, nothing exciting but crisps and packed sandwiches but the view was what made the day unforgettable. Following lunch, we set off toward Buffalo Mountain, and along the trail, we came across a handful of red squirrels which is always a treat to see. Rather than trekking all the way back into town, we hopped on the local Roam bus. After four solid days of hiking, our bodies were more than happy for a little rest.

After a few hours break back in our room, we popped back out and wandered through the town. There are so many cute cafes and little shops that we were kept busy. If you’re a Christmas lover then you need to find The Spirit of Christmas Shop. It’s the largest year-round Christmas shop in Canada, it holds everything you could dream of, even includes Halloween and Easter items.

As it was our last night in Banff, for dinner we decided on a sports bar, nothing over the top just good old fashioned pub food. Little did we know that there was a big Hockey match on and we had been given the last free table of the evening. As we aren’t into sports we didn’t really watch the game, but it was fun to see the locals really get into it.

Later that evening, we returned to our room and got everything packed up for our departure the next morning. We took the airport shuttle straight from our hotel to our terminal, which made leaving Banff smooth and stress-free.

After we spent five days exploring Banff without a car, it’s turned out to be one of the most relaxed and rewarding ways to experience the Rockies. With shuttles, walk-able trails, and scenic tours, getting around was simple—even for first-timers like us. No parking stress, no navigation worries, just pure magic.

So, if you’re wondering whether you can truly experience the best of Banff without driving, the answer is a resounding yes! Whether you’re a solo adventurer, a couple seeking stress-free travel, or a first-timer unsure about navigating the Rockies, Banff offers plenty of magic, no car keys needed.

👇 Have questions about going car-free in Banff? Or maybe you’ve done it yourself? Drop a comment below—we’d love to hear your thoughts, tips, or even your favourite trail snacks.