Stories from Banff and the Canadian Rockies
Long-form writing on Banff and the region beyond it — gondola rides, glacier walks, hot springs and the practicalities of travel in the Rockies.
More stories
Why I'd never call Drumheller an easy day trip from Banff
What four million visitors a year looks like from inside Banff
Jasper, two summers after the fire
The pass mistake I made driving from Banff into Kananaskis
Is the Lake Agnes Tea House hike worth the wait for tea
Larch Valley in gold: the crowds nobody warns you about
What sunrise at Moraine Lake actually feels like now
What one day in Banff actually cost the two of us
A ski day versus a hike day: which one actually felt worth it
Why I keep telling people to skip July and August in Banff
What I'd do differently in Banff
The elk that changed how I read a Banff sidewalk in September
What minus 20 actually feels like, and whether Banff winter is worth it if you don't ski
Good to know about the Banff blog
The blog is where Banff Trip steps back from strict planning logistics and covers the questions that shape how a trip actually feels, written with the same honest, no-fluff approach as the rest of the site. It opens with orientation pieces — what to know before visiting Banff for the first time, and a direct look at whether a Columbia Icefield tour is really worth the time and the price, which stays qualitative rather than inventing precise figures: for most first-timers who build in a spare day for weather, it is, while a single tight afternoon with no buffer carries a real chance of missing it altogether.
A Banff versus Canmore comparison helps travellers deciding between two well-known bases weigh up the practical differences in atmosphere, access to town facilities and distance from the ski fields rather than relying on vague impressions. History and culture get their own space: a piece on the founding of the national park explains why Banff Avenue still looks the way it does, and a piece on Stoney Nakoda and Treaty 7 culture covers what's actually known about the region's history today, rather than repeating outdated stereotypes as fact.
Food and craft pieces make up a solid share of the blog: a Banff food guide covering Banff Avenue restaurants and what a realistic meal costs, a piece on the Canmore brewery scene, and a guide to the region's mountain lodges — which ones offer genuine backcountry experiences versus a standard tour-bus stop with extra marketing, and what that trade-off means for authenticity, privacy and price. A best-time-to-visit piece pulls together the seasonal picture in one place: June-August as the strongest window for warm-weather activities, December-March's ski season, and the shoulder seasons' golden larch colour traded against a much higher share of changeable, cold days.
A safety and etiquette piece covers ordinary caution around icy roads and alpine driving conditions, plus practical notes on cold-weather layering and wildlife-crossing roads. None of the blog content replaces the destination or guide pages — it's meant to be read for context and reassurance before or during a trip, answering the softer questions a strict itinerary or logistics guide doesn't cover.
Frequently asked questions about the Banff blog
Is a Columbia Icefield tour worth the time?
For most first-timers who build in a spare day for weather as a buffer, yes — standing on the glacier is the reason many people book the trip. A single tight afternoon with no buffer carries a real risk of a cancellation costing the experience entirely.
Should I stay in Banff or Canmore?
It depends on priorities: Banff sits close to the Banff Gondola and the Bow Falls with the widest choice of restaurants and transport links, while Canmore offers a quieter mountain base with skiing on the doorstep and a longer drive to everything else. The blog's Banff versus Canmore piece compares both directly.
Why does Banff Avenue's layout look the way it does?
Banff grew up around the 1885 founding of Canada's first national park, and its wide main street and heritage buildings still follow that original layout today, which is why the town centre still has that distinctive historic form.
Are the mountain lodges near Banff really good for a backcountry experience?
Many are, especially working lodges with genuine wilderness access, which let you see wildlife and remote scenery up close; others are standard tour-bus stops marketed loosely as backcountry visits. The blog's guide explains how to tell the difference before booking.
When is the best time to visit Banff for adventure sports?
June through August offers the warmest weather and the longest daylight for hiking and canoeing, while December-March brings the ski season and no shortage of cold-weather thrills. Summer brings long light and the region's signature scenery alongside the best conditions for lake and river activities.