You’ve booked your Banff trip, and now the real questions start. In Part 2 of this Q&A series, local Banff trip planner Celine Brewer tackles the nitty-gritty logistics that come up once you’re finalizing your itinerary. Think gondolas and chairlifts, biking vs driving the Bow Valley Parkway, how Lake Louise and Moraine Lake transit works, what to pack for hiking, and the practical details people miss like bear spray and park passes.

Links mentioned

• What to bring hiking in Banff (packing breakdown + gear list)
• Banff hiking tips (includes bear spray guidance)
• Top apps for visiting Banff National Park (including audio guides)
• Which Banff gondola is right for you
• Bow Valley Parkway guide (closures, stops, and tips)
• Cycling the Bow Valley Parkway (routes, distances, difficulty)
• Johnston Canyon hike guide (including seasonal tips)
• Banff park pass: what it is and why you need it
• Moraine Lake Shuttle - what you need to know

Join one of my Live Banff Trip Planning Workshops!

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Don’t forget to check out the free guides and planning tools on travelbanffcanada.com and banfftravelplanning.com.

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Planning a Banff trip can feel like a spiral of browser tabs and conflicting advice. In this episode, local Banff trip planner Celine Brewer kicks off a two-part Q&A series answering the big-picture questions she hears most often in her Live Banff Trip Planning Workshops. You’ll learn what actually needs to be booked ahead, what does not, and how to make the key decisions that shape your itinerary before you get lost in the details.

Links mentioned

• Live Banff Trip Planning Workshop recording (instant access)
• Where to Stay in Banff
• Moraine Lake shuttle options and how to book
• Which Banff gondola is right for you
• Getting around Banff without a car
• Takakkaw Falls in Yoho National Park
  
  

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Don’t forget to check out the free guides and planning tools on travelbanffcanada.com and banfftravelplanning.com.

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March in Banff is still winter, and that’s what makes it such a fun time to visit. In this episode, Banff travel planning expert Celine Brewer explains what Banff in March really looks like, how to plan your days with longer daylight, what to expect from crowds during spring break, and the best winter activities if you ski or if you don’t. 

Book a Banff Travel Consultation Here

Links mentioned

• Banff in March guide
• Sunshine Meadows snowshoeing tour (affiliate): 
• Snow tubing in Banff
• Grotto Canyon Ice Walk
• Easy Winter Hikes

Check out these Banff Hotels with Private Hot Tub

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Yoho National Park is one of the best day trips from Banff, and it often ends up being the surprise favourite of an entire Rockies itinerary. In this episode, Banff travel planning expert Celine Brewer walks you through exactly how to plan a smooth Yoho day, including the must-see stops at Emerald Lake, Natural Bridge, Takakkaw Falls, and Wapta Falls, plus a few extra stops that are worth it if you have time.

Links mentioned in this episode

• How to Visit Lake O’Hara 
• Lake O'Hara Hiking Trails
• Lake O'Hara Camping
• Takakkaw Falls guide 
• Wapta Falls hike guide

Missed the day bus for Lake O'Hara and get notifications for cancellations? Sign up with Schnerp! 

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Don’t forget to check out the free guides and planning tools on travelbanffcanada.com and banfftravelplanning.com.

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Wondering when the lakes thaw in Banff National Park and whether Lake Louise and Moraine Lake will actually be blue when you visit? In this episode, Banff travel planning expert Celine Brewer breaks down the typical spring thaw timeline for the most popular lakes and what you can realistically expect in late April, May, and June.

You’ll also hear real examples from spring conditions around Banff, plus quick tips for checking current lake conditions before your trip so you can plan your day visiting Lake Louise and Moraine Lake.

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Don’t forget to check out the free guides and planning tools on travelbanffcanada.com and banfftravelplanning.com.

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Worried about driving in Banff or the Canadian Rockies, especially if you are travelling solo? You are not alone. The good news is that most routes around Banff are on well-maintained paved highways, but there are a few key things to know about mountain driving, weather, wildlife, and cell service.

In this episode, Banff travel planning expert Celine Brewer explains what the roads are really like including the Trans-Canada Highway, the drive to Lake Louise, the Icefields Parkway, and other common scenic routes. You will learn what feels “easy,” what feels more remote, where you should plan to be offline, and how to prep so you can drive with confidence and enjoy the views.

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Don’t forget to check out the free guides and planning tools on travelbanffcanada.com and banfftravelplanning.com.

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Confused about which park pass you need for Banff? In this episode, Celine breaks down the different passes for Banff, Jasper, Yoho, and Kootenay National Parks, plus the Kananaskis Conservation Pass for Canmore and K-Country. You’ll learn when you need a daily Parks Canada pass vs a Discovery Pass, how the Kananaskis pass works, what’s covered (and what isn’t), and how upcoming free admission days fit into your Banff trip planning.

Banff Park Pass Guide

Buy Park Pass online here or here

Buy Kananaskis Conservation Pass

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Don’t forget to check out the free guides and planning tools on travelbanffcanada.com and banfftravelplanning.com.

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Wondering whether you should add Jasper National Park to your Banff itinerary? In this episode, Celine explains how Banff and Jasper are different, how many days to spend in Jasper, and what you can realistically see with 1, 2, or 3 days, including the Icefields Parkway, Maligne Lake, the Jasper SkyTram, and easy viewpoints. You’ll learn how to plan the Banff to Jasper drive, where Jasper fits in a 7–10 day Rockies itinerary, and when it’s worth the extra driving.

Icefields Parkway guide (top stops and viewpoints)

GuideAlong app for the Icefields Parkway drive

Banff & Jasper itinerary

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Don’t forget to check out the free guides and planning tools on travelbanffcanada.com and banfftravelplanning.com.

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 Thinking about camping in Banff National Park? In this episode, your Banff travel planning expert Celine walks you through how Banff camping reservations work and how to plan ahead for getting camping reservations this summer. You’ll learn which Banff and Lake Louise campgrounds to consider, when to book for peak summer, and how to camp safely in bear country. 

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2026 Camping Reservation Dates

Banff Campgrounds

Jasper Campgrounds

Yoho Campgrounds

Kootenay Campgrounds

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Don’t forget to check out the free guides and planning tools on travelbanffcanada.com and banfftravelplanning.com.

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Banff in January and February are peak winter months and home to one of the best festivals of the season: SnowDays. In this episode, Celine shares what makes this time of year unique, including snow sculptures, Ice Magic at Lake Louise, skating, winter hikes, and what conditions are really like. 

If you're planning a winter trip to Banff National Park, this guide will help you know exactly what to expect and how to prepare. 

Mentioned in this episode: 

Banff in January

Banff SnowDays Festival

Ice Magic Festival at Lake Louise

Banff Winter Packing List

Winter traction devices

Support the Podcast

Send in your questions here!

Don’t forget to check out the free guides and planning tools on travelbanffcanada.com and banfftravelplanning.com.

Facebook Community: Travel to Banff, Lake Louise, Canmore & Kananaskis

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