# Banff in 7 days, in every shade of blue (JSLALALAND)

> Jasmine Chang's (JSLALALAND, @jslalaland) 7-day, 6-night Banff road trip, Aug 28 – Sep 3, 2026, told through nearly 400 of her own photos. Lake Louise (2 nights at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise), Moraine Lake by hotel shuttle, the Icefields Parkway (Crowfoot Glacier, Bow Lake, Peyto Lake), Banff town (4 nights at Peaks Hotel & Suites), Fairmont Banff Springs, the Banff Gondola, Lake Minnewanka, Canmore and Calgary, plus the Netflix drama Can This Love Be Translated? filming locations. Facts (fees, shuttle rules, drive times) are for 2026; check Parks Canada before you go.

- English page: https://banff.soulsofsunshine.com/en.html
- 中文版（繁體）: https://banff.soulsofsunshine.com/
- Author: Jasmine Chang (JSLALALAND), https://jslalaland.com/ · Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jslalaland/ · LA field guide https://laguide.jslalaland.com/

## Itinerary
- Day 1 (08/28) Fly in, check into a postcard: LAX → Calgary (YYC); Car pickup: Turo Tesla Model Y; Calgary Airport → Lake Louise; Check-in Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise; Dinner at Louiza
- Day 2 (08/29) A slow day by the lake: Moraine Lake (hotel shuttle); Lakeshore Trail; Find a rock and sit; Rent a canoe at the boathouse; Lake Agnes Tea House; Lakeview Lounge terrace; Basin spa, then downtime in the room; The lake at dusk
- Day 3 (08/30) The blue that glaciers grind out: Breakfast at Louiza, check out; Lake Louise → Crowfoot Glacier; Crowfoot Glacier viewpoint; Bow Lake; Peyto Lake; Peyto Lake → Banff; Check-in Peaks Hotel & Suites; Dinner at BRAZEN
- Day 4 (08/31) A castle, then a mountaintop: Morning walk in town: Cascades of Time Garden, Bow River; Fairmont Banff Springs; Rundle Bar; A terrace toast to Cascade Mountain; The flower arch on the castle terrace; Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain; Looking back at the way we came; The castle from Surprise Corner; Dinner at Ramen Arashi
- Day 5 (09/01) A drama-trail day in Canmore and Calgary: Banff → Canmore; Quarry Lake; Canmore Main Street; Canmore → Calgary (Inglewood); Tacos at Madi's 12|12; The Next Page bookstore; Centre Street Bridge; Skyline from the hill on the Bow River's north bank; Calgary → Banff
- Day 6 (09/02) An hour on the lake, a lap around town: Banff → Lake Minnewanka; Lake Minnewanka cruise; Two Jack Lake; Lunch at Nourish Bistro; Banff Avenue; A stroll down Wolf St and Bear St; Central Park: Wednesday farmers' market; Bow River pedestrian bridge
- Day 7 (09/03) Mountains shrinking in the rearview mirror: Wash the car, pack up; Banff → Calgary airport; Return the car; YYC → LAX

## FAQ
### How many days do you need in Banff?
We did 7 days and 6 nights: two nights at Lake Louise, a day on the Icefields Parkway, then four nights in Banff town with side trips to Canmore and Calgary. With only 3 days, stick to Lake Louise, Moraine Lake and Banff town; with 5, add the Icefields Parkway and Lake Minnewanka. The route planner on this page shows how I'd cut it down.

### Can you drive your own car to Moraine Lake?
No. Moraine Lake Road is closed to private vehicles all year, so you go by Parks Canada shuttle, a licensed tour, or by staying at Moraine Lake Lodge. The 2026 shuttle season ran June 1 to October 12: 40% of seats opened for booking on April 15, and the other 60% are released at 8 a.m. Mountain Time two days before each departure. You park at the Lake Louise Park and Ride (1 Whitehorn Road). We stayed at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and took the hotel's shuttle.

### Do you need a park pass for Banff National Park?
Yes, and it hangs in your car. An adult day pass is CAD 12.25, or CAD 24.50 a day for a family or group of up to 7 in one vehicle, valid until 4 p.m. the next day. Buy it at the park gate, a visitor centre or online. In 2026 entry was free from June 19 to September 7, which we happened to catch; regular fees came back on September 8.

### How long is the drive from Calgary airport to Banff and Lake Louise?
Airport to Canmore is 118 km, about 70 minutes; Canmore to Banff is 26 km, about 20 minutes; Banff to Lake Louise is 58 km, about 45 minutes. Straight from the airport to Lake Louise takes about 2 hours 15 minutes. Those times assume no traffic and no stops; in summer, add 20 to 30 minutes for finding parking at Lake Louise and in Banff town.

### Where was Can This Love Be Translated? filmed around Banff?
The show's Canada episodes were shot in Alberta. The ones we walked: Banff Avenue, the Bow River pedestrian bridge, Cascades of Time Garden and the Irish pub St. James's Gate in Banff town; the aurora scene at Lake Louise; Main Street and Quarry Lake in Canmore; and Centre Street Bridge in Calgary. I added one of my own, The Next Page, an independent bookstore in Calgary. The drama trail on this page has the address and the scene for every stop.

### When is the best time to visit Banff?
We went at the end of August into early September: T-shirt weather at midday, single digits (°C) in the mornings, evenings and up the mountains. For the golden leaves you see in the show, go from late September to early October. Summer is busy and the Lake Louise lakeshore lot often fills before sunrise, so early morning or evening is the nicest time at the lakes. The Moraine Lake shuttle runs until about mid-October.

### Where should you stay in Banff?
We spent the first two nights at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, where the lake is right outside the window and the hotel runs a shuttle to Moraine Lake. The last four nights were at Peaks Hotel & Suites (218 Lynx St) in Banff town: a short walk to Banff Avenue, with EV charging. You don't have to stay at Fairmont Banff Springs to wander in and have a drink on the terrace.

### What should you know before driving the Icefields Parkway?
There's almost no cell signal along the way, so download offline maps and top up your charge or fuel first. Heading north from Lake Louise, Crowfoot Glacier and Bow Lake are right by the highway; the Peyto Lake viewpoint is at Bow Summit, the highest point of the whole parkway, a short uphill walk from the parking lot. If you spot wildlife, don't stop on the shoulder to take photos.

### Will you see wildlife in Banff?
Quite possibly. With a bit of luck you'll even see elk strolling through town. Stay at least 30 m from elk and deer and at least 100 m from bears and wolves, never feed them, and don't pull over on the highway shoulder for photos. You only need bear spray if you're hiking trails; you can rent or buy it in Banff town.

### What documents do you need to visit Banff?
Taiwanese passport holders flying into Canada need an eTA, applied for online before you go; US passport holders don't. To drive, Taiwanese visitors bring their Taiwanese licence plus an International Driving Permit. We flew in from LA, and on the way back you clear US customs before you leave, at Calgary airport.

## 中文摘要
Jasmine 的班夫 7 天 6 夜自駕（2026/8/28–9/3）：Lake Louise 住兩晚、搭飯店接駁上 Moraine Lake、冰原大道看 Crowfoot Glacier、Bow Lake、Peyto Lake，Banff 鎮住四晚，逛 Fairmont Banff Springs、搭 Banff Gondola、Lake Minnewanka 遊船，再到 Canmore、Calgary 走《愛情怎麼翻譯？》拍攝地。

### 行程
- Day 1 (08/28) 飛進洛磯山，住進明信片: LAX → Calgary（YYC）; 取車：Turo Tesla Model Y; Calgary 機場 → Lake Louise; Check-in Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise; Louiza 晚餐
- Day 2 (08/29) Lake Louise，慢慢來: Moraine Lake（搭飯店接駁）; 湖畔步道 Lakeshore Trail; 找一顆石頭坐下來; 湖畔船屋租獨木舟; Lake Agnes Tea House; Lakeview Lounge 露台; Basin 水療、回房間放空; 傍晚的湖
- Day 3 (08/30) 冰原大道：冰川磨出來的藍: Louiza 早餐、退房; Lake Louise → Crowfoot Glacier; Crowfoot Glacier 觀景點; Bow Lake; Peyto Lake; Peyto Lake → Banff; Check-in Peaks Hotel & Suites; BRAZEN 晚餐
- Day 4 (08/31) 城堡與山頂: 鎮上晨間散步：Cascades of Time Garden、Bow River; Fairmont Banff Springs; Rundle Bar; 露台一杯，敬 Cascade Mountain; 城堡露台的花拱門; Banff Gondola 上 Sulphur Mountain; 站在山頂看來時的路; Surprise Corner 看城堡; Ramen Arashi 晚餐
- Day 5 (09/01) Canmore、Calgary 追劇日: Banff → Canmore; Quarry Lake; Canmore Main Street; Canmore → Calgary（Inglewood）; Madi's 12|12 吃 tacos; The Next Page 書店; Centre Street Bridge; Bow River 北岸山坡看天際線; Calgary → Banff
- Day 6 (09/02) 湖上一小時，鎮上走一圈: Banff → Lake Minnewanka; Lake Minnewanka 遊船; Two Jack Lake; Nourish Bistro 午餐; Banff Avenue; Wolf St、Bear St 散步; Central Park：週三農夫市集; Bow River 行人橋
- Day 7 (09/03) 山在後照鏡裡變小: 洗車、整理行李; Banff → Calgary 機場; 還車; YYC → LAX

## 常見問題
### Banff 自由行要排幾天？
我們這趟是 7 天 6 夜：Lake Louise 住兩晚，一天開 Icefields Parkway，後面四晚住 Banff 鎮，中間再跑 Canmore 和 Calgary。只有 3 天的話，挑 Lake Louise、Moraine Lake 和 Banff 鎮就好；5 天可以再加冰原大道和 Lake Minnewanka。網站的路線規劃裡有我會怎麼刪的版本。

### Moraine Lake 可以自己開車上去嗎？
不行。Moraine Lake 路全年不開放私家車，只能搭 Parks Canada 接駁、合法遊覽車，或住湖邊的 Moraine Lake Lodge。2026 年接駁季是 6/1–10/12，40% 名額 4/15 開放預約，剩下 60% 在出發前兩天早上 8 點（山區時間）放出，車停在 Lake Louise Park and Ride（1 Whitehorn Road）。我們住 Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise，搭的是飯店接駁。

### 進 Banff 國家公園要買入園證嗎？
要，買了掛在車上。成人每天 CAD 12.25，同一台車 7 人以內的家庭・團體票每天 CAD 24.50，日票用到隔天下午 4 點，在大門、遊客中心或網路上都買得到。2026 年 6/19–9/7 是夏季免費入園，我們剛好碰到，9/8 起恢復收費。

### 從 Calgary 機場開到 Banff、Lake Louise 要多久？
機場到 Canmore 118 km 大約 70 分鐘，Canmore 到 Banff 26 km 大約 20 分鐘，Banff 到 Lake Louise 58 km 大約 45 分鐘；機場直接開到 Lake Louise 大約 2 小時 15 分。這些都是不塞車、不停車的時間，夏天在 Lake Louise 和 Banff 鎮上找車位，常常要多抓 20–30 分鐘。

### 《愛情怎麼翻譯？》在 Banff 哪裡拍？
劇裡的加拿大段落都在 Alberta。我們走過的有：Banff 鎮上的 Banff Avenue、Bow River 行人橋、Cascades of Time Garden 和愛爾蘭 pub St. James's Gate；Lake Louise 的極光那一場；Canmore 的 Main Street 和 Quarry Lake；Calgary 的 Centre Street Bridge。我自己再加了一站 Calgary 的獨立書店 The Next Page。網站的追劇路線有每一站的地址和是哪一場戲。

### 什麼時候去 Banff 最好？
我們是 8 月底到 9 月初去，中午可以穿短袖，早晚和山上只剩個位數。想看劇裡那種黃葉，就挑 9 月底到 10 月初。夏天人很多，Lake Louise 湖邊停車場常常日出前就滿，清晨或傍晚去最舒服；Moraine Lake 接駁大約開到 10 月中。

### Banff 住哪裡比較方便？
我們前兩晚住 Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise，拉開窗簾就是湖，也能搭飯店接駁上 Moraine Lake；後四晚住 Banff 鎮上的 Peaks Hotel & Suites（218 Lynx St），走路就到 Banff Avenue，還有電動車充電。Fairmont Banff Springs 不住也可以進去逛、在露台喝一杯。

### 開 Icefields Parkway 要注意什麼？
沿路幾乎沒訊號，離線地圖先下載，電或油先補滿。從 Lake Louise 往北，Crowfoot Glacier 和 Bow Lake 都在公路旁邊；Peyto Lake 的觀景台在 Bow Summit，是整條冰原大道最高的地方，停好車走一小段上坡就到。看到動物也不要停在路肩拍。

### 在 Banff 會遇到野生動物嗎？
有可能，運氣好在鎮上就會遇到麋鹿逛大街。麋鹿和鹿至少離 30 公尺，熊和狼至少 100 公尺；不要餵，也不要停在公路路肩拍照。走步道才需要防熊噴霧，Banff 鎮上租得到也買得到。

### 台灣人去 Banff 要準備什麼證件？
台灣護照搭飛機去加拿大要先在網路上辦 eTA；要開車的話，帶台灣駕照加國際駕照。我們是從 LA 飛，回程在 Calgary 機場就先過美國海關。