Banff Day 3

Our final day in Banff started the best way possible—very early and surrounded by mountains. We woke up before the sun so we could catch sunrise at the breathtaking Lake Louise, and this sunrise absolutely did not disappoint. As the first light hit the peaks surrounding the lake, the turquoise water seemed to glow even brighter. It was one of those moments where everything is quiet, the air is crisp, and you just stand there soaking in how unbelievably beautiful it all is.

For those who may not know (like me, because yes I had to google this to find out how the water could be so blue), Lake Louise is one of the most famous lakes in the Canadian Rockies. Fed by glaciers, its incredible blue color comes from tiny particles of rock called “glacial flour” suspended in the water. Surrounded by towering peaks and the Victoria Glacier, it truly feels like stepping into a postcard.

Perfect postcard picture right?

After taking in the sunrise, we started walking along the shoreline trail, enjoying the peaceful morning before the crowds arrived. From there we began the hike up toward Mirror Lake, a small but beautiful stop along the trail that perfectly reflects the surrounding mountains, and then onto the Tea House!

While hiking we'd get glimpses of Lake Louise through the trees and we'd have to stop and just take in its beauty!

Mirror Lake

Next stop: the iconic Lake Agnes Tea House. Reaching the tea house felt like such a fun reward after the climb. We warmed up with soup, biscuits, and of course tea—because you simply have to have tea when you’re at a tea house in the mountains. Everything tasted extra delicious after the hike.

One of the most fascinating things about the tea house is how it operates. There is no road access, so the workers carry all the food supplies up the mountain and haul all the trash back down every day. Some of the staff even live there during the season! It’s incredible to think about the amount of work that goes into keeping such a unique place running.

After refueling, we continued the hike up to the Little Beehive, and the views from the top were absolutely worth it. From there we could see the full sweep of Lake Louise below along with surrounding peaks and the distant Six Glaciers area. The perspective from above really shows just how stunning this landscape is.

(View of Big Beehive from Little Beehive)

(view of the Six Glaciers)

Maybe this is where/when we should have kayaked! Much better weather conditions...

One last picture before we leave

After spending most of the day exploring around the lake, we made our way into  town. Of course we had to stop for a classic photo at the Banff sign before strolling through town for some souvenir shopping and one last chance to soak up the mountain-town charm.

Eventually it was time to make the drive back to Calgary where we stayed at Brittany’s friend’s house near the airport. To finish off the trip, we met up with Brittany’s sister for dinner at the always-popular Ten Foot Henry. The food was amazing and it felt like the perfect way to celebrate an unforgettable adventure.

From misty mountain mornings to tea houses on the trail and one last dinner together, it was truly the perfect way to wrap up our time in the Canadian Rockies. Banff gave us incredible views, unforgettable hikes, and memories we’ll be talking about for years. 💙🏔️ I'd go back in a heartbeat.

Banff Day 2

 Our first full day in Banff started very early, still dark, so we could make it in time for sunrise at Lake Moraine. We did a short hike in the quiet morning to take in the view and capture the beauty as the light slowly crept in. The day was a bit misty, and while it wasn’t the dramatic, crystal-clear sunrise you see splashed all over Instagram, it was still absolutely spectacular. Honestly, the low clouds added this moody, almost magical feeling to the whole scene. And that water!  Just wow. The bluest blue you can imagine, like something straight out of a postcard. Photos truly don’t do it justice.

From there, we headed off to Larch Valley, one of the main reasons we chose to visit Banff in the fall. I knew we were coming for fall color, but in my head I pictured maple trees. Larches are completely different and completely stunning. Their dark, almost black mossy trunks paired with soft, fuzzy-looking golden needles were unlike anything I’d ever seen. The entire valley glowed.

Partway through the hike, Jodie wasn’t feeling great, and when we reached the hardest, steepest section, she decided to stop and rest. Brittany, Lauren, and I pushed on toward Sentinel Pass, and let me tell you—it was no joke. Steep, challenging, and totally worth it. At the top, we were rewarded with breathtaking panoramic views of Larch Valley and Paradise Valley. Exhausted, a little sore, but completely in awe.

Made it to the top!

We almost thought this was a dead body, but it was just some guy miraculously able to sleep on a rocky cliff while he waited for his friends.

 The views coming back down:

After making our way back down, we rented canoes and headed out onto Lake Moraine. It was peaceful and beautiful, but the winds picked up and the temperature dropped, so we didn’t stay out for the full hour. Still, floating on that unreal blue water with those views was such a fun and special experience.

Perfect timing followed us all day. When we got back to the shuttle stop, the rain really started coming down. Since the shuttle was reservation-only, a lot of people with later times were hoping to get back early but were turned away. We felt very lucky to slip onto ours just in time.

Back in town, we grabbed an afternoon snack—poutine (fries, cheese curds, and gravy) and BeaverTails—because when in Canada. Then it was straight back to the hotel for the hot tub, soaking tired legs and warming up after a long, chilly day. We ended the night exactly how a perfect Banff day should end: dinner, cocktails, and lots of laughter, already reminiscing about everything we’d packed into one unforgettable day.