A peak “behind the curtain” at how Set Forth Adventures goes about planning once-in-a-lifetime trips in crowded destinations.

With crystal-clear alpine lakes, soaring peaks, and plentiful wildlife, it’s no wonder Banff and Lake Louise are among the most popular outdoor destinations in North America.

In fact, they may be too popular — often, trips to Banff and Lake Louise are tainted by crowded trailheads, expensive accommodations, and a lack of solitude and space to oneself.

How to Beat the Crowds in Banff and Lake Louise
From creative accommodation suggestions to off the beaten track recommendations, Set Forth Adventures has the knowledge and insights necessary to plan the perfect trip to even the most crowded destination. For Banff and Lake Louise specifically, our custom trip planning efforts generally focus on three key “to-do’s”:

1) Avoiding overly expensive accommodations
2) Finding quiet hikes
3) Considering creative (and less crowded!) activities

Avoiding Overly Expensive Accommodations
Of all of the headaches that the crowds of tourists in Banff and Lake Louise create, the most tedious to navigate in the trip planning process is the massive inflation of accommodation costs. Crowds drive high hotel costs (the local hostel in Banff regularly cracks $100 per person per night in the summer, and that’s just for a dormitory bunk bed!) and generate out of control nightly rates on platforms like Airbnb and VRBO.

It’s not all bad news, however: some careful trip planning strategy can help get around this problem.

Strategy #1 — Mix in Some World-Class Camping: Fortunately for outdoors enthusiasts, the Canadian government maintains world-class National Parks all around Banff and Lake Louise. Among the countless great outdoors amenities these parks provide, some of the most important are dozens of beautiful campgrounds. From the Tunnel Mountain CG conveniently located just outside of Banff, to the beautiful, secluded Johnston Canyon CG, there are countless amazing (and affordable) spots to camp near Banff and Lake Louise. Reservations fill up fast, however, so be sure to book early (or reach out to Set Forth Adventures to have us do it for you!).

Strategy #2 — Visit Canmore, AB: Located just east of Banff, and just outside the gates to Banff National Park, the town of Canmore is an awesome (and often more affordable) alternative to staying right in Banff or Lake Louise. In addition to more reasonable prices, Canmore offers an authentic, down-to-earth, mountain town vibe (think locals commuting to work on their mountain bikes), a fun range of restaurants (check out Where the Buffalo Roam Saloon if you visit!), and plenty of outdoor activities in its own right (we love the 100 km+ of mountain bike trails at the Canmore Nordic Center).

Finding Quiet Hikes
Taking the time to research less-crowded hikes can make a huge difference in the enjoyability of any trip to Banff and Lake Louise. Set Forth Adventures is the perfect partner in this research: our custom trip planning processes incorporate plenty of time devoted to a) learning what type of hikes our customers are looking for (length of the trail, difficulty of the terrain, duration of the hike, etc.) and b) finding the very best hikes for that particular individual or group.

While no two Set Forth Adventures trips are the same, and every hiking recommendation we make is entirely customized to suit the individual or group we’re working with, we do have some favorite hikes in Banff and Lake Louise. Here are three of them:

Cory Pass and Mount Edith: This hike traverses a wide range of environments, from lush forests to the high-alpine. It’s on the more challenging side due to the steep, rocky trail that leads up to Cory Pass itself, but for properly-prepared hikers that’s just a bonus — it helps keep the crowds away!

Sunrise on The Big Beehive at Lake Louise: Midday, this is actually one of the most popular trails in the entire Lake Louise/Banff area! At sunrise, however, it’s a different story: the trail is far less crowded, and the sunrise itself, over Lake Louise, is magical. Plus, after watching the sun come up, you can swing by the Lake Agnes Tea House for coffee and a morning snack!

Pigeon Mountain: Pigeon Mountain is one of our favorite hikes to recommend in the Banff/Lake Louise area not only because it’s less crowded (it is!), but also because it offers hikers the chance to reach a wild, beautiful summit. In the Canadian Rockies, summits that can be reach without any climbing equipment or mountaineering knowledge, like Pigeon Mountain, are few and far between!

Considering Creative (and Less Crowded!) Activities
Often, the best way to have fun when visiting a crowded destination like Banff and Lake Louise is finding a creative way to explore the area. In Banff and Lake Louise, the majority of tourists spend each day hiking, often selecting trailheads right along the main road through the park, Highway 1.

Rather than joining the crowds hiking every day, Set Forth Adventures’ custom planning process helps clients consider alternative ways get outdoors and explore the area surrounding Banff and Lake Louise. Here are three of our favorite non-hiking activities for folks traveling to Banff and Lake Louise:

Paddleboarding on the Bow River: There are several local businesses in Banff and Canmore that rent Stand Up Paddleboards (SUPs), kayaks, and other water-related gear to visitors. Your rental shop of choice will be happy to point you towards great lakes to explore with your gear, or to an access point for the Bow River (the main river that runs through Banff National Park). We love the convenient location of the Banff Canoe Club, right in downtown Banff; it makes it easy to combine some time on the water with exploring town!

Biking (or e-biking!) on the Bow Valley Parkway: The Bow Valley Parkway is the quieter alternative to Highway 1 through Banff National Park. Despite it’s relative calmness, cyclists should keep in mind that the road still sees plenty of traffic, especially in summer months, and should ride conservatively. From Banff, you can rides as far as your legs (and/or your e-bike motor) desire, linking quiet picnic areas and beautiful viewpoints along the parkway. There are multiple bike rental options in Banff, offering all kinds of bikes.

Trying your hand at climbing a Via Ferrata route: “Via Ferrata”, an exciting hybrid sport that lies between hiking and rock climbing, is wildly popular in Europe. The activity has taken off less-rapidly in North America, but that doesn’t make it any less fun. At Mount Norquay, just outside of Banff, you can try any of their multiple Via Ferrata routes, and take advantage of supervision and instruction from an AMGA-certified guide.

Conclusion
There’s no way around it: Banff and Lake Louise are popular, and often quite crowded. Still, the magic and beauty of the area is undeniable: a trip to Banff and Lake Louise should be on every outdoor enthusiasts bucket list. With some careful trip planning (and potentially some expert advice from Set Forth Adventures!), it’s certainly possible to beat the crowds and plan a once-in-a-lifetime adventure to Banff and Lake Louise!