Banff, Alberta
Looking for the best photography in Banff? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Banff. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.
Top Photography Spots in and near Banff
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Improvement District No. 9, Alberta
Drive the Icefields Parkway
5.0145.45 mi / 6293 ft gainThe Icefields Parkway has been named One of the World's Most Scenic Drives by National Geographic and with all the scenic hikes, stops, and viewpoints, it's easy to see why. Starting at Lake Louise, a friend and I decided to drive up the Icefields Parkway which goes through Banff National Park i...Read more -
Improvement District No. 9, Alberta
Bike the Icefields Parkway
The Icefields Parkway is a spectacular highway to ride (you can see the short video here). The shoulders are wide and well paved. Drivers are typically courteous, slowing down and giving you space as they pass, making the ride a great deal more enjoyable. Starting in Jasper you load up your bike,...Read more -
Kananaskis, Alberta
Hike Alberta's Grizzly Peak
4.0The trailhead is located on the north side of Ripple Creek, the first creek you come across after passing the Grizzly Creek turnoff. There is an easy pull-off on the east side of the highway. You should be able to see the trailhead from the road, which follows the southern slope of the mountain f...Read more -
Field, British Columbia
Explore Lake O'Hara
4.8Hidden deep in the Canadian Rockies is Lake O'Hara, a diamond among the rough peaks. Ten minutes drive east of a small town called Field in British Columbia, or sixty minutes west of Banff, Alberta; is a small parking lot where the adventure begins. A $25 return, 30 minute bus ride from there tak...Read more -
Field, British Columbia
Hike to the Opabin Prospect
5.02.5 mi / 820 ft gainLocated in Yoho National Park, Lake O'Hara is said to be the crown jewel of the Canadian Rockies (rightly so!). Callum Snape has described a bit of the process on what it takes to gain access to Lake O'Hara at this post here. Once you arrive at Lake O'Hara, either at the lodge or at the neighbori...Read more -
Field, British Columbia
Backpack to Alberta's Abbot Pass Hut
3.016.2 mi / 1500 ft gainBuilt in 1922 with the stones from the pass, the Abbot Pass Hut and has served both as a base for mountaineers and as a destination for strong hikers ever since. Sitting at 2,926 meters' elevation, it is second only to the Neil Colgan Hut on the list of highest permanent structures in Canada. The...Read more -
Field, British Columbia
Hike the Yuckness Ledges in Yoho National Park
5.5 mi / 0 ft gainThe Lake O’Hara Alpine Circuit is short loop - but it's not for the faint-hearted. We walked Yuckness Ledges, which is a trail under a large cliff with incredible views over Lake O'Hara and the rest of Yoho National Park. The trail starts from the Lake O’Hara outlet bridge across from the Le Rela...Read more -
Field, British Columbia
Scramble the North Summit of Mount Yukness
6.5 mi / 2690.3 ft gainBeginning at Lake O'Hara, head counter-clockwise around the lake - you'll get distracted by the reflections in the water if the water is calm enough, that's ok. You'll want to take the Opabin East route, but Opabin West will work too. Just remember to get on the east side at some point in time!Th...Read more -
Field, British Columbia
Snowshoe to Wiwaxy Gap
1.03.7 mi / 1310 ft gainViews in the Lake O'Hara area are unique from the “sea of mountains” look that defines many excellent weekend hikes in the Rockies. With Odoray, Yukness, Huber, Wiwaxy, Schaffer, Biddle, and Lefroy in such close proximity to each other, it is easy to imagine you are in Pakistan, Nepal, or Argenti...Read more -
Field, British Columbia
Scramble Little Odaray
6.2 mi / 3116.8 ft gainFirst things first: prior to August 15, there are only 4 groups of people allowed in this area per day, and after August 15, only 2 groups are allowed in. Start early!Starting at Lake O'Hara, head towards the Elizabeth Parker ACC Hut. Continue past the hut and meander through meadows and forests....Read more -
Clearwater County, Alberta
Hike Maze Peak
4.05.3 mi / 2624.7 ft gainThere's not much of a trailhead for Maze Peak - in fact there isn't a trailhead at all. Bring up the start location from this post and pull over on the side of the dirt road once you get to it! The hardest part about this trail is just kind of finding it, really. The good news is that you're goin...Read more -
Kananaskis, Alberta
Snowshoe up Gypsum Ridge
3.7 mi / 1378 ft gainIf you have a topographic map of Kananaskis Lakes, the trailhead is just to the east of Blackshale Creek. If you don't have a topographic map of the area, the Google Maps pin on this adventure will help you get there --- you'll see a pretty large opening on the south side of the road. Luckily, th...Read more -
Bragg Creek, Alberta
Winter Hike Up Vent's Ridge
Whether it was the unseasonably warm weather; the forested, uneven, foot-wide, root-covered trail; limestone cliffs towering above me; the view of Myosotis Peak from the ridge; or exploring along Powderface Creek on the descent, this trail was an absolute blast.If you do this hike in February lik...Read more -
Bragg Creek, Alberta
Hike Iyarhe Ipan
3.02.5 mi / 1476.4 ft gainIyarhe Ipan means "mountain point" in Stoney, and while it's far from the highest peak you'll ever climb, it certainly is worth it. Iyarhe Ipan was the fix for the scrambling itch I've had all winter.Before Highway 66 opens in the summer, you'll have to park your car at Elbow Falls parking lot an...Read more -
Bragg Creek, Alberta
Cross-Country Ski and Scramble to Oldforgetmenot for Sunrise
9.9 mi / 2395 ft gainI think it's because I tend to watch football on Sundays that I've started doing more sunrise hikes --- can't say I regret it either! Oldforgetmenot is a perfect objective to take in a sunrise on: elevation gain isn't too intense, distance isn't too trying, and there are quite a few stretches tha...Read more -
Bragg Creek, Alberta
Scramble Mount Glasgow
3.014.3 mi / 4265.1 ft gainAs with most hikes in the Bragg Creek/Little Elbow area, the trail begins at the Little Elbow campground. To make the hike a tiny bit shorter, most people bike for the first 4 km on the Big Elbow trail to South Glasgow Creek. If you're not using a GPS trail, you'll know you're at the creek once y...Read more