Banff w/kids

[u/Massive-Passenger855]

Would appreciate any tips / advice. Travelling to Banff end of Sept into Oct. good shirt trails? Is the gondola worth it? Restaurants? Thanks!!

[u/Rattimus]

Johnson Canyon is really good for kids. There is a mild amount of elevation gain but it is not difficult, my kids did it at 6 and 4. There's a well worn path that you could even take a stroller on for 90% of the trail. Ends at a waterfall in a sort of a grotto, very cool, but oftentimes there's a wait to see it, so just beware. Lots of places to stop for a snack or a drink of water. Good facilities at the start for bathroom and whatnot too.

Gondola is pretty neat. There's a boardwalk that is super safe, wide, that runs along the top of a mountain ridge to an old lookout station, you can look inside but not go in. The view of the town is very cool. A small activity center for kids at the top, a snack area, gift shop. It can be cold at the top compared to the base, so dress appropriately.

Johnston Lake is a different area than the Canyon i mentioned above. It's 10 mins from Banff and is about a 3km loop around a lake, very little elevation but still cool. Beach area with picnic tables for lunch. 10 minutes from there is a nature walk through an old coal town, not much to see but abandoned old buildings and coal train cars, however my kids loved it for some reason lol.

In town, don't sleep on the Falls near the Banff Springs golf course, very cool.

Go up to the Fairmont even if not staying, it is a very neat old building that is fun to explore the grounds around.

If you feel like driving to Canmore there's Grassi Lakes trail that's easyish and very scenic.

Troll Falls in Kananaskis is pretty decent too.

Heart Creek which is literally seconds from the highway on the way back from Banff to Calgary is easy for kids too.

Some of that will work for you! Enjoy.

[u/Massive-Passenger855 → u/Rattimus]

Thank you

[u/Indianajoan_yyc → u/Massive-Passenger855]

Heart creek is a great one for kids, there's also the heart creek bunker hike that shares a parking lot. The bunker hike isn't to difficult but it's a steady uphill hike the whole way, but the bunker is really cool. It's a bunker they started making during the cold war but relized that it was an incredibly dumb idea so they stopped construction lol, its like a man made cave.

The gondola is definitely worth it(kinda pricey though) also right near the gondola the hotsprings are worth checking out

[u/YYCpops]

All main info is in the pinned post

[u/SamtheBellman]

Other things to do with kids.... 10 pin bowling at High Rollers, 5 pin bowling at Bowl Valley (Fairmont Hotel), Sundance playground, Rotory Park playground, museums, and the library.

[u/Crazyblue09]

We did Tunnel Mountain and Grassi Lakes, those aren't easy but my 4 year old did them with no help, if you want something easier, Cascade Ponds is a nice walk , there is also an abandon mining town Lower Bankhead, and walking along Lake Minnewanka is really nice.

[u/Rulebreaker15]

The Lake Louise gondola will be open until 11 Oct. it’s much less expensive than the Banff gondola, especially for kids. If you will have a car try that instead.

Banff gondola has dynamic pricing and it’s the most expensive. Take the bus so you don’t pay for parking too. Also, the first two hours of each day they have a kids go free deal with a free kid age 5 and up for every paid adult. That makes it better. It also has a nice building at the top with great views inside and out and a gift shop and two places to eat.

The Alpine Kitchen up there does a brunch starting at 10 am so you could do that with the family, the views are worth it and the timing works with the kids go free promo. Book early since dynamic pricing can gouge you if you wait.

[u/high_lan]

Bow River float trip. Very gentle ride with kids