My girlfriends and I do an annual trip since we’re spread across the country. We’d been dreaming about the Canadian Rockies for a while and we finally made it.
This is a recap of our girls’ trip to Banff National Park and the surrounding Rockies — snowy hikes, frozen lakes, and cozy Airbnb nights. We explored Banff and Yoho National Park, soaking in some of Alberta’s most iconic scenery.
Ghost Lake: Where We Stayed
We stayed near Ghost Lake, about 45 minutes west of Calgary and roughly 1 hour east of Banff. It was peaceful and tucked away while still being close enough to explore Banff National Park and Lake Louise.
Ghost Lake is known for windsurfing and kiteboarding in warmer months. In late May, it felt cold and moody, which honestly added to the vibe.
We found an Airbnb with a hot tub for about $300 per person for a 4-night stay. Staying here did mean a lot of driving — about 3–4 hours total each day — but that also meant built-in quality time together in the car.
Day 1: Arrival in Calgary & Getting Settled
We flew into Calgary and, since some of us were still working remotely, we needed a comfortable place to log on for a few hours. We chose Higher Ground Coffee — solid Wi-Fi, and good coffee.
Banff is famous for its national parks, not its food scene, so we grocery shopped and cooked most dinners at our Airbnb. Wine nights in the hot tub? Easily the better decision.
Day 2: Lake Louise, Agnes & Emerald
We drove to Lake Louise in Banff National Park. In late May, the iconic turquoise water was still mostly frozen — but that didn’t make it any less breathtaking. Snow-covered peaks framed the lake in a way that felt almost surreal.
Lake Louise
Lake Louise is famous for its glacial turquoise waters and dramatic backdrop of Mount Victoria — this is a big reason Banff is so popular. In summer, you can canoe, hike, or relax along the lakeshore.
We had lunch at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise before hiking. Even frozen, the views were spectacular. The hotel is also known for its luxury spa and iconic lakefront setting. We chose to have wine for breakfast. Love that for us.
- Optional: You can rent a canoe from the Lake Louise Boathouse for a calm, reflective view of the water (best when fully thawed).
Lake Agnes Tea House.
We chose to hike to Lake Agnes Tea House. The trail started snowy but manageable, climbing gradually along switchbacks.
The hike takes about 30–45 minutes one way and leads to a charming tea house perched above Lake Louise. Snowy spring conditions made it feel peaceful and less crowded. The view at the top? Worth it.
Emerald Lake (Yoho National Park)
About 30 minutes away in Yoho National Park, we visited Emerald Lake. Known for its deep green color (caused by glacial silt) and surrounded by pine forest, it’s quieter than Lake Louise but just as stunning.
Lunch in Banff town
Three Bears Brewery. Nothing special to report from food, except we all loved some hot cheesy onion fries after a long day.
Day 3: Barrier Lake, Yates Mountain & Johnston Canyon
Barrier Lake & Yates Mountain Hike
We headed to Barrier Lake for one of my favorite hikes of the trip: Yates Mountain. The trail leads to an incredible overlook of the Rockies — rugged peaks, forested valleys, and wide-open panoramic views.
Quick stop at Tim Hortons after — because no Canadian trip is complete without it
Johnston Canyon
Later, we did a lighter walk through Johnston Canyon. The trail follows a creek through the canyon to a waterfall, making it an easy but scenic addition to a hiking-heavy itinerary.
Dinner @ the Airbnb
Day 4: Banff Town, Bow Falls & Fairmont
We started the morning at Wild Flour Bakery in downtown Banff.
We wandered along the Bow River, stopped at Bow Falls, and just explored whatever looked good. Mount Rundle towers over town, so even simple walks feel dramatic.
Calgary Town
We did some light souvenir shopping enjoying Mount Rundle in the back.
Fairmont Banff Springs
We visited the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, and there happened to be a wedding taking place. Watching it unfold from our table was so memorable.
The roasted peach salad was the highlight (you don’t go to the Fairmont for groundbreaking food — you go for the views).
Other Banff Hikes & Stops We Considered
If you’re planning a 4-day Banff itinerary, you could also add:
- Dinner at The Bison or Grapes Wine Barphur Mountain. Sunset was at 9:45 PM, and tickets were around $50 per person. Even after a long day, seeing the city glow from above was magical.
- Lake Minnewanka Loop
- Tunnel Mountain (great sunrise hike)
- Mount Norquay Viewpoint
- Vermilion Lakes
- Banff Gondola: up Sulphur Mountain. Sunset was around 9:45 PM, and tickets were about $50 per person.
Final Thoughts
For a group that loves hiking and mountain scenery, Banff was perfect.
It was good we did the more intense hikes first and saved the lighter walking days for the end (Barrier Lake was easily the standout). But mixing major hikes with scenic lakes made the trip balanced.
Banff town itself is charming — cafés, shops, galleries — but the real magic is outside town: Lake Louise, Emerald Lake, Barrier Lake, the Canadian Rockies stretching endlessly around you.
For a girls trip built around hiking, hot tubs, and unforgettable views? 10/10.
I would happily go back to enjoy a relaxing spa experience and just stay at the Fairmont. We saw the highlights but there’s so much more to see.