Day 3: Northern Banff & Return to Calgary
325km/200mi – 3h30min
On the last day, explore the Northern part of Banff National Park. Enjoy the the breathtaking scenery the Canadian Rockies have to offer along the way before driving back to Calgary to catch your flight home.
Explore:
- Walk around the pebble shores of Bow Lake and admire the surrounding mountains.
- Take a short 20min hike up to the Peyto Lake overlook to admire yet another beautiful blue lake, this time shaped like a sitting wolf.
- Head back South towards Calgary, and along the way stop in Banff village to discover the Vermillion Lakes.
Eat:
- There aren’t that many places to eat north of Louise Village. Buy a picnic in Banff in advance, or plan in advance accordingly.
- At the Calgary airport, we recommend Bistro On the Bow
- In Downtown Calgary, consider Sky 360, the revolving restaurant atop the Calgary Tower, or Teatro Restaurant located in an old bank building from 1911.
Stay:
- Last day: checkout from your Banff Village hotel.
- If not flying out at the end of day 3, we recommend staying at Elan Hotel in Downtown Calgary, or Hotel Clique close to the airport.
Tips:
- When driving from Banff to Bow Lake, follow directions to Route 1A instead of staying on the TransCanadian Route 93. The drive between Banff and Louise Village is barely longer, but much more scenic.
- If you see cars randomly stopped along the road, it usually means there is some wildlife lurking. Get your camera ready, and slowly stop.
- Consider extending your stay an extra day to visit Calgary. Check out Day 6 of our longer itinerary for more information on what to do in Calgary.
Peyto Lake 
Bow Lake 
Blue Lagoon
Going on this trip? Let us know how it went and make sure to tag us in your photos on Instagram or Facebook!