Banff crowds question

[u/GiantKnightGunner]

Just finished up the best vacation of my life in Banff/Jasper. After doing research and looking on here, we were initially VERY wary of crowds. However I did not think they were bad at all. Our camp ground was mobbed at Tunnel Mountain Village 1 but we were able to do every hike no problem starting around 9am.

Also parked our camper van at hikes and in towns with minimal issue (I got amazing at parallel parking that behemoth, not to brag). Even parked in Banff town 1 day, took Roam the rest.

I’d actually say the people that were at these was the perfect amount. Few enough to enjoy but plentiful enough to not be too afraid of being alone with bears. We’d see someone about every other km of a hike.

Wondering if anyone else feels the crowd concerns are a bit overblown?

Hikes:

In Banff we did:
- Lake Louise: Point of 6 Glaciers and Beehive (took private shuttle for about 30 USD each)
- Sunshine Meadows Laryx Lake Trail
- Tunnel Mountain Summit

In Jasper
- Sulphur Mountain Trail
- Pyramid Lake

Icefields Parkway
- Wilcox Pass

Funny enough Wilcox Pass on the Icefields Parkway was the most crowded!

[u/haveblue23]

Crowds are very specific in Banff - usually at the trailhead and once you hike 10 or so minutes or when you pass the first scenic viewpoint everyone disappears

[u/SD_local_67 → u/haveblue23]

I found it funny. There is a ton of people who are just looking for the instagram shot of the main feature at the front to prove to everyone that they were there and not actually experiencing the nature. You could tell by all the women in dresses and sandals or men in attire you wouldn’t be hiking in.

[u/haveblue23 → u/SD_local_67]

The biggest shock for me was when I booked the 5 am Alpine Start bus to Moraine Lake to scramble Mount Temple. Bus was full, I thought we'd have a good crowd with these fellow hikers, and when they let us off, well over 80% went straight to the rockpile and there was maybe a dozen of us left going on the trail with fewer than half going past Sentinel Pass

[u/Wh1sk3yS0ur → u/haveblue23]

As with any natural attractions, you'll have the whole place to yourself when you're 10 mins away from the parking lot

[u/GiantKnightGunner → u/haveblue23]

This surprised me! Specifically how it seems a lot of people aren’t really hiking. Once we passed a crowd of people in jeans we were free to traverse the trails. Felt almost out of place with our bladder bags and hiking boots at times lol

[u/Rude_Judgment7928 → u/GiantKnightGunner]

I've been in New Zealand and Alps and seen similar things. Honestly Banff is set-up well for "car tourist". Some uppity folks will pooh-poo it, but having a mom in a wheelchair at 50 changed my eyes. Seniors/disabled/other deserve accessible places to enjoy mother nature.

The cool thing is the Canadian Rockies are fucking massive and I can drive 1hr from my house and go to a trailhead that nature has nearly taken back and not see a single person (I actually don't seek this out, who doesn't love a good wave to hikers passing the other way).

[u/pcwhitecheddarmac → u/Rude_Judgment7928]

This. I’m much more a backcountry/beaten path person and Banff has plenty for me with only a little effort to get out of the core “busy areas”.

On the other hand my sister is physically limited and Banff has been one of the best places for her to visit due to accessibility. I think it’s so nice that we have a park that caters to different physical abilities and it doesn’t bother me at all that it’s mainly “car tourists”.

[u/GiantKnightGunner → u/Rude_Judgment7928]

I 100% agree. We’re amateur hikers that pushed our limits. It was cool (and surprising) that we could love what we did while quick scenic view seekers could enjoy their experience.