Post Summary: The 10 best photo spots in Banff National Park and where to find them!
Banff National Park is one of the most beautiful places in the world and it is easy to see why millions of people flock here every year! You have probably seen hundreds of beautiful photos on the Internet framed with tall mountains surrounding lakes that are shades of blue that only the imagination can conjure. We are here to tell you exactly where to find these incredible spots to capture for yourself!
In this blog post we are going to share with you 10 of our favorite spots to capture incredible photos in Banff National Park!
Before we get started..
Best Time to Visit Banff
The best time to visit Banff entirely depends on the weather you are looking to capture, and what attractions you are looking to see as some are seasonal!
If you are hoping to see the most popular attractions like Lake Moraine and do some hiking, the summer months is the best time to visit.
If you are hoping for a ski vacation and a winter wonderland than you should visit during December and March.
Peak Season
The peak season in Banff is the summer season which typically occurs between June and early September. During this time, the weather conditions are typically dry and warm. The snow at higher elevations begins to melt that the beginning of June which makes certain hikes more accessible. The sun also sets later in the day (around 9:30pm) which allows you to enjoy more time exploring this incredible National Park!
Safety in Banff
Banff is known for its wide range of wildlife species, specifically the Grizzly Bear. Before embarking on any hikes, ensure that you look up the latest trail closures and warnings. Also be aware of your surroundings and carry bear spray with you at all times!
The Top Instagram-Worthy Photo Spots In Banff National Park
Curious about the gear we use to capture our photos while traveling? Check out our camera gear guide here!
Moraine Lake
Moraine Lake is one of the most picturesque lakes in Banff National Park. Beautiful blue water with towering mountains as the backdrop makes for the most incredible photos.
For the most magical lighting, we highly recommend arriving before the sunrises. We also recommend arriving at this time because the parking lot at Lake Moraine is small and fills up quickly!
Where to get photos here
The Rockpile trail is the most popular location to snap some incredible photos. However we did follow the Shoreline Trail and found some other unique perspectives on the lake that we loved just as much.
During peak season, Moraine Lake Lodge has canoes for rent from the dock on the shoreline. This is a great spot to take some shots with the canoes docked but also out on the water!
There are also some incredible trails in the surrounding area! Larch Valley is one of the most popular trails in the fall season and tourists flock to see these magical pine trees turn to a golden yellow. This is a hike accessible from the base of Moraine Lake. If you are lucky to be in Banff during the time where these trees turn colours, we highly recommend hiking this trail!
How to get here:
Take the Lake Louise Exit off of Highway 1. Follow the signs straight ahead toward Lake Louise and Lake Moraine. Be prepared to turn left a few kilometres up the road toward the Lake Moraine parking lot.
Lake Louise
Lake Louise is a colour of blue that we thought only existed in our imagination. It is very easy to see why this is one of the most popular locations in Banff National Park. And there are soooo many incredible photography opportunities at this lake so let’s dive right in!
We highly recommend getting here early in the morning or later in the evening to avoid the bulk of the crowds and to get a parking spot as the lot does fill up quickly!
Where to get photos here
The famous place to capture photos at Lake Louise is located on the dock at the edge of the lake. This is one of the first places you will see when you walk towards the lake form the parking lot. This spots gives you a perfectly framed shot with massive mountains in the backdrop.
Canoe rentals are another popular adventure to have here. You can rent a canoe at the boathouse located on the left side of the lake. This is an iconic shot and a beautiful place to get some video footage as well!
The Lake Agnes Teahouse is a beautiful little wood cabin built on the shore of Lake Agnes. This is a very popular 3.4 km out and back trail, with the trail-head starting at the base of Lake Louise.
Once you reach the Lake Agnes Teahouse, there are a few trails that lead to some of the most incredible perspectives of Lake Louise. There is the Little Beehive and Big Beehive hike, as well as the Devil’s Thumb!
The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is a castle like hotel located directly on the shore of Lake Louise. They have an incredible restaurant with endless lake and mountain views. Also a great place to stay if you are looking for accommodations in Banff, as you are right in the heart of one of the most picturesque places in the world!
How to get here:
Take the Lake Louise Exit from Highway 1. Follow signs straight ahead to the main parking lot!
Emerald Lake
While this is technically in Yoho National Park, we simply could not leave this place off this list.
Emerald Lake is located just west of Lake Louise, and is less popular than Lake Louise and Lake Moraine but so gorgeous. One of the hidden gems of The Rockies if you will. We think you need to visit here ASAP because the photo opportunities here are endless.
Where to get photos here
Emerald Lake Lodge is this cute little log cabin in the middle of the lake. The bridge leading to it houses some incredible views of the towering mountains surrounding the truly emerald colored lake.
The shoreline trail will take you all the way around the lake and the views are awe-inspiring. We stopped to get a few shots on the stump located just off the trail along the shore.
You can rent canoes at this lake, and the rental fees are cheaper than Lake Louise and Lake Moraine.
How to get here:
From Banff Town, Drive on Highway 1 towards Golden, BC and turn off on Emerald Lake Rd. Follow this road until you reach the parking lot for Emerald Lake.
Banff Avenue
Located in the heart of downtown Banff , this street is lined with incredible boutiques, brand name shops, and local restaurants. This street is a popular photography spot because of the incredible Cascade Mountain towering over this tiny town.
The best place to get an Instagram worthy snap here is in the center of the street on the lane way divider. We walked to the far end of the street and used our zoom lens (check it out here) to capture this photo!
Surprise Corner
Just a few minute drive from downtown Banff town leads you to an outlook like no other. Surprise Corner looks out over the famous Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. This is an incredible spot to get a unique perspective of a legendary hotel. It felt like we were in the middle of a Harry Potter Movie.
How to get here:
Travel south down Banff Avenue and turn left on Buffalo Street. Follow Buffalo Street until you reach a small parking lot on the right hand side of the road with the Surprise Corner observation deck on the left side.
Lake Minnewanka
As the largest lake in Banff National Park, there are so many incredible opportunities to take beautiful photos here.
During the summertime, there are bright turquoise ferryboats that will give you a guided tour of the lake. Some people get creative and capture photos leaning out of the window on these tours! You can also rent row boats, kayaks and canoes to get some more incredible perspectives on this lake.
In the wintertime you can walk out onto the lake and get a closer view of the surrounding mountains.
We walked around a partial perimeter of this lake and took some photos on various docks and rocks along the shoreline. The mountains surrounding this lake are absolutely breathtaking and can frame your shot perfectly!
How to get here:
To get here, head North from Banff town and drive along Lake Minnewanka Scenic Drive until you reach the Lake Minnewanka Parking Lot.
Two Jack Lake
This lake neighbors Lake Minnewanka and is a great spot to stop for some beautfiul photos at any time of day!
From the overlook just past the parking lot, to the rocky shoreline to the small peninsula jetting into the water, there are endless opportunities for photos here.
How to get here:
Head north out of Banff Town onto Lake Minnewanka Scenic Drive. You will pass Two Jack Campgrounds (main on the left, lakeside in the right). Just after you pass the campgrounds there will be a turn off to a parking lot on the right side!
Blackshale Suspension bridge
Located just a short drive south of Banff Town, this suspension bridge is in Kananaskis Country. Blackshale Suspension Bridge is a very popular 1km loop trail but is worth the wait to get the perfect shot here.
How to get here:
There are multiple trails that lead to this suspension bridge. To find the trailhead for the 1 km loop trail we used this website.
East End of Rundle Hike
The East End of Rundle Hike is located in Kananaskis Country. This hike itself is difficult but worth every ounce of sweat because the view at the top is gorgeous.
The East End of Rundle Hike offers up some incredible panoramic views of Ha Ling Peak, Bow Valley and a few man made bodies of water. This hike showcases the beauty of Kananaskis Country and has so many incredible photo opportunities.
If you are looking to an incredible adventure with rewarding views and epic photo opportunities than we highly recommend giving this hike a try!
How to get here:
To get here, drive south from Canmore on Highway 742 until you reach the Goat Creek Parking lot. From here, you will walk back up a small hill that you just drove down and enter the trail located at the second power line post on the left side of the road.
Tip: You can also access Ha Ling Peak Trail-head right across the road from Goat Creek Parking lot!
Mist Mountain
There really is not a more picturesque place in our opinion than the hot springs that sit on top of Mist Mountain. These two tiny hot springs overlook an incredible valley, decorated with tall mountain peaks on either side. Mist Mountain is a moderate hike and can be heavily trafficked at times, but it is so worth the adventure. We highly recommend adding this to your itinerary,
How to get there:
Mist Mountain is an unmarked trail located in Kananaskis Country just south of Banff town. You can read all about how to locate this trail-head here!
Final Thoughts
There are so many incredible photography places in Banff National Park, we could go on and on. This is just a very small taste of some of the incredible places and we hope that you found this list helpful!
Thank you so much for reading! Let us know in the comments below if you think there is a place that we forgot!
Happy Travels 🙂
Jake and Kaylee
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Great post and your pictures are stunning! I can’t wait to visit 🙂
Thank you so much for reading! We are so happy that you like the post. We hope that you get the chance to visit soon! 🙂