Skip Banff This Summer — These Rocky Mountain Towns Are Just as Stunning

Banff National Park is Canada's most popular national park, with jaw-dropping lakes and mountain scenery. But the summer crowds can be equally breathtaking — packed parking lots, congested trails, and accommodation prices that double overnight. Fortunately, the Rockies stretch for hundreds of kilometres, and there are plenty of equally spectacular but far quieter destinations nearby.

Kananaskis Country

Banff's southern neighbour, just an hour's drive from Calgary. It offers the same calibre of peaks, lakes, and trails, but sees only a fraction of Banff's visitor numbers. Kananaskis Lakes and Ribbon Falls are popular summer hiking picks. You'll need a provincial park pass, but it costs far less than a national park permit.

Yoho National Park

Just west of Banff, over one mountain pass and into British Columbia. Emerald Lake's vivid turquoise waters and Natural Bridge are iconic landmarks. Takakkaw Falls is Canada's second-tallest waterfall and absolutely thunderous. The park is compact but packed with highlights — you can see the best of it in a single day.

Waterton Lakes National Park

At Alberta's southernmost tip, connected to Glacier National Park in the United States. Mountains rise abruptly from the prairie and the lakes are impossibly blue. The Prince of Wales Hotel is an architectural icon, and Crypt Lake Trail is consistently rated one of Canada's best hikes. Small in scale but extraordinarily concentrated in scenery.

Mount Robson Provincial Park

Named after the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, Mount Robson. The Berg Lake Trail is BC's most legendary multi-day hike, passing glaciers, waterfalls, and vivid turquoise lakes the entire way. The park's remote location keeps visitor numbers low — ideal for outdoor enthusiasts with decent fitness and proper gear.

Fernie

A small mountain town tucked into BC's southeast corner. It's a ski destination in winter and a cycling and hiking paradise in summer. The town has a relaxed, friendly vibe without Banff's commercial polish. The surrounding Elk Valley is laced with undeveloped backcountry trails, perfect for travellers who prefer a wilder experience.

Revelstoke

Located in BC's interior, with Mount Revelstoke National Park right on its doorstep. The Meadows in the Sky Parkway lets you drive straight up to subalpine meadows carpeted in wildflowers each summer. The town itself has solid coffee shops and restaurants — a great base for slowing down and soaking in the Rockies at your own pace.

The Canadian Rockies have far more to offer than Banff alone — fewer crowds, more exploration, and landscapes that feel entirely your own.