Improvement District No. 9 district, Alberta, Canada

Places to visit near Banff

Banff is a town in Improvement District No. 9 district, Alberta, Canada, home to about 7,502 people. Within 50 km by road there are 103 places to visit — 83 hill stations & viewpoints, 7 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 3 waterfalls and 2 forts & heritage. The must-see places are Saint George in the Pines (1 km), Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies (1 km) and Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum (1 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Banff on the map

Banff, Alberta
Banff, Improvement District No. 9 district, Alberta, Canada. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Banff at a glance

Location
Improvement District No. 9 district, Alberta, Canada
Population
about 7,502
Coordinates
51.1762° N, 115.5698° W
Places within 50 km
103 (103 must-see)
Best time to visit
October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs

Top places to visit near Banff

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Banff: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

More places near Banff

  • Mount Edith · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~10 km · Must-see
  • Mount Louis · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~11 km · Must-see
  • Mount Cory · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~11 km · Must-see
  • Mount Rundle · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~11 km · Must-see
  • Mount Brewster · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~12 km · Must-see
  • Mount Fifi · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~12 km · Must-see
  • The Finger · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~15 km · Must-see
  • Mount Inglismaldie · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~16 km · Must-see
  • Cockscomb Mountain · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~16 km · Must-see
  • Mount Peechee · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~17 km · Must-see
  • Princess Margaret Mountain · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~18 km · Must-see
  • Mount Astley · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~19 km · Must-see

Things to see near Banff, by type

Hill stations & viewpoints near Banff

212 hill stations & viewpoints within 100 km of Banff. The closest is Tunnel Mountain (1 km). Best time: october to february for cool, clear air.

  • Tunnel Mountain · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~1 km · Must-see
  • Sulphur Mountain · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~7 km · Must-see
  • Mount Edith · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~10 km · Must-see
  • Mount Louis · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~11 km · Must-see
  • Mount Cory · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~11 km · Must-see
  • Mount Rundle · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~11 km · Must-see

All hill stations & viewpoints in Alberta →

Lakes, dams & reservoirs near Banff

27 lakes, dams & reservoirs within 100 km of Banff. The closest is Basin Pool (2 km). Best time: august to december when reservoirs are full and gates may open.

  • Basin Pool · lake · Improvement District No. 9 · ~2 km · Must-see
  • Johnson Lake · lake · Improvement District No. 9 · ~8 km · Must-see
  • Bourgeau Lake · lake · Improvement District No. 9 · ~20 km · Must-see
  • Lac des Arcs · lake · Municipal District of Bighorn · ~37 km · Must-see
  • Lake Magog · lake · Improvement District No. 9 · ~38 km · Must-see
  • Spray Lakes Reservoir · lake · Improvement District No. 9 · ~39 km · Must-see

All lakes, dams & reservoirs in Alberta →

Waterfalls near Banff

7 waterfalls within 100 km of Banff. The closest is Bow Falls (1 km). Best time: july to january, best august to november right after rains.

All waterfalls in Alberta →

Forts & heritage near Banff

4 forts & heritage within 100 km of Banff. The closest is Fairmont Banff Springs (2 km). Best time: october to february.

All forts & heritage in Alberta →

Museums near Banff

3 museums within 100 km of Banff. The closest is Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies (1 km). Best time: year-round.

All museums in Alberta →

Temples near Banff

2 temples within 100 km of Banff. The closest is Little Temple (60 km). Best time: year-round.

  • Little Temple · temple · Improvement District No. 9 · ~60 km · Must-see
  • Mount Temple · temple · Improvement District No. 9 · ~60 km · Must-see

All temples in Alberta →

A one-day trip from Banff

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 6 km on the road.

  1. Start in Banff
  2. 1 km Saint George in the Pines · church, Banff
  3. 1 km Tunnel Mountain · viewpoint, Improvement District No. 9
  4. 2 km Bow Falls · waterfall, Banff
  5. 1 km Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum · museum, Banff
  6. 1 km Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies · museum, Banff
  7. 0 km Back to Banff

Plan a longer trip from Banff — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Banff

No traveller has reported from around Banff yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

Post an update from the map →

How to reach Banff

    All places near Banff by distance

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    • Mount Bourgeau · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~19 km · Must-see
    • Mount Howard Douglas · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~19 km · Must-see
    • Massive Mountain · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~20 km · Must-see
    • Bourgeau Lake · lake · Improvement District No. 9 · ~20 km · Must-see
    • Aylmer Lookout · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~20 km · Must-see
    • Mount Charles Stewart · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~21 km · Must-see
    • Ha Ling · viewpoint · Kananaskis Improvement · ~21 km · Must-see
    • Mount Ishbel · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~22 km · Must-see
    • Canmore Museum & Geoscience Centre · museum · Town of Canmore · ~22 km · Must-see
    • Mount Brett · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~22 km · Must-see
    • Pilot Mountain · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~22 km · Must-see
    • Mount Lawrence Grassi · viewpoint · Kananaskis Improvement · ~23 km · Must-see
    • Fatigue Mountain · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~23 km · Must-see
    • Mount Lady Macdonald · viewpoint · Municipal District of Bighorn · ~23 km · Must-see
    • Monarch Viewpoint · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~24 km · Must-see
    • Mystic Peak · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~24 km · Must-see
    • Quartz Hill · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~26 km · Must-see
    • Nasswald Peak · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~26 km · Must-see
    • Citadel Pass · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~26 km · Must-see
    • Golden Mountain · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~26 km · Must-see
    • Simpson Pass · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~26 km · Must-see
    • Three Sisters Pass · viewpoint · Kananaskis Improvement · ~28 km · Must-see
    • Copper Mountain · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~28 km · Must-see
    • Apparition Mountain · viewpoint · Municipal District of Bighorn · ~28 km · Must-see
    • Revenant Mountain · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~29 km · Must-see
    • Grotto Mountain · viewpoint · Municipal District of Bighorn · ~29 km · Must-see
    • Mount Costigan · viewpoint · Municipal District of Bighorn · ~30 km · Must-see
    • Og Mountain · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~30 km · Must-see
    • Cave Mountain · cave · Improvement District No. 9 · ~33 km · Must-see
    • Mount Allenby · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~33 km · Must-see
    • Nestor Peak · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~34 km · Must-see
    • Haiduk Peak · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~35 km · Must-see
    • Nub Peak · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~35 km · Must-see
    • Devil's Head · viewpoint · Municipal District of Bighorn · ~35 km · Must-see
    • Old Goat Mountain · viewpoint · Kananaskis Improvement · ~36 km · Must-see
    • Lac des Arcs · lake · Municipal District of Bighorn · ~37 km · Must-see
    • Mount Davidson · viewpoint · Municipal District of Bighorn · ~38 km · Must-see
    • Pigeon Peak · viewpoint · Kananaskis Improvement · ~38 km · Must-see
    • Storm Mountain · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~38 km · Must-see
    • Mount Ball · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~38 km · Must-see

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    • Mount Baldy West · viewpoint · Kananaskis Improvement · ~51 km · Must-see
    • Mount Kidd · viewpoint · Kananaskis Improvement · ~51 km · Must-see
    • Bident Mountain · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~52 km · Must-see
    • Mount Selkirk · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~52 km · Must-see
    • Chimney Peak · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~52 km · Must-see
    • Floe Lake · lake · Improvement District No. 9 · ~53 km · Must-see
    • Mount Galatea · viewpoint · Kananaskis Improvement · ~54 km · Must-see
    • Mount Smuts · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~54 km · Must-see
    • Red Man Mountain · viewpoint · Alberta · ~54 km · Must-see
    • Foster Peak · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~54 km · Must-see
    • Mount Fay · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~54 km · Must-see
    • Mount Babel · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~55 km · Must-see
    • Gusty Peak · viewpoint · Kananaskis Improvement · ~55 km · Must-see
    • Fortress Lake · lake · Kananaskis Improvement · ~56 km · Must-see
    • Mount Little · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~56 km · Must-see
    • Anthozoan Mountain · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~56 km · Must-see
    • Valley of the Ten Peaks · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~57 km · Must-see
    • Tilted Mountain · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~57 km · Must-see
    • Chester Lake · lake · Kananaskis Improvement · ~57 km · Must-see
    • Commonwealth Peak · viewpoint · Kananaskis Improvement · ~57 km · Must-see
    • Old Baldy Peak · viewpoint · Kananaskis Improvement · ~57 km · Must-see
    • Moraine Lake · lake · Improvement District No. 9 · ~57 km · Must-see
    • Lipalian Mountain · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~58 km · Must-see
    • Mount Chester · viewpoint · Kananaskis Improvement · ~58 km · Must-see
    • Mount Perren · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~58 km · Must-see
    • Brachiopod Mountain · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~59 km · Must-see
    • Wenkchemna Glacier · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~59 km · Must-see
    • White Man Mountain · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~59 km · Must-see
    • The Wedge · viewpoint · Kananaskis Improvement · ~59 km · Must-see
    • Mount Leval · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~60 km · Must-see
    • Mount Tuzo · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~60 km · Must-see
    • Little Temple · temple · Improvement District No. 9 · ~60 km · Must-see
    • Mount James Walker · viewpoint · Kananaskis Improvement · ~60 km · Must-see
    • Redoubt Mountain · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~60 km · Must-see
    • Mount Temple · temple · Improvement District No. 9 · ~60 km · Must-see
    • Deltaform Mountain · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~61 km · Must-see
    • Fossil Mountain · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~61 km · Must-see
    • Ptarmigan Lake · lake · Improvement District No. 9 · ~61 km · Must-see
    • Pinnacle Mountain · viewpoint · Improvement District No. 9 · ~62 km · Must-see
    • Lake Annette · lake · Improvement District No. 9 · ~62 km · Must-see

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Banff by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Hill stations & viewpoints83212Tunnel Mountain (1 km)
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs727Basin Pool (2 km)
    Waterfalls37Bow Falls (1 km)
    Forts & heritage24Fairmont Banff Springs (2 km)
    Museums33Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies (1 km)
    Other attractions12Sulphur Mountain Cosmic Ray Station (4 km)
    Temples02Little Temple (60 km)
    Churches11Saint George in the Pines (1 km)
    Caves11Cave Mountain (33 km)
    Parks11Sparrowhawk Tarn Trail Head (40 km)
    Rivers, islands & mangroves11Simpson River (42 km)

    Banff: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Banff?

    Saint George in the Pines (church, about 1 km), Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies (museum, about 1 km), Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum (museum, about 1 km), Tunnel Mountain (viewpoint, about 1 km), Bow Falls (waterfall, about 1 km), Fairmont Banff Springs (heritage site, about 2 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Banff?

    103 places on Spotwander: 83 hill stations & viewpoints, 7 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 3 waterfalls, 2 forts & heritage, 3 museums.

    Which is the nearest viewpoint to Banff?

    Tunnel Mountain, about 1 km by road; Sulphur Mountain (7 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest lake to Banff?

    Basin Pool, about 2 km by road; Johnson Lake (8 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest waterfall to Banff?

    Bow Falls, about 1 km by road; Cascade Mountain (7 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Banff?

    Start in Banff, visit Saint George in the Pines, then Tunnel Mountain, then Bow Falls, then Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum, then Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, and drive back — about 6 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Banff?

    October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs.

    Towns near Banff

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Banff’s location and population from GeoNames; see also Banff on Wikipedia. Data sources & credits.