Day trips from Calgary — Banff, the Badlands, the Icefields, and beyond

Skip the research spiral. From your base in Bowness, northwest Calgary, Banff and the mountains are a morning's drive west, and Drumheller's badlands and dinosaur country are ninety minutes east. Here's where to go, how far it is, when to go, and who to book with — sorted so your whole group can just show up.

Kananaskis — 45 minutes
The closest mountains to the city, and the quietest. Prairie Mountain for a half-day summit, Barrier Lake for an easy one. Leave after breakfast, back by lunch if you want. In the Bow Valley near Canmore, a guided Grassi Lakes & Grotto Canyon hike runs year-round — turquoise lakes in summer, an ice-walk in winter. Nakiska ski area rounds out the winter options.

For private guided tours, our guests get a 10% discount with Big Nature tours (discount code - CSTRGUEST). Book Here
Canmore Grassi Lake and Grotto Canyon hike: Book here - Canmore Guided tour

Banff & Lake Louise — 90 minutes to Banff, 2 hours to Lake Louise
The marquee day trip: Moraine Lake, the Banff gondola, the town, Lake Louise's turquoise water, plus Lake Minnewanka's boat cruise and the Johnston Canyon catwalks. Leave in the morning, back for dinner. Skip the driving and the Moraine Lake parking problem — go guided group or private, with Big Nature tours. In season, the ski hills — Lake Louise, Sunshine, Norquay are great activity options as well.

If you want to venture further — the Columbia Icefield. Push past Lake Louise up the Icefields Parkway to walk on the Athabasca Glacier. It's a full 13-hour day, so it's not for everyone — and at 3.5 hours each way, a guided group bus tour is recommended instead of driving.

For private or group guided tours to Banff and Louise, our guests get a 10% discount with Big Nature tours (code CSTRGUEST). Book Here
Even if you're not booking a tour, it's highly recommended to Pre-book the Banff gondola: Book here
For other tour options book Banff tours here & Lake Minnewanka Cruise tour here

Columbia Icefield group tour book here 

Drumheller & the Badlands — 90 minutes east
Trade the peaks for a trip into the past: striped canyon walls and hoodoo spires hiding the richest dinosaur beds on earth, laid down over 70 million years. The Royal Tyrrell Museum is world-class — one of the largest dinosaur collections anywhere, and big enough to fill a day on its own — and the kids won't forget it. Beyond the museum: walk the hoodoos, hike the Horseshoe Canyon rim, take a horse riding tour, ride the Bleriot cable ferry across the Red Deer River (seasonal). An easy day trip out and back, rain or shine.
Day of Dinosaurs & Hoodoos - Book the guided tour

Yoho & Emerald Lake — just over the BC line
Past Lake Louise into British Columbia: Emerald Lake, Takakkaw Falls, the Natural Bridge. Quieter than Banff, same scale of scenery. Book your tour here

Plenty to do in the city, too
Not every day needs to have a mountain focus. Most of Calgary's draws sit within 20–25 minutes of Bowness — close enough to fill a morning or an afternoon without committing the whole day.
Downtown: Studio Bell Canada's museum of music, the Glenbow art museum, and the Calgary Tower - Iconic 360-degree city skyline views.

Riverfront: the Peace Bridge, Prince's Island Park, Bowness Park and the Bow River pathways.

With kids: the Calgary Zoo, TELUS Spark Science Centre, and Heritage Park - one of North America’s largest living history museums.

And in July: the Calgary Stampede - The Greatest Outdoor Show On Earth.

Closer still, WinSport is 6 minutes (tubing, skiing, snowboarding in winter; downhill karting in summer) and Bowness Park is 5 minutes away. 

Useful links for information on what's on while you're here: Banff & Lake Louise events · Explore Canmore · WinSport · Royal Tyrrell Museum