The Banff Travel Guide
Everything you need to know about traveling to Banff!
You’re about to partake in an incredible adventure! Banff has some of the most stunning views with snow capped mountains surrounding crystal clear blue lakes. Your exploration of the great outdoors will be enhanced with mindfulness practices to lead you on an exploration of the great indoors, aka “the self”.
To get the most out of your journey it’s best to be prepared! We’ve laid out everything you need to know about traveling to Banff with us. We can’t wait!
The Weather
How should I dress?
June is a beautiful time to visit the Canadian Rockies!
June can still be a bit unpredictable in weather, so definitely expect some warmer days, but also potentially some wet and rainy conditions.
The warmth of the day, in the mid 60’s F, makes great hiking conditions. But expect some chill in the night with lows in the 40’s F.
This means you’ll want to pack plenty of layers to keep cool during the day when you’re hiking and stay warm at night when you’re sleeping. Check out the packing list below.
Also, be aware that during this time of the year Banff can be incredibly buggy! So be prepared with plenty of bug spray.
The gear
What do I need to bring?
On the third day of this trip you’ll begin the backpacking portion of your adventure! Backpacks will be provided so feel free to pack normal luggage, which will then be stored during your trek. Expect for your pack to be heavy, 35+ lbs, carrying all that you need with you for a 3.5 day hike.
You will need to provide your own hiking clothing, rain gear, day packs, and sturdy hiking footwear. We will provide group camping gear along with sleeping bags, sleeping pads, backpacks and hiking poles. The local guides will provide the group safety gear such as tarps, emergency communication devices and bear spray.
You can find a detailed packing list here. We will also go over gear in much more detail on our two pre-trip calls.
Sustainability is one of our core-pillars, so we love to suggest sourcing gear from friends/family or second hand stores that sell lightly used gear! If you’re buying gear new, we recommend shopping locally or from small companies in whose mission you believe. Check the packing list for some of our favorites!
Preparing For Your Trek
How difficult is this really going to be?
Expect for this trek to be quite challenging! But with challenges comes great rewards like incredible views, the satisfaction of pushing yourself physically and mentally, and strong friendships formed.
We classify this trip a difficulty level of 5 out of 5. Which means prior hiking or backpacking experience is required. You must be able to carry a 35+ lb pack for multiple days on trail for sustained daily time. Expect elevation gain, variable terrain and other variable weather conditions.
We strongly recommend preparing yourself physically before showing up for this adventure. It is recommended that you do practice hikes, walks, or strength and cardio conditioning to prepare. When you sign up you’ll receive a training plan.
Check the detailed itinerary for daily mileage and elevation gain/loss.
We know, you don’t want to be the last one or hold up the group…we hear this before every trip! However, please know that we consider our group to be a team, working together on each hike. This is an incredible opportunity to ask for help and support when perhaps in your daily life you’re always the one giving it.
Our local guides and Root Tour Leaders will be checking in with the group along the way and will be adjusting pacing as needed. Let’s do this thing together!
The Food
Can backpacking meals be delicious and nutritious? I need fuel!
Recipes are cooked in small batches in our outfitters commercial kitchen in Canmore, Alberta, Canada and then they are dehydrated.
They use high quality ingredients in their recipes which are designed to balance nutrition, calories, flavor and ultimately, carrying weight of the dehydrated meal.
Some snacks will be provided, but if there’s something yummy you absolutely can’t live without, feel free to bring it along!
All dietary restrictions are taken into consideration as well! If you haven’t already, please be sure to mark any dietary needs in the registration form at sign up.
Safety
Should I be worried about wildlife?
As with all of our trips, safety is our number one priority.
We expect the unexpected and will have plans for anything that could happen while on our adventures. We will have radios and other types of emergency communication devices, evacuation plans, and the local guides have current Advanced Wilderness First Aid Certificates and years of guiding experience.
There’s lots of amazing wildlife to see like elk, moose, big-horn sheep, mountain goats, incredible birds and plants, and yes- there are bears. Your guides are well versed on the wildlife and how to navigate for safety. Keep in mind most wildlife aren’t interested in humans and bears eat mostly plants like blackberries, grass, and dandelions. However, we will still practice safety at the campsites like being mindful of food and hanging trash. Your guide will show you the ropes! Literally!
No Trace Left Behind
Let’s Talk Poop
There’s no way around it. Yes, you’ll be going #1 (and #2) in the great outdoors!
On the backpacking portion of the trip there will be no access to showers or toilets. Your guides will show you how to practice “leave no trace” practices for elimination on trails and outdoors.
We recommend purchasing a Kula Cloth and bringing along biodegradable wipes for “camp” showers, aka a quick wipe down.
Mindfulness
What if I’ve never meditated?
Have no fear! No prior meditation or mindfulness experience needed.
Nature is the ultimate teacher. Just getting out into the great outdoors has been proven to be incredibly beneficial for your mental and physical health.
Your Root Tour Leaders will provide you with simple and practical ways to keep your connection with nature, yourself, and your fellow travelers at the forefront of your experience.
But don’t worry, this won’t be a serious or quiet trip. At Root we see mindfulness as a way to participate in the ALIVENESS of life.
There will be moments you’ll be encouraged to observe silence, listen to nature, reflect on your internal experience or even possibly journal and share. And there will be many moments of raucous laughter, joyous storytelling, and playing in the dirt. Our trips have a little bit of everything!
To help you get the most out of your experience you will receive a pre-trip guide that has mindfulness and meditation practices, potential journaling prompts, and thoughtful ways to connect with nature throughout your adventure.
Final Tips
Anything else I need to know?
We’d love to impart some final words of wisdom for you here. These are tips and tricks we’ve learned over the years exploring, trekking, and guiding groups.
Pack light! The lighter the better. We cannot stress this enough! When packing ask yourself this question: “Do I absolutely need this?” If the answer is no, leave it behind.
Don’t wait to get your hiking boots! Purchase them well in advance of your hike and go for practice walks to wear them in.
Bring an extra Nalgene to use as extra heat at night. Boil some water, secure the lid on your Nalgene and pop it in the bottom of your sleeping bag for a toasty warm night.
There are definitely handy-dandy camp pillows, but you can also stuff your sleeping bag sack with clothes, jackets, etc that you brought with you for a makeshift pillow.
Tell your guides if you have a “hot spot” forming on your feet while hiking. They can help! Hot spots are red tender areas that appear before blisters form. The keyword here is before! Telling your guide early can help prevent blisters from forming.
A word about luggage. If possible, pack so that you can bring everything in a carry-on. That way if your luggage gets lost (knock on wood) you won’t be trying to piece gear together or purchase lots of expensive items last minute. If you are checking luggage then we recommend wearing your hiking boots and packing hiking essentials in your carry-on just in case!