Banff and Jasper with a Toddler: 6 Awesome Activities

Banff and Jasper with a Toddler: 6 Awesome Activities

Traveled in August 2023

When you hear Banff and Jasper, your mind probably conjures up images of crystal clear lakes and dramatic hikes. And you would be right! The natural beauty really is that stunning. And while you might think that there is no way you could see all of those things with a toddler in tow and have it actually be enjoyable, this itinerary will change your mind! There are absolutely some stunning hikes that you can easily do with a toddler in a carrier and many of the lakes don’t require hikes at all. Toddlers are all little explorers who really thrive in nature. They might not care much for the scenery, but they can definitely make their own fun throwing rocks into lakes and rivers. Here is just a taste of the activities you can do in Banff and Jasper to enjoy the natural beauty with ways to make them toddler-friendly.

1. Johnston Canyon

Johnston Canyon in Banff is an easy 1-2 hour paved hike along a canyon gorge that ends in a waterfall. You can walk into a cave to view the waterfall up close through an opening in the cave. Our kiddo loved throwing rocks into the river rapids as we were hiking. Getting close enough to the waterfall to feel the spray also earned us some toddler giggles.

2. Drive the Icefields Parkway

The Icefields Parkway is basically a long highway that connects Banff and Jasper. But not just any highway, it is a highway with some of the most gorgeous pit stops you have ever seen. Some of these lakes and attractions are literally next to the road, while others require a bit of hiking. The hikes are usually on paved or gravel roads, but can be somewhat steep (kids should be in a carrier since these are generally not stroller friendly). There are so many beautiful stops on the Icefields Parkway that you would have to spend a couple days to see them all. But to hit the highlights (without overtiring your toddler), check out our picks from our Banff and Jasper toddler-approved itinerary. There are lots of opportunities for energetic toddlers to get their wiggles out on each of these stops, whether it be looking for rocks and pinecones, or racing up a section of the hike.

3. Maligne Lake Cruise

The Maligne Lake cruise in Jasper is a 1.5 hour scenic boat ride across Maligne Lake to Spirit Island. Our kiddo had a blast on the boat; he loved stepping outside to feel the spray and wind on his face. Spirit Island is sacred to the indigenous people, so you are only allowed about 15 minutes on the island and are asked to stick to the designated loop path, but it’s enough time to take pictures and enjoy the serenity of the place. The boat ride is the real highlight for the kids, but Spirit Island is the prize for the adults.

4. Animal Spotting on the Bow Valley Parkway

Little kids love animals. And animals love to hang out near the Bow Valley Parkway in Banff! Driving along the Bow Valley Highway at dawn and dusk when the animals are most active is a good way to spot wild animals doing their thing in their natural habitat. If you’re lucky, you will see some bears and deer just hanging out along the side of the road. And it is super exciting for kiddos when they spot them! It’s common for cars to stop along the side of the road during bear sightings, but remember these are wild animals. So stay in the car for both your and the animals’ safety!

5. Lake Louise and Lake Moraine

Lake Louise and Lake Moraine are two of the quintessential lakes in Banff. These glittering turquoise blue lakes are the ones that pop into mind when people imagine a trip to Banff. While you get your fill of the views, your toddler will probably be throwing rocks into the lake (noticing a trend here?). You can also rent canoes at both of the lakes (probably best for older kids) to enjoy the lakes from a different perspective.

Visiting Lake Louise and Lake Moraine is a little more complicated now that you can’t drive directly to the parking lots. Check out my Banff and Jasper itinerary for all the details on how to book the shuttle that takes you to the lakes. Or, book a day tour to have all the transportation handled for you.

6. Ride a Gondola

Does your toddler love vehicles? Of course they do! A ride up a gondola is as exciting as spotting the garbage truck on garbage day for little kids. There is a gondola in Banff as well as in Jasper. The kiddos will love soaring over the trees and parents will love the spectacular views. Just make sure to go on a clear day, or all you’ll see is clouds.

Kid Essentials You’ll Be Glad You Packed

Traveling to Banff and Jasper with a toddler means more gear because it involves outdoor time and long stretches in the car. We still tried to pack light to avoid lugging too much around the airport, but these were the essentials that made the whole trip so much easier with a toddler.

• Hip Seat Carrier or Hiking Carrier: We considered bringing a hiking carrier, but since we brought a car seat for our trip we didn’t want to transport another large item. We loved our hip seat carrier that had straps and could be worn in the front or back instead! To get our kid used to it, I carried him in it on our daily dog walks for a month before the trip. I also wore him in the hip seat carrier through the airport, so he was contained and I was hands free through security to the gate.
• Cosco Scenera Car Seat and Car seat backpack with straps: We decided to bring our own travel car seat this time because we didn’t want to risk the rental car company running out of car seats during peak summer travel. The Cosco Scenera Car Seat is one of the lightest. We use it as a back up car seat in grandma’s car at home so it does double duty. The pro-tip is to get a backpack style car seat bag for airport travel. Those drawstring bags might be cheaper, but when you’re hauling your kid and luggage through an airport, do you really want to also be juggling a big sack with a car seat in it?? Do yourself a favor and get the backpack – it’s worth it. If your kid is a little bigger, the Ride Safer Travel Vest is such a worthwhile investment because it’s so much smaller than a car seat.
• Sun hat: You’ll probably be spending a lot of time outdoors. So sun protection is a must! The one we use has extra neck protection because we always forget to apply sunscreen to the back of the neck.
• Packing cubes: I swear by packing cubes when packing for the family. It was helpful to be able to organize warm weather clothes for the city in one packing cube and hiking/outdoors clothes in another packing cube so that we didn’t have to unpack everything in each city.
• Favorite snacks: snacks are our go-to strategy for keeping our kiddo happy and occupied, whether we’re on a long train or plane ride, out on a hike, or trying to get out the door on time. While discovering new snacks at local supermarkets is always part of the fun, we also make sure to pack some tried-and-true favorites from home, just in case. And bringing your own lunchbox and snack containers to store said snacks while out and about is easier than finding disposable options abroad.
• Water bottle: Because we were out for most of the day, having our own water bottles was a must.
• Car Entertainment: since there were long stretches in the car on this road trip, car entertainment was a must. Sometimes we got lucky with timing a car nap, but when we didn’t, we relied on new books (pro tip: seek and find, lift the flap, or busy books entertain for longer), suction fidget spinners, and sensory toys.
• Sleep essentials: bring anything that your kid needs to sleep well to encourage good sleep while traveling. For us, that is a sound machine. When our kid was younger, we also brought his bedtime book (I can still recite it by memory!). We also used a Slumberpod on this trip. I was skeptical, but it really works! So much so that we were even using it over his crib at home for a while. Think anything that would be difficult to find exact replacements for abroad.
• Diapers and pull ups: if your kiddo is still in diapers, it is helpful to bring a starter pack of diapers or pull ups, or enough for the whole trip. While they may sell them in the grocery stores, you may not want to spend precious vacation time looking for diapers.
• Medications: it goes without saying to pack any prescription medications your kid is taking. I also bring over-the-counter kids medications like Children’s Tylenol and Children’s Zyrtec, just in case. I’m okay with buying OTC meds for myself and winging it with the translation when abroad, but I prefer using the kids’ OTC meds we’re familiar with because I am sure about the dosing and ingredients.
• Sunscreen: like medications, I like to use particular brands of sunscreen for my kid’s sensitive skin. This stick version has been a gamechanger for easily applying sunscreen to my kid’s face, which he usually hates!

Looking to see even more of Canada? Check out our epic toddler-friendly road trip from Banff and Jasper to Vancouver!