Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
9-Day Glacier National Park + Banff Itinerary
46
items 2 areas I’m already dying to go back to! If you only had 9 days to explore Glacier National Park in Montana and various Canadian national parks (Yoho, Banff, & Kootenay) I steal this itinerary which includes hiking, food/drinks, must see items, s...
Sections
9
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 1
Fly into Kalispell and start the trip!
Fly into Kalispell, MT. We picked early flight so we still had the afternoon to rest, explore and prepare for our hikes
United Airlines
We rented a mid-size SUV through enterprise and made sure we were able to cross the border with this company. They made the process fast and easy
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
We drove from Kalispell to Whitefish and grabbed lunch and explored downtown whitefish
Whitefish, Montana
Ate here for lunch and loved the smashburger!! And tried a local beer 🍻
Craggy Range Bar & Grill
Cute coffee shop in downtown whitefish. We grabbed coffees after lunch to sip on while we shopped
Montana Coffee Traders
While in whitefish we went to flathead lake that evening before checking into our Airbnb
Flathead Lake | Montana FWP
We booked an Airbnb to stay 2 nights in whitefish on the Westside of Glacier
Airbnb
We ate dinner here on day one. Highly recommend the huckleberry margarita!
Jalisco Cantina
Day 2
GNP
Highlights - Highline trail, mountain goats and bears!
We woke up bright and early to reach the trailhead parking lot between 6-6:30. We completed an abbreviated hike (8 miles total) instead for hiking all the way to the loop as the shuttle service closed for the season the week before we got there.
Highline Trail Trailhead
We ate sandwiches we had packed in the Logan pass parking lot following highline trail and then completed this 2 miles hike to hidden lake overlook. I’ll warn you no mentions how hard the stairs are on this hike and won’t suggest it after already goi...
Hidden Lake Overlook, Montana
Where we got most of our merch and souvenirs. Unless you get here early for hiking the parking lot fills up fast!
Logan Pass - Glacier National Park (U.S. ...
After leaving Logan pass we drove back down going to the sun road and headed out to the North Fork side of the park (about 1-1.5 hour drive) and stopped at Polebridge merchant tile some huckleberry bear claws that did not disappoint
Polebridge Mercantile
Located in the north fork section of the park (~a 30 mins drive from the mercantile in polebridge). Very peaceful and the perfect lake to swim, kayak or paddle board in. Parking is very limited
Bowman Lake
We ended our day at bulldog saloon in downtown whitefish with huckleberry wings and a cold beer before heading back to the Airbnb for some much needed rest
Bulldog Saloon
Day 3
GNP: driving going to the sun road, avalanche lake and St. Mary Village
We started our day at wild coffee co. I got a vanilla and Haskill breakfast sandwich. They have grab and go sandwichs and snack boxes which is perfect for those early mornings when you don’t have time to wait too long for food
WILD Coffee Company
This day was solely dedicated to driving the sun road and making various stops along the way and included one hike.
Highlights:
- lake McDonald
- avalanche lake/trail of cedars
- big bed
- Logan pass
- Jackson glacier overlook
Going-to-the-Sun Road
6 miles total and one of my favorite hikes in the park. I would rate it moderately hard but so worth it
Avalanche Lake
We ended our day at St Mary village on the east side of the park. We stayed the night in the lodge. We had dinner at the resultant inside the lodge and got a few more souvenirs at their gift shop.
St. Mary Village
Day 4
Exploring the many glacier area (which include my new favorite hike of all time)
We drove 30 minutes from St Mary to Many Glacier early in the morning and grabbed breakfast and coffee at the hotel before setting out on our hike. We also ate a late lunch here in the restaurant following our hike
Many Glacier Hotel
One of the best and most rewarding hikes I’ve done in my life. 11 miles total, 3 lakes, a glacier and so much wildlife and stunning view as the whole way
Grinnell Glacier Trail, Montana
To make a long day longer we drove 2 hours from the east side of glacier across the border to Calgary and stayed the night the clique hotel.
Hotel Clique
Day 5
We made the 2 hour scenic drive from Calgary to Yoho National Park and spent the day here exploring some of the top features
Yoho National Park
First stop after the visitor center was emerald lake! Highly recommend canoeing here and enjoying lunch at the lodge restaurant
Emerald Lake
A quick road side stop but honestly features such breathtaking views and I still can’t get over the water color
Natural Bridge
Another quick stop in yoho and you can walk pretty close to the waterfall!
Takakkaw Falls
We didn’t have time for this one but it was on the list and I would love to check it out if we went back!
Wapta Falls
Next we headed back towards Canmore were we booked an Airbnb for the remainder of our Canada stay
Town of Canmore: Home
Then we did an evening hike to upper grassi lake (2 miles) - moderately strenuous. Honestly was an okay hike but the views weren’t as great as others on the trip
Grassi Lakes Trail
Following the hike we got dinner at the rose and crown in Canmore before heading back to the Airbnb. Such a fun spot to enjoy a beer and beautiful views after a long day
Rose and Crown Canmore
Day 6
We stopped for coffee and pastries here before for hitting the icefield parkway. Highly recommend the maple latte and the almond pastries!
Wild Flour Bakery
We spent the day driving the icefields parkway from Banff towards Jasper. We turned around at the athanbasca glacier/columbia icefields which is about a halfway point to Jasper. If I did this trip again I would go all the way to jasper and spend time...
Icefields Parkway
We ate dinner at 3 bear brewery. I recommend the bear flight and the 3 cheese pizza
Three Bears Brewery & Restaurant
After dinner we walked around and shopped in downtown Banff. Big bear trading co was the perfect shop for gifts/souvenirs
Downtown Banff
Day 7
Early wake up to catch the 6:30 am shuttle to lake Louise for sunrise. We used parks Canada shuttle service
Lake Louise
This hike was on our list to do but my friend they had knee which ended the hiking adventures in our trip. Will definitely be doing this one if I go back!
Little Beehive via Lake Agnes Trail
We used the connector shuttle to take use over to lake moraine which was about 20 mins away. Also a pretty lake and you should hike up to the rockpile to get the best view
Moraine Lake
Next we went back to our Airbnb/resort and hung out at the hot tub before getting for dinner
Airbnb
Such a good restaurant! Looked the spaghetti and spicy meatballs
LUPO Italian Ristorante
After dinner we took the gondola up to sulphur mountain and enjoy the sunset and a drink 🍷
Banff Gondola
Had to try the iconic beaver tails! My friend moved the pistachio one and I tried the apple pie
Beaver Tails
Day 8
Such a good brunch spot! The breakfast sandwich was delicious
Sudden Sally
We hit this national park on our drive back to Montana
Highlights:
- Marble canyon
- Numa falls
- Paint pots
- Olive lake
- Sinclair canyon
Kootenay National Park
After making it back across the border to Montana we stopped back in whitefish and ate at this restaurant. Seemed like a locals restaurant and would totally go back
Buffalo Cafe
We stayed here our last night and it was about 18 minutes from the airport
Hampton Inn by Hilton Kalispell
Day 9
Loved this coffee shop! I tried one of their fall specials. We definitely being coming back here next time I’m in glacier
Colter Coffee
Flying back home 😔
United Airlines