Banff Hop On Hop Off bus - 30/08/2025
This is not a traditional hop on hop off bus as you would find in a city, rather it was an old yellow school bus. Dominique provided an interesting commentary and excellent advice on planning your day.
The first stop was at Johnstone Canyon, where people were given clear instructions on where to catch the next bus.
The bus then carried on the Bow Valley Parkway, to a 15 minute stop at Castle Rock viewpoint.
There was then a slight pause at Mordants Curve.
Then there was a break and the opportunity to get a coffee at the lodge at the base of the Lake Louise Gondola.
The bus then went to Lake Louise before heading upto Moraine Lake. This, according to my watch, had taken 1hr 45min but due to the commentary and the amazing scenery, it didn't feel like it.
It was great on the bus being able to get a good view of the mountains behind the lake.
We reached Moraine Lake about 10 before the sun had fully reached the water.
First we walked down the Lakeside. The view opened up as the light got higher, the lake changed colour and the mountains became more majestic.
Then the colour started to appear in the water
Then it was up to the Rockpile. Yes it is a pile of rocks.
First the classic view with the trees from the viewing platform
But after nipping over a little wall.
It was stunning, a picture can not do it justice.
The only downside was that I could not believe just how many people were there.
About 2 hours after we arrived the big yellow school bus pulled into the parking lot and it was off to Lake Louise.
We had plans to do the hike to the Little Beehive, but then thought better of it and just took a leisurely walk along the lake shore. It turned out to be a glorious walk.
Before long the crowds thinned out, and more mountain came into view, and the hotel disappeared into the distance.
We walked to the end of the lake onto the sandbar.
And a very unusual view of the hotel
And then on to the boardwalk at the base of the cliff, to the start of the Six Glacier Walk.
And the unusual sight of two water sources meeting
All along the walk we had the ever-changing woodland, streams and rocky outcrops, to one side and then glorious views over the lake to the other which was never static as the sunlight played across the landscape.
After about three hours we caught the big yellow bus back to Banff.
Being a school bus the windows opened so there was the chance to take a few photos, out of the open windows of Vermillion Lakes on the way back.
None of the stress of trying to book shuttles, rather, a very distinctive bus on a schedule with excellent guides. It may not be the cheapest, but you pay for quality.
Back: Banff
Forward: Kootenay
