Banff delivers an unusually high concentration of genuinely spectacular scenery within a short driving radius. Here are ten things worth building a trip around. Lake Louise and Moraine Lake are the two most photographed lakes in Canada — arrive at sunrise if possible, since parking fills and shuttle-only access often kicks in by mid-morning in peak season. The Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain delivers a 360-degree panorama over the Bow Valley without requiring any hiking — a strong first-day activity to get oriented. Johnston Canyon's catwalk trail leads to lower and upper waterfalls through a narrow limestone canyon, one of the park's most accessible great hikes for most fitness levels. The Icefields Parkway, running north from Lake Louise, is regularly ranked among the most scenic drives in the world — even a partial drive toward Peyto Lake is worth an afternoon. The Bow Valley Parkway, a slower alternative route between Banff and Lake Louise, offers genuinely common wildlife sightings, including elk and occasionally bears at a safe distance. The Banff Upper Hot Springs offer a relaxed, geothermally heated soak with mountain views — a good way to end a day of hiking or driving. Canoeing on Lake Louise or Moraine Lake, rentals available lakeside, gives a different vantage point on water that's already stunning from shore. The Cave and Basin Historic Site explains how Banff became Canada's first national park, useful context if you want some history alongside the scenery. A hike to Lake Agnes Tea House, above Lake Louise, rewards a moderate uphill walk with tea served at a rustic cabin overlooking the lake below. Finally, Peyto Lake's viewpoint, a short walk from a parking area along the Icefields Parkway, offers one of the most striking turquoise-lake views in the entire park without requiring a long hike. A rental car is essentially mandatory for this trip — public transit covers the Banff townsite itself but not most trailheads or the Icefields Parkway.