Exploring Banff in a Wheelchair (Weekend Edition)
Banff is a beautiful town in Alberta, Canada that is known for its breathtaking mountain views, natural hot springs, and bright turquoise lakes. Normally that wouldn’t sound like the most accessible vacation, but actually, exploring Banff in a wheelchair is very doable!
If you are planning to spend a weekend (or more) in Banff, here are my top recommendations as a wheelchair user.
Getting Around
Banff is not a major city like Calgary or Edmonton, so I highly recommend having your own means of transportation. Wheelchair accessible buses are available in Banff, but if you plan on doing any hiking / exploring outside of town, you will certainly need your own vehicle. Plus, having your own vehicle will mean that you can stay on your own schedule and make the most out of your time here.
When I visited Banff, I flew into Calgary International Airport, which is about 3 hours from Banff. Unfortunately, wheelchair accessible van rentals are incredibly hard to come by here, but I was fortunately able to snag a side entry Dodge Grand Caravan from a company called Driving Force. They don’t advertise that they rent accessible vehicles on their website, but a friend of mine who lives locally let me know that they have 1 or 2 accessible vans in their fleet. I highly recommend calling them to secure your van before booking your flights or hotels, just in case they don’t have the van available for your specific dates. You wouldn’t want to be stuck with no way to get around!
Where to Stay
There are countless accommodation options in Banff, and truly I don’t think you can go wrong with whatever you choose! I’m not over exaggerating when I say that all of Banff is surrounded by mountains so you will have spectacular views wherever you end up.
I chose to stay at the Rimrock Hotel as it seamlessly checked all the boxes for me — their wheelchair accessible rooms were spacious and featured roll-in showers, onsite parking was available, and it was walking distance to the main attraction I wanted to visit, the Banff Gondola. Although we were out exploring most of the time, it was so nice to have such a gorgeous room to come back to at the end of the day.
There was plenty of turning radius at the end of the beds for my wheelchair to maneuver around the room
There was of a lot of room on either side of the toilet, as well as under the sink
The bathroom had a roll-in shower which was perfect for my needs. The hotel provided the bench in the shower.
If you’re interested in more budget-friendly options, consider staying in Canmore. This is a small town located just outside of Banff, and although the views are just as breathtaking, it can be quite a bit cheaper as it is less touristy and slightly further from all the major sights.
What to Do
If you only have a weekend in this beautiful town like I did, you’re going to want to spend it wisely. Here are a couple “must do’s” that I recommend putting on your list.
Take the Gondola up Sulphur Mountain
This was definitely the highlight of my trip, no doubt about it.
The Banff Gondola will take you 2,292 feet above ground on a 8-minute journey to the summit of Sulphur Mountain. This is truly such an incredible experience as you glide over the treetops and watch the world below you get smaller and smaller.
Plus, the best part about it is that it is all fully wheelchair accessible! Each of the gondolas can comfortably fit one wheelchair and one additional passenger.
Once you get to the top, there is an observation deck where you can take in all the beauty of the mountaintops. I truly could have spent hours up here — it was one of the most surreal views I have ever seen in my life. No amount of words or photos will ever do this view justice.
After you’ve checked out the observation deck, I highly recommend eating dinner at the Sky Bistro, where you will have panoramic views of the mountains while indulging in an incredible a-la-carte menu. Eating here was definitely the best meal I had on the trip, and if you’re an adventurous eater, this is surely the spot to try locally sourced Canadian cuisine like elk, bison, or arctic char.
I would highly recommend pre-booking your reservation here as this is an incredibly popular experience, and tables tend to book up fast.
Go hiking at Lake Louise
Lake Louise is a glacier lake known for its turquoise blue waters. Even if you don’t know the lake by name, you’ve undoubtedly seen it plastered on Christmas cards or computer wallpapers at least once in your life. It is one of the most famous landmarks in Canada.
Although hiking on any of the trails that go up the mountains would not be suitable for wheelchair users, there is a trail that goes along the perimeter of the lake that is fully paved. Spending time outdoors, taking in the fresh air, and soaking in the beauty of the waters was such an unforgettable experience. I would 100% recommend fitting this into your itinerary if you’re able to; it will likely take at least a half-day, but it will really make for some incredible memories.
Take a Boat Tour of Lake Minnewanka
If you’re looking for another unique way to explore Banff in a wheelchair, consider a boat cruise on the lake. It’s not too often that you find wheelchair accessible boat tours, so having the opportunity to do this was so much fun!
You can pre-buy your tickets at the Banff-Jasper Collection website (although please note these tours only go out in the Spring and Summer time). I would suggest arriving as early as possible so that you have time to talk to the staff and get on board the boat comfortably. The ramp that they put out was fairly steep, but it was definitely manageable and the staff were more than willing to help out when needed.
Once on board, I parked my chair right at the front of the boat, which was definitely the best seat in the house. We spent an hour touring the lake and enjoying the stunning scenery while the captain provided us with informing and entertaining commentary about the sites we were passing. It was such an incredible opportunity to learn about the beauty of our land while simultaneously enjoying a spectacular boat ride. The only regret I have is not booking a longer tour!
Spend Time in Town
Like most vacation destinations, you can never go wrong with spending an afternoon or evening exploring town! The town of Banff is such a quaint little village that has so much character and beauty. It is a perfect place to grab dinner, do a little shopping, and experience a little bit of nightlife. I unfortunately didn’t get to spend too much time in town as time was running low on our weekend trip, however, next time I go back I definitely plan to spend more time here. Indulging in a nice glass of wine over dinner in town would certainly be a fantastic way to end an extraordinary weekend.
Have you ever been to Banff? If so, comment and let me know what your favourite part was! I’m already mentally preparing my next visit there!
