Another question about Banff to Jasper

You may want to take a look at our blogs for 2015 and 2009 when we visited the area. The 2015 trip is probably more pertinent and the Banff portions starts here. The 2009 trip we saw the area on the way back from Alaska and started at Jasper which starts here. You will see that we take a boatload of pictures and post a good many of them.

While in Banff, make sure to hike the Johnston Canyon and while in Jasper, the Maligne Canyon. In addition to a lots of other hikes in the area, those are two not to be missed.

If you are in the area in mid to late September, the elk rutting at Waterton is another do not miss event. There are also some nice trails there.

I agree with those who suggest the Lake Louise area has a greater number of spectacular things to see but we prefer Jasper to Banff townsites. Be sure to take your toad up the paved road to Takakaw falls in Yoho park while camped at Lake Louise(power available here) or perhaps while camped in Yoho park itself (no power) and be sure to walk to one of the teahouses at Lake Louise (Agnes lake teahouse is an easier hike while the Plain of Six glaciers teahouse offers broader views) as well as doing the walk along Morraine lake. Both the Morraine lake and the Lake Louise parking fill up early so plan for that.

While at the Icefields the Parker's ridge trail is nearby and offers spectacular scenery as does the Wilcox pass trail.

From Jasper (assuming you get a camp site here) the drive to Mount Edith Cavell and a walk along the trail there is worthwhile as is the drive to Maligne lake.

When we went to Alaska in '13, we planned to boondock for one night in the parking lot for the Columbia Icefields Glacier. It was quite cold and the winter was blowing very strong. There are no hookups, and we probably could have stayed warm, but I think our batteries would have drained keeping the furnace going. We decided to move on. It was very beautiful and a lot to photograph!

Dale

If you want to stay between Banff and Lake Louise the only campground accepting reservations is Johnston Canyon. That would be great but according to their website they suggest a maximum length of 27 feet. It will take you about 40 minutes to drive from Banff to Lake Louise turn off, without stopping. It will be longer on 1A which you will want to take at least once.
I prefer the Lake Louise area, the downside is the campground is adjacent to the Main transcontinental line of the Canadian Pacific Railway and it is busy. There are an abundance of hiking trails all over but again I like the ones in the Lake Louise area.
As far as day trips for your Jeep consider a drive down Highway 40 to Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. There are some very nice hiking trails in that area. Highway 93 to Radium, and for sure a drive into Yoho, Takakkaw Falls and Emerald Lake. There are also trails there.
You might consider a Burgess Shale Hike in Yoho. This is a fossil area, only guided tours, which must be booked well in advance.
The Morraine Lake area near Lake Louise is a must and the Larch Valley trail starting there is my favorite but you may need a group of 6. If you stay at Banff you might drive to the overflow camping east of Lake Louise and take the shuttle up. (Lake Louise & Morraine).
If you do stay a couple of nights at the Icefields you could take a drive on Highway 11 to Nordegg, a former coal mining town. There are also Helecopter tours of the Icefields.
The Jasper area is very nice, less busy than Banff and more open. Again many trails, often with much less elevation gains.
Drives, one day to Maligne Lake with a visit to Maligne Canyon, one day around Mount Edith Cavell with a possible trip up the cable car on Whistlers. Maybe 16 west to Mount Robson depending on which way you plan to leave.
Camping at Jasper may be an issue as Whistlers is closed and Wapiti is much smaller. I like Wabasso but again they suggest 27 feet.
I would suggest 6 nights Banff / Lake Louise, 1-2 in between and 3-4
Jasper.
I don't know if you will hear much from the Glacier but in the Morraine Lake, Larch valley you are pretty sure to hear avalanches.
Late June there is almost 19 hours daylight then it slowly recedes so you shouldn't need to be up in the dark.
If you would like some information on some of the drives or hiking trails let me know.

If your making a side trip to Calgary to see an aviation display, you should take a longer side trip ( not sure how your getting to Banff ,so...unsure on your routes to an from Banff area) however... check out the Nanton Bomber Command Museum... in Nanton Alberta. There are roads you can easily take to bypass Calgary. ( Hwy 20 at Jct with Hwy 1 west of Calgary) then ( 533 between Longview and Black Diamond)
http://www.bombercommandmuseum.ca/
Soup.

Well Lake Louise is a photographers paradise. Getting there for the morning light always helps, We didn't make it further north than a day trip out of Banff but that would be where I spent most of my time. And if you can come back on the west side of the mountains to get a look at Yoho NP. It was raining when we went thru but that's another photogenic area.

My photos are on a drive that I have attached right now or I could post some shots. As for the town of Banff...if you've seen one tourist town then you've seen Banff. Except for the prices.