Banff Elopement Tips: How to Avoid the Crowds

bride and groom hold holds and laugh on the shore of Lake Minnewanka in Banff with Mount Inglismaldie in the background.

These two sweet peas drove out from Calgary for an adventure session in the mountains on a gorgeous June evening, and Lake Minnewanka truly delivered. While the lake, like anywhere in Banff National Park, is pretty chaotic during peak hours, we found that we had so much space to ourselves in the later evening. Keep reading for my tips on avoiding the crowds when planning your Banff Elopement!

~ this session was photographed entirely on 35mm film, and I can’t get over how gorgeous these mountain blues look on Portra 400!! ~

bride and groom walk along the rocky shoreline of Lake Minnewanka in Banff with mountains in the background.

bride and groom hold each other and laugh by the lake in Banff National Park

How to Avoid the Crowds for Your Lake Minnewanka Elopement

With glacier-blue water, mountains on all sides, and close proximity to the town of Banff, Lake Minnewanka is one of the most iconic lakes in Banff, which means it is one of the most visited. It can be hard to fathom just how crowded Banff gets in the summer time until you see it for yourself, so keep reading to check out my top tips for planning an elopement you will love without the chaos!

Bride and Groom walk through a lush green campground in Banff National Park

Bride and Groom laugh and spin each other around in a campground in Banff National Park

bride and groom hold hands and spin around in a lush green campground in Banff National Park

bride and groom laugh in the forest in Banff National Park

Bride laughs while groom holds her hand in a field in Banff

1. Best Time of Year to Elope in Banff

Timing is everything! July and August are peak season here, so I would definitely advise planning your Lake Minnewanka Elopement in the shoulder season if at all possible. Even May-June, September-October are less hectic than the summer, and each season has it’s own unique charm. In the spring, the mountains will still be snow-capped, which makes for a beautiful and dramatic backdrop. In the fall, the larches turn a beautiful golden orange which is so beautiful to see!

Time of day is a big factor too! This sweet session with Amanda and Braden was in late June, when the tourist crowds were definitely quite hectic, but we went out later in the evening in the golden hour and we had the place practically to ourselves, since the tour groups don’t run that late. I also location scouted early in the morning just after sunrise, and it was absolutely quiet! Both sunrise and sunset on this beautiful lake would make a stunning location for your Banff Elopement, with gorgeous soft light and fewer crowds.

bride and groom wander the shoreline of Lake Minnewanka in Banff with mountains in the background

bride and groom explore a rocky outcrop in Lake Minnewanka in Banff with mountains all around them

2. Go past the first viewpoint

The biggest tip I have for all of Banff National Park: Go past the initial viewpoint and the crowd instantly thins. So many folks roadtrip through the area and just stop to take a look before moving on, while the number of people who actually explore further into a trail is a lot less. So if you want to find a quieter experience, keep walking! With mountains all around and some of the best views a little further on, this is definitely a Banff Elopement location where you will want to explore more.

bride and groom hold hands on a rocky outcrop in Banff with mountains all around them

Bride and Groom walk along the rocky shore of Lake Minnewanka in Banff

3. Plan Your Banff Elopement on a Weekday

The beauty of eloping is that you can choose to elope on a Tuesday instead of a Saturday – and it will give you a lot more space on the trails! Weekends are the busiest times in the park, and also the busiest times for other wedding professionals you might want to hire like florists, makeup artists, etc, so planning your Banff elopement on a week day is always a good idea!

Groom walks towards bride, who is twirling on the shore of Lake Minnewanka arrounded by mountains.

bride and groom laugh and hold each other on the shore of a glacier-blue lake in Banff National Park

bride and groom hold hands as they wander along the shore at a mountain lake in Banff

Bride and groom explore Lake Minnewanka together during their Banff elopement

4. The Best Banff Elopement Location Is…

My hot take? The best way to avoid the crowds at Banff National Park is to avoid Banff National Park! This is Canada’s most visited national park, the traffic is intense, the parking is intense, everything is incredibly expensive, and at peak season it feels more like visiting a theme park than a national park. The best Banff Elopement location is outside the park.

The mountain landscapes of BC and Alberta are a vast and awe-inspiring place, with dozens more national and provincial parks to explore for better and more unique views, less overwhelm, and a much more intimate experience with nature. Some of my favourite areas are found just outside of Banff: Jasper National Park to the north, Kananakis Country to the east, Yoho National Park to the west, and Revelstoke a little farther west. Check out my guides for eloping in Kananaskis and Revelstoke for more info!

Bride and groom kiss on a dirt path surrounded by tall evergreen trees during their Banff elopement

Want to know more about eloping in Banff National Park?

Check out my other Banff Elopement planning resources, including my full Banff Elopement Planning Guide, and my suggestions for the best places to stay for your Banff Elopement!

Not sure Banff is the right choice for you? Check out my elopement guides for Revelstoke, Kananskis and Newfoundland!

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