The whole reason you want to elope in Banff is probably because overall, Banff is an epic location for an elopement. But Banff National Park is HUGE!! And when you say you want to elope in Banff, that is a very broad statement, because there are hundreds of epic locations you could choose for a Banff elopement. There are pristine turquoise mountain lakes, majestic towering peaks, endless hiking opportunities, waterfalls, helicopter rides, and more! How to choose which one is difficult. But I’m here to suggest a few of my favorite options for locations to elope in Banff.

Lake Locations for a Banff Elopement

There are many lakes around Banff National Park, some very popular, and for good reason. Some are not so popular because they are harder to get to, further away, etc. However, all of them are stunning and offer amazing views for an intimate elopement. If you want to have elopement photos taken at a lake in Banff, you can also add in additional locations. You don’t have to choose just one spot! So, here are some epic lake locations for a Banff Elopement:

• Moraine Lake – this one is very popular, and can only be accessed by taking a shuttle. This is probably one lake that almost everyone in the world knows about! But it is absolutely stunning. There is a rock pile that has a beautiful view over the lake and the surrounding peaks. This can be very crowded, so I wouldn’t recommend planning your whole elopement around this one location. However, if you want one or two photos here, it is worth it! You can also stop at Lake Louise in the same trip, if you want a photo beside that iconic lake too. They have canoe rentals also, so that would be an option for some additional elopement photos right on the lake. There are also some hikes that start at Moraine Lake, so it’s a good option for that too! You’ll need to be prepared for an early start to miss the crowds.
• Bow Lake – this is a little further from the Lake Louise area, but it’s super beautiful too and not as busy as Lake Louise or Moraine. It’s along the side of the Icefields Parkway and you can drive there. One bonus to this location is that you can actually hike to a nearby waterfall in about an hour, and get some really epic photos there! This lake is great for more adventurous couples wanting to paddleboard also. There are lots of areas around the shoreline for taking photos.
• Two Jack Lake – this little lake is close to the town of Banff, and has a beautiful view of Mount Rundle from the shoreline. I love this location at sunrise for elopement photos. There is also a nice meadow close by with great mountain back drops. Lake Minnewanka is just down the road too, and is another place to stop for photos! This is also a less busy location and super beautiful.

Hiking Locations for a Banff Elopement

Banff has many options for hiking elopement locations, from easy to difficult depending on your experience. There are several hikes in the Lake Louise area, as well as along Hwy 1 and the Icefields Parkway. Here are some I’d recommend! Make sure you look into them and judge for yourself whether they are doable for your hiking experience!

• Cory Pass – this is a difficult hike, but incredible views for the more experienced hikers. I would hands down recommend this for an elopement. It’s a loop, and has some insane rock walls and views. It’s very easily accessible too!
• Bow Glacier Falls – this is the hike that starts at Bow Lake. It’s not a difficult hike at all, but several kilometers long. It doesn’t have much elevation gain which is good for some couples! The waterfall is stunning and the open 360 views of the mountains are incredible.
• Sentinel Pass – this hike starts at Moraine Lake, and is one of the best views I’ve ever seen. There are some lakes on the way up also, that provide the most epic reflections of the peaks behind. You need a bit more planning for this one to book the shuttle for sunrise, and get an early start to beat the crowds. But it’s so worth it!

Using a Helicopter for your Banff Elopement

If you want to elope in Banff and include a helicopter ride as a part of it, I’d highly recommend Rockies Heli. They are not right in Banff themselves, but I’m going to give you a sample timeline of how you can include a helicopter in your Banff elopement. Rockies Heli is about 2 hours from Banff, with a stunning drive up the Icefields Parkway to get there. You will not be disappointed by that drive. Here is how you can fit in the helicopter for your elopement!

• 1pm – Get ready in Banff hotel
• 2pm – Start driving towards Icefields Parkway
• 3pm – Stop at Bow Lake for elopement ceremony
• 3:30pm – Take photos around Bow Lake shoreline
• 4:30pm – Drive to Rockies Heli
• 5:30pm – Arrive at Rockies Heli
• 6:15pm – Flight up to the mountain top to exchange personal vows
• 6:30pm – Take elopement photos on the mountain with the helicopter
• 8:15pm – Fly down from the mountain and wrap up
• 8:30pm – Drive back to Banff
• 10:30pm – Arrive in Banff

You could also stay in the Rockies Heli area if you didn’t feel like driving all the way back that evening! But doing the helicopter in the evening makes for great sunset golden light and I’d highly recommend that!

If you’re interested in any of these locations or more help planning your elopement, I’d love to chat! Photographing elopements in Banff is my favorite thing to do and I can’t wait to help you too!