OllieFCR

IMHO. You are better off renting a car and driving as there are many photo opportunities between Banff all the way up to Jasper. You want to start off early for the best light. There are also many fairly short hikes to go on that improve the photo opportunities. The first photo was from a road turnoff and the second was from a hike to Parker Ridge.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

Fly into Calgary, rent a car and drive. Pick up the park Pass Multiple areas for photography. Here is the URL to one of my blogs about Banff https://www.photobee1blog.com/2013/10/banff-springs-hotel-with-orion-and/ You can also find additional blogs about Banff and Jasper

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

We were there a couple years ago. Pretty disappointed in the shrinking glaciers.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

A car is most definitely not a “must”. Cars are part of the problem. Shrinking glaciers anyone?

rbmartiniv Loc: Nacogdoches, TX

Was there last fall and it was great. Look for Pitoe Lake also. It's on the Banff-Jasper highway and it is beautiful. Some of the images I shot are on my Smugmug site if you are interested.

kmctague

Close to Lake Louise is Moraine Lake which is a classic location. The color of the lake typically is best in the afternoon but beautiful anytime. It is a must see location.

cascoly Loc: seattle

Tours are usually very limited for photography - too many places you're interested in aren't covered.. Johnston Creek trail just outside Banff is a short but interesting hike with great views as you walk on catwalks over a stream. also look to the David Thompson highway east towards Calgary (and can continue on to badlands & hoodoos in Drumheller & best dinosaur museum at the Royal Tyrell)

also great for short hikes is the Kananaskis area south Banff

https://www.shutterstock.com/g/cascoly?searchterm=alberta

gleneric Loc: Calgary, Alberta

I have never been on bus tours out there as I can drive there (only an hour and a half +/- to Banff from my place east of Calgary) any time I want ... but I suspect that the bus tours may be limiting depending on what type of scenery you want to see. No matter how much time you have, you will not get to see everything that everyone will recommend, and people's recommendations will be biased by what type of scenery they like. If you are into certain specific types of photo opps (e.g., I like waterfalls, esp. in winter conditions), then you might be able to hit many of the highlight areas for that particular type of attraction. If you are into flower gardens and such, you would want to plan out a tour that focuses on entirely different destinations within the national parks than would be of interest to someone in search of viewing and photo opps for mountain or glacier scenery like posted above by OllieFCR.

June should be nice out there ... warm days but nights will still be chilly. Hopefully all of the snow will be gone by then!

Do pay attention to the speed limits, as noted by a few people ... a ticket is not the nicest of ways to get to meet the RCMP. Only 90 km/h (55 mph) on the TransCanada Highway through Banff National Park and often very low posted speed limits (30 km/h, or just under 20 mph) on the local streets in some of the towns.

SkiBear Loc: Cary, NC

There are several national & provincial parks around Banff. Don't overlook the smaller ones. There are some great places for photos that require some hiking. Ironically, for that you really need a car -- to drive to the small parking lots at the trailheads. There are a couple of good books describing hikes (scenery, difficulty, time, etc.) -- I'd suggest buying one and deciding which hikes you'd like to do. We mostly did hikes to waterfalls.

If you have time to go a little further south, there's Waterton park. It's on the Canadian side of our Glacier park. There's some great scenery there.

That entire area is truly one of the most beautiful places on earth. Northern Italy (Dolomites & Lake Area) and the Fjordlands park (Milford Sound) in New Zealand are right there with it.

Have Fun!

nhastings Loc: Telluride, CO

RENT A CAR!!! Then you can stop when and where you like. Take the Ice Fields Highway to Jasper. In my humble opinion, the most spectacular road in the Northern Hemisphere. Done it twice in winter/spring and will do it again in June when the waterfalls are flowing and the trees are greening. Don't rush and enjoy your photographic opportunities.

LeeK Loc: Washington State

Thanks everyone for your recommendations. I'm leaning toward renting a car after taking the train to Banff. I did a road trip down the Oregon coast 2 years ago and it was wonderful. The car affords so much flexibility. I'm going with my sister who has difficulty getting around so won't be able to go on real hikes but hopefully taking advantage of the pull-offs will do. I can always take a short walk as she waits (she loves just enjoying the beauty that abounds). Thanks 10MPlayer for the beautiful pictures. I'm hoping that in early June there will still be snow on the mountain tops. Also thanks for recommendations on taking warm clothes.

LeeK Loc: Washington State

OllieFCR- Initially missed your beautiful pictures. Thanks. I just can't wait for this trip.

gleneric Loc: Calgary, Alberta

Stop by the Parks Canada visitor information centre in Banff (a lovely old stone building on the east side of Banff Avenue (main drag through town) just south of Wolf Street ... parking behind/beside it, accessed from a rear alley/lane) ... they can point you in the direction of some "hiking" paths that are almost flat, and paved to boot ... in case your sister can handle those sorts of conditions. A number of places in the Town of Banff where you can park and see some amazing scenery without straying more than 100 ft. from your car.

I'd be happy to mark up a map of the town with a few suggestions if you want ... not that I would have anything that they couldn't tell you at the visitor centre :)

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

Take the tours to learn what you want to go back to, then rent a car. Look for cars pulled over by the side of the road... Sure shot wildlife sighting. Definitely do Jasper. Both are magnificent scenery and wildlife sightings. Be sure to get up early for sunrise and AM golden hour at Lake Louise. Also take a helicopter ride around the Athabasca Glacier ( not sure on the spelling :0) ) Glacial lakes are turquoise blue and magnificent! Have a great time, I'm jealous.

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

My husband is in a wheelchair and has limited mobility. There's plenty to see just from the road. With a good guide book, she can be your pilot and do color commentary on the road. Depending on her ability to transfer, the guides are wonderful and will help her while you are doing your photography thing.