Pre-Trip Checklist — Bookings, Passes & Family Prep

Step 1 — Secure Parks Canada shuttle reservations (do this on April 15, 2026). Moraine Lake Road is closed to personal vehicles; the only ways in are the Parks Canada shuttle, a licensed commercial operator, or a Moraine Lake Lodge guest reservation. Reservations open April 15 at 8 am MDT through the Parks Canada Reservation Service. Your ticket covers Lake Louise access, Moraine Lake access via the Lake Connector shuttle, and the return trip to the Lake Louise Park and Ride. Check in at the Park and Ride kiosk during your one-hour departure window — reservation holders get free parking there. If you miss the launch-day drop, set an alarm for 8 am MDT exactly two days before your intended visit for the 60% release.

Step 2 — Decide on Roam Transit vs. Parks Canada shuttle for the Banff–Lake Louise leg. Roam Transit Route 8X runs between Banff and Lake Louise and requires a reservation for the 8X service; a Reservable Super Pass includes both Lake Louise and Moraine Lake access. If you are staying in Banff town and do not want to move both SUVs to the Park and Ride, Roam is the simpler family logistics choice.Step 3 — Buy your Parks Canada Discovery Pass. The Family/Group pass is $167.50 CAD for up to seven people in one vehicle. With two SUVs, buy two Family/Group passes if both vehicles will enter the parks separately. Youth 17 and under are free, so your 10-year-old and 6-year-old do not add cost, and the lap infant does not count. You can purchase at the park gate or online in advance.

Step 4 — Book the Maligne Lake Boat Cruise. Your itinerary budgets Adult $85 · Child $45 for the 2-hour cruise to Spirit Island, on an enclosed heated boat suitable for the infant. Pre-book for the 10:30 departure; the Maligne complex picnic area afterward has high chairs and space for the 6-year-old to run.Step 5 — Book the Columbia Icefield Ice Explorer + Skywalk if it is on your list. The Ice Explorer takes you onto the Athabasca Glacier, and the Skywalk is a glass-floored observation platform. Operating season is May 1 – October 12, 2026. This is the longest single stop on the Icefields Parkway day and should be timed so the infant’s car nap does not coincide with the glacier bus.

Step 6 — Pre-book the Banff Gondola if you are adding it. The gondola rises 698 m to 2,281 m on Sulphur Mountain. 2026 prices: Adult $76 · Child (6–15) $38 · Under 6 free; a family of four is approximately $195 CAD. Book online in advance to save up to 10% and skip the ticket queue; walk-up tickets can sell out by midday in peak season. Bring real layers — the summit is significantly colder and windier than the townsite.

Step 7 — Prepare the vehicle kit for two SUVs and three children. Car seats for the 6-year-old and infant (the youth 10 likely uses a booster or seatbelt per Alberta rules — confirm your rental agreement). A bear spray canister in each vehicle, knowing how to use it, and stored safely away from children. Snacks and water for the Icefields Parkway day: food options between Lake Louise and Jasper are limited, and your itinerary relies on a picnic lunch at Bow Lake.

Step 8 — Brief the family on the wildlife rules before you enter the park gate. Roadside viewing is restricted; stay in the vehicle, use hazard lights to alert others, and do not stop in driving lanes. On trails: 30 m from elk, deer, and moose; 100 m from bears; travel in groups, make noise, remove headphones, and back away if you encounter wildlife. Report aggressive encounters to Parks Canada Dispatch at 780-852-6155