The Best Photo Locations in Alberta, Canada

With places like Banff and Jasper, a trip to Alberta is a photographer’s dream. Here are 10 of the best photo locations in Alberta, Canada!

With absolutely stunning landscapes such as badlands, mountains, rivers, lakes, prairies, and forests scattering the province, Alberta is one of the best locations for landscape photography in the world. Narrowing the beauty down to just a few spots was not an easy thing to do!

 

10 Best Photo Locations in Alberta, Canada

 

Athabasca Falls

One of the most powerful waterfalls to be found in the Canadian Rockies, Athabasca Falls is a 23-meter tall beauty flowing in from the Athabasca River. While the falls are photo-worthy in their own right, they’re even more spectacular set against the Mount Kerkeslin backdrop.

Note however that the mist from the falls tends to create a slippery environment. Remember to stay on the paved trails!

 

Johnston Canyon

Nestled in Banff National Park, Johnston Canyon is home to waterfalls, a forest, a creek, and canyon walls that stretch up into the sky. While we recommend visiting the canyon in the wintertime for the most dramatic icy landscapes (and the ice walk tour), this destination is a great photography spot all year round.

 

Icefields Parkway

Stretching through Banff and Jasper National Parks, The Icefields Parkway (also known as Highway 93 N) is rated as one of the most beautiful drives on the planet. The 232-kilometer double-lane highway will take you through ice fields, valleys, and mountains. Trust us, you’ll be stopping along this route for photo opportunities every chance you get.

Read more: The Ultimate Packing Guide for Travel Photographers

 

Lake Louise

Just an hour east of Banff you’ll find Lake Louise, a gorgeously blue-hued lake surrounded by dramatic picturesque mountains that seemingly hold up Victoria Glacier. Note that because Lake Louise can get rather crowded in the summertime, the best shots tend to be either from the water or off one of the hiking trails.

 

Maligne Canyon

Sitting at the entrance to Maligne Valley in Jasper National Park, Maligne Canyon is the deepest canyon in the park, and is known for its chilling atmosphere. While the canyon is staggeringly beautiful any time of year, in the winter the crashing waterfalls freeze over offering some up-close, icy photography opportunities.

To help explore this canyon and get some unreal shots, there are six bridges stretching across various points.

 

Maligne Lake

A pristine crystal-clear lake surrounded by glaciers and about an hour’s drive from Maligne Canyon, Maligne Lake is the second-largest glacier lake in the world. The azure-blue lake is characterized by Spirit Island, which lies in the middle. For the best shots and the most efficient way to see Maligne Lake, we recommend renting a kayak and hitting the water.

Read more: 5 Common Travel Photography Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)

 

Moraine Lake

Located in Banff National Park and just 14km from Lake Louise, Lake Moraine is a glacially fed lake surrounded by mountains and waterfalls. While this is a spectacular spot all year, it is even more spectacular for photos in June when the glaciers melt and turn the lake an even more turquoise blue.

 Read more: The Best Places to Travel Solo in Canada

 

Two Jack Lake

A favourite spot among photographers due to its pink and purple sunsets, Two Jack Lake is a peaceful spot just north of Banff. The mountains and trees reflected in the still waters of Two Jack will give you swoon-worthy shots.

 

Lake Minnewanka

A glacial man-made lake in eastern Banff National Park, lake Minnewanka is known for its blue waters and, in the wintertime, Northern Lights. That’s right, when the conditions are right, Lake Minnewanka is one of the best locations in Alberta for some Aurora Borealis viewing, which makes for awesome photography!

 

Town of Banff

While adventuring through Banff National Park, a stop in at the charming town of Banff proper will offer you plenty of fantastic landscape views as well as a great dose of local culture. For awesome photography spots in Banff, be sure to ride the gondola for landscape views and wander around town for a feel of the mountain-town charm.

Read more: The Best Camera Lenses for Travel Photography

 

Photo Gear Packing Essentials

 

Camera Bag: To easily carry your camera equipment around, we recommend either the PacSafe Anti-Theft Camera Backpack, the Kattee Fashion Canvas Camera Backpack, or the ONA Bowery Camera Bag.

Extra SD Cards: Always be sure to carry plenty of SD cards on hand; we recommend either the 64GB SD Card Class 10 or, for wifi capabilities, the Eyefi 32 GB Class 10.

Camera Protection: Protecting your camera equipment is essential and we never leave home without a rain sleeve, microfiber lens cloth, lens pen, and a backpack cover. Additionally, if you plan on going on or in the water, we highly recommend getting a GoPro to avoid any water-related camera incidents.

Compact Tripod: For selfies and Northern Lights photos, a compact tripod is a must.

 For more photography packing tips, read our Ultimate Packing Guide for Travel Photographers!

 

 

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