Pet-Friendly Places to Take Your Furry Friends in Banff

Banff is one of the most beautiful places to vacation on Earth, but many can't imagine a break without taking their pets in tow!  If you don't want to leave your pup at home and want to share your adventures with them, it's completely possible to!

What to Know Before You Go

Banff is extremely pet-friendly, but it does have some rules to ensure that your animals and the wildlife are both kept safe.  Although your dog may be extremely well behaved if someone else assumes theirs is and it isn't: it could harass and harm the wildlife that's highly protected in this area.

Because of this, all dogs have to stay on leash at all times.  A couple of fenced-in dog parks are the exceptions, but generally, if you have your animal with you outside of a confined area, it needs to be on a leash.

This also protects your pup since Banff is home to wildlife ranging from mountain goats to bears, and you don't want your animal crossing with those. 

Some areas are off-limits, but they're generally private businesses, like the Banff Gondola.  Since there's no way to guarantee safety for your animals on these or keep it sanitary for the other guests, pets aren't allowed on this.

Regardless of where you go, ensure that you pack a small collapsible water dish, some food, and some puppy bags to clean up after them.

Fairmont Banff Springs

If you want to enjoy the best views the area has to offer, the Fairmont Banff Springs has a lot to offer your pets! Every angle from these springs is gorgeous and leaves a lot of open space so that you can run and be active with your dog.

The Trails and Hiking Areas

Speaking of running and being active: there are endless trails you can go through!  If you have an active breed, your dog may enjoy the beautiful trails and hiking paths all over the area.  If your dog isn't bike-friendly or panics at them, please consider going on walking-only trails to ensure that everyone is as safe as possible.

Fantastic Swimming In The Lakes

There are plenty of lakes you can swim in!  The creekside Fenland Trail is dog-friendly, so you and your pup can go swimming together in the summer.  Your dog should still be on a leash, so try not to go too deep into the water.  

Walking Around Downtown

Downtown Banff has an emphasis on dog-friendly businesses!  Many keep water dishes outside of their shops so that your dog can stop for a drink, and most allow for animals to come inside as long as they're not soaking wet from swimming and are generally well behaved.  This can be a nice break from looking at Banff homes for sale, so you can instead shop and eat together with your furry friend.