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Family Camping in Jasper & Banff: What to Bring. Alberta Trip Packing List.

Alberta National Parks Hiking and Camping Packing List: everything you’d ever need to have a memorable, worry-free, super-fun adventure with your kids in Jasper and Banff National Parks!

For many Canadian travelers, a road trip to Alberta's Jasper and Banff National Parks is at the top of the summer vacation bucket list. Just thinking of our last Vancouver to Alberta road trip makes me want to immediately run packing my backpack! The land of the sky-high Rocky Mountains, magnificent glaciers, and stunning turquoise lakes is indeed inspiring, picturesque, recharging, and makes the best travel memories! You want those memories to be perfect, and not an overpacking nightmare or missed items and time wasted on shopping for necessities. With our ultimate Alberta Road Trip Packing List let’s break down what you need to have with you to have an easy camping trip and hiking adventure with kids.

***This post contains affiliate links and we may earn compensation when you click on the links at no additional cost to you. All product recommendations and feedback are ours and based on personal experience.  Please refer to our Disclosure Policy. 

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Alberta Road Trip Packing List Quick Links:

• What Moms and Dads Should Wear
• Clothing and Footwear for Kids
• Backpack
• Hiking Gear
• Camping Gear
• Food Preparation
• Sunscreen
• Bugs and Mosquitos
• Bear Safety and Wildlife
• Photography & Video Equipment
• Travel, Hike, and Camp with an Infant Baby
• Other Misc. Useful Things 
• Travel Insurance

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What Moms and Dads Should Wear When Camping in Jasper and Banff National Parks

Hiking Tops

On your summer road trip to Banff and Jasper, you should have a few hiking tops with you. Bring both short sleeves and a few with long sleeves as the weather in Canadian Rockies is quite unpredictable. We recommend synthetic material stretchy fabric sportswear tops. Synthetic materials are better at soaking sweat and then quickly drying, and not holding in moisture. 

✅ Jasper and Banff Hiking Packing List Item: x3 short sleeve activewear shirts

✅ Alberta Road Trip Packing List Item: x2 long sleeve activewear shirts

In addition, bring a hoodie or a warm coat that you can leave in your car and wear in the evening. As soon as the sun goes down in Banff and Jasper, it becomes chilly even in the summer months (yes, even in August). 

✅ Jasper and Banff Camping Packing List Item: hoodie or a sweater

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Hiking Pants and Shorts

Same advice for hiking pants and shorts: try choosing something synthetic and stretchy like sportswear or special pants for hiking from outdoor stores. Avoid wearing jeans or cotton pants. Natural linen is ok. Leggings are ok too, just not cotton. Your jeans and cotton leggings, if they get wet from sweat, snow, or glacier lake water, will become bulky and uncomfortable. Cotton fabric tends to hold moisture and can get a cold quickly from the cool mountain breeze, especially near waterfalls. 

✅ Jasper and Banff Hiking Packing List Item: x2 shorts

✅ Banff and Jasper Packing List Item: x2 non-cotton hiking pants

✅ Alberta Road Trip Packing List Item: non-cotton leggings

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Base Layers and Undergarments

Base layers are extremely important to camp in Alberta and sleep in a tent at one of many gorgeous Jasper or Banff National Parks campgrounds. By base layers, I mean leggings and a top that you’d wear when sleeping in a tent, and underneath your regular clothing if you decide to take a walk at night ‘cuz it is getting quite cold even in the summer.

I chose base lawyers made of merino wool. It is natural. It is warm. Even if you sweat, wool does not hold moisture and does not cool you off. 

✅ Alberta Camping Packing List Item: merino wool long-sleeve top

✅ Jasper and Banff Camping Packing List Item: merino wool base layer pants

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For undergarments, the same rule applies: no cotton. Activewear is the best. Having a good sports bra will ensure your hiking in Alberta is comfortable. Avoid lace on your panties, as it is easy to get a rash from all this hiking, sweating, crawling, climbing, taking gazillion photos!

✅ Alberta Hiking Packing List Item: non-lace non-cotton underwear

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Hats

Once again, be mindful of the sun. But also, ensure you have your ears warm at night if you’re camping and sleeping in a tent in Alberta. 

We typically take two hats: a baseball hat or a summer hat for hiking, and a warm hat or a beanie for sleeping. 

✅ Jasper and Banff Hiking Packing List Item: sunhat 

✅ Jasper and Banff Camping Packing List Item: a warm hat for sleeping in a tent

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Socks 

Same. Same. Same. No cotton. Best socks for hiking, even in the summer, and even during the heatwave as they come to Alberta in August are those made of merino wool. 

✅ Jasper and Banff Hiking Packing List Item: x3 merino wool socks

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Shoes and Footwear 

Proper hiking shoes will make it or break it for you on your Alberta camping trip. Nothing can be worse than developing foot sores, or having uncomfortable footwear when you have one of those Rocky Mountains to conquer.

We always bring two pairs of hiking shoes with us: one for easy hikes and another for harder and higher elevation hikes. 

The proper hiking shoes for higher elevation and harder conditions hikes will be those higher up fully covering your ankles, with a sturdy hard sole. These are typically also water-proof and snow-proof.

✅ Jasper and Banff Hiking Packing List Item: hiking boots for harder conditions

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The shoes for easier hikes can be lower cut, more flexible, yet the sole must be hard and non-slippery.

✅ Alberta Hiking Packing List Item: lighter hiking shoes for easier hikes

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In addition, we have a pair of sneakers and a pair of sandals or flip-flops. One of which should be somewhat decent-looking if you plan to find time and have dinner at one of Banff’s upscale restaurants. Jasper’s restaurants are super-chill and relaxed. They'll serve you even if you just came down from a mountain, lol! 

✅ Alberta Road Trip Packing List Item: decent-looking sneakers

✅ Jasper and Banff Camping Packing List Item: sandals or flip-flops

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Swimwear

Don't miss the opportunity to take a dip in one of the many stunning glacier lakes that Banff and Jasper National Parks are so famous for! Bring your swimsuit!

✅ Jasper and Banff Road Trip Packing List Item: Swimsuit

If you are planning to stay on the water for prolonged time kayaking, canoeing, or paddle boarding, it might be a good idea to bring a rashguard with you too. Families don't typically think of rashguards in relation to Alberta road trips, right? However, if you are packing for Jasper and Banff in the summer, especially in August, the sun will be quite strong. It’s super-easy to get burned. 

✅ Alberta National Parks Packing List Item: Long-sleeved rashguard

In addition, throw in a pair of water shoes. For easier hikes, like the Valley of Five Lakes in Jasper, you can wear water-appropriate sneakers too. 

✅ Jasper and Banff Packing List Item: water shoes Alibress Quick-Drying Water Shoes for Hiking 

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Rain Gear 

The weather is unpredictable in the mountains. It can be bright and sunny in Banff, but once you hike over the mountain ridge, you get a snowstorm even in August. Well, in the summer, it is likely the rain you’ll have to prepare for.

We always pack a waterproof jacket and a pair of pants, make sure our footwear is waterproof, and have waterproof covers for our backpacks with us.

✅ Jasper and Banff Hiking Packing List Item: rain jacket

✅ Alberta Hiking Packing List Item: waterproof pants

✅ Banff Hiking Packing List Item: waterproof cover for backpacks

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Clothing and Footwear for Kids

In terms of what your kids should wear on the Alberta camping road trip to Jasper and Banff National Parks, it is largely the same. Rules are the same: avoid cotton, pack more activewear.

Unfortunately, since kids grow so fast, but the quality hiking gear is on the more expensive side, it is proven to be hard to find appropriate clothing. 

Here are the products that we have brought with us when camping in Alberta with our son:

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Special note on hiking shoes for kids: 

As an active family from Beautiful British Columbia, we spend a lot of time on our feet. And Alberta’s National Parks have so much stuff to explore! 

Our son Cosmos was only 4.5 years old when he traveled to Alberta for the first time, but he was able to complete the Edith Cavell Meadows hike and Mt. Rеvelstoke hike all by himself with no help. 

Good hiking shoes for kids DO make a difference – both in comfort for your child, minimum stress for you as parents, but most importantly in safety. Whether your little one is a toddler or a teenager, if you go hiking together, it is best to get them proper hiking shoes.

Learn what to look for when buying hiking shoes for a child (toddler or teen): comfort & safety tips, kids hiking shoe brands, places to buy + a video guide.

✅ Jasper and Banff Hiking Packing List Item: proper hiking shoes for kids x2

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Backpack

Depending on what type of active holidays you chose to have when traveling to Alberta, your choice of a suitable backpack will be different.

Daypack

If you’re only planning to do hiking when on your road trip to Jasper and Banff, then a smaller lighter daypack is the way to go (or a camera backpack, if you’re a photography nerd like us). Look for: 

• flexible ergonomic shoulder straps made out of breathable material
• side pockets to carry your water bottle
• (optional) straps you can attach your hiking poles to, or a second side pocket
• a small pocket t the top for easy access to your sunglasses
• a built-in rain cover, that is usually nesting inside a little pocket at the bottom of the daypack. 

✅  Banff and Jasper Hiking Packing List Item: lite daypack

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Camping backpack

Backcountry camping in Jasper and Banff requires a solid camping backpack. 

You should look for adjustable torso length, ergonomic adjustable shoulder straps, and a comfortable hip belt. 

TIP: good camping backpacks are offered as Men’s and Women’s backpacks, whereas women's backpack shoulder straps and the hip belt are narrower and adjusted for curves. 

✅ Alberta National Parks Camping Packing List Item: gender-appropriate backpack

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Child Carrier

Hiking Alberta’s National Parks with a toddler? Your child carrier backpack should have the following:

• Ergonomic shoulder straps and hip belt
• Adjustable torso
• 5-point child seat safety harness
• Sunshade or a hood that includes side-protection
• Rain cover (sometimes sold separately)

✅  Banff and Jasper Hiking with Toddlers Packing List Item: solid child carrier

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Hiking Gear

Alberta’s National Parks – Banff and Jasper – offer exceptional hiking opportunities for all fitness levels. In fact, Banff and Jasper are considered to be the two capitals of Canadian hiking! Why else would you go on your Alberta road trip if not to experience the magnificence of the Canadian Rockies, the stunning beauty of glacier lakes, and the incredible force of mountain rivers rushing through narrow canyons?! So let’s get ready to hike to see the most!

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Hiking Poles

I’d say hiking poles are the “must-have” item on your packing list when traveling to Banff and Jasper. Good hiking poles are collapsible, lightweight, and have additional amortization built-in into handles.

✅  Banff and Jasper Hiking Packing List Item: hiking poles

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Knee Support

Hiking in the mountains, constantly going up and down, and climbing over boulders can be hard on your knees. Even though we are healthy and fit we always make sure we have knee support braces in our backpacks. The goal is of course to stay healthy and fit for a long time. 

✅  Alberta Hiking Packing List Item: knee braces

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Headlight

Once the sun goes down it goes pretty dark pretty quickly. A headlight is necessary when camping in Banff and Jasper National Parks, or anywhere else for that matter. 

In your headlamp choice look for a stretchy adjustable strap, a variety of light intensity, and red light mode. Red light is easiest on eyes at night, does not attract bugs and mosquitos, and is perfect for in-tent.  

✅  Alberta Camping Packing List Item: headlamp

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Camping Gear

Tent

Tent shape and size are a matter of personal preference. Yet the weight of your tent makes a difference if you plan backcountry camping in Alberta – the lighter it is the better of course. 

Make sure the tent cover is waterproof and windproof.

✅ Jasper and Banff Camping Packing List Item: camping tent

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Mattress

When on a road trip to Alberta, your family will be camping in sub-alpine temperatures. The thermometer line can get all the way down to ZERO even in the summer. Hence your mattress should be chosen accordingly: it should withstand at least -10 degrees Celsius temperatures. 

In addition, when taking a road trip to Alberta with young kids, it is a concern for most parents that the little ones won't slip off their mattresses and into the bare ground at night. We solved this puzzle with my 5 yo son when we bought a duo-mattress – a mattress wide enough to have two people sleeping on it. (**hint: we got a double-sleeping bag too!) It is awesome for car camping and is not suitable for the backcountry. But hey, we’re not taking our toddler to backcountry either! Not yet anyway. 

✅ Alberta National Parks Camping Packing List Item: Double camping mattress

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Sleeping Bags

Same as with mattresses, you have to be prepared to sleep in subalpine temperatures when on a road trip to Alberta. All our sleeping bags are for at least -7 degrees celsius when camping in Banff or Jasper in the summer. 

The latest awesome find for our family is a double sleeping bag, where our entire family – 2 adults and a 5 yo child – can comfortably fit. In addition to the convenience of having just one sleeping bag, we get an extra benefit of warming each other up at night and making sure our preschooler is not cold. 

✅ Alberta National Parks Camping Packing List Item: double sleeping bag

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Food Preparation

When traveling to Alberta’s National Parks and camping in the front country, chances are you’ll be close to either Jasper, Banff, or Lake Louise towns, and will have full access to awesome restaurants with delicious food. Our family, for example, never misses an opportunity to try and review local restaurants.

Yet, if your choice is to cook at the campsite, here is the equipment we personally own and recommend.

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Cooking System: Cooing Pot, Burner and Fuel

Compact and convenient Primus system that can be packed up into a tiny package and used for both: front country and backcountry camping in Alberta and anywhere else. Our 500 ml cooking pot is the perfect size to fit standard fuel can, and is perfect for making 2 cups of coffee in the morning. Afterward, we typically head out to have a proper breakfast at one of Jasper's restaurants. 

✅ Alberta National Parks Food Prep Packing List Item: Primus cooking system

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Coffee Maker and Kettle

If your camping site has access to electricity (most campsites in Jasper and Banff do), no need to bring gas cooking system. Bring your travel kettle or coffee maker instead! 

✅ Alberta National Parks Food Prep Packing List Item: travel kettle and travel coffee maker

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Biodegradable Washing Soap and Personal Care

It goes without saying that whatever you bring with you to Alberta’s National Parks must not hard the local fragile ecosystems. Hence all your personal care products, such as soap, lotion, shampoo, sunscreen, bug spray, etc. must be biodegradable. In addition, please follow the instructions posted at Jasper and Banff campsites on how to properly dispose of greywater. Many have a special location or sink you pour it into. Definitely, no dishwashing in Parks’ rivers, streams, and glacier lakes. Please respect Leave No Trace principles. 

✅  Jasper and Banff Camping Packing List Item: Campus biodegradable soap

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Camping Food

We have tried many brands of dehydrated camping food on our backcountry camping adventures. To date our favorite so far is AlpineAire. Some of my personal favorites: creamy beef noodles with mushrooms, sweet potato chicken and rice, hearty beef stew.

✅  Jasper and Banff Camping Packing List Item: dehydrated AlpineAire camping food

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Hydration Packs, Water Bottles and Water Treatment System

A good durable, but the lightweight, water bottle is a necessity when hiking the Canadian Rockies. I love my water bottle with time markers on it, so I remember to hydrate regularly. 

✅  Banff and Jasper Hiking Packing List Item: Water bottle

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Some hikers prefer to have their hands completely free and use hydration packs which can be placed into a backpack with a straw attached to the shoulder strap. 

✅  Jasper and Banff Hiking Packing List Item: Osprey hydration pack

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For some longer and more complex hikes in Jasper and Banff, there may be a concern about whether you are bringing enough water. Same for backcountry camping in Alberta’s National Parks. Not to worry, there is a variety of compact and easy-to-use water treatment systems. Most popular are water bottles with the built-in filter, water bottles with a light-treatment system, and water treatment tablets. 

Our family uses the water bottle with the built-in filter: you pour water from a mountain stream into the main container and gently push the filter through. First tested it when camping at Garibaldi Park in BC. Easy-peasy. 

✅  Jasper and Banff Packing List Item: Grayl water treatment system

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Sunscreen

It goes without saying that when planning to explore Alberta’s National Parks Banff and Jasper, especially during the summer, especially during the hottest month of August, you should bring sunscreen with you. 

Natural, chemical-free, organic sunscreen should be your choice. Alberta has an extremely fragile ecosystem. Another obvious reason to use natural sunscreens is – it is good for you. Your skin will be much faster recovering from sun exposure without the need to fight off the poisoning and toxic elements attacking your skin cells. 

🚫 NO spray-sunscreens. Lotions only. When you spray sunscreen, the little oily particles get inhaled by everyone around and poison you from within. The sunscreen also bounces off your body and settles everywhere around, making the surface slippery, especially if wet – so it becomes quite dangerous. 

Our sunscreen of choice for many years in 2021 is Green Beaver. We pack both – adult and kids sunscreen – for our trip to Banff and Jasper. 

Here is our research into other brands offering natural chemical-free sunscreen products, read the results here: 9 Best Natural Sunscreens For Kids. Organic. Chemicals-Free.

✅  Banff and Jasper National Parks Packing List Item: Green Beaver Natural Chemicals-free Sunscreen

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Mosquitto and Bugs Protection

We found Jasper and Banff swarming with mosquitos, especially in early August. You’ll definitely want to protect yourself against black flies and mosquito bites. As always, look for natural non-toxic bug repellants. 

Bug Sprays

🚫 NO Deet-based insect repellents. There is a lot of discussion in the medical and environmental communities on the use of deet in bug repellent products, with more and more research-supporting evidence that deet is not entirely safe for you. It is linked to brain toxicity, cancer, seizures, and other side effects. Regardless, deet is a non-natural chemical compound, and when it comes to our family – we avoid it, if only for that reason alone. 

Natural, chemical-free, Deet-free bug repellants are made with essential oils. Lemongrass, eucalyptus, lavender, citronella, thyme oils are just a few to be named. 

Our favorite natural bug repellant is: 

✅ Alberta Camping Packing List Item: Care Plus deet-free bug spray

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Buzz Patch  

Another recent cool find is the Buzz Patches. These fun stickers are soaked in essential oils and can be attached to clothing or be put on directly the skin. Our son loves them! And Buzz Patches work! Tried and true on our recent road trip to Sunshine Coast, BC.

✅ Jasper and Banff Packing List Item: the Buzz Patches

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Deet-Free Mosquito WristBands  

These natural insect-repelling wristbands are said to last for up to 300 hours. Perfect for kids and people with sensitive skin if you do not want to use any products on them. 

✅ Alberta Hiking Packing List Item: Deet-Free Mosquito WristBand

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Bear Safety and Wildlife

Banff and Jasper National Parks are home to a variety of wildlife. We’ve met caribou, marmots, pikas, chipmunks, eagles, and …bears just last trip alone. There are both back bears and grizzly bears that live in the Canadian Rockies. Hence, everywhere you travel and everywhere you hike in Alberta, please be bear-aware. 

Bear Spray

Did you know that there are two types of bear spray sold in Canada? Yellow can and Red can? Which one should you buy? For your Alberta road trip, you should definitely buy the Red can. Here is our recent video on how to buy bear spray in Canada:

✅ Alberta National Parks Hiking and Camping Packing List Item: bear spray

In addition, please consider carrying bear bells and/or a bear horn with you, which can become handy with black bears. 

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Photo & Video Equipment

Damage Protector and Waterproof Phone Case

A protector case is a MUST if hiking the mountain trails of Banff and Jasper, or navigating those stunning glacier lakes. Too many times we’ve seen people dropping their phones to be smashed against the rocks. 

✅ Banff Packing List Item: heavy-duty phone case

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Floatation Strap

A floatation strap is not something at the top of your mind when you are packing for Alberta. But that’s one of those must-have water-safety items you should definitely take with you if you’re going to bring your GoPro or the phone (in its waterproof case) to kayak at Moraine Lake or take Maligne Lake Boat Cruise to Spirit Island. Then if you drop your camera – it will float for you to easily scoop it back. 

✅ Jasper Packing List Item: Camera float strap

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Selfie Stick

If you are traveling solo, or are planning to do a bit of wilderness exploration with your family with little chance of meeting many other hikers, then a reliable universal selfie stick should be added to your Alberta National Parks packing list. 

“Universal” means it can be used to attach any device: your phone, GoPro or your camera. Some selfie sticks convert into a tripod. As to the Bluetooth photo activation button – it’s great to have both – one on the stick itself, and also as a remote control!

✅ Alberta National Parks Packing List Item: selfie stick tripod with remote

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Camera

Even if you are not a professional photographer, I can guarantee you’d be taking photos non-stop when traveling through Jasper and Banff. Of course, you should bring your camera! 

When selecting a camera and a lens, get one with the best landscape photography capabilities.

✅ Alberta Packing List Item: Fuji TX4 Mirrorless Camera

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GoPro

Hawaii is a stunning place indeed and is an absolute paradise for active explorers. Surfing, snorkeling, diving, ziplining, watching turtles, climbing trails, swimming under magnificent waterfalls… But all of these adventures require a camera that is convenient, hands-free, and waterproof. That’s why a GoPro, even the very basic inexpensive model, is a little something that will make a big difference in the quality of memories you take home!

✅ Jasper Packing List Item: GoPro HERO9

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Memory Cards

For the memory cards, it is best to bring a few smaller capacity cards. For example, instead of one 128GB, we’d recommend 4 x 32GB. This way you can replace a card once full, and have it safely stored away. If your camera (hopefully NOT!) is lost, stolen, or broken at a later date, at least you have the memory cards with the most precious memories still in your pocket!

✅ Banff Packing List Item: Samsung EVO Select Memory Cards

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ND Filter and Polarizer

The sun is quite strong in Alberta's mountains, and to make your shots even better, please consider adding an ND Filter or Polarizer to your packing list. 

“Neutral Density (ND) filters help control image exposure by reducing the light that enters the camera so that you can have more control of your depth of field and shutter speed.”

“Polarizers or polarizing filters work similarly, but the difference is that they selectively let light waves of a certain polarization pass through. This effect helps create more vivid colors in an image, as well as manage glare and reflections from water surfaces.”

“Both are regarded as some of the best filters for landscape and travel photography as they reduce the dynamic range in high-contrast images, thus enabling photographers to capture more realistic and dramatic sceneries.”

MORE: ND Filter vs Polarizer: What’s the Difference?

✅ Jasper and Banff Packing List Best Photography Item: Lens protectors, ND filter, and Polarizer specific to your camera and lens

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🚫 Photo / Video Drone🚫 

🚫 NOPE. Recreational drones are NOT allowed anywhere in Jasper and Banff National Parks. Do NOT bring an aerial drone with you, as you’ll be risking a heavy fine when caught. 🚫 

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Universal Power Adapter

Something that rarely is remembered is that: if you are traveling to Alberta from a part of the world outside North America, you may have different power plugs. We recommend investing in a universal power adapter that can fit anything to anything in terms of equipment to a power socket. 

✅ Alberta Packing List Item: Universal World-Wide Power Adapter

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Power Outlet Bar

If you are like us, you’ve probably brought tons of photo equipment with you to make sure you are not missing a thing in documenting your vacation. A camera, a GoPro, two phones, likely a laptop or a tablet, extra batteries, other gadgets…. And then you find out there are only a couple of power outlets in your hotel room or a condo! Do you really need to take turns charging it all? Therefore a power outlet bar is something we always add to our packing list when going to Hawaii or any other destination for that matter. We make sure to choose a power outlet with a surge protector, and with both: electric plugs and USB sockets.

✅ Alberta Packing List Item: Power Bar with Surge Protector and 4 USB Outlets

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Power Bank

It totally sucks to hike all the way up the Wilcox Pass, or Mt. Edith Cavell Meadows, or Sulphur Mountain, to only find out your phone or camera is out of juice, and you can’t take any more photos or find your way back to the trail! Happened to us sooo many times that now we are always packing a power bank with us. 

✅ Jasper and Banff Packing List Item: Ultra-Compact Power Bank

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If You Travel and Camp With an Infant Baby

Being a parent is not easy and living an outdoor lifestyle while carrying for an infant is not always easy. For some new parents camping with their newborn baby is outright scary. 

Not to worry! Traveling to Alberta with an infant is possible!

Camping: Six Essential Baby Items

We’ve published an article recently on the Six Essentials for Camping With a Baby based on personal experience. Check it out! Learn how to chose a baby life vest, what to add to your first aid kit, how babies can sleep inside your tent, etc. Hope you find it useful!

Yet, in addition to the Six Essentials, I am adding a few more to your packing list, in case you plan to skip camping and only go on hikes in Banff and Jasper. 

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Travel Kettle

Many hotels in Banff and Jasper provide a coffee maker, but it may be a struggle to get a proper kettle. Therefore I suggest you bring your own! We found this compact collapsible travel kettle, that proved perfect for preparing baby food and sanitizing baby pacifiers. 

Campgrounds may not have access to electricity, although all those I know about – do. Yet if you need hot water when in the middle of the road, in addition to your kettle, bring this power adaptor that can be plugged into the car. 

✅ Jasper and Banff Baby Packing List Item: Loutytuo Travel Kettle

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Diaper Backpack for Hiking

Yes! The Outdoors industry had finally caught up with active parents, and now you can find a diaper backpack made specifically for hiking! I would have killed for this one 4-5 years ago!

✅ Jasper and Banff Baby Hiking Packing List Item: IHAYNER Hiking and Camping Diaper Bag Backpack

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Minimeis Shoulder-Top Baby Carrier

These two dads from Canada are geniuses! There is now a cool and comfy chair for infant babies to be sitting atop of dad’s shoulders without the need for a specialized and expensive baby backpack. Minimeis carrier is perfect for shorter hikes, tours, and sightseeing stops across Banff and Jasper! Oh, my husband would have loved to have one like it 4-5 years ago!

✅ Jasper and Banff Baby Hiking Packing List Item: Minimeis Baby Carrier

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Other Things To Bring on Your Alberta Road Trip When Camping at Banff and Jasper National Parks

First Aid Kit

There are many hazards when hiking the Canadian Rockies: from wildlife encounters to rock falls, to treacherous trail conditions, to slip-and-falls on ice, to simple scratches and insect bites. You simply never know what can happen. Always bring your first aid kit anywhere you hike in Alberta.

✅ Alberta National Parks Hiking Packing List Item: first aid kit

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Dry Bag

A dry bag can become handy in a number of situations. 

When camping, you’ll pack all your food, personal hygiene products, and other smelly items, and use the bag to hang it away from your camp at a special place as a bear safety precaution. 

If you decide to go canoeing or kayaking at one of Jasper’s or Banff’s glacier lakes, your dry bag will carry car keys, wallet, phone, camera, and other valuables.  

✅ Alberta National Parks Camping Packing List Item: dry bag

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Sunglasses

When selecting sunglasses to take with you on Alberta vacation, look beyond just the style. The best way to protect your eyes from the sun is to choose sunglasses that block 100% of UV rays. 

How do you tell if your sunglasses remove 100% UV light? 
Beam the UV light through one of the lenses and onto the credit card or money. If the symbols are still visible, your glasses are not 100% UV protected. This means the lens is letting the UV light through and as a result, the symbols become noticeable.

✅ Alberta Road Trip Packing List Item: Ray-Ban Aviator Sunglasses

In addition to looking for UV protection, my husband always gets polarized sunglasses – these reduce glare when driving in the sun. To learn more about polarized sunglasses check this out.

✅ Jasper and Banff Driving Packing List Item: Polarized sunglasses for driving

NOTE: Some contact lenses provide UV protection too, but they don't cover your whole eye, so you still need sunglasses. 

Sunglasses strap is another little gimmick no one usually thinks about in advance, but it can be a lot of help. When you are adventuring in the mountains or over water – the least you want is to lose your sunglasses as they slip off by accident.

✅ Alberta Hiking Packing List Item: Sunglasses security straps

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Travel Insurance

Alberta is a place to enjoy wilderness camping, mountain hiking, scrambling, rock climbing, water sports, and adventurous activities, and there is a higher risk of accidents. It is only natural to stock up on insurance.

While you may have emergency medical coverage through your employer or your credit card company, it is important to carefully review all terms, to know what you’re covered for and any special conditions. For example, we have emergency medical insurance through our Scotia AMEX card, but it only covers the first 21 days of our travel outside of our home jurisdiction. 

Therefore any time we travel for a longer time, or if we are likely to engage in adventure sports, we make sure we get extra insurance. We use World Nomads as it provides global coverage. In addition, if you are using expensive camera gear, you can get extra insurance to cover your property from being lost, stolen, or broken. 

✅ Alberta Road Trip Packing List Item: World Nomads Travel Insurance

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Concluding Notes

We hope this packing list is helpful to you and your family on your camping journey to the most memorable places that we absolutely adore – Jasper and Banff National Parks. 

If you have any other suggestions, Banff and Jasper camping tips, packing tips, or things you think everyone must bring with them to hike and camp at Alberta’s National Parks, leave a comment or send us a message!

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Check out next: latest outdoors and travel experiences in Alberta

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Enjoy!

Cheerfully yours,

Alexandra, Alex & Cosmos

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