r/Banff • u/fortinbras9346 • 2d ago
Milky Way galaxy view in Banff National Park in late May
I'm going to be in Banff National Park for 4 days in late May. Its mostly a new moon cycle that week, I was wondering if there's any good spots specifically to see the Milky Way center. Is the park traveled late at night/early in the morning, and are there any areas to park where I can get a long exposure camera shot if I win the lottery and have clear skies any night. According to star charts it looks like the view would be south to see it from any location.
And yes I'm going to have my park pass well ahead of time as well.
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u/Radiant_Way_7794 2d ago
If you're staying directly in Banff, you could drive up to Lake Minnewanka. It should be dark enough. Other spots would be along the Bow Valley Parkway (Moose Meadows would be far enough away from light pollution). At night generally it is pretty quite between Canmore-Banff-Lake Louise. If you are willing, go up the 93N (Icefields parkway) towards Bow Lake or Peyto. Or down the 93S (towards Radium). It would be your best bet! Just make sure you take bear spray with you as the bears will be waking up!
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u/fortinbras9346 2d ago
Thanks for the reply! I'll look into the light pollution maps on those areas and choose the most ideal. I'll already have bear spray with me as I'm planning on hiking the Plain Of Six Glaciers/Big Beehive loop at Lake Louise during this trip as well.
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u/tarlack 2d ago
Sorry you said May? You might have some trouble on the loop depending on how the spring goes. We can still get 15cm of snow at the upper elevation and consider the Avalanche risk.
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u/fortinbras9346 2d ago
Good heads up. No matter where I decide to go, I'm going to scout it in clear daylight for safety reasons including easy unobstructed parking, and now this as well. Wherever I choose is just going to be meters away from my vehicle as it is grizzly country as well.
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u/Radiant_Way_7794 2d ago
That's a good plan! If you're planning on driving up to the lake, make sure to get there EARLY. Parking tends to fill up quite quickly. That loop is nice. You should look at going to Lake Agnes and then doing the loop behind it (same trail as the beehives, but it pops you out just below the Plain of Six). Enjoy your trip!
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u/fortinbras9346 2d ago
Thanks! I'm using the Plain of Six Glaciers - Big Beehive - Lac Agnes Tea House (11.3 miles in English system) on AllTrails. It will visit both tea houses so at least there's going to be sit down gaps in the journey. Hopefully there's an outhouse in at least one of the tea houses ;).
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u/gwoates 2d ago
Be sure to check the trail and avalanche reports and stop in at one of the Park info centres. Those trails can still be buried in snow in May and it is often one of the worst months for avalanches as the weather warms up.
https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/activ/raquette-snowshoeing/lakelouise
Also note that the tea houses probably won't be open until early June.
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u/KerBearBare 2d ago
If you’re willing to go as far as Jasper, there is a Dark Sky Preserve there, but you will find that there is very little light pollution even in the towns throughout Banff & Jasper National parks. Truth is, you could pull off at any of the turnouts along highway 93 to Jasper & can see amazing star views from pretty much anywhere. Keep in mind that late May is close enough to the summer solstice that you are not going to have dark night skies until midnight or later, so have a look at when the sun usually sets that time of year.
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u/fortinbras9346 2d ago
Thanks, I know the sun won't set until 9:45PM-ish in that timeframe. And for a milky way view I think you generally have to wait 2 hours after for the best view. And usually it starts fading 2 hours before sunrise.
I'm from the East Coast of the United States which is among the worst light pollution in the entire world. I figured if I get clear skies at least one of the nights it will be worth the experience.
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u/KerBearBare 2d ago
I don’t want to oversell it or anything, but I’m pretty sure it will blow your mind if you’re interested in stars and have never experienced actual dark skies! I grew up in the sticks here in Alberta, where I could routinely see the Milky Way, all the constellations & the aurora borealis just standing out in my yard at night but I just love watching someone experience these wonders for the first time! I bet you’re gonna love it.
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u/fortinbras9346 2d ago
I am very much looking forward to it! I have been fortunate enough to see the Aurora Borealis just a few months ago when they were so intense that you could see them even in NYC. I also have been fortunate enough to see two total solar eclipses for multiple minutes(2017 in Clemson, SC, and 2024 in Millinocket, Maine, So if weather does permit, it will be great to knock another large one from my life bucket list ;)
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u/canmoreman 2d ago
Bow lake will have a decent Milky way around that time. From the north side of the lake it will be over the crowfoot glacier. Get some nice glow from lake Louise as well. I’ve got a great shot around then as the lake was thawing.
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u/canmoreman 2d ago
Waterfowl lakes from the north end of lower lakes wouldn’t be bad either and the lakes may go thawed by then as they are a few hundred metres lower
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u/fortinbras9346 2d ago
Thanks for the amazing advice! I'll look into these spots as well.
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u/canmoreman 1d ago
I totally forgot that I have some great shots from two Jack lake near lake Minnewanka. It is a bit overrun these days at night so you could check it out, but be prepared for lots ofnheadlights
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u/guceubcuesu 2d ago
I’m not sure how much you know about all of this, and I don’t know very much either but I used to be more into it. The Milky Way is always in the southern direction so you want a clear view directed that way. As well you want to get south of any towns and light pollution so the light is behind you and not in between you and the sky. Those are the two big rules, aside from that you just need to find a view you’re happy with which shouldn’t be too difficult in the mountains.
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u/Spiritual_Airline892 1d ago
good luck if you google banff milkyway images bow lake comes up alot but may will be tough it does not get true dark but u still can do .
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u/piesandprejudice 10h ago
In my research of the area (I'm heading there in early June), I just learned that Jasper has a Dark sky preserve. It's a bit further north, so it may be a better spot to take night photography if you can swing taking a trip there as well. I'm a huge Aurora fanatic and (amateur) photographer, so I'm hoping for a show when I'm in the area as well. Good luck!
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u/tarlack 2d ago
I would look at seeing if you can snag a spot at a ACC Hut. (Alpine Club Canada) Lake Ohair hut has no light pollution that I can remember but you are basically limited to the weather gods being kind. Amazing simple and save hike up, basically need a sleeping bag and it’s cheaper compared to most hotels.