Reddit reviews Don't Waste Your Time in the Canadian Rockies: The Opinionated Hiking Guide

Check out this book. https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/dont-waste-your-time-in/9781927462027-item.html Or https://www.amazon.ca/Dont-Waste-Your-Canadian-Rockies/dp/0968941974 for the regular book

Lol, you'd like to avoid crowds in Banff, that's like saying I don't really want to see people when visiting New York City.

Where are you staying? Here's the thing about Banff, it's super close to Kananaskis and Kootenay National Park.

Other good options are to google blogs about hiking in Banff, you'll get really good info and current info as well, wildfires have done some serious damage here the last 3 out of 4 years.

Of course there's Mt. Temple, Sunshine, Bourgeau Lake, etc...

Here's a dude with a passionate blog about hiking: http://hikingwithbarry.com/category/banff-national-park

For planning, I recommend this book. It's pricey, but worth it. It's not too helpful on the survival side of planning, but it'll help you pick out which trails to do and what to expect.

I would suggest renting a car while you are in the Rockies. You won't see much on the train, plus it's really expensive. And there are bus tours but they cater to the elderly and those less interested in lacing up boots. You really need to get off transport and hit some trails. If you are the hiking type, the guide book you want is this one:

http://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/0968941974

You don't need a car in Vancouver and you can bus it from Banff to Vancouver, so look into flying into Calgary and renting a car there for a week.

Also, make camping or hotel arrangements ASAP. They fill up fast. There are campgrounds you can drive into, they do tend to be a bit noisy, though. Smaller cabins or B and Bs are probably the nicest option. Expect up to $200 CA plus per night.

Get the book "Don't Waste Your Time in the Canadian Rockies" You'll get to see the best and avoid the crowds. http://www.amazon.ca/Dont-Waste-Your-Canadian-Rockies/dp/0968941974

Some of the better day hikes I've done in the parks. Check conditions before heading out. Some trails can still be snow covered or impassable in June.

• Lake Louise: Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse
  
• Banff National Park: Sentinel Pass
  
• Banff National Park: Paradise Valley
  
• Columbia Icefields Parker Ridge trail
  
• Jasper Sulphur Skyline
  
  Other things:
  
  
• Chat with the rangers in the Parks Canada offices (Banff & Jasper) before heading out. They'll recommend good alternatives if your plan is too ambitious.
  
• Reach out to the Jasper Trail Alliance. They are amazing. They will give you info on current trail conditions and give great recommendations for hikes.
  
• Jasper Brewing Company Beer and food and beer.
  
• Bear's Paw Bakery
  
• Don't waste your time in the Canadian Rockies might be worth checking out.
  
  Edit: Formatting

Can you narrow the location down a bit? Canada is huge and there are great hikes all over.

For the National Parks in the Rockies, this is a great start: https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Waste-Your-Canadian-Rockies/dp/0968941974

Could check out what the CORA meetup group has done in past summers: http://www.meetup.com/Calgary-Outdoor-Recreation-Association-CORA/

I use the book Don't Waste Your Time in the Canadian Rockies. Peak-wise, I've done Cirque Peak and Fairview Mountain and both were great. Not sure if they're aggressive enough for you, though. :)

For me, Banff & area are all about hiking. But there's still tons of stuff do do & see without plodding along a trail all day. Thats just what I like to do all day. In fact, just driving the Icefields Parkway (Highway 93 North, to Jasper) is amazing, with lots of sightseeing opportunities, including the Columbia Icefields.

Get yourself a copy of Don't Waste Your Time in the Canadian Rockies. It's a phenomenal hiking resource for the National Parks. My personal favourite is Helen Lake.

All of these are good suggestions, but they are very popular and likely to be busy. (By Canadian standards anyways). Visit Moraine Lake or Lake Louise for a taste of the Classics.
However, if you want out of the way, do the 3 and 4 star hikes in Don't Waste Your Time in the Canadian Rockies.
http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Waste-Your-Canadian-Rockies/dp/0968941974

Pick up a copy of Canadian Rockies Trail Guide by Brian Patton and Bart Robinson http://www.amazon.ca/Canadian-Rockies-Trail-Guide-Akamina-Kishinena/dp/0919934900
or Don't Waste Your Time in the Rockies by Kathy and Craig Copeland http://www.amazon.ca/Dont-Waste-Your-Canadian-Rockies/dp/0968941974

Both list and describe day and multiple overnight hikes, what makes them interesting etc etc and give plenty of suggestions for outside of Banff and Jasper.

Go to the Rocky Mountains. This book is pretty good about letting you know about good hiking spots, though a lot of the good ones became more popular because of the book.