Banff: Comfort Camping In Otentiks At Two Jack Lakeside Campground
Learn why Two Jack Lakeside Campground in Banff is perfect for comfort camping. Experience Otentiks, fishing, hiking, and so much more!
*This article was written by BTTM team member Alicia Glassmeyer*
Comfort Camping At Two Jack Lake
I had planned a road trip from Colorado to Alberta, Canada for my family in late June. After scouring the internet for Banff cabins and Banff campgrounds, I discovered the unique Otentik tent sites available for Banff National Park camping and decided we just had to stay in one!
Two Jack Lakeside Campground
We like to plan a combination of camping and hotel stays on road trips because we plan on a budget and we love the outdoors. We also like to have some comfy nights mixed in so when we find an option that allows for comfort camping, we’re all in!
The site we chose was at Two Jack Lakeside Campground, site 54, which is a beautiful lakeside site with a parking spot, fire pit, bbq, and picnic table. We think this is one of the best places to camp in Banff! You can reserve your Otentik tent for Banff camping by visiting the Parks Canada website.
Otentik Tents
The Otentiks have built in bed platforms with mattresses, but still require you to bring sleeping bags or bedding. Much like a tent, the Otentik tents do not have indoor plumbing. There are, however, shower and bathroom facilities a very short walk away.
The Otentiks are also built on raised platforms with a solid floor and there is a window and a door with a keyed lock to keep your belongings safe during your stay. Food lockers are also provided for helping campers stay safe in bear country.
Pro Tip: Read up on bear safety tips before your Banff National Park camping trip!
Things To Do Near Two Jack Lake
Two Jack Lake campground is conveniently located near Lake Minnewanka, one of the most popular recreational destinations in Banff National Park. The campground is also a short 15 minute drive from the town of Banff and just 25 minutes from the charming town of Canmore. Both towns have shops, restaurants, and other amenities if you need to stock up on items for your camping adventure (or if you aren’t into being that outdoorsy).
There are a ton of activities in the area including hiking, fishing, lake cruises, and even caving! We spent the morning on an awesome caving adventure with Canmore Cave Tours before arriving at camp.
Hiking and Fishing On Two Jack Lake
We knew we were going to go fishing at Two Jack Lake, so upon arrival, we drove just up the road to the Lake Minnewanka boathouse to purchase the proper licenses (and a few souvenirs too). This is also where lake cruises depart and boat/kayak rentals are available. We took some photos of the beautiful mountains and lake while on the dock. On our way there, we saw some bighorn sheep alongside the road and they were so cute!
When we returned to camp, we decided to do a bit of hiking and fishing. We walked along the trail that began directly in front of our Otentik tent. While taking in the gorgeous views, we stopped at different points along the shore trying to catch some fish to cook up over our campfire. We were unsuccessful at catching anything, but still had a great time!
Making S’mores
We were prepared, as all good campers should be, for cooking s’mores over the fire instead. If you’ve never experienced the chocolatey marshmallow deliciousness that is a s’more, you really are missing out. Be sure to follow any fire restrictions in place while camping.
In our case, we were able to have a fire as long as it was in the designated fire pit at our site. Making s’mores is always great family fun and a perfect way to enjoy what we think is the best camping in Canada!
Pro Tip: Driving to Banff? Check out these Road Trip Essentials!
Final Thoughts On Two Jack Lakeside Campground
Two Jack Lakeside Campground really was perfect for our family trip to Banff National Park. The Otentiks were a unique and comfortable way to camp and the campground itself had great amenities. We’d definitely camp there again!
About The Author: Alicia is a photographer from Colorado. She loves camping, dogs, and cake. Check out her website for more amazing photography.
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Love these tents. They look very comfortable I had no idea Canada Parks had these!
They are great aren’t they? 🙂
Those tents look amazing! Reminds me of a yurt tent me and my fiance stayed in once, on the south island of New Zealand. Your camping experience looks absolutely amazing, what did you do when you saw the grizzly bear??
Marco,
When I saw the bear, my instinct was to take photos, lol! To clarify, the bear was not in our campground, it was up the road a bit. We saw quite a few bears along the roadside all throughout Banff. Hopefully you get a chance to check out the campground someday!
what was the cost, when I looked it only said Two Jack lakeside no services etc. 27.50/night. I know they have tent sites and motorhome sites did you have to complete the reservation to find out the cost?
Yvonne,
They were around $100 per night when I booked. The cost was shown on the campground site. I did a quick search just now and found this saying the cost is $120. https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/ab/banff/activ/camping/otentik
It’s possible that if you’re looking at available sites they could be all booked up. They have a limited number of Otentiks at the campsite and the other sites are for tent or RV. I hope this helps!