Heading to Banff for the long weekend? Here's some advice on where to park, drink and get high

Banff National Park is reminding people to have a plan before heading to the park for the long weekend.

Visitor experience manager Greg Danchuksays campsites are almost 100-per-cent booked andpopular day attractions like Johnston Canyon and Moraine Lake will be extremely busy.

With little or no parking available at those attractions, he advises visitors arriving by car to park their vehicles in the Banff townsite and then take a bus from there.

"Take public transit it's available right from the centre of Banff out to those locations," he said.

"There's also a local service around Banff and to [Lake] Minnewanka. And anybody staying in a campground in Banff National Park can leave their campground, leave their RV or their car at that campsite, and they get free transit from the campground down either to the town or to some other locations."

Danchuk also asked people who are camping to keep their campsites clean and respect wildlife in the area.

"Almost anything can be a wildlife attractant either food garbage, a barbecue that's just been used, or, if you're camping, toiletries or other things that have strong odours," he said. "All that stuff should be always stored in a hard-covered car or a locker."

Fires at campgrounds must also be extinguished by 11 p.m., he said.

Different rules for alcohol and cannabis

Danchuk also reminded campers of some changes to the rules surrounding alcohol and cannabis consumption that take effect during busy times like this.

"As with all long weekends, there is a complete ban on the possession of alcohol in the campgrounds," he said. "And, of course, liquor is never allowed in the day-use areas."

He said the same rules apply when it comes to cannabis use at park campgrounds over the long weekend.

Cannabis may be consumed in day-use areas, however.

"We just ask people to respect their neighbours other people that are in the area and not to smoke of any sort anywhere near any of the facilities where other people might be," Danchuk said.