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Compiled by the Highway Journey Alberta group
Final up to date on January 14, 2024
In Banff, Alberta, winter wraps itself across the city with a frosty white embrace. Bundled up like marshmallows, guests waddle by means of the streets, having fun with the diminished crowds and the winter wonderland environment. The mountains are draped in white fluffy powder, and lights twinkle all through city like stars. That is Banff in winter…and it’s a magical place to go to with a lot to see and expertise. Overlook a purple carpet, it’s an attractive white one which welcomes those that come to go to throughout these chilly months!
Put together to Go to Banff in Winter
One have to be ready to go to Banff throughout the winter months. Having sufficient heat clothes, together with jackets, toques, gloves, scarves and ski pants, is a necessity as climate can change shortly. The chilly can and will likely be excessive at occasions (under -40 levels Celsius) so verify the climate earlier than you enterprise out.
When you’re driving to Banff Nationwide Park, you’ll want to have an emergency automobile equipment ready as roads could be extraordinarily icy. And when you’re venturing out on the Icefields Parkway, it’s obligatory to have your car outfitted with winter tires or chains.
Issues to Do in Banff in Winter
Banff SnowDays
Banff and Lake Louise are rocking each January for a couple of weeks with the annual SnowDays celebration. There are PLENTY of out of doors winter actions to participate in, together with snow sculpting, reside leisure within the streets, dogsledding, a winter carnival, plus way more!
And don’t miss the thrilling occasion of skijoring as horses pull skiers down the streets of Banff at full pace! SnowDays is a bunch of enjoyable for the entire household
Strive Winter Climbing
Don’t be afraid of mountain climbing in Banff in winter… in truth, some folks favor it over summer time mountain climbing! Banff Nationwide Park has many nice winter hikes; the secret is sticking to the better, extra accessible trails, as you don’t need to put your self at risk by straying too far within the snow. A few of our favorite winter mountain climbing trails embody Johnston Canyon, Fenland Path, Lake Louise Lakeshore, Fairview Lookout, Tunnel Mountain, and Sulphur Mountain.
We suggest bringing mountain climbing poles and ice cleats on these trails in winter, as they make it a lot simpler if the path is icy. Most of the mountain climbing trails in Banff may also be explored by snowshoes, which is one thing to bear in mind!
Take pleasure in Downhill Snowboarding and Snowboarding
When you’re visiting Banff in winter, likelihood is you like to downhill ski or snowboard. Fortuitously, Banff Nationwide Park has among the greatest mountains on the planet! Take pleasure in the great thing about the snow-capped mountains in all their glory in winter. With one of many longest ski seasons in North America, you’re spoiled for choices; select from Mount Norquay, Banff Sunshine Village, and the Lake Louise Ski Space, which mixed offer you over 8,000 acres of terrain. It doesn’t matter what degree you’re, there are ski hills in Banff Nationwide Park that can swimsuit you.
Don’t have your individual skis or snowboard? There are many locations to hire ski tools in Banff Nationwide Park, so there’s no excuse to not attempt it in your subsequent go to!
Go Ice Skating
There’s no scarcity of spots to go ice skating in Banff Nationwide Park! Some of the iconic locations to ice skate is on Lake Louise itself, as there are additionally ice sculptures and an ice citadel there in your enjoyment. For wild ice skating on frozen lakes – which takes loads of planning and precautions – Lake Minnewanka, Johnson Lake, and Two Jack Lake are all fashionable choices.
If you wish to go ice skating on a maintained rink, go to the Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre, the Prepare Station in Banff city, or the Lake Louise Recreation Centre for an indoor rink. And don’t fear when you don’t have your individual ice skates, as there are many locations to hire them round Banff and Lake Louise!
Expertise Christmas
Is there something extra magical than experiencing Christmas in a winter wonderland like Banff? Christmas in Banff is without doubt one of the greatest occasions to go to, as you’ll have your decide of Christmas lights, markets, concert events, purchasing, parades, and extra.
We extremely suggest visiting the Cascade of Time Backyard in Banff for an interactive vacation expertise, the Banff Christmas Market, and seeing the lights on the Banff Springs Lodge.
Go for a Gondola Experience
The Banff Gondola is a incredible option to see the majestic Canadian Rockies from a unique viewpoint, and it’s one of the vital fashionable issues to do in Banff within the winter.
Take the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain for unparalleled views and enjoyable choices on the prime, together with an interpretive centre with eating choices, 360-degree views, and even the occasional reside occasion. Discovered not removed from downtown Banff, the Banff Gondola is simply as stunning in winter as it’s in summer time.
Go Cross-Nation Snowboarding
Certain, we could immediately consider downhill snowboarding on the excessive peaks of the Canadian Rockies once we consider Banff Nationwide Park, however there are some incredible cross-country snowboarding trails within the park, too! There are scenic track-set and skate snowboarding choices in Banff, and also you’ll discover many various trails to attempt all through the Banff and Lake Louise areas.
A few of our favorite cross-country snowboarding trails embody the Tunnel Mountain River Trails, the Spray River West Path, the Lake Louise Loop, the Bow River Loop, and Moraine Lake Highway.
Expertise the Banff Springs Lodge
Visiting the Banff Springs Lodge in winter is like stepping onto the set of your favorite Christmas film!
Apart from the superb Christmas lights on show on the lodge, the Fairmont Banff Springs has unbelievable eating, purchasing, and spa choices. Generally known as the “Fort within the Rockies,” the lodge makes for a photogenic and memorable cease throughout your journey to Banff Nationwide Park.
See the Northern Lights
One of many advantages of visiting Banff in winter is the flexibility to see the Northern Lights. Shining their brightest from December till February, the Aurora Borealis dance their approach throughout the Alberta skies in shades of inexperienced, blue, and even purple!
You’ll be able to take a Northern Lights tour or attempt to catch them by yourself; your greatest wager to see them is on a transparent evening. There’s additionally the close by Darkish Skies Protect in Jasper, the most effective locations to see the Northern Lights in Alberta.
Go Snowshoeing
One in every of our favorite Banff winter actions is snowshoeing. Good for traversing by means of deep snow, many of the mountain climbing trails in Banff in winter may also be used as snowshoe trails. Unsure the place to start out? You’ll be able to take one of many snowshoe excursions within the park.
We personally love the Johnston Canyon stroll as you may see the frozen waterfalls, however many individuals love Tunnel Mountain and Peyto Lake, too.
Go to the Banff Higher Sizzling Springs
We don’t find out about you, however we favor winter scorching springs over summer time! There’s simply one thing further magical about seeing all the steam within the air and experiencing the nice and cozy water in distinction with the chilly climate.
Arguably essentially the most well-known scorching springs in Alberta, the Banff Higher Sizzling Springs are family-friendly; there’s additionally a present store, café, and a day spa with varied remedies that embody therapeutic massage, steam rooms, and aromatherapy, so your time right here can take the higher a part of the day. Discovered close to the Banff Gondola, the recent springs are a incredible option to calm down and unwind on a wintry day.
Take a Tour
Whether or not it’s your first time to the Canadian Rocky Mountains or your hundredth, there’s all the time one thing new to see and find out about. Unsure the place to start out? Take a tour! Fortuitously, there are many excursions to attempt in winter in Banff; we love relinquishing all duty to a tour firm and never having to fret about driving, parking, or the place to go.
A few of our favorite winter excursions in Banff embody these run by Banff Adventures, the place you will discover excursions on the whole lot from mountaineering to helicopter flights and past.
Strive Dogsledding
When you’re on the lookout for a novel option to see Banff in winter, why not attempt dogsledding? Discover the attractive Canadian Rockies with a group of energetic Huskies and a musher (your information) as you zip by means of the panorama such as you by no means have earlier than.
Our advice is Kingmik Canine Sled Excursions, which has operated in Banff since 1982.
Go Tubing
You might have tried snowboarding or snowboarding in Banff Nationwide Park… however have you ever tried tubing in Banff?! When you’re on the lookout for one thing enjoyable and thrilling, tubing is without doubt one of the greatest issues to do in Banff in winter.
Probably the greatest locations in Banff to attempt it’s at Mount Norquay Ski Resort, the place there’s a complete tube park devoted to the exercise. Experience down Alberta’s longest tube lanes on an inflatable tube for a snowy exercise you’ll always remember.
Indulge within the Sizzling Chocolate Path
When you love scorching chocolate, you’re in luck! Banff has a particular “Sizzling Chocolate Path” with over 20 collaborating eating places and cafés to attempt, all providing a novel festive-themed scorching chocolate.
Good for a enjoyable winter exercise in Banff – this 12 months, it’s working from November seventeenth till December twenty third – take pleasure in the whole lot from Raspberry Ripple to Banana Bliss to boozy concoctions with Cointreau and Maple Rye!
Strive Fats Biking
Fats biking is a comparatively new exercise to the park, but it surely’s a good way to expertise Banff within the winter. It is a incredible approach for avid cyclists to maintain up their pastime, even when the snow falls, however inexperienced persons love this distinctive exercise, too!
Whether or not you stick with the Banff townsite or enterprise additional afield to one of many trails – the Lake Minnewanka Path, Sundance Path, and Spray East Path are all fashionable – there are many methods to discover the park on a fats bike. You too can join a fats biking tour. And there’s no have to carry your individual bike, as there’s loads to hire in Banff!
Go to Lake Louise
Seeing Lake Louise in winter is a should. Whether or not you’re skating on the frozen lake, popping into the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, having fun with the Lake Louise Ski Space, or wandering across the village, don’t miss out on visiting this a part of Banff Nationwide Park.
Whereas many guests to the park keep in downtown Banff, you could possibly simply spend many days exploring all that Lake Louise has to supply… and it’s solely a brief drive away from the Banff townsite! Snowshoe, ski, skate, hike, store, eat… Lake Louise in winter actually has all of it.
Get Cozy on a Sleigh Experience
Some of the memorable (and maybe most romantic) of all of the Banff winter actions? Occurring a horse-drawn sleigh journey within the park! There are fairly a couple of choices for horse-drawn sleigh rides in Banff Nationwide Park, however we nonetheless suggest reserving your sleigh journey as far upfront as potential.
Breathe within the recent air, take within the views of the Canadian Rockies, and luxuriate in the great thing about this winter wonderland throughout you. You’ll be able to even guide a personal sleigh journey for an additional particular expertise!
Deal with-yo-Self on the Spa
In any case of these Banff winter actions, you would possibly really feel the necessity to calm down! Fortunately, Banff Nationwide Park is house to fairly a couple of glorious spas. Each the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and the Fairmont Banff Springs are standouts, however there’s additionally Cedar and Sage Co. Spa, Meadow Spa and Swimming pools, Bliss Valley Therapeutic massage and Wellness, and lots of extra, most of which could be discovered within the city of Banff.
There’s nothing like a little bit of relaxation and rejuvenation after a protracted day of being open air, particularly within the chilly climate!
Take pleasure in Buying
Let’s face it: generally we’d like a break from all of the outdoorsy adventures and simply really feel like a purchasing spree! Fortunately, there’s loads of nice purchasing in Banff Nationwide Park, each in downtown Banff and Lake Louise Village.
Stroll alongside Banff Avenue for quite a lot of retailers providing the whole lot from winter gear to souvenirs. In Lake Louise, don’t overlook to take a look at all the retailers on the grand Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.
Dalene Heck is a co-founder of Highway Journey Alberta. She was born in Edmonton, grew up within the Peace Nation, and has ventured to virtually each nook of Alberta and the world (she’s travelled to 60 international locations)! She is a serial blogger, the CEO of HMI Advertising, co-creator of the Journey Chaser card sport, a leukemia-slayer, and cat whisperer.
